Sowing seeds of Faith

Peace be still...

God morning! Thank you Lord for this day, thank you for sharing your time with us. We ask that we may be filled with You and the Holy Spirit in Love as we learn more and grow in Your Word, and in You. Take from us anything that may hinder our growth, anything that is not of You, may we have less of us more of You.

May we see one another as brothers, and sisters, as Your children, in One Body, and One Church...Your Church, as we walk under your protection, from anything not of You, or Your will. May we be still in your peace.

Thank you, in Yahshuas Holy Name...so be it.

We saw last week in chapter 3 that it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath and therefore He must die. Isn’t that the way of evil? He even asked the question Mark 3:4 “4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.” He heals the man and then...ON THE SABBATH, they plan to kill Him. Do people hear themselves? Can they see? Or is it that God gives us the ability to see, and hear? Those that have it will get more, those that refuse to see it will get less, and we will see that in this teaching of Christ’s Sower parable, as well as how to have continual peace.

Mark 4:1–12 KJV 1900

1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Isaiah 6:9 “9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not.”

He says to them that are without...the outsiders, of destitute, not if or within, outside the gate...Romans 9:15-18, we must walk in Christ always, even to them that are without, lacking for nothing and not tempted of the evil one.

Romans 9:15–18 KJV 1900

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

The evil one is always trying to find a way in, constantly trying to imitate God. John 10:10 “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The speaking of parables means this, that God chooses who hears and who doesn’t. He is teaching them, who God is, so they then can understand. The pharisees teach the law, not Love, Grace, Mercy and forgiveness, they are now learning of Him through Christ Himself...”the good shepherd, gate for the sheep”.

Mark 4:13–23 KJV 1900

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. 21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Faith and good ground are synonymous, when we sow seeds in Faith, like the mustard seed they grow to His potential. That good ground is the foundation of The Lord God but, we must have Faith in sowing seed and hearing the Word, receiving it, acting on it, and producing fruit from it. Can a candle light up a room if its hidden? Remember some are not candles, some are without as Christ calls them so, but, all darkness shall be revealed, no secrets, and some are chosen to reveal them. (DO NOT BLASPHEMY THE HOLY SPIRIT, last chapter) He reminds us again, “if any man have ears, let him hear.”

Mark 4:24–29 KJV 1900

24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. 26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

He is saying here very simply, that those that hear, and have been chosen by God to hear and see, have been chosen to understand what they see and hear. The more they understand Him, the more they will be given...those that chose to be blind, or blinded by their beliefs and the doctrines of men, will not hear or see and will be without. It is all His knowledge, all for His Glory, His Power, Majesty, Holiness, and Beauty!

All for Him!

In verse 29 we see the earth bringing forth fruit of herself. Is that earthly growth or Spiritual growth? We are reminded in Revelation that the sickle comes for the wrath of God...Rev 14:15

Revelation 14:15 KJV 1900

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

Joel 3:13 KJV 1900

13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: Come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; For their wickedness is great.

That the wheat and tares grow together...Mat 13:24-30

Matthew 13:24–30 KJV 1900

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Those who hear are growing Spiritually...

Mark 4:30–34 KJV 1900

30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. 33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Again the Faith, the smallest of seeds produces the best lodging for all....the good ground is in Him, the Lord.

Mark 4:35–41 KJV 1900

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

So, Christ is out preaching and teaching the Word. He decides to go to the “other side”, without? Through the valley of death, where there are storms, and problems, and evils....a sea of sin. They call on Him, we need you, we perish...He quietly says Peace be still, and it all listened, a great calm. He says where’s your Faith? You all know who I AM...John 3:16

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is eternal peace...LIVING IN HIM, IN FAITH, IN LOVE, IN GRACE, MERCY AND FORGIVENESS.… John 11:26

John 11:26 KJV 1900

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

FAITH AS A MUSTARD SEED...SO BE IT!