SERIES LAYING ASIDE 2020 WEIGHTS IN ORDER TO GROW IN 2021

Mark 4:10 ESV

And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.

Mark 4:11 ESV

And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,

Mark 4:13 ESV

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

Mark 4:14 ESV

The sower sows the word.

Mark 4:15 ESV

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.

Mark 4:16 ESV

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.

Mark 4:17 ESV

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.

Mark 4:18 ESV

And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,

Mark 4:19 ESV

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.

Mark 4:20 ESV

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.”

REVIEW LAST WEEKS SERMON:

CLOSING THE GAP

IF WE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD AND PROSPEROUS YEAR WE MUST LEARN WHAT JESUS TEACHES US ABOUT

SERMON: LEARNING AND LIVING OUT THE FRUIT BEARING PROCESS

I WANT YOU, TODAY, TO DO AWAY WITH YESTERDAY AND LAST YEAR. LEARN FROM IT, BUT I DO NOT WANT YOU TO LIVE IN IT ANY LONGER.

LIVING IN THE PAST IS A SURE NOUGH WAY TO HINDER AND HALT THE FRUIT BEARING PROCESS.

SO WE ARE GOING TO LAY ASIDE THE WEIGHT OF THE PAST:

OUR FAILURES

OUR WEAKNESSES

OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS

OUR FRUSTRATIONS

WE ARE GOING TO LAY IT ALL DOWN AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS TODAY BECAUSE WE WANT A TODAY AND OUR TOMORROWS TO YEILD A LIFE OF ABUNDANT AND ABOUNDING FRUIT IN OUR LIVES AND RELATIONSHIPS

SO, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR PAST AND SAY IN THE WORDS OF THAT R&B OLD SCHOOL GROUP - THE MANHATTEN’S

LET’S JUST KISS AND SAY GOODBYE

YOU KISS IT BECAUSE YOU CAN STILL LEARN FROM IT

YOU SAY GOODBYE BECAUSE YOU CAN GROW WITH IT

JESUS IS GPING TO TEACH US HOW TO DO THIS BY GIVING US A SIMPLY PLAN - INDEED A FORMULA - THAT WILL ENSURE AND BRING ABOUT CERTAIN AND ABOUNDING FRUIT.

WHENEVER WE ARE NOT SEEING FRUIT IN OUR LIVES IT IS BECAUSE OF TWO POSSIBLE REASONS:

IT MAY NOT BE THE SEASON FOR FRUIT

Psalm 1:3 ESV

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

IT MAY BE THE CONDITION OF OUR HEART

THAT IS WHAT THE PARABLE IS ABOUT: 4 HEART CONDITIONS AND RESPONSES TO THE WORD OF GOD

SOILS: The stories about different kinds of soils illustrate the different attitudes people have toward Jesus and explain the indifference and opposition that Jesus encountered

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS JESUS NOW?

FRUIT BEARING PRINCIPLE: YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE WORD IS SYNONYMOUS WITH YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS JESUS

To say that I love and adore Jesus is the same as saying that I love and adore His word.

But if my attitude towards His word is weak empty then this expresses my true attitude towards Jesus

THIS HAS TO BE SAID TO HELP US TO KNOW THAT TO BE TRULY SPIRITUAL IS

TO BE CHRIST CENTERED AND WORD CENTERED

IT IS TO LOVE THE WORD OF GOD BECAUSE I LOVE THE CHRIST OF THE WORD

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE BEARING FDRUIT CANNOT AND WILL NOT HAPPEN IF THESE TWO REALITIES ARE NOT WHAT WE WANT TO BE TRUE ABOUT US

EXPLAIN EACH HEART SUCCINCTLY

The kingdom is about growth; growth is about fruit and THE SEED GIVES BIRTH TO FRUIT

Fruit is the character of the people of the Kingdom

THE Seed THAT IS BEING SCATTERED is the Word of the Kingdom

FRUIT BEARING PRINCIPLE: There can be no fruit without the planting of the seed -

- THERE IS NO OTHER WAY: THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM

THE KINGDOM WILL EXPAND IN THE WORLD AND IN OUR HEARTS

NOT BY FORCE,

BUT BY THE WORD OF GOSPEL LOVE THAT IS UNLEASHED IN THE HEART OF MAN AS THEY “HEAR” THE WORD OF THE LORD

PLEASE NOTE: EVERY PERSON IS IN NEAR PROXIMITY TO THE WORD WHICH IS WHY THE SEED FALLS ON EACH TYPE OF HEART. THIS TEALLS ME THAT

THE FRUIT BEARING PROCESS IS MORE THAN BEING NEAR TO JESUS

THE FRUIT BEARING PROCESS IS

Described as Good Soil

Why is this soil termed “good” soil:?

