Jesus our example

The Power of God

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Jesus Demonstrated His Power

Book of Matthew Chapter 14

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ is certainly the Almighty Living God and being God, then He certainly has the power of God, which we know is unlimited power.

In reality, we cannot conceive the amount power God has and it cannot be measured!

In Chapter 13 the Lord Jesus explained the “Kingdom of Heaven” in easy-to-understand parables.

At least these parables were easy if you were a working person. The upper class and the super religious never understood the Messiah!

Most of the Jews in that day were farmers or fishermen.

Chapter 14 takes us deeper into the understanding of our Messiah!

The Lord Jesus proved without a doubt that He was the Messiah by the things that He did in those short three years.

Our lesson today takes place after the first year of His three-year ministry.

We first see what twisted theology does.

Herod was convinced that John the Baptist was the Messiah and he had not intended to murder John, but he did.

We all know the story how he was caught up in the dancing of a minor child along with other men in a drunken party.

He promised this child anything she would ask of him and by her mother’s hatred, she chose the head of John the Baptist.

When Herod began to hear all the things of Jesus, he had it his mind that Jesus was the resurrection of John the Baptist, but he did not recognize the “Power of God”.

Jesus departed into a desert place, but many followed him and here we see the feeding of the five thousand.

We can understand that the feeding of the 5000 was the greatest work the 12 disciples had seen of the Lord Jesus at this time.

After this Jesus needed some time with His Heavenly Father and He went to pray as He sent the 12 disciples on ahead across the Sea of Galilee.

This is where we pick up our lesson today.

*Mat 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

In typology we can say we are on our journey to the other side today that place being Heaven.

We should clearly understand that our Lord Jesus knew what was going to happen at any given moment and at all times.

The Lord Jesus had to convince (constrain) the disciples to leave Him, they did not want to do so. There were things they needed to see and feel, and Jesus wanted some time alone.

Most all of us want some time alone at times and we certainly need some time alone with our Heavenly Father.

When we pray, we do not need to be making request at all times, sometimes we just need to sit and talk with our Heavenly Father.

We are always seeking His right arm when more time should be spent seeking His face!

1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

Pro 7:15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

These 12 unwillingly got into the ship and began their journey to the other side.

This is what each of us do once we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior. We begin our journey to the other side.

They were sent out into the sea of troubles.

Remember the Seas represent all the nations of this world.

At this time we are not in the Sea of Tranquility we are in the Sea of Troubles!

The Lord is not with us in His person at this time, but He does live in our hearts.

Once we know the Lord as our Savior then comes the trial of obedience!

Once the disciples had begun their journey to the other side according to the Apostle John, Jesus knew that these over 5000 men would try to make Him to be King and it was not His time to do so.

Joh 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

With the disciples gone and Jesus still with them, these who had been fed were calm while Jesus went up the mountain to be alone.

We need to remain calm today and remain busy in the work the Lord has given us to do.

He may not be with us, but we know He went up unto the Highest mountain (Heaven) and He is there praying for us today.

*Mat 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

In typology, this is the lesson we are to learn here.

Hos 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Today the Lord Jesus Christ is not only praying for us and for Israel He is also our Intercessor and our Advocate.

This night on the Sea of Galilee, is a picture of the Church Age, while Jesus is absent, the Church is tossed about upon the Sea which we know represents all the wicked and evil nations of this world.

Jesus will always come to the rescue of His Church during the Church Age if we call upon Him with a sincere heart.

Today the Church is not in one accord and departing from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Church is in the midst of the sea.

*Mat 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

What do we find out about the Church?

The Church is tossed around by the waves of this world, but as long as the waves do not enter the ship the ship is safe.

It is the same for the Church today! As long as we do not allow the world into the Church, the Church is safe even in troubled waters.

Even when the winds of change that come from this world, the Church is safe riding above the waters.

We simply cannot allow this world to change the Doctrine of Jesus Christ into some meaningless words.

We must rise above the storms of wickedness.

We must remain in one accord and travel this world in union with Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus is not only praying for us, but He is also watching to see if we need His help, and we always will.

This reflects upon the Second Coming of the Lord.

*Mat 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Mat 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

We should understand the panic of these disciples. Most of these men were experienced fishermen who had sailed and fished the Sea of Galilee all their life, so this was not a common storm, this was a Satan sent storm in an attempt to kill these men who would be the beginning of the Church.

