LITTLE IS MUCH IF GOD IS IN IT
MARK 4:30-32
THE GOSPEL OF MARK HAS ONLY FOUR PARABLES, COMPARED TO 15-IN MATTHEW AND 19-IN LUKE. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN HAS NONE. THREE OF THE PARABLES IN MARK ARE FOUND IN THE FOURTH CHAPTER, AND THEY ARE ALL RELATED TO SOWING SEED.
AFTER THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER IN THE FIRST PART OF THE CHAPTER, COMES THAT OF THE SEED GROWING SECRETLY.
THE THIRD PARABLE IS OF THE MUSTARD SEED, AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON TODAY.
THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT US TO NOTICE ABOUT THE MUSTARD SEED IS THAT IT IS LOST IN THE SOIL. (V 31) “WHEN IT IS SOWN IN THE EARTH”.
NOW ALL OF US KNOW THAT SEEDS CANNOT GROW UNLESS THEY ARE SOWN. THEY CAN BE LEFT ON A SHELF INDEFINITELY AND NEVER SPROUT.
ONLY WHEN THEY ARE PLACED IN THE WARM, MOIST GROUND DO THEY GERMINATE.
IT IS THE SAME WAY WITH THE WORD OF GOD. THE BIBLE MAY LIE ON THE LIVING ROOM TABLE FOR MONTHS AND NEVER BE READ. WHERE DOES YOUR BIBLE STAY? DO YOU PICK IT UP DURING THE WEEK?
JUST HOW OFTEN DO YOU PICK UP YOUR BIBLE AND READ THE WORD OF GOD? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SOW SEEDS OF SALVATION, IF YOU ARE NEVER IN THE WORD OF GOD?
DO YOU EVEN ATTEMPT TO SOW THESE SEEDS? DO YOU FAIL TO SOW BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID SOMEONE WILL ASK A QUESTION THAT YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER?
YOU MUST GET INTO GODS WORD. YOU MUST DO IT EVERY DAY. YOU MUST PREPARE YOURSELF, TO BE A SOWER OF THE WORD. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS TO BE IN THE WORD.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU FOUR WAYS THAT CHRISTIAN SOWING IS TO BE DONE.
FIRST, IT IS TO BE DONE IN TEARS—PSALM 126:5 “THEY THAT SOW IN TEARS, SHALL REAP IN JOY”.
DO YOU GRIEVE IN YOUR HEART FOR THE LOST? DO YOU HAVE COMPASSION FOR THEM? HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE LOVED ONES THAT ARE LOST?
DO YOU EVER SHED TEARS FOR THEM? DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SHOW YOUR EMOTION WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEONE’S ETERNAL SECURITY. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER LAID DOWN AT NIGHT AND CRIED YOURSELF TO SLEEP OVER SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE?
WE NEED TO CRY MORE OFTEN AT THE STATE OF THE HUMAN SOUL. ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT WE ARE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN SOWING THE SEEDS OF SALVATION. WE WILL REAP IN JOY WHEN THE SEEDS SPROUT AND THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS THEM HOME TO CHRIST.
SECONDLY, SEEDS ARE TO BE SOWN BESIDE ALL WATERS—ISAIAH 32:20 “BLESSED ARE YE THAT SOW BESIDE ALL WATERS.” NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
I BELIEVE THAT THIS MEANS WE ARE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH WHOMEVER WE COME INTO CONTACT WITH. WE ARE NOT TO BE SELECTIVE IN WHO WE WISH TO SEE WON TO CHRIST.
WE CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE THE FAMILY WE ARE BORN INTO, MUCH LESS WHO WILL BE BORN INTO IT WITH US. SO WHY SHOULD WE TRY TO CHOOSE WHO WILL BE OUR BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST?
DON’T MANY CHURCHES TRY TO DO THIS THOUGH? HOW MANY STORIES HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE COMING INTO A CHURCH AND NOT BEING WELCOMED BECAUSE THEY LOOK DIFFERENT?