Mark Responsive Hearts

is neither hard nor shallow nor preoccupied; positively speaking, is receptive and fertile

GOOD REFLECTS

THOSE WHO

UNDERSTAND THAT A PREPARED HEART IS THE ONLY HEART THAT CAN BRING ABOUT FRUIT

MAKE RIGHT SACRIFICES IN ORDER TO PRIORITIZE THE WORK OF THE WORD IN THEIR LIVES;

WITH THIS THERE IS THE PROMISE OF A GOOD — FRUITFUL FUTURE

UNDERSTAND THAT HUMILITY IS ESSENTIAL IN FUTURE FRUIT

tilled soil

cultivated spoil

prepared soil

expectant soil

THE FRUIT BEARING PROCESS

I. Hearing the Word

Hearing the word is an Active Attentiveness to the Word

FRUIT BEARING PRINCIPLE: THERE CAN BE NO FRUIT IF THE WORD IS NOT HEARD

(EXPLAIN HEARD)

HEARD IS HEARING THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT

THIS HEARING IS NOT MYSTICAL; IT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET USED TO THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT AS WE CONTINUOUSLY AND INTENTLY HEAR THE WORD. HOW DO WE HEAR THE WORD?

WE HEAR IT WHEN THE WORD IS PREACHED

WE HEAR IT WHEN THE WORD IS READ

The difference between the good soil and the other soils is not the Word they heard but HOW they heard.

The other soils were passive in their hearing

The good soil came to church with a heart bent on hearing from the Lord.

NOTICE WHAT JESUS SAYS IN VERSES 21FF

Mark 4:21 ESV

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?

Mark 4:22 ESV

For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.

NO ONE GETS A LAMP TO HIDE IT: THAT IS AN OFFENSE TO THE LAMP; AN IMPROPER USE OF THE LAMP AND AN UNWISE USE OF THE LAMP. LAMPS ARE PURCHASED TO GIVE LIGHT IN DARKNESS

THE WORD IS GIVEN TO MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORD TO GIVE LIGHT SO THAT THEY CAN WALK AND LIVE PROPERLY.

BUT, IF WHEN WE GET THE WORD - WE FORGET IT; OR WE DON’T USE IT; THIS IS NOT SIMPLY AN IMPROPER USE OF THE WORD BUT IT DEMONSTRATES THE CONDITION OF THE HEART.

THE GOOD SOIL - THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE LORD - COMES TO THE WORD WITH A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE WORD IS FOR - TO SHINE THE LIGHT OF THE LOVE OF GOD UPON THE HEART SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN THIS WORLD AS CHRIST LIVED AND TELL THE WORLD THAT LIGHT HAS COME TO DELIVER MEN FROM DARKNESS

BUT, IF AFTER RECEIVING THE WORD WE ARE UNAFFECTED AND WE REMIAN IN THE DARK, WE ARE NOT THOSE WHO CAME TO THE WORD WITH HEARTS IN THE RIGHT CONDITION.

THIS IS WHY JESUS SAYS

Mark 4:23 ESV

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

NOTICE WHAT JESUS IS SAYING:

YOU CAN BE HEARING AND NOT LISTENING

JESUS SAYS

Mark 4:24 ESV

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

“PAY ATTENTION”:

SOME VERSIONS: “CONSIDER”

I LIKE THIS: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HEAR

EACH OF US IS RESPONSIBLE FOR “WHAT WE HEAR” MEANING

IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO A FALSE TEACHER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT

IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO GOSSIP AND SLANDER THIS WILL INFLUENCE YOU

THIS IS A VERB WHICH MEANS THAT JESUS IS CALLING US TO ACT ON WHAT WE ARE HEARING. IT MEANS:

TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING

TO COME TO THE WORD READY TO LEARN FROM THE LORD SO THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO LIFE AND ITS CIRCUMSTANCES

HEARING IS NOT JUST LISTENING: IT IS DISCERNING WHAT IT IS DEING HEARD

FRUIT BEARING PRINCIPLE: HEARING IN WARFARE

THE warfare is not that which keeps you from the seed (all had the seed sown) the warfare is what happens AFTER you receive the seed

YOU CANNOT BEAR FRUIT IF YOU DO NOT AND ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT AND SOMETHING WITH THE WORD YOU HEAR!

AS SOON AS THE WORD IS SOWN THE WAR BEGINS:

THE DEVIL SNATCHES

THE FLESH SNATCHES

THE WORLD SNATCHES

HERE IS THE CHALLENGE:

THE ENEMY CARES - UNFORTUNATELY, MUCH MORE ABOUT THE WORD YOU ARE RECEIVING RIGHT NOW THAN MANY CHRISTIANS WHO RECEIVE IT. WHY?