As Christians no matter how much we have grown in the Lord, there will never be a day that we do not need Him.

These 12 men were expecting at any time for the Sea to swallow them up, but low and behold our Lord also travels above the stormy waters and He simply walks on the storm just as easily as He walks upon the calm.

We can just see these 12 men as they portray types of true believers who hold the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit.

We too are above the storms of life when we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is why we need that “faith”!

The storms of life may toss us around and those waves are getting higher, and the wind is even more contrary.

We know the god of this age, and darkness continues to grow in our world, but it is relief to see that the Lord Jesus walks upon the storm because He is the Master of the storm!

If we expect peace and calm in this world, then our thinker is not thinking straight!

Satan has no power over the love of our Savior for us!

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What does the ship mean?

In type, it could be the Church as the Church tries to obey the Lord in this wicked world, but we know the true Church rises above the storms of this world and the Church is to have no fear and Jesus said for us not to worry.

These things being true, in type it this ship represents the Jewish people.

The Lord is absent from the Jewish people because He is a rejected Savior.

We must face reality, if Jesus is asked to leave, He will certainly leave!

Our Lord will not push Himself upon anyone.

We know the “seas” represent the nations of this world.

The waves and the wind represent the persecutions and the distress as we know this nation still faces today.

These things will remain true until the descendants of Jacob recognize King Jesus!

We already know that there will be no peace to these children of Israel until the King of Peace, the Son of David returns.

These disciples represent the Jewish people at this time because the death and resurrection of Christ has not taken place.

Think upon this. When the Lord ascended into Heaven, He did not leave the Church behind because there was no Church at that time, it was just beginning with the Apostles beginning their work.

When the Lord returns, He will not find the Church here on earth, because He will have already removed the Church.

Jesus will return to this earth to receive the remnant of the Jews. That hidden treasure from the parables.

It is the fourth watch of the night when Jesus is spotted walking on top of the storm.

It is the dawning before the morning when Jesus is seen.

The darkness of sin has been erased and the Lord of Glory returns.

1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

It is the fourth watch when the Lord leaves His place in Heaven and returns to this earth.

First, He will leave His place and come with a shout and the Church will meet Him in the air.

Second, He will return to this earth to put an end to sin and again deal with backsliding Israel.

So this fourth watch is then the Church Age the gradual approaching of the Lord.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The Church does not fear this fourth watch of the night!

The Church is not troubled, we know our ending!

The Jews in the time of Jacob’s trouble will show great fright!

Then King Jesus will say: “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”.

Then our favorite Apostle speaks up.

*Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Do you know what hinders our relationship with God the most? It is doubt.

Thank goodness our God has almost as much “patience” as He has “Grace”.

The Lord Jesus will always speak to us in our times of doubt, but we must be listening.

Remember what Jesus says:

Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

We do not know about the others, but we know for certain that Peter knew this man “walking upon the water” was the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus was walking upon the storm, and we will see the Peter thought he was also ready to walk upon the storm.

Peter got one thing right. You cannot come unless you are called!

We also see the Lord is willing to receive all those that He has called!

Luk 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luk 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luk 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

If you reject the call of the Lord, you will not be at the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb”!

Peter jumped out of that little ship and the water felt like pavement as solid as “Rock” and he began walking just as the Lord Jesus was walking.

Remember what Jesus says:

Mat_16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I just wonder if Peter remembered this day walking upon the Sea of Galilee when the Lord said these words?

You see “faith” is that Rock that is needed for the Church.

What or who is this “Rock”?

Mar_1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Joh_20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Act_8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

But what has happened to our Jewish friends?

Peter showed that it took an act of faith while turning of his back upon Judaism, that would allow him to walk upon the storms of this world to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Peter faltered when the storms overcame his faith unlike the Apostle Paul who led an entire ship to safety showing the truth of the Gentile Church.

We know that the Jews will have to separate themselves from Judaism, to become part of the Church and when Jesus came the first time, they rejected this.

Peter only walked a few steps but then he said those famous words of the Church.

*Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, “Lord, save me”.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
If you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord of your life, the only words you need are “Lord Save Me”!

So when the Lord says “Come” then just walk in “faith” upon the storms caused by Satan, and the Lord will extend His arm down to your level of sin no matter how deep you are in sin, and He will save you!

We must then separate ourselves from this sinful world.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Just as Peter had to separate himself from Judaism.

We must look to Jesus!

