He who has an ear to Hear, Let him Hear
Notes
Transcript
As we continue on in mark we continue to see the rise of opposition from the religious leaders and popularity among the commoners. No matter who was present it didn’t hinder Jesus from preaching and teaching the truth. Truth that might rub people the wrong way or that may not be politically correct. That which may have went against their tradition and cultural practices. Nevertheless Jesus didn’t refrain from presenting the truth of man. He was not led astray by crowds that He may draw bigger ones, or that He may become rich by it.
When a man or a woman is controlled by these things it will begin to altar what they speak. The crowd then takes pre-eminence over their life and they seek to do what it takes to maintain and keep the crowd. Many churches have found themselves in this boat. This is not always found merely in numbers but rather at heart. But for many of us this truth may be the same for us just not to the same degree. Does the presence of certain people cause us to talk and act differently for the gospel. Even Peter had fallen to this temptation. May we continually look to Jesus’ example and who was fearless and unashamed to share the truth no matter who was present in the crowd or the conversation.
What we see this week is a Sower that goes out to sow seed and the response of man. Jesus a man faithful to sowing reveals to us, gives us an insider look at the hearts of man, and reveals the different hearts that may be found in us in response to the word. Some of the people there were not genuine. They wanted to be there that their bellies may be full. That they may see a miracle and be entertained. That they may be inspired. Some of you may not be genuine either. I pray this morning that God would reveal to you where your heart stands with Him that you may repent and move forward trusting in Him continually.
. Pray
Mark 4:9
So here we have a parable given by Jesus.
A parable is, literally, something “cast alongside” something else. Jesus’ parables were stories that were “cast alongside” a truth in order to illustrate that truth. His parables were teaching aids and can be thought of as extended analogies or inspired comparisons. A common description of a parable is that it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
Jesus explained that His use of parables had a two-fold purpose: to reveal the truth to those who wanted to know it and to conceal the truth from those who were indifferent. In the previous chapter (), the Pharisees had publicly rejected their Messiah and blasphemed the Holy Spirit, thus committing the unpardonable sin (). They fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of a hardhearted, spiritually blind people (). Jesus’ response was to begin teaching in parables. Those who, like the Pharisees, had a preconceived bias against the Lord’s teaching would dismiss the parables as irrelevant nonsense. However, those who truly sought the truth would understand.
One thing we must understand about this parable is that they didn’t have the equipment that we have today to make farming as precise with very little loss of crops during the planting process. They didn’t have GPS in their tractors that would almost perfectly plant each seed the right distance apart for optimal growth.
He goes and scatters seeds and some falls:
To the wayside:
The beaten path. The birds snatch it up
On Stony Ground:
Has no depth. With no roots lacking moisture and whithers away.
Have you ever seen farm land in Missouri? There is some but not optimal. The extent one must go through to raise crops there is extreme. Not the best of soil.
I can remember the first time I stuck a shovel in the ground in southern Illinois. I almost called my dad to tell him I have found a miracle. There is not one rock in my whole yard…for ten feet.The ground being described here is even more sever than Missouri. Its like planting straight on rocks that roots don’t have a place to grow. Its like finding a cliff and saying here I am going to plant some corn. Any good farmer knows the soil is important
On thorny Ground:
Has roots but grows up with weeds which choke it outHe hears the word and the cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things entering choke the word and it becometh unfruitful.
Driving down to Mississippi and you pass a lot of farm ground. Saw some rice fields and even cotton fields. It amazes me that God had created a plant that when it brings forth its crop we are able to make our clothes from it.
. But what you see common through all of farm ground is an effort to have your crops grow without having weeds grow up with it.
This being so they don’t take from it the nutrients necessary to yield a good crop. The death of a good harvest is uncontrolled and unforeseen weed growth.It can get so bad that it can over run the field instead of the intended seed.
Good ground:
Hears, has roots, and bears fruit.
Black Gold
Illustration of a guy that cleaned up parents yard before Jacobs wedding.
In Illinois its everywhere
So when one follows the right processes when planting seed in a field and it is not eaten by the birds, is not found on stony soil, and the weeds don’t grow up with it something beautiful happens and that is it brings forth a crop. Some thirty, sixty, and hundred fold.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God
Break Down of the four soils: (The explanation of the parable)
One thing we must remember in our evangelistic efforts is that we are not responsible for the responses of man. The responses will vary.
The seed that falls to the way side. V. 12
These are the people who have heard and satan cometh immediately and takes the word that was sown in their hearts away.
There are those that hear the word of God and will instantly reason away its truths.
We will have those that hear the word of God and will instantly reason away its truths.
I don’t need that Jesus stuff.
That is nonsense. I need forgiveness for my sins. You ain’t talking to me pastor.
Brings even more so into light the truth that satan walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
He seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He wishes that none come to repentance and all perish.
He knows how to feed you the lies.
He wants you upon hearing the word to immediately reason it away within your heart.
To rule it out as nonsense.
Next time you believe that satan is your buddy and gives you what you desire understand this one thing he does what he does to bind and blind you to ensure you don’t believe and be saved.
