Mark 4:1-5:20
4:1-34
God%u2019s Word carries this message: %u2018He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says...%u2019(9; Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22). We must listen for the voice of the Spirit. Grace has been %u2018given %u2019to us (11). It is God's gift. To God be the glory! Sadly, some refuse to listen. Think about yourr esponse to God's Word (15-20). Let your light shine (21-23; Matthew 5:16). Use your gifts, or lose them (24-25). We preach the Word. God gives the growth (26-29; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). A small child can count the seeds in an apple. Only God knows how many apples there are in a single seed! God%u2019s Word is a %u2018seed%u2019 which bears much fruit (30-32; 1 Peter 1:23-25). Parables whet the appetite - for more! They were given to people %u2018as they were able to hear it%u2019- %u2018a starter%u2019(33-34)! May we be %u2018visual aids%u2019 to whet people%u2019s appetite - for God!
4:35-5:20
Jesus was sleeping because He was tired - not because He didn't care (38)! He does care. Everything was under control. Faith was being tested. Fear and faith are opposites (40). %u2018Awe%u2019(41) is very different from unbelieving fear. Awe leads to worship. Fear destroys faith. The man was filled with 'unclean spirits' (13). He was a %u2018demoniac%u2019(15-16). No one could do anything for him (3) - except Jesus! They tried to %u2018subdue%u2019 him (4). Jesus saved him! He is able to lift from the guttermost... and %u2018save to the uttermost%u2019(Hebrews 7:25). The human situation is hopeless (Ephesians 4:18-19; 2 Corinthians 4:4) - without Christ! With Him, everything changes (2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 4:22-24). %u2018'The gates of hell prevail against%u2019 us. They do not prevail against Christ (Matthew 16:18). Tell others what the %u2018Lord has done for you%u2019- God will use your words to bring blessing (19-20).
God%u2019s Word carries this message: %u2018He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says...%u2019(9; Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22). We must listen for the voice of the Spirit. Grace has been %u2018given %u2019to us (11). It is God's gift. To God be the glory! Sadly, some refuse to listen. Think about yourr esponse to God's Word (15-20). Let your light shine (21-23; Matthew 5:16). Use your gifts, or lose them (24-25). We preach the Word. God gives the growth (26-29; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). A small child can count the seeds in an apple. Only God knows how many apples there are in a single seed! God%u2019s Word is a %u2018seed%u2019 which bears much fruit (30-32; 1 Peter 1:23-25). Parables whet the appetite - for more! They were given to people %u2018as they were able to hear it%u2019- %u2018a starter%u2019(33-34)! May we be %u2018visual aids%u2019 to whet people%u2019s appetite - for God!
4:35-5:20
Jesus was sleeping because He was tired - not because He didn't care (38)! He does care. Everything was under control. Faith was being tested. Fear and faith are opposites (40). %u2018Awe%u2019(41) is very different from unbelieving fear. Awe leads to worship. Fear destroys faith. The man was filled with 'unclean spirits' (13). He was a %u2018demoniac%u2019(15-16). No one could do anything for him (3) - except Jesus! They tried to %u2018subdue%u2019 him (4). Jesus saved him! He is able to lift from the guttermost... and %u2018save to the uttermost%u2019(Hebrews 7:25). The human situation is hopeless (Ephesians 4:18-19; 2 Corinthians 4:4) - without Christ! With Him, everything changes (2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 4:22-24). %u2018'The gates of hell prevail against%u2019 us. They do not prevail against Christ (Matthew 16:18). Tell others what the %u2018Lord has done for you%u2019- God will use your words to bring blessing (19-20).