Heb_12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We must never look away from Jesus and expect better things that do not exist!

Today we see that Satan is bringing a very different “Wind of Change”, but we must not take our eyes off of Christ Jesus!

Faith is still our greatest friend!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

When Jesus comes into the ship, that wind will cease!

*Mat 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Mat 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

What really happened here?

Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

If we love the Lord Jesus Christ, we to are able to walk upon the storms of life and we to can lay our heads down on the pillow at night and sleep in peace, knowing we have a God to cares and a God who has power over all of His created world.

Satan is going to do his best to make our lives more miserable, but we are stronger than he because of who dwells in us!

1Jn_4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

The Lord will never let the Church sink.

The Church is that Ship that is sailing on troubled waters with boisterous winds, yet the Church is safe in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ who walks alongside the ship to keep her afloat.

It is the false church that has allowed the worldly seas to get inside the ship.

The Lord Jesus is outside that ship begging to get back in and if He is not allowed back in, then those fake ships will certainly sink into the pits of Hell, or Hades, whichever term you prefer.

If you do not believe in Hell, then you have no right to claim Heaven, both are in the same Book of Life.

If you do not believe in demons, then you have no right to believe in angels, both are in the same Book of Life.

If you do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the true and only Messiah, then you do not believe in our Creator!

When the ship with Jesus inside it reached the shore, they brought to Him all that were sick, and He healed them all.

Some had so much faith that they sought just to touch the hem of His garment and those that did were also healed.

This is a picture of our Savior!

Jesus never gets tired of saving and He never gets tired of healing!

Amen

The Parables of Our Lord

/ Bobby Mayfield / 2 Comments

The Parables of God’s Servant

"Field, Fruit, and Light"

Book of Mark 4:1-41

Last week we saw as Jesus had taught in the synagogue at Capernaum for the last time and during His teaching, He healed the whithered hand of a man.

A whithered hand is a "type" of how sin hinders our ability to serve The Lord!

Jesus then went up upon a mountain, where he chose "His Own Creation" to continue to teach and it was "this place" where He assembled the 12 disciples.

Jesus taught in a parable about how the Pharisees, when they accused Jesus of working under the power of Satan, that they were actually "blaspheming the Holy Spirit". The "unpardonable sin"!

Jesus taught that even though our earthly families should remain important to us while we are in our flesh, we will spend eternity with our Heavenly family, who is our true family.

Today Jesus continues to teach, and this time He again chooses His own creation, the Sea of Galilee.

The Book of Matthew says He began to teach like this:

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The Bible says that there is "No One" that ever spoke like Jesus!

Joh 7:46  The officers answered, "Never man spake like this man".

Let’s begin:

*****Mar 4:1  And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
Mar 4:2  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

It was only a short walk from Peter’s house to the shoreline of Galilee. Christ Jesus borrowed a boat, and it became His "pulpit". It would later become His bed.

This natural amphitheater was a place where the voice of Jesus was amplified to reach all that were present.

What was the Doctrine of Jesus?

"Doctrine" in it’s simplest form means "instruction".

So what were Jesus’s instructions?

Jesus chose to use parables in order to give us and the Apostles most of His instructions.

So what is a "parable"?

A parable in it’s simplest form is an "earthly story" that can be understood and actually has a "Heavenly Meaning"!

The comparing of earthly things to Heavenly things!

A parable can be a "proverb".
A parable can be a "type" or we may say "typology".
A parable can also be an "allegory".

A large portion of "the teachings" or "the doctrine" of the Lord Jesus Christ consisted of "parables".

Those that exalted themselves above God and the average man, the "human beings" on this Earth, would have trouble understanding parables that Jesus taught!

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Most of the world leaders, including those in America, have exalted themselves above "the average human being" and can no longer relate to their own people and we can see the turmoil in our nation and in our world because of this!

So Jesus begins:

*****Mar 4:3  Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

That word "hearken" meant "listen to what I am about to say".

"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"

The Sower:

A "sower" is a person who scatters seed for propagation.

Propagation means an act that will cause that seed to multiply.

In this parable it is the act of planting the "Gospel" among "the lost" of this world!

This is the purpose of every "born again" child of God after salvation!

So, what does Jesus want us to hear?

It is not enough just to hear the Word of God but we must accept the Word of God "in the context that it is written" and then the Word of God will bear fruit!

You see, If the "sower" cast bad seed, then the plowing, the planting, and the watering are in vain!