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TURNED AWAY, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT LIKE US? WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. NOW DOES THAT MEAN, WE WILL TAKE IT TO THIS SECTION OVER HERE, AND AVOID THIS SECTION, BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT?
ABSOLUTELY NOT, THE WORLD MEANS JUST THAT. FOLKS IT MEANS EVERYBODY. NOW I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING THIS MORNING. THERE IS ONLY ONE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHRISTIAN AND THE NON-CHRISTIAN.
ONE IS A LOST SINNER. THE OTHER IS A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE. GOD DOES NOT LOOK AT WHAT IS ON THE OUTSIDE. WHY DO WE? THE ONLY CONCERN THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ABOUT SOMEONE IS THEIR WELL BEING. PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.
WE SHOULD NOT CONCERN OURSELVES ABOUT THE WAY SOMEONE LOOKS.
THIRDLY, CHRISTIAN SOWING IS TO BE DONE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS—HOSEA 10:12 “SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY, BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU”.
SERVE OR SOW, FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. DON’T SERVE GOD FOR WHAT YOU CAN GET OUT OF IT. WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE NOT CHRISTIANS FOR OUR OWN GAIN. WE ARE CHRISTIANS TO SERVE GOD. WE DO OUR BEST SERVICE BY SERVING OTHERS.
WE HONOR GOD, WHEN WE SACRIFICE OF OURSELVES IN SERVICE TO OTHERS. AND WE ARE NOT TO BRAG ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE. WHAT WE DO IN SECRET, GOD THE FATHER WILL REWARD IN PUBLIC.
WHEN YOU BRAG ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, YOU DISHONOR GOD, AND TAKE AWAY THE BLESSING. WE ARE HERE TO GLORIFY GOD, NOT OURSELVES.
FOURTHLY, CHRISTIAN SOWING IS TO BE DONE IN THE SPIRIT—GALATIANS 6:8 “..FOR HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING”
WHEN YOU SOW, YOU ARE SOWING SEEDS OF EVERLASTING LIFE. SEEDS OF SALVATION, PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF EVERLASTING LIFE FOR THOSE WHO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST.
YOU SHALL REAP AN EVERLASTING REWARD IN HEAVEN FOR THE SEEDS THAT YOU SOW HERE ON THIS EARTH. WE GLORIFY GOD WHEN WE SOW IN THE SPIRIT.
HOW? BY SOWING GOD IS ABLE TO SHOW HIS POWER OVER DEATH HELL AND THE GRAVE, BY GRANTING EVERLASTING LIFE TO ANOTHER LOST SOUL, THEREBY GLORIFYING HIS OWN NAME.
WE MUST SOW SEEDS, TO GLORIFY GOD.
THE SECOND THING I WANT US TO LOOK AT THIS MORNING, IS NOT ONLY THAT THE SEED IS LOST IN THE SOIL, BUT IT IS ALSO, LEAST OF THE SEEDS.
LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAYS IN VERSE 31, “LESS THAN ALL THE SEEDS”. The mustard seed is certainly not the smallest seed on the earth, but it is the smallest of the seeds that grow into herbs or large plants.
This illustrates the tremendous potential of even the least of all things or people.
I want to illustrate this point with four examples from scripture.
The first thing I want us to look at is a simple rod. In exodus 4:2 god asked moses what was that in his hand? And moses answered a rod.
The sign of the rod = power. It was moses’ shepherds crook, the tool of his calling. Cast down it became a serpent, taken up in faith, it became the rod of god.
Look at the potential. A simple stick, became the sign of god’s power. HOW MUCH POWER? ALL OF IT!
The second thing I want us to look at is a jawbone. We are told the story in judges of the mighty samson. He took up the jawbone and killed a thousand men with it.
A piece of decaying bone, had the potential to kill a thousand men. When it was in the right hands.
