The Secrets of His Kingdom
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The Secrets of His Kingdom
The Secrets of His Kingdom
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The little parable tell us some amazing things about God, and His Kingdom.
First it reminds us that there we for the most part are helplessness and that we must live with and accept that.
Second it explains something about the Kingdom of God.
Lastly it tells us about the end of the earthly part of God’s Kingdom and the visible reign for eternity in the future Kingdom to come.
In order to understand this passage we need to look back at the first part of this chapter to the parable of the Sower.
Pray
This evening I want us to look a very short parable given to us by Jesus in the gospel of Mark but before we do that we need to briefly look at the parable of the Sower contained in
and as it is explained in .
Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!”
And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
The seed is the word of God and we find that the seed falls on 4 different types of soil.
The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.”
We are blessed here that we are given a very clear description that the seed is the word of God and we find that the seed falls on 4 different types of soil.
The seed is the word of God and we find that the seed falls on 4 different types of soil.
We are blessed here that we are given a very clear description that the seed, is the word of God and the one sowing, is whomever sows God’s word and that the only real fruit will come is when the word falls on someone who has been prepared to receive it.
The way side or path way. This soil represents the heart of the unrepentant person who is not prepared to hear and understand the word of God. The words are quickly forgotten and the devil so owns the person that they have no reaction.
We are blessed here that we are given a very clear description that the seed is the word of God and we find that the seed falls on 4 different types of soil.
In the passage we are covering tonight we need to remember that the farmer sowing the word of God is casting onto hearts that are prepared and open to God’s word.
The rocky soil represents the heart of person that has no depth in their heart and only on the surface is there a little soft spot that quickly sprouts joy but as soon as they are criticized or left by their friends or family they lose all their initial enthusiasm for God and his word.
Pray
Then we have the words cast in to the heart that is bound up by weeds and thorns. These people are the ones that receive the word but as soon as the next best thing comes along the word is forgotten and they turn away from God and no fruit is seen.
Then we have the heart that is prepared by God to receive the word. These are the ones who hear the word, embrace the word and grow to maturity and fruitfulness. They produce much fruit for God’s Kingdom.
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
First it reminds us that we, for the most part are helplessness and that we must live with and accept that helplessness.
First it reminds us that we for the most part are helplessness and that we must live with and accept that helplessness.
Second it explains something about the Kingdom of God.
Second it explains something about the Kingdom of God.
Lastly it tells us about the end of the earthly part of God’s Kingdom and the visible reign for eternity in the future Kingdom to come.
Lastly it tells us about the end of the earthly part of God’s Kingdom and the visible reign for eternity in the future Kingdom to come.
This short 3-verse parable is sort of a continuation of the parable of the sower.
This short 3 verse parable is sort of a continuation of the parable of the sower.
It is only contained in the gospel of Mark and it fits into Mark’s fast paced gospel to get to the story of why Jesus came to us and to the redeeming act of His death on the cross for the forgiveness of man’s sin.
Jesus starts this parable “The Kingdom of God is as if a farmer had thrown seed on the ground.”
and Jesus starts this parable “The Kingdom of God is as if a farmer had thrown scatter seed on the ground.”
It sounds so simple, so easy just throw some seed out and the Kingdom will be born.
This idea seems very uneventful. When we think of a Kingdom we think of greatness. We might think of some big bands playing, people cheering, some big fat cats getting up to give speeches and urging people to follow this new leader.
But Jesus isn’t like that. At this point Jesus was the farmer he was sowing the seed and His way is really that simple. It is just that unassuming and quite.
Well it is really that simple for us to understand.
If we look back at the beginning of this chapter and see that Jesus taught us about the
But
remember if that ground is not prepared then the seed will not grow to maturity.
Now you might ask how is that ground prepared?
How is that ground prepared?
Is it our decision to prepare our hearts?
Is it someone else’s doing that prepares our hearts?
Or is it God’s work and preparation?
Well this is one of the mysteries of God and our helplessness. Only God prepares peoples hearts to receive His word.
We know that God hardens the heart for His purposes
We know that that no man ever came to God on his own will. We might use our free will to follow Gods call but we never do it ourselves.
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
Jeremia
Our own thoughts make us dark and hard of heart
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
No one can make someone come to Jesus.
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?”
(ESV)
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
(ESV)
No one can make someone’s heart soft and come to Jesus.
Only God prepares peoples hearts to receive His word.
People might like to take credit for bring someone to Christ but only God makes the heart ready for receiving Him and the Holy Spirit.
But No one can make someone’s heart soft, we can only simply spread God’s seed
No one can make someone’s heart soft, we can only simply spread God’s seed
Ephei
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Ephesians 2:4-
1 Cor
and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
We are helpless to save someone,
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
As a matter of fact we are even more helpless to save ourselves
We must know and trust God to draw those who he will draw to His son Jesus.
Only then can you be saved, by confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your HEART that God raised Him from the dead, everyone who believes will not be put to shame. Romans 10
Ephe
We are helpless to save ourselves
And only then will you have eternal life.
Jesus came to give us life after death and to give it for all eternity.
We must know and trust God to draw those who he will draw to His son Jesus.
Only then can you be saved, by confessing with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your HEART that God raised Him from the dead, everyone who believes will not be put to shame.
And only then will you have eternal life.
Jesus came to give us life after death and to give it for all eternity.
Turn to John chapter 17.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you—just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:2
In the next verses;
He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.
Mark 4:27
He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.
We need to look at this with a child's heart. This is not hard to understand.
When Jesus told this parable men had not cracked the full secrets of the seeds God gave us.
We read in
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11
And I promise you today, we don’t really know what makes a seed grow.
We put it in some dirt or in a dish with water and keep it at a good temperature and it sprouts roots then it shoots a stem toward the sky.
We know that once it is out of the ground photosynthesis feeds the plant to make it grow but really our understanding of what makes it start is no better than the farmer in Jesus’ day.
It is a mystery of God.
Jesus was revealing this mystery to those listening to Him that day he was teaching them from the Boat by the Sea of Galilee
Jesus was revealing this mystery to those listening to Him that day as He was teaching them from the Boat on the Sea of Galilee
Jesus was sowing the Gospel seed, planting it in the heart of His hearers.
Jesus was sowing the Gospel seed, planting it in the heart of His hearers.
We never know someone who hears God’s word and some day it sprouts we don’t know why.
We never know someone who hears God’s word and some day it sprouts we don’t know why.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
1 Corinthians
The kingdom of God is like the plant. it grows entirely by God’s will and plan.
I am reminded of another old hymn “God is Working His Purpose Out”
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
The Gospel of Mark The Unseen Growth and the Certain End (Mark 4:26–9)
God is working his purpose out, as year succeeds to year:
God is working his purpose out, and the time is drawing near—
Nearer and nearer draws the time—the time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
1 Corinthians 3:
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
But that does not relieve us of the command from Jesus to carry out the great commission.
Read from bible
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
One last verse of our study tonight:
But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Putting in the sickle is most often a symbol of the Judgment and the arrival of Jesus on the day when he will return.
Put in the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Go in, tread,
for the winepress is full.
The vats overflow,
for their evil is great.
And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”
God is patient for the harvest just like the farmer who waits for the seed to grow the time will come for God to reap what he has sown.
When God reaps His harvest there are two kinds that will be gathered.
No scripture makes this clearer than the Gospel of Matthew
Turn to Matthew Chapter 13
Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
Matthew 13:30
To summarize our 3 points;
1. We are helpless to know who is called to Jesus we must accept that but never let it discourage us from sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and what forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Him is for sinful man.
2. The Kingdom of God grows despite our understanding but relies on us to plant and water, by spreading the word and living a life as Christ has called us to do. Loving the Lord our God with all out Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.
3. God’s Kingdom will come to completion in the day of judgement of all mankind. Those who believe to everlasting life where there are no more tears, no more pain and no more suffering and to those who will have everlasting life in torment for their sins and which there is no more escape.
We must examine ourselves and ask have we truly heard and had our heart planted with God seed?
First it reminds us that there we for the most part are helplessness and that we must live with and accept that.
First it reminds us that there we for the most part are helplessness and that we must live with and accept that.
Second it explains something about the Kingdom of God.
1. We are helpless to know who is called to Jesus we must accept that but never let it discourage us from sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and what forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Him means for sinful man.
2. The Kingdom of God grows despite our understanding but relies on us to plant and water, by spreading the word and living a life as Christ has called us to do. Loving the Lord our God with all out Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Have we accepted His Grace through our faith and been born to everlasting life?
3. God’s Kingdom will come to completion in the day of judgment of all mankind. Those who believe to everlasting life where there are no more tears, no more pain and no more suffering and to those who will have everlasting life in torment for their sins and which there is no more escape.
Lastly it tells us about the end of the earthly part of God’s Kingdom and the visible reign for eternity in the future Kingdom to come.
We must examine ourselves and ask have we truly heard and had our heart planted with God seed?
What do we do to share and spread the good news of Jesus? Do I live it as well as speak it?
Have we accepted His Grace through our faith and been born to everlasting life?
What do we do to share and spread the good news of Jesus? Do I live it as well as speak it?
Pray