So what did Jesus say?

*****Mar 4:4  And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
Mar 4:5  And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
Mar 4:6  But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Mar 4:7  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Mar 4:8  And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mar 4:9  And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Everyone within the sound of the voice of Jesus heard these words.

We should understand that every parable will contain at least one central truth of God’s Word!

BUT, the interpretation of every parable must be consistent with what is taught elsewhere in the Bible!

No parable can be interpreted to go against the written Word of God!

Every "sower" must have a knowledge of the everyday life of those that receive the seed, the Word of God!

In verse 9 we again see that Jesus says "to listen", which tells us that this first parable "is the most important" of all His parables!

If we do not get this one right, we will never understand the others!

So, Jesus takes the time to teach us the interpretation of this parable.

*****Mar 4:10  And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

The chosen 12 did not want the multitude to see that they did not understand the teaching of Jesus.

They understood the principles of agriculture and the act of sowing but they also realized that Jesus had said all these words for some other reason.

They needed an explanation!

What was this mystery of the kingdom of God?

Jesus will teach us many parables, most of them dealing with the Jewish rejection of Christ Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

The "mystery" is the "Church Age" and it is not a mystery today because we have the complete Bible!

The "mystery" was that the nation of Israel would be set aside temporarily and God would establish His Church!

The 12 Apostles were never about saving Israel!

Today, the Church Age has about run it’s course and soon God will again deal with Israel, "where once more the Gospel of the kingdom will be preached".

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We now live in the present "Age of Grace", the "mystery" that the Jews still do not understand!

What words are included in the prayers of the Church?

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

SO, Let’s listen as we have been instructed to do:

*****Mar 4:14  The sower soweth the word.

It is now the "Body of Christ" who is the "Sower".

The "Seed" is the "Word Of God"!

John wrote:

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.

1Jn 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, "the Word", and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The "Sower" in the first instance was God Himself, but after salvation "the servants" have become the sowers!

We are to scatter the "Good News" of Jesus far and wide. (the highways and the hedges)

BUT, We do not manufacture our own seed!

We are still to use God’s Seed!

It is God who provides this "seed" that contains the secret of "everlasting life"!

What does God’s seed do?

Here is the best example of what God’s "seed" does!

Gen 1:12  And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed [after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good].

God makes "His Own Self" responsible for how the "seed" will germinate in the soil!

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth "out of my mouth": it shall not return unto me void, "but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it".

Our only job is to be the "sower" and to "Sow The Seed"! (the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ)

*****Mar 4:15  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Jesus said listen to what I’m telling you:

Satan will waste no time in trying to seize the seed before it can germinate!

Satan is not omnipresent and cannot be in every place, but some of his agents will always be in the places where the "Gospel" is preached!

After all Satan does not have to send his agents to the places where the truth is not taught!

Satan uses all his power to keep the "Gospel" from being preached "but when that fails", he will next seize the seed so in cannot germinate.

The "wayside" is a place where people come and go and there is constant movement.

The "wayside" is a place of business and pleasure.

That "wayside" is "that heart so hardened in sin" that the seed cannot reach the soil!

Without Holy Ghost conviction the soil goes unprepared!

SO, Satan has great success in the "wayside"!

Those "foul of the air" are not farm animals as chickens or ducks, they are birds that prey!

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Those "foul of the air" are Satan’s helpers!

*****Mar 4:16  And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Here again these is no problem with the seed!

Just as stony ground is unfavorable to cultivate, a stony heart is cruel, pitiless, and unfeeling, or we can just say hard-hearted!

The seed did germinate but could not grow!

"Stony ground" in the Bible is a "type" of sin that signifies a stubborn will, an unyielding resistance to change,  reluctance and even hatred.

There was just enough soil to look promising but that stoney heart will have to be broken for fruit to come forth!

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

*****Mar 4:18  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Again there is nothing wrong with the seed!

The problem is still in the soil!

The soil is deep enough to sustain growth but the thorns will not allow growth, to the point of death.

What did God tell Adam?

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: "cursed is the ground for thy sake"; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18  "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee"; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Jesus describes these thorns in 3 ways:

1) The "cares of this world".

We all need things just so we can live!
We all want things that we do not really need!

"Worry" is a tool of the Devil!

While worrying about this world we live in, "we will not see the future that God will provide"!

2) Deceitfulness of riches.

The Devil will use riches to keep our minds on this world.

