Enemies of The Seed (Mk. 4:13-20) (Part 7)

CONCLUSION: 

• If we want God’s Word to have number one priority, we shouldn’t think it will be automatic.
• We must combat the four enemies of the seed.
• Popularity > hardness of the wide path
• Immaturity > shallowness of a joyless existence
• Competition > "rights" of the many squatters
• Pride
• Let's invest some time waiting on God.
• He has something to say to each one of us.
• In these days it is more important than ever to hear, understand, and act upon God’s words.

Enemies of The Seed (Mk. 4:13-20) (Part 6)

THE SEED ON GOOD SOIL (4:20)

• There is no enemy here, right?
•  Think again.
• What makes this soil different from the other soils?
•  All four groups had the Word, so the difference isn’t there.
• At one point, the seed was on top of all the soils.
• All four groups heard the Word, so the difference isn’t there.
•  Only this fourth group accepted the Word.
•  They received it.
• To “receive” means to admit access, to give permission.
• This group let what they heard impact their innermost being.
•  It is not the seed’s job to push its way into the soil.
•  It is the soil’s job to receive the seed.
• If you are to properly hear, understand, and respond to God’s Word, the fourth enemy you must conquer is pride.
•  How does pride behave?
•  It rationalizes current, sinful behavior.
•  It makes excuses for the status quo.
• Pride says, “That’s good, but it’s not me.”
• Pride says, “That just doesn’t apply to me.”
• It minimizes my own sin and maximizes the sins of others.
• The problem is that other people aren’t the standard; Jesus is the standard.
• If there is no acceptance of the seed, there will be no production of fruit.
• We are called to bear fruit (Jn 15:2, 5, 16).
•  If we don’t deal with pride, our crop will be limited.

Enemies of The Seed (Mk. 4:13-20) (Part 5)

THE SEED ON THE THORNS (4:18-19)

• What’s the big picture here?
• This group of hearers is trying to fit too much stuff into too small a space.
•  Life gets choked when too many things compete for number one priority.
• When weeds are choking your plants, how do you know?
• You are looking for intertwining.
• The weed becomes a vine that grows all over and around the plant.
• The weeds can live with the plants, but the plants have difficulty coexisting with the weeds.
• What’s the enemy here?
• Competition.
• Jesus isn’t the only One who wants to occupy your heart.
• Specifically, what competition is mentioned? (1 Jn. 2:15-16; Jam. 4:4-5)
• Cares of the world
• Deceitfulness of riches
• Desire for other things
• Your heart – the internal, invisible place where you house your priorities – is not a mansion; it is a studio apartment.
•  It is designed to house one – one person (Jesus), one priority, one tenant.
•  Maybe something needs to be evicted!
• Prov 4:23
• If you are to properly hear, understand, and respond to God’s Word, the third enemy you must conquer is competition.

Enemies of The Seed (Mk. 4:13-20) (Part 4)

THE SEED ON THE ROCKS (4:16-17)

• The enemy here is certainly not depression or discouragement.
• These people hear the Word with ______ (joy).
• The enemy here is not tribulation or persecution.
• Don’t get me wrong.
•  Jesus said you would have tribulation (Jn 16:33).
•  Jesus said you would experience persecution (Mt 5:10-12).
• If the enemy is not depression, and it’s not discouragement, and it’s not trouble, and it’s not persecution, then what is it?
• What do these hearers lack?
• They lack ______ (root).
•  In context, “root” means maturity or depth.
• You can endure for a time just on the emotion of joy, but it will eventually wear out.
•  Joy is much more than a feeling.
•  Joy is the belief that God is in control of all things at all times; therefore, I have nothing to worry about so long as I’m living obediently.
• If you are to properly hear, understand, and respond to God’s Word, the second enemy you must conquer is immaturity.
• There must be a root.

Enemies of The Seed (Mk. 4:13-20) (Part 3)

THE SEED ON THE PATH (4:15)

• Who is the enemy?
• Satan, right?
•  Survey says . . . Not there.
•  Don’t get me wrong:  Satan is our enemy (1 Pet 5:8).
•  Satan wouldn’t have been able to steal the seed so easily had the pathway not been so hardened.
• How did the pathway get so hard?
•  It was hardened by all the foot traffic.
• Jesus talked about two paths (Mt 7:13-14).
• The way to destruction is ______ (wide).
• What does that mean?
• It means many people travel that path.
• Why, then, is the wide path the path to destruction?
• There are too many people who have no use for God’s Word.
•  They’re afraid God’s Word will limit them, confine them, change them.
• So what do these people do?
• They walk along with the crowd.
• If you are to properly hear, understand, and respond to God’s Word, the first enemy you must conquer is popularity.
• Just because there is a majority doesn’t mean the majority is right.
• A majority of the world walks the path of false religion but they are deceived.
• A majority of Americans walks the path of popular philosophy, but they’ll be disappointed.

Enemies of The Seed (Mk. 4:13-20) (Part 2)

 INTRODUCTION:

• Would you agree with me that it is more important than ever to hear, understand, and act upon God’s words?
• Don’t think for a moment this will be easy.
• God is a clear communicator.
• God is a consistent communicator.
• God is a creative communicator.
• God is a compelling communicator.
• Man remains an unreliable listener.
• Any breakdown in communication is always man’s fault.
• Jesus likened God’s Word to a seed.
• The problem is never with the seed; the problem is always with the soil.
• The soil represents the condition of man’s heart.
•  If we are to receive God’s Word, several enemies must be conquered.

Enemies Of The Seed (Mk. 4:13-20) (Part 1)

STRUCTURE:  Mark 4:13-20 is part of a larger context.

•  The larger context is structured this way:
•   Jesus tells a parable (4:1-9).
• It is known as the parable of the sower.
• It is known as the parable of the soils.
•  Jesus answers a question (4:10-12).
• What was the question? 
• We’re not told here the exact wording.
•  It went something like this: Jesus, why do you speak in parables?
• What was Jesus’ answer?
•  The people are interested enough to hear My stories, but not interested enough to change once they’ve heard them.
• Paul put it another way: “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Cor. 2:14)
•  Jesus explains the parable (4:13-20).