Notice what I said, when it was in the right hands. I want to submit to you this morning, that no matter how insignificant you may feel. No matter how out of place, or out of touch with reality you may feel.
When you submit yourself to the hand of god, you can do anything. The bible says, I can do all things through christ, who strengthens me. You must be totally submitted though for this to work.
GOD DOESN’T WANT SOME PART OF YOU THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP, HE WANTS YOU TO WILLINGLY GIVE HIM YOUR EVERYTHING. ALL OF YOU.
YOU SAY PREACHER, I AM NOTHING, I CAN’T DO ANYTHING FOR THE LORD. IF YOU WILL ONLY SUBMIT, AND BE WILLING, YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE A MAJOR FORCE FOR GOD.
The third thing I want us to look at is five smooth stones. We are told the story of david and goliath in I samuel 17. We are told how david took up five stones. We know that he only used one.
Why do you think he took up five stones? I believe that he took up five stones, because he knew that goliath had four brothers, and he was ready (in god’s hands) to take on the whole family.
He took one stone and killed the giant. Look at the potential again of putting yourself in the right hands.
A small teenage boy, in the hands of god, defeated the enemy of all israel, the enemy that none of israel’s own warriors would face.
GIVEN THE KINGS OWN ARMOR, HE WOULD NOT USE IT. HE FACED THE GIANT, ON HIS OWN, ARMED WITH NOTHING BUT FAITH IN GOD AND FIVE SMOOTH STONES.
The next thing I want us to look at is five loaves of bread.
We know the story all to well. Jesus the son of god, fed five thousand men, with five loaves of bread.
And during this time, men were the only ones in the population to be counted.
Many bible scholars believe that jesus fed probably in excess of 15-20 thousand people that day. Look at the potential of this bread in the right hands.
LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU; THINK OF THE POTENTIAL OF EACH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE, IF THEY WERE TOTALLY SUBMITTED TO GOD.
WHAT IS YOUR HIDDEN POTENTIAL, IF YOU WERE TO PUT YOURSELF IN GOD’S HANDS?
GOD TOOK A ROD, A SHEPHERDS STAFF, AND IT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO SHOW ALL HIS POWER. GOD TOOK A JAWBONE, OF A DEAD ANIMAL, AND GAVE IT THE POTENTIAL TO SMITE A THOUSAND OF HIS ENEMIES.
GOD TOOK FIVE SMOOTH STONES, AND USED ONE OF THEM TO SLAY A GIANT THAT WAS SUBDUING HIS CHILDREN.
GOD TOOK FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD AND FED MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE.
WHAT COULD GOD DO WITH YOU, IF YOU ALLOWED HIM TO USE YOU?
I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING; GOD TOOK A MURDERER, AND TRANSFORMED HIM INTO THE LEADER OF ISRAEL. HE TOOK MOSES AND USED HIM TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE OUT OF BONDAGE.
GOD TOOK A ANOTHER MURDERER AND ADULTERER. HE USED HIM TO WRITE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POETRY EVER WRITTEN. GOD USED DAVID, TO GIVE US THE PSALMS.
GOD TOOK A MAN, WHO WAS A PERSECUTOR AND MURDERER OF CHRISTIANS. HE TOOK PAUL, AND MADE HIM AN APOSTLE, WHO GAVE US 13 BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
GOD CAN TAKE YOU, AND USE YOU TO HELP LEAD SOMEONE TO CHRIST. HE CAN TAKE YOU TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU, HE CAN TAKE YOU AND MAKE YOU A LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE.
IF, YOU WILL ONLY LET HIM.
NOT ONLY IS THE SEED LOST IN THE SOIL, NOT ONLY IS IT THE LEAST OF THE SEEDS, BUT IT IS ALSO THE LARGEST OF THE HERBS.
JESUS SAID IN VERSE 32 IT IS “GREATER THAN ALL HERBS”. SEE THE POTENTIAL OF THIS TINY SEED?