Riches may seem like a blessing but riches cannot stop the pain of sin!
Riches can only be measured by what they can buy!
Riches seldom bring true happiness!

3) The "pleasures of this life".

The Devil uses our "lust" for other things against us.
When we obtain the thing we wanted most, we will soon see another thing we want even more.

BUT, there is nothing in this life can satisfy our need for The Lord!

The Lord does not deny us pleasure in this life, but He does prohibit any false pleasure that comes from sin, for that pleasure cannot last:

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, [than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season];

What ever focuses our attention on this world will not let us focus on the world to come!

*****Mar 4:20  And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

The seed that falls on this ground has the best chance of producing a crop.

Even here the results will vary!

This ground has been properly prepared to produce fruit! (Holy Ghost conviction)

BUT, to receive the Word of God means that it is mixed with "faith" because it must be accepted as "the truth"!

That word "Receive" always means "accepted"!

No pathway of human activity can trample God’s Word.
No stone can crush God’s Word.
No persecution can prevail over God’s Word.
No worldly lust can stop the growth of God’s Word.

The Word of God, will then take the shape of Jesus Christ!

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, [we shall be like him]; for we shall see him as he is.

Then, and only then, will the Light of Jesus shine in this dark world!

*****Mar 4:21  And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
Mar 4:22  For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

We should pay attention as these next 2 parables tie right into the parable of the sower.

It is the environmental conditions that have an effect on the yield of what the sower sows.

The yields can be 30, 60, and some 100 percent!

In the beginning God created the beautiful Garden of Eden by casting His seed on this Earth and "it was very good" but it would not have been very good if God had not said "Let there be light"!

Gen 1:3  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

When John saw the New Heaven and the New Earth coming down from Heaven, "he said" there was such a glow that no light was needed.

Rev 22:5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; [for the Lord God giveth them light]: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

It is the job of every Christian "to be that light" in this time of the Church Age!

Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

While remembering that the world will do it’s very best to dim the light of each child of God.

The Lord Jesus paid a heavy price for our salvation and He did not intend for His children to hide themselves in this dark world!

To shine the brightest we must experience the truth of God’s Word!

The "lighted lamp" must be filled with oil, SO,  God’s children must be filled with His Holy Spirit!

The Christian  is not to get dim over time but to actually shine brighter!

This calls for a daily filling of the Holy Spirit that we must ask for in our prayers!

We must not ever try to hide the Word of God from those we do not agree with!

God said "whosoever"!

And the Holy Spirit will endow each believer with gifts, all of which are to be used to further God’s Kingdom!

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

It is these things that allow the Christian to bring forth fruit!

A "candle" is a simple instrument that will overwhelm darkness "because darkness is no match for light"! (darkness will always flee)

But, a "candle" has to give of itself in order to produce a flame! (a candle melts as the flame burns)

The Lord Jesus is our example, as he gave Himself to the Cross BUT He is still that "Great Light" that dispells all darkness, we are to do the same!

Jesus paid it all in order for us to shine in "His" light, not our own light!

We must remember Jesus is the "Light", we can only be the "Candle"!

And Jesus kept no secrets!

But we are also always to be careful at the things that the world says!

*****Mar 4:23  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar 4:24  And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

We must always listen when God is the speaker!

We must take heed of the things we hear from all other sources!

1) We must not learn from strange voices!

Joh 10:5  "And a stranger will they not follow", but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

2) We must pay attention to what God says!

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

3) We must make a personal application after hearing the Word of God!

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

4) We must remember what God’s says, to take a stand!

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

5) We must desire the things of God, not the things of this world!

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

6) We must be obedient to the Word of God!

Psa 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Remember! To be a "fisher of men" we must first cast the seed "or there will be no fruit".

We must next be a bright and shining Light for Jesus or "that seed will not produce".

We must take heed of what we hear from this world "as this will affect the fruit, the abundance and the quality of it".

BUT, we must realize most of all, that the seed can not even come out of the ground without the "Creator"!

It is only the Holy Spirit that can bring conviction to that lost soul!

Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

*****Mar 4:25  For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

What is the law of increase?

The more we learn and apply God’s Word to our own lives, the more God will enable us to learn!

But those that are content to just sit on the pew and do not get into the battle will eventually forget even what truth they have learned!

It is a fact in this world we live in, that a man who has made money is in a better position to make more money than those that will not invest.

