Notes from Sunday, October 19, 2003
by Pastor Brian Greene
Mark 4:26-28: And Jesus said, "So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man SHOULD cast seed into the ground; (27) And SHOULD sleep, and arise night and day, and the seed SHOULD spring and grow up, he knoweth not HOW. (28) For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself.
Last week, we discovered "God Uses" servant-leaders to "recast" people. For example: Pentecostal Tabernacle exists to "recast" broken people (not working according to their purpose) into people who bring glory (credit) to God.
Today, this scripture teaches us one of the most important principles in the Bible. In fact it is so important that the whole chapter covers this principle of:
- "Seed time and Harvest".
- "You reap what you sow".
- "What you plant is what will grow".
These are all principles found in Genesis 8:22 and Galatians 6:9.
Please note the following thoughts from our text in Mark Chapter 4:
1. The scripture states he "should" sleep, and rise "night and day"; not day & night! Our new day or our new beginning will always begin at midnight (in darkness, in ignorance, not really knowing or understanding). In the Jewish culture the new day began at 6:00 in the evening, not 12:00 midnight. No matter whose culture we use both days begin at night and move toward day time or day light. Lights speaks of revelation, knowing what's going on, not being in ignorance. You need to stop expecting the new day in your life to begin with light. When God begins a new season or period in our lives, it always starts with us being unclear as to what He's doing in or with our lives.
2. The scripture also says, " ...he knoweth not HOW. " It does not say that, "He doesn't know." Example: I may know that a flashlight works with batteries, as well as how to switch it on. However, I do not know how two little cooper blocks put into a tube, turns a light bulb on. Guess what? I don't have to know how. I only have to know that it does. I don't have to be able to explain it! I simply have to know that the flashlight works.
3. Our problem is that we equate "knowing", which is "Faith" (The flash light works), with knowing "How" (a need to explain process by which it works) which is "Trust." Thus what ends up happening is that we don't use the flashlight until we understand how it works.
4. We are to declare what we know, not what we understand. We get so caught up in the "how" is God going to work this out or do this, that what SHOULD grow from our faith does not happen because we cease to cast the seeds of Faith. Just trust God and do what you "KNOW" He told you to do (Proverbs 3:5, 6). If you do, your seed should spring up though you know not how.
5. Your negative seeds will grow. If you don't spend time "cultivating" good friendships or if you've been planting the seeds of neglect, don't expect a harvest of good friendships! (Proverbs 18:24)