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is a trilogy of parables which teach us
is a trilogy of parables which teach us
Last week we looked at the first third of this parable concerning God’s people being a light.
Let me distill last week’s teaching into two simple statements.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS GUARANTEED TO GROW BY THE POWER OF GOD UNTIL IT ENCOMPASSES PEOPLE OF EVERY NATION.
Last week we looked at the first third of this parable concerning God’s people being a light.
Let me distill last week’s teaching into two simple statements.
The Good News that Jesus brought us is not to be kept to ourselves, but to be shared with others.
If you hide it, you will lose it.
(4:24-25)
Today’s sermon will focus on the last two thirds of this trilogy.
Sometimes the work of the Lord can become frustrating and disappointing.
We work hard but see little fruit.
We shine the light of the gospel and sow the seed of the Word, but not much happens.
It seems almost futile, and we wonder, Why even continue?
William Carey (1761– 1834), the father of the modern missionary movement, labored in India seven years before seeing his first convert.
He shared the gospel for more than 40 years, but the fruit of his labor was minimal.
Still he could say,
“The future is as bright as the promise of God” and “Expect great things [from God], attempt great things [for God].”
Likewise, Adoniram Judson (1788– 1850) labored in Burma for seven years before seeing his first convert.
He would die disappointed that his labors for the gospel yielded so little fruit.
Yet like Carey, he was faithful to the end and could voice these words:
Adoniram Judson (1788– 1850) labored in Burma for seven years before seeing his first convert.
He would die disappointed that his labors for the gospel yielded so little fruit.
Yet like Carey, he was faithful to the end and could voice these words:
“In spite of sorrow, loss, and pain, our course be onward still; we sow on Burma’s barren plain, we reap on Zion’s hill.”
Mark uses the parables in (4:21-34) to reinforce the main parable of the soils (4:1-20).
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.
92).
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.
92).
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (pp.
91-92).
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
THE PARABOLIC POINT OF KINGDOM SOWING
The Word of God has within it the power of its own success and triumph.
The sower is not the focus but the seed.
Man is passive in his power to make the seed sprout and grow.
THREE PRINCIPLES OF GROWING
1.
He is drawing parallels between the way things are in nature & how they are in the kingdom of God!
C.
This is Mark’s only unique parable.
D. This is an important parable for those who sow the Word of God.
E. Note: Sowing (26) Growing (27,28) & Harvesting (29).
SEED GROWS SECRETIVE
The growth of gospel seed is secretive.
The phrase “he knows not how” reinforces that growth is not by human intervention.
WE ARE SOWERS NOT SAVIORS.
The sower is not the focus but the seed.
Man is passive in his power to make the seed sprout and grow.
The seed of the gospel prospers and grows of itself.
Once it is sown, a process is set in motion that cannot and will not be stopped, even though its growth is a total mystery to us.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.
94).
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
SEED GROWS SLOW
“he sleeps and rises night and day”
This does not mean that the sower abandons his work, nor that he is uninterested in what takes place.
It means that the seed must be allowed its appointed course, as the process of growth and ripening advances toward a harvest that is approaching.
The Sower needs patience.
You can’t plant today and pick tomorrow!
The seed needs to germinate and grow.
James 5:7-8
When you sow give it time to grow.
Patience does not mean that we should be passive.
We cannot cause the seed to grow but we can cultivate the ground.
SEED GROWTH IS SURE
The English phrase “by itself” in Greek “automate” where we get our English word “automatically”.
It is only used one other time in all of Scripture.
Slide#11 It has Mysterious Growth – Sharing the gospel is never a matter of formulas & techniques.
There is always another dimension…the mysterious working of God!
It literally reads, “Automatically the earth bears fruit.”
Once the process has begun, it is destined to be completed.
The process that brings about the fullness of the kingdom of God is not spectacular, but it is sure.
Even now it is present and growing, whether or not you see it.
God did not design His kingdom to come like a tidal wave or a bolt of lightning, to come quickly and disappear quickly.
No, God planted it in the coming of a Galilean peasant, a homeless man from Nazareth, who gathered about Him a bunch of nobodies.
The ways of God are mysterious indeed, but He will be successful.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.
94).
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.
94).
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.
94).
B&H Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.
2. Slide#12 It has Gradual Growth – The Sower needs patience.
You can’t plant today & pick tomorrow!
The seed needs to germinate & grow.
When the word of God is faithfully sown it will grow…there will be a harvest!
Acts 12:10
(1) Never expect a full crop of Christian graces immediately from them.
(a) But, you can water it with your tears & prayers!
i) Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
When the word of God is faithfully sown it will grow…there will be a harvest!
c) It germinates, sprouts, grows & he did not know how nor could he explain it.
“The world has more winnable people than ever before...but it is possible to come out of a ripe field empty-handed.”
Donald McGavran
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