So, in this time of God’s "Grace", "grace" to do one good act opens up the heart to admit more "grace" to do another good act!

As we learn these things we must apply them for the purpose God has given to us!

*****Mar 4:26  And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Mar 4:27  And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
Mar 4:28  For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

Now that we have cast the seed on the best ground, we can test the soil of "whosoever" God sends across our path and prepare our selves to shine as bright as we can in the Lord, remembering that God ask us to be patient and allow Him to do His work!

Spiritual growth has 2 parts: Our part, and God’s part!

As a "sower" we can but cast the seed!

After that, all things in this world are in the hands of God!

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, "the kingdom of God is within you". 

There is no amount of watching that can make that seed to come forth!

It takes "faith" to be a farmer because once he plants his field, "he is at the mercy of the elements".

God has already taught us "that much of our seed" will fall on unproductive ground BUT we are to be patient and not be discouraged.

Ultimately all life comes from God!

Nothing excites the farmer more than for him to see the new sprouts come out of the ground "but he also realizes how tender and delicate they are at this time of their growth"!

Every growing stalk of corn in the farmers field is a miracle and "the farmer owes it all to God"!

But, the greatest miracle of them all is that "lost" soul that has been saved!

Everyone that is saved, also owes it all to God!

*****Mar 4:29  But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Now the fruit is back in the hands of the "Sower"!

Just as it is the farmer who is to nurture the crop until the time for the harvest, it is the job of the Church to try to nurture that babe in Christ.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

We need to "know" enough of the "Gospel" to teach others!
We need to "have enough interest" in that new sprout to help them in the Word of God!
We must be "loyal enough to Christ" to help others gain the knowledge to also help others!

Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Joh 4:36  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

We must always keep in mind that The Lord is still in charge of all "Spiritual Growth’!

So, what have all these things to do with the "Kingdom of God"?

*****Mar 4:30  And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mar 4:31  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
Mar 4:32  But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

The Kingdom of God is God’s Church that He has cast into the Earth.

In comparison to other religions, it was the smallest of them all!

But His Church will grow into "tree".

This tree will be great enough for all the fowls of the air to come lodge in it. (whosoever will come)

Jesus says His Kingdom will always be great enough for all to come to seek refuge!

Act 2:21  And it shall come to pass, that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved".

Just as the mustard seed will grow until takes over the garden, from the "Gospel" seed, God’s Kingdom will be the greatest of all kingdoms!

This all happens because of God’s life giving power!

God controls the life of the seed from it’s beginnings!

But God also controls all the processes of growth!

The "lost world" has a poor opinion of God’s work but from it’s humble beginnings of 12 Apostles it has grown to reach throughout this world. (this cannot be denied)

The Kingdom of God began with 12 Apostles and we can see how it has grown "But Even This" is like a grain of mustard seed compared to what Heaven will be!

It all began when God the Sower, sowed the Seed of Jesus!

This is the same seed we must sow daily!

But we must always fertilize that seed with "Faith"!

*****Mar 4:33  And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, [as they were able to hear it].
Mar 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and [when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples].

Jesus Christ will always come down to our level of intelligence!

BUT, when we are unwilling to apply what we learn to our lives, then we will never understand what the results of that teaching could have been!

Sin has so thoroughly blinded our minds and corrupted our hearts that we can only take a little truth at a time.

Most of the time when we witness to the lost, we find that they already have some preconceived notion of what the "Gospel" is about and are totally confused about the truth.

The Lord teaches us all a lesson here!

Jesus began with "very basic truths" and Jesus related them to things that people were aware of! (the parable)

Jesus never preached a sermon without using illustrations!

In most cases, when we can take an incident from our own lives that we can relate to the truth of God, we can get our point across much better.

Even those that were sent to arrest Jesus understood the power of His teaching!

Joh 7:46  The officers answered, "Never man spake like this man".

It is no wonder that when He was alone with the 12, He would take great pains to make sure that they understood His teaching!

After all God did not send Jesus to hide the truth!

Our Father in Heaven has only one goal!

What is the will of God for mankind?

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

It is only after we know the truth that we can make a sure choice!

*****Mar 4:35  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

This had been a great day to learn the "Gospel" but Jesus was not through yet with the 12.

That word "even" means one day had come to the end but a new Jewish day began at this time.

We should not forget that, that body of flesh that God had poured Himself into, did require some rest!

That rest was not going to come in the midst of that multitude.