MUSTARD PLANTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO GROW OVER 12 FEET HIGH—ALL FROM A LITTLE SEED LIKE THIS. WHAT A LESSON FOR THE CHRISTIAN.
NOW I AM NOT SAYING THAT WHEN YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN, THAT YOU WILL GROW TO BE A TWELVE-FOOT GIANT. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN BECOME A SPIRITUAL GIANT, IF YOU WILL LET GOD USE YOU THE WAY HE WANTS TO.
FROM A SMALL BEGINNING OF NOTHING. GOD’S GRACE ENABLES A NEWBORN CHRISTIAN TO GROW INTO A LARGE BEAUTIFUL PLANT OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.
ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE FAITH. TURN WITH ME NOW TO MATTHEW 17:20. (read) JESUS IS TALKING WITH HIS DISCIPLES WHEN THEY FAILED TO CAST OUT A DEMON. HE TELLS THEM WHY. THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FAITH.
FOLKS FAITH THE SIZE OF A SINGLE MUSTARD SEED. THAT MUCH FAITH IS ALL IT TAKES, TO OPEN UP THE POTENTIAL WITHIN YOU.
I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE LOST PERSON WHO MAY BE AMONG US THIS MORNING. ALL IT TAKES IS THAT MUCH FAITH.
FAITH THAT JESUS CHRIST, LIVED, AND DIED, TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SINS. AND THAT HE ROSE AGAIN AND IS NOW IN HEAVEN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.
HE IS THERE MAKING INTERCESSION FOR YOU. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH. JUST A LITTLE IS ALL IT TAKES TO START WITH. AND WHEN YOU ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, AND HE STARTS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE, THEN YOUR FAITH WILL START TO GROW.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HOW MUCH FAITH YOU CAN HAVE. BUT I CAN SAY THIS, THE MORE YOU ALLOW YOUR FAITH TO GROW, AND THE MORE FAITH YOU HAVE IN GOD, THE MORE BLESSING YOU WILL RECEIVE.
AND WITH THE INCREASE IN BLESSING, YOUR FAITH WILL INCREASE AS WELL.
CHRISTIAN, HOW MUCH FAITH DO YOU HAVE TODAY? FAITH ENOUGH PREACHER, I KNOW I AM GOING TO HEAVEN.
I AM THANKFUL THAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN, BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT FAITH ENOUGH TO STEP OUT ON IT AND LET GOD TAKE CONTROL.
I AM TALKING ABOUT FAITH ENOUGH TO DEPEND ON GOD FOR EVERYTHING, AND NOT DEPENDING ON YOURSELF.
I AM TALKING ABOUT FAITH ENOUGH TO DEPEND ON GOD TO MEET ALL OF YOUR NEEDS, WANTS, AND DESIRES.
I AM TALKING ABOUT FAITH ENOUGH, TO GIVE OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY TILL IT HURTS TO SEE GOD’S KINGDOM GROW.
I AM TALKING ABOUT FAITH ENOUGH, TO STAND UP FOR CHRIST AND WHAT IS RIGHT, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.
I AM TALKING ABOUT FAITH ENOUGH, TO GIVE UP CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE AND THINGS AROUND YOU, AND SURRENDER IT ALL TO GOD.
I AM TALKING ABOUT FAITH ENOUGH TO GIVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE TO GOD.
DO YOU HAVE THAT MUCH FAITH IN GOD TODAY? IF YOU DON’T THEN YOU NEED TO START WORKING ON ALLOWING GOD TO BUILD YOUR FAITH.
LITTLE IS MUCH IF GOD IS IN IT. ALL IT TAKES IS A HUMBLE BEGINNING, AND A SURRENDERED LIFE.
FOLKS, HE IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. DON’T YOU THINK HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED AND WHEN WE NEED IT? DON’T YOU THINK HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US?
