Seeking Jesus First - Nov. 18. 2024

Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God. The parable of the sower in Mark 4 is a foundational teaching for understanding the kingdom of God.

Mark 4:13–20, NKJV “And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

1. It is given to the disciples of Jesus to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
2. This parable is foundational to understanding all parables of the kingdom of God.
3. The sower sows the word of God.
4. The seed is the word of the kingdom
5. Satan comes immediately to steal the word of the kingdom
6. Tribulation and persecution come for the word’s sake to see if we are going to keep it or not
7. The cares of this world tempt us away from the word of the kingdom
8. Those who are willing to overcome Satan, endure persecution and tribulation and resist the cares of the world will be proven as good ground and will produce the fruit of the kingdom, and receive a harvest - thirty, sixty or a hundredfold.

Earthly citizens of The Kingdom of God will “farm” God’s word like seed planted in good ground. They will keep His words in their mouths and meditate in them day and night so that they observe and do them. Then they will make their way prosperous and have good success.