TEXT:     Mark 4:1-32; 1 Peter 1:23 

By:         Godbuilt Godwin Igbava

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Living
• Alive Now
• Living organisms

• Be living proof of something
• To show by your actions or qualities that a particular fact is true.
• God’s word has proved this right. 

• Entertainment
• What we use to entertain People

• Films/Movie/Music, etc. used to entertain people. Example of this is Radio/TV form of entertainment 

Mark 4:1-9 – And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Brethren, this discussion will be straight and precise and I want us to be very sincere to evaluate ourselves after listening or hearing the words.

Traditionally, humans like to enjoy themselves through various entertainment, that is why in Ecclesiastes 2:8, 24, the wise teacher wrote about banquet and revelling – I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

Banquet and Revelling were also mentioned in 1 Peter 4:2-4 – that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. ³ For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

Now, there are four kinds of people in the church, even Christians in general.

Jesus Christ used the Parable of The Four Soils to mean this, and the farmer who went out to plant some seeds on the soils.

We all know that the seed the farmer has for planting is the word of God.

John 17:17 – Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Romans 10:14-17 – How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Truth Everyone Must Accept 

The word is the word of God. This is the same word we come to hear in this place, even now.

The question now is that how do you hear the words of life? This is a question everybody must answer credibly as I remind us what we all are admonished in the book of James 1:21-24 – Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 

Reason To Be Doers

The word is presented to transform all its hearers. It was never meant to entertain you.

Another fact we all must accept is that we are in the house of God where the Children of God meet to join Faith together in fellowship and worship the Almighty God.

We should discontinue entertainment mind-set.

Acts 4:23-33 – And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things?  The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

1 Timothy 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The entertainment industries build theatres and cinema halls and film actors and actresses and comedians patronize them for their shows.

Those who see and feel that the church is too dull and too strict, should know that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth.

We are a community of believers. Although the church comprises of four categories of believers, this teaching or admonition is to enable us beware and be wise, to be among those who stand for the principle of the word of God as taught them from the beginning, having confidence and hope to receive a crown reward.

We are the church and we must position ourselves all the time as the pillar and the ground of the truth, no wavering.

THE BEAUTY AND BENEFITS OF THE WORD

1. The word is power 

1 Corinthians 2:4 – and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. (Compare 2 Sam. 22:29–33) 

2. The word is light 

2 Corinthians 4:6 – For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:130 – The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

3. The word is peace 

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Compare Col. 3:15)  

4. The word gives wisdom 

Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

5. The word gives blessings

6. The word improves the faith of men 

Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Luke 17:5 – And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

7. The word builds men up. 

Acts 20:32 – “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

2 Corinthians 1:15 – And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit

(compare Rom. 1:11, Rom. 15:29, James. 1:21)

8. The word of God has all the words of this life­

Acts 5:20 – “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

9. The word convicts the heart of man 

Acts 19:18-20 – And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totalled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. 

10. The word grows because it is living and it is living in the believers

Acts 6:7 – Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Acts 12:24 –  But the word of God grew and multiplied. (compare 1 Peter 2:5, John 6:63, Isaiah 55:11, Matthew 24:35).

NOTE

Nothing can stop its movement (the word).

They may chain the men that speak the word but no man on earth can chain God’s word.

Example, Paul and Silas in the prison, Acts 16:23 – 34.

11. The word can heal you and give you life

Matt. 21:44 – And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

(compare John 12:48).

One can die for the word        Acts 21:13 – Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (compare Acts 7:60). 

CONCLUSION

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are admonished by the writer of 1 John 2:24-28 to remain steadfast not allowing anyone to deceive us.

Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.  These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

Having heard all these, will you still be adamant in that state of being cold and not hot attitude?

Or will you still also go away?

Notice you were called to shine out as the light out of darkness.

Matt. 4:16–17 – The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matt. 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

God bless you all in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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