September 3, 2023, Mark 4:1-20, "A Teaching on Evangelism" (Full)

[Preface.]
Mark 4:1-12, the parable of the sower
Mark 4:11-12, the privilege of understanding these parables was given to the disciples, which were spiritually discerned; therefore, those on the outside will not understand, unless someone shares and teaches them the word of God. The sower is a follower of Christ, and the seed is the gospel and word of God.
Mark 4:13-20, Jesus tells the disciples the 4 different kinds of people they will encounter during their ministries
Mark 4:26, the kingdom of God will indeed grow, and the sowers shall obediently continue in what they were instructed to do
Mark 4:27, the sower will not know how the seed shall spring and grow up; that is a mystery of God, and all the earth is His
Mark 4:28, the crop will yield according to His will

[The unprepared heart.]
Mark 4:4, Mark 4:15, these heard the word, but the word was immediately taken from them by fallen angels (if a person does not pick up seeds given to them, the birds will surely get to the seeds first), and the word did not penetrate into their souls. These are the calloused hearts or un-plowed hearts who are unresponsive to the word, even if they hear it, because of the hardness of their hearts.

[The rocky heart.]
Mark 4:5-6, Mark 4:16-17, these are the rocky hearts with some soft soil on top. When the roots hit the rocks, there will be no soil and water left to reach, and therefore the roots will not grow. Although they initially had positive impulses when they first received the word, there is nothing beyond those impulses, concerning their faith. If their faith cannot take root and if they cannot trust in the blood of Christ, how then shall they stand in the storms and floods?
Mark 4:17, Jesus Christ warned His disciples of the challenges they would face, including persecution

[The worldly heart.]
Mark 4:7-8, Mark 4:18-19, the thorns could refer to worldly things; the sights, the sounds, the emotions/lusts perceived on the surface that so easily distract and lead people astray from God. These are the hearts that are so heavily distracted, that more of the world enters into their hearts than God. They are filled more with "wine" than the Holy Spirit.

[The prepared heart.]
Mark 4:8, Mark 4:20, the fully penitent heart fully believes and accepts that Jesus Christ is their LORD and savior
Deuteronomy 30:6, circumcision of the heart comes only from God
Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36, a new heart given and the Spirit given, promised by God and given as a privilege
Luke 14:27, who will bear his cross?
Luke 9:62, who is fit for the kingdom of God?
Luke 14:27, who will bear his cross daily?

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