Simply Obey

Simply Obey
Mark: Who is this Man?
Passage: Mark 4:21-34

Mark 4:21-34 - 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? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 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. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

• Jesus loved to teach in parables – He illustrated important truths with stories and some were hard to understand and needed some explanation, while others were simple to understand and the story would help make a connection with people and the truth He was teaching. The three parable’s we are going to study today, are connected to the parable of the good soil From two weeks ago. Assuming now, that the gospel has been received in good soil, what happens next?

Main Idea: When the Word of God has taken root, we should all be producing good fruit. 

I: Parable of the Lamp Under a Basket.

Mark 4:21-25 - 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? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 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. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

• Now that the gospel has been received in good soil – what happens next? When the Word of God takes root in good soil fruit will be produced. In the case of this parable, it is clear that the fruit being taught about comes as a result of being a faithful witness.
• The analogy Jesus uses here, isn’t hard to understand. Why would anyone light a lamp only to hide it? The purpose of the lamp is to give light in dark places. When the Word of God has taken root in good soil – the saved person must become a faithful witness.
  • John MacArthur writes: In this passage, the Lord’s specific emphasis was on the fruit that comes from being a faithful witness to Him. The parable of the soils focused on the recipients of the gospel, distinguishing between those who would ultimately reject the message and those who would genuinely embrace it. By contrast, these subsequent parables (in vv. 21–32) highlight the responsibility of the faithful hearer as an evangelist. As those who had received the gospel and accepted it, Jesus’ disciples would now be called to bear fruit by obediently proclaiming the message of salvation to others.
• We are called to be obedient in witnessing to others. There is no going around this expectation that God has for us. Faithful followers, witness faithfully.
• I’m afraid that many of us are simply unwilling to obey what God has so clearly directed us to do. What are we willing to do?
• The second half of this parable shifts from being obedient witnesses to being expectant workers. Jesus said – “pay attention to what you hear” meaning “pay close attention”. It’s like He is saying, “lean in, this is important”.
• He goes on to say: “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
  • This means that not only can you expect results from the effort you give, but God will add to them. You reap what you sow!

Main Idea: When the Word of God has taken root, we should all be producing good fruit. 

II: Parable of the Seed Growing.

Mark 4:26-29 - And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

• Being a faithful and obedient witness does not (typically) bring about immediate results.
• As faithful followers of Jesus, we must learn to wait dependently on Him.
• While we are called to be faithful as witnesses, we don’t have the power to save. That power belongs to God alone.
  • Titus 3:5-7 - He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
• Our job is to faithfully sow the seed of the gospel and be ready and willing to faithfully reap at the harvest.
  • Luke 10:2 - And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Main Idea: When the Word of God has taken root, we should all be producing good fruit.

III: Parable of the Mustard Seed.

Mark 4:30-34 - And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

• C. H. Spurgeon converted on January 6, 1850. On June 11, 1850, [he] wrote to his mother: “I have 70 people whom I regularly visit on Saturday. I do not give a tract and go away; but I sit down and endeavour to draw their attention to spiritual realities. I have great reason to believe the Lord is working …” (p. 166). [This was] eight days before his sixteenth birthday! His first convert gave him such rejoicing that he wrote: “If anybody said to me, ‘Someone has left you £20,000,’ I should not have given a snap of my fingers for it, compared with the joy I felt when I was told God had saved a soul through my ministry”
• At the time that Jesus shared this parable with His disciples, the Kingdom was small and isolated to their middle eastern corner of the globe. But it would grow unto the ends of the earth.
• God often uses our small amount of obedient faith to do huge things. Our little bitty obedient faith can pay huge dividends!
• The tiny mustard seed turns into a really large plant. Our small acts of obedience can turn into a movement of God.
• This means we can walk confidently. Our God is able. (Story about 17- year-old doing invitation.

Main Idea: When the Word of God has taken root, we should all be producing good fruit. 

Conclusion: If the Word of God has found good soil in you, have you been bearing fruit? Who are you obediently witnessing to? Friends, do you believe that Jesus has the power to save? Do you believe He wants His gospel preached all throughout the world?

On May 8, 1886, Dr. John Pemberton served the world's first CocaCola at Jacobs' Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. That means that Coca Cola began 138 years ago. Now, at least 94% of the world’s population has access to go out and buy a Coke today. The Gospel has been around for over 2000 years and still, only around 60% of the population of the world has access to it…. How can we make sure the good news of Jesus is known in every corner of the earth in our lifetime?