House Church Lesson By Larry Craddick

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR US

•“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new
disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
MARK CHAPTER 4
Sowers: Jesus set them example we are to follow—
•“He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:”
Mark 4:2 NLT
•“Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.””
Mark 4:9 NLT
•“He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to
outsiders so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what
I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’ ””
Mark 4:11-12 NLT
God does this same thing with us every day. Well every day that we are willing to listen and hear Him speak.
•“The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.”
Mark 4:14 NLT
Isn’t that exactly what Jesus says we are to be doing today in Mathew 28?
Interesting that these people were familiar with farming and harvest. I was told by the pastors in Kenya that they could
expect a 6 – 8 ears of maze harvest from a stock. That’s normal. And 10 – 12 is a banner crop. Blessings
Look what Jesus says that we should expect here in verse 20.•“And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty,
sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!””
Mark 4:20 NLT
So God is telling us through Jesus’ actual words what we should see as our fruit from preaching the gospel, first by living
it out loud by our examples and then by sharing the words of the gospel.
THIRTY — SIXTY — HUNDRED
•““A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are
never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things
from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say
flows from what is in your heart.”
Luke 6:43-45 NLT
This is a personal challenge for me! Not that I’m counting numbers so that I can pat myself on my back but, good fruit,
fruit that lasts and reproduces is the goal.
Next in this single setting Jesus continues teaching us how. We are to be the actual lights that with Christ in