Red Letters Part6

Living Out The Word Of God

Mark 4:1-9 Jesus tell a parable about a farmer who was scattering seed. He wanted the people to see the condition of their hearts.

Jesus said, There are four conditions of the heart

Footpath

Shallow

Thorny

Fertile

in verse 9 Jesus said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

later that day His disciples ask Him what this parable meant.

(V.10)

Jesus told them you can see the secret of the Kingdom of God, but I use parable's for all unbelievers.

Why did he speak in parables? to fulfill the Scriptures. Jesus was referring to Isaiah 6:9-10

then in verse 13 He said, if you don’t understand this, parable, how will you understand other parables?

Footpath

Mark 4:14–15 NLT

14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

Some are hearing the word right now but our enemy Satan come to take it away.

If he get you distracted you won’t hear the Word and you will still be in your state of Sin.

Shallow soil (Rocky)

Mark 4:16–17 NLT

16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

1. They hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

2. They don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long.

3. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

Thorny

Mark 4:18–19 NLT

18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

1. Thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out.

2. The worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

Fertile

Mark 4:20 NLT

20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

1. They are those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest.

2. They produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

His Word Is Our Light

Your Word is a lamp to guide feet (Ps. 119:105)

Mark 4:21 NLT

21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

His Word reveals what’s in our Heart’s

Mark 4:22–23 NLT

22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

The Word Performs Surgery

Hebrews 4:12–13 NLT

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Listen and Understand

Mark 4:24–25 NLT

24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

The last part verse 25, hit hard. If we aren't willing to listen to His Word even what we have will be taken away.

His Word Will Cause’s Us To Grow

Mark 4:26–29 NLT

26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

When we get the Word in our lives just as the the farmer scatters the seed into the ground, it has to germinate, another word the seed dies. After that, it begins to grow. At first we don’t notice it. then one day the leaf pushes through the dirt. then the head of wheat are formed then grain.

It’s the same with in our lives we get into the Word, that seed of the Word falls in our lives. If we would continue listen to what the Word is speaking to us, you may not see right way. But the seed of God’s Word produce.

God Expects Us To Grow

Mark 4:30–32 NLT

30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

In Verses 33-34, Mark records that Jesus used Parables to teach in His public ministry.

The Lesson

Mark 4:35–41 NLT

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

He had been teaching His disciples most of the day to trust the Word.

He is the Word

John 1:1 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

He told them let’s cross over the other side of the lake.

they get into the boat and Jesus goes and lays down an fell a sleep. while he was Sleeping a bad storm came up.

The wave’s begins to break over the boat. the boat begins take on water and the wind were blowing. It was a bad night to be on the water.

I tell you right now everybody except one was afraid on the boat. That one exception that was not afraid, was sleeping in back of the boat.

They woke Him shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?

What was Jesus’s last words that He spoke to them before getting into the boat?

“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

We at time can be like those on the boat. We hear the Word, but as soon as storm come our way we tend to forget the Word of God says, and allow fear rule over our lives.

It’s God’s Word is what we have to build our lives on. Without His Word you and I won’t be able to stand.

Matthew 7:24–27 NLT

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”