It would be at least 6 miles to where Jesus had instructed the disciples to go.

Rowing a boat six miles would take some time!

A  fishing boat of this day would have been about 26 feet long and about 8 feet wide and this was the same boat from where Jesus had just preached all day. (The pulpit became a place to get rest)

*****Mar 4:36  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

There had not been time to make any preparations for sailing and they did not take the time now, they only had what they possessed on their persons.

At least seven of these 12 were experienced fishermen and they knew the Sea of Galilee better than the average man and would not attempted to sail across this lake without making preparations!

Was this a test of their "faith" after learning the truth of the "Gospel"?

The Bible teaches us:

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Did Jesus know that a storm was approaching? Sure He did!

The Bible teaches us:

1Jn 3:20  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, "and knoweth all things".

Just as these 12 had answered the call of the Lord, they proceeded to obey Him now and go to the other side!

*****Mar 4:37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

The first thing we should notice here is that, just because Jesus is with you, "it does not mean we will still not go through the storms of life"!

This one passage makes all those that teach a "prosperity gospel" out to be liars, who do not understand the truth of the Word of God!

The Sea of Galilee is notorious for sudden storms as the land cools at the end of the day.

These disciples knew this and so did Jesus!

There can be tornado type winds that developed on this lake most anytime and one did this night!

With wind comes waves and these waves were filling this little boat that had left the shore unprepared for travel!

Now the pulpit that became a place of rest was being attack by the world!

*****Mar 4:38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

It was the rear of these boats where the tiller was located.

It was Jesus who was in the position of navigator at the rear of this little ship.

Jesus will always take the position of Navigator in our lives, if we will just get out of His way!

But, after His long day, Jesus was sleeping peaceably, but the storm was having no effect on His rest.

We should notice these two extremes.

These disciples are in fear of their lives and Jesus is sleeping at total peace.

We seem to forget the Word of God in these situations:

Psa 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psa 3:5  I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

These 12 thought they were just going over to the other side but The Lord Jesus was still using this time to further their training!

No matter what is happening in the life of a Christian, God will use it to train us for what is coming in the future!

It is in the valley where we learn our greatest lessons and not on the mountain top!

Does God care that we perish in the storms of life? Sure He does!

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

The next thing we should realize in this passage is that these disciples "knew exactly who to turn to"!

But they called Him Master so they were still learning:

Mat 23:10  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

We should never give this title to Father God!

We should never give this title to the Holy Spirit!

But we must recognize that The Lord Jesus must always be both our Lord and our Master!

The Bible says:

Joh 13:13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

This is where we all fail!

We know Jesus is our Lord.

We know that Jesus is our Master.

BUT we seem to always forget that Jesus is also Our Example!

Any other ship on the Sea of Galilee could have sunk that night, but this one that carried Jesus and the 12 disciples would never have been one of them!

*****Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Remember when Jesus rebuked the demon in that synagogue:

Mar 1:25  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

Jesus used the same Greek word here "Phimoo".

Jesus spoke with authority and rebuked this wind saying: "put a muzzle on it and get off of my lake".

This is why these 12 were so amazed.

Then Jesus said to the waves, "Be Still"

Jesus always spoke with "authority", to all, including His entire Creation, but we should always be able to see the love God has for His created "human beings"!

Now for the lesson.

*****Mar 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Faith and Fear cancel each other out!

When we are trembling with fear, then it shows that we have a lack of faith!

When we have no "faith" in the Lord, then we have no "trust" in the Lord!

It is an insult to God to say we do not trust Him!

Faith must always be in an object!

We cannot just have blind faith!

When you step onto an airplane, do you trust the pilot or that airplane?

It should be in both!

If you call yourself Christian, you better trust in Jesus!

The title Christian means "like Christ"!

So fear of life changes to a respectful fear of the Lord!

*****Mar 4:41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

These disciples who had the fear of dying in this storm, now stood in awe of the Lord Jesus Christ, who probably just laid back down and finished His nap.

After all He had said:

"Let us pass over to the other side".

Jesus knew He would get to the other side and these disciples should have known this to!

They should have known that they would make a safe trip!

But they still had doubts to who Jesus really was!

We are ignoring the Word of God when we think that God does not care for His children!

We must "trust and obey for there is no other way"!

Jesus says to His children "Let’s go over to the other side".

There is nothing on this Earth that can keep God’s children out of Heaven if we only just believe in His "truth"!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!