HE KNOWS THE POWER OF A CULTIVATED SEED

WE ASSUME THE SOWN SEED IS POWERFUL

BUT THE SEED WAS SOWN ON EACH GROUND AND EACH TIME IT WAS SNACTHED AWAY:

THE SEED SOWN IN THE PATH WAS IMMEDIATELY SNATCHED BY THE DEVIL (V15)

THE SEED SOWN ON THE ROCKY GROUND WAS SNATCHED AWAY BY TRIBULATION (V17)

THE SEED SOWN ON THE THORS WAS SNATCHED AWAY BY LOVE OF THIS WORLD (V19)

IN EACH CASE - “THE WORD PROVED UNFRUITFUL”

BUT JESUS SAYS, HERE IS THE PROBLEM WITH HEARTS THAT ARE NOT IN THE RIGHT CONDITION:

Mark 4:11 ESV

And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,

THEY HEAR, BUT IN THEIR HEARTS THEY REFUSE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE HEARING.

THEY REFUSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE WORD; TO CONTEMPLATE IT, TO CONSIDER ITS IMPLICATIONS ON AND FOR THEIR LIVES.

THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ANY ADDITIONAL ATTENTION TO THE WORD THEY HEARD BEYOND THEIR HEARING OF IT

THEY HEAR THE WORD IN THE CONEXT OF WORSHIP AND, WHEN CHURCH IS OVER, SO TOO IS THAT WORD. THERE IS NO THOUGHT AT ALL ABOUT WHAT WAS HEARD:

NO CONSIDERATION OF THE HEART

NO CONTEMPLATION OF THE MIND

NO EXAMINATION OF THE LIFE

IN OTHER WORDS: THERE IS NO FIGHT TO RETAIN WHAT WAS HEARD!

FRUIT BEARING PRINCIPLE: NOT HEARING THE WORD WILL KILL THE FRUIT BEARING PROCESS.

WHAT DOES HEARING THE WORD LOOK LIKE?

1. Preparing our hearts to be in a position to hear from the Lord

Don’t come worldly into worship

Clean your hands and heart

2. Approaching the Word with Expectation

Come with something you need to hear from the Lord

3. Take notes and note what the Spirit is saying to you

4. Discuss what you learned with others who heard the same Word

II. ACCEPTING THE WORD

To accept the word means this:

A CHRISTIAN WITH A PROPER AND HEALTHY ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE WORD WILL DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. THEY WILL WELCOME THE WORD ALLOWING THE SPIRIT TO WORK OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE WORD IN THEIR LIVES.

THEY WILL NOT FIGHT AGAINST IT WHEN IT

HURTS

CONFRONTS

EXPOSES

2. ACTIVELY WORK TO ORDER THEIR LIVES AND AFFECTIONS AROUND THE WORD THEY HEARD

THEY WILL DO THESE TWO THINGS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT JAMES SAYS

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

III. HOW THE GOOD SOIL FIGHTS FOR FRUIT IN 2021

A. When the Word is Heard - Fight for it to penetrate my heart (v14- 15)

B. When the Word is Heard - Fight for enduring joy (v16,17)

C. When the Word is Heard - Fight for godly passions and desires

SEE THE KEYT SI THAT WE ALL ARE SUCCEPTIBLE TO EACH HEART CONDITION. THEREFORE, WE HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST BEING ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT IS REP BY THE GOOD SOIL

ASK YOURSELF: WHICH HEART DO YOU MOST EXHIBIT NOW, IN THIS SEASON?

NOT LAST WEEK, MONTH, OR YEAR: BUT NOW. WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE CONCERNING THE WORD OF GOD: WHICH HEART BEST REPRESENTS YOU

Hearing the Word

WE ARE NOT SEEING FRUIT IN OUR LIVES EVEN WHEN WE ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WORD BECAUSE OUR HEARTS ARE NOT IN THWE RIGHT CONDITION; WE ARE NOT FUNCTIONING IN THE BIBLICAL FRUIT BEARING PROCESS

SOMEWHERE JESUS CURSED THE FIG TREE BECAUSE IT WAS BEING DECEPTIVE: IT HAD LEAVES BUT NO FIG

THE SECRET OF FRUIT BEARING

V24: IF YOU

An Exegetical Summary of Mark 1–8 4:20

In what way do people bear fruit?

The parable leaves it up to the reader to decide what sort of fruit is in view and what affects the different rates of yield [NIGTC]. The readers of this Gospel would have thought that the amount of yield involved a person’s faithfulness to Jesus and his teaching [BECNT]. People bear fruit by obeying the word of the kingdom of God [Gnd]. They put the message into practice and they bear the fruit of faith, love, joy, etc. [NTC]. As they receive the word and submit to its demands, their lives are characterized by personal goodness and power for continued service to God’s glory [Hb]. The fruit involves faithfulness to Jesus and his teachings [BECNT]. Bearing fruit may refer to a deepening loyalty to the word, or to spreading the word through the example of their own obedience to it [NCBC]. The word multiplies by spreading from one heart to another and causes the hearers to bear fruit in regards to repentance, faith, Christian virtues, and works [Lns].