He continually works to blind you from the only thing that can truly change you. He desires that you walk in darkness and not in the light. That you may live in misery and not in joy. That you may be defeated continually.
Yet the sad thing is we are so dedicated to his lies and love our darkness that he supplies. You may say well no I don’t, well then quit sinning.
The seed that falls on the stony ground V. 13
Notice immediately.
When persecution arises for his names sake you are like see ya later home skillet.
They immediately received with gladness but they have no root within themselves and endure for a time.
But when affliction or persecution arises for the words sake and immediately they are offended.
These are people with no depth. They spring up quick and they perish quick. As quick as their sprout was also their death.
These believe for a while but in time of temptation fall away.
These believe for a while but in time of temptation fall away.
These are those that start on the wrong notion.
Maybe begins with an emotional response from a preacher.
Maybe begins with an emotional response from a preacher.
It is not a difficult thing to do to get an emotional rise out of people.
Many professions for Christ has begun with emotional manipulation rather than the spirits conviction. This over time begins to show itself forth. Sooner than later.
Or maybe it was a tack on to your other beliefs. Yeah this Jesus thing is convenient here. I will place Him next to my other idols.
Jesus doesnt want part but all. He is not an add on to our life He takes over our life.
Those like this begin to fall away with persecution revealing.
When the rubber Hits the road, when push comes to shove they have no depth and don’t turn towards the word but rather away.
Sorry
Sorry my girlfriend doesn’t like the Jesus thing. Its either her or Him. Sorry Jesus He will understand.
Sorry my family has ridiculed me and Identified me as coo-coo.
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
Matthew 10:32-33
Tribulation:
-
Why did i get cancer God?
The tests of God they curse Him Rather than seeking Him for the comfort that He has.
That when put to the fire they scream rather than seeking to come forth as Gold.
What kind of belief did they have?
They just merely acknowledged God but didn’t believe unto action in their lives.
They were not obedient.
It says that even the demons believe in Jesus. We know who thou are. Jesus the Son of God.
Yet they are still destined for hell.
Just merely acknowledging God is not enough to save you but a belief that says God your ways are better than my ways I will follow you no matter the cost. What you say I will do.
Dont allow
Seed that has fallen on the thorny ground
So we can understand the importance of growing crops without weeds and will go to far depths and expense to ensure minimal weeds yet when it comes to our spiritual walk to often we are blind to the weeds growing in our lives.
Hey where has so and so gone? Why do they no longer have the zeal for the things of God as they once did? At times this takes a while to reveal.
He reveals several things that befall these hearts.
cares of this world.
deceitfulness of riches.
Desire for other things.
Cares of this world.
.
Lay aside The weight and the sin that so easily entangles us.
This is not always bad things.
Like the love of sports.
Sorry God i cannot come to church because the games are on on sunday.
Deceitfulness of riches.
desires for other things.
Notice not necessarily the possesssion of things but the desire for them. This then would include all men.
Timothy 6:6-10, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
These bring no fruit to perfection. The pursuit for riches and pleasure has blinded them and because of it they dedicate their lives to these meaningless things and not to God. Wasting their life to never come to repentance.
This takes a while to reveal.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
The problem is not the possession of money. It is does it have your heart?
Does it control your every thought?
What good is it if you gain the whole world yet lose your soul?
Desires for other things.
desires for other things.
Notice not necessarily the possesssion of things but the desire for them. This then would include all men.
These are those that say God we have done mighty things in your name. Cast our demons and work wonders. And he will say depart from you workers of iniquity for I never knew you.
Seed that has fallen on Good ground.
They hear the word, receive it, and bring forth fruit.
Some thirty fold, sixty and a hundred.
THese are those that forsake the pursuit of riches, cling to Chrsit in temptation and tribulation. Love the word of God and His people.
That learn to Love the trials for they know what they will produce in their lives.
This means that these people would rightly see the Word of truth and be set free.
What a day of rejoicing that will beDrug addicts would be set free from the bonds of drugsTo be forever addicted to Jesus Christ and consumed in his teachings.
Alcoholics would be set free from the lie found in a bottle
Thieves would make an honest living
Those that cant sleep unless crime is committed and lurk during the night would become the next generations preachers.
The ones with filthy talk would transform into lips of encouragement.
Lost souls would be saved.There lives would manifest the in working of the holy spirt in their lives.
This is not a parable so much about the sower as the seed and its response of man. But let us not forget God has called us to sow His word.
One thing we must remember in our evangelistic efforts is that we are not responsible for the responses of man. The responses will vary.
Becoming a witness for Christ is not what we do but who we are.
We don’t do it for responses because the response is up to the person and God.
, Paul planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase.
This process we must understand is not in our eloquent speech, or masterful evangelistic outline perfectly memorized…No it is God who does the work and gives the increase.
If God is not apart of it then you are sowing in vain.
If we just water praise the Lord, if we just plant praise the Lord. We Go for Gods glory which ever part He allows us to partake in.
He who has hears to Hear let Him hear.
Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts.