You Have Been Given the Secret

Core Scripture: Mark 4:11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

Take the first example in Mark 4:2-4 If you have not been given the secret by God, you first don't know that you were given a blessing scattered along your path, if you are not close to Jesus or listening to him you may not have even known that a Word came your way to strengthen you, to answer your prayer, to help you. Jesus tried to tell you but you haven't talked in a while. You don't even know what was stolen because you didn't even know it was placed on your path. I believe this is the unbeliever, that has not accepted Christ but I also believe that this can happen to the distant believer. This is not to provoke guilt but God will give you what you need when you need it to come closer to Him.

Mark 4:1–25 “1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

The Word fell in the hearts of these people when they received it.

25% that heard the word had it stole from inside them by the enemy

Mark 4:4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Mark 4:15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. (See how the secret has been unveiled to you as a believer?)

Why do the one who heard the word experience multiplication here?

They resisted the Enemy taking the Word from them

- v.4 Birds came and ate it up off the path your path (the enemy will seek to visit you on your path when he thinks you are most vulnerable (stop losing in that place) Lust of the flesh, lust of the heart, pride of life), the enemy desires to come along and eat up the Word you study, even your promise from the Word.

2. 25% heart was rocky (unstable) with shallow soil that enabled trouble to burn the plant before it could produce fruit

Mark 4:5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root (knowledge of God, track record, experience with how He works.

Mark 4:16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution (unfair situations) comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

When we know Him and how he works, through His word, from spending time in prayer (you know His voice) you have been through some things and watched him heal you save family members. Then when issues occur you don’t freak out. You don’t belly flop on the ground and have a fit, you may be stimulated, you will get concerned but then you encourage yourself in the Lord like David did and say to yourself God you are in control, I am just going to watch you show off show out and come through like you have in the past. If he Did before, He’ll do it again. If you don’t I still know you are able and though you slay me yet will I trust you.

Rocky soil can harm plants by restricting root growth, causing nutrient deficiencies, and leading to water stress.

Rocky is an adjective that means full of, covered with, or made of rocks

Figurative (Unstable or Difficult): Marked by trouble, uncertainty, or a lack of smoothness (e.g., a rocky relationship or a business with a rocky future).

They did not let trouble or persecution (pressure, especially when unfair) take the Word away

-v.5-6 A sign that you need to get closer to God and enable deeper roots is if trouble and

You and I should regular read, regular study, daily find ourselves in prayer to enable the truth of God to go deeper. Even fight trouble with the Word and instant prayer.

Trouble illustrated as the sun coming up and scorching the result of growth from the Word in ourselves (example you hear the Word say you should make disciples and you start to talk to your neighbor about God but then you car breaks down and you hit such a slump you don't feel like reading, study let along taking to you neighbor after all look at how unfair this is to you that is trying your best to serve God.

3. 25% already weeds of worries and desires that choked the word before it bear fruit

Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns(already present), which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

Mark 4:18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Sometimes we are worried about things that are on him when we think it is on us. Please know it is easier to rely on our selves and even think it responsible to worry about things as if we can add to our resolve the situations with our worry but it is more difficult and a leap of faith to consistently transfer trust in our lives one situation, and circumstance at a time to Jesus and away from ourselves.

If you are trusting in yourself to work something out you should be worried. You knowledge is limited, your resources are limited, your understanding limited and God has all those things in abundance and as your loving father would prefer if you called him into the situation but for a many/plethora of reason we often do not.

They did not let the 1. worries of this life, 2. deceitfulness of wealth, 3. desires of other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful (desire for other things cane be great or small, game on phone, scrolling on socials, its first in the am, it is for several hours, hobbies, sports, work, success, prestige, substances,

v.7 passage says that the plant was choked out and did not bear grain.

Deceitfulness of Wealth 1 Timothy 6:9–10 “9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Weed Competition: Thorns and heavy weeds steal water, light, and food from the crop.

Poor Nutrition: Low nitrogen or poor soil health stops seed heads from filling out.

Bad Weather: Extreme heat or heavy rain during the flowering stage ruins pollination.

25% already had weeds of worries and desires that grew and choked the word before it bear fruit

Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns(already present), which grew up (increased) and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

Mark 4:18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the (1)worries of this life, (2)the deceitfulness of wealth and the (3)desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

25% heart was soft, fertile and heard the word, accepted the word which multiplied in their life based on acceptance

Mark 4:8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It (1)came up, (2)grew and (god will) produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Mark 4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word (come up), accept it (by faith and grow), and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”” (Kingdom Math)

We need to have a full on assault of these things listed to not let the word become unfruitful in our lives

They resisted the Enemy taking the Word from them

They did not let trouble or persecution (pressure, especially when unfair) take the Word away

They did not let the 1. worries of this life, 2. deceitfulness of wealth, 3. desires of other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful (desire for other things cane be great or small, game on phone, scrolling on socials, its first in the am, it is for several hours, hobbies, sports, work, success, prestige, substances,

If we can over come the result is crazy multiplication:

30, 60, 100 times what it is sown according to our knowledge of Him and our Faith in Him

What they did have

Maturity is knowing Him: 1 John 2:11–13 “11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.”

Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Good soil is soft, able to be penetrated, aerated

None of the other instance developed fruit

Tilth: This describes the overall physical condition or workability of soil in relation to plant growth (e.g., soil in "good tilth" is loose and healthy)

Tilled by God’s Spirit: Tilling soil means turning and breaking up compacted earth using tools or machinery to loosen the structure, mix in compost, and prepare a bed for planting. While it helps aerate hard ground and bury weeds, opinions on Reddit are mixed, as frequent tilling can also damage soil microbes and structure

Soil that is loose, crumbly, and in a good condition for growing plants is called friable soil. [1]Here are a few other related and helpful terms:

Tilth: This describes the overall physical condition or workability of soil in relation to plant growth (e.g., soil in "good tilth" is loose and healthy). [1, 2]

Loam: A healthy, ideal mix of sand, silt, and clay that naturally tends to be crumbly, fertile, and friable. [1]

Aggregation: The way individual soil particles clump together into tiny, porous structures that keep the soil loose and aerated rather than tightly packed

Lamp Stand Living:

21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? (Matthew 5:15 Gives light to everyone in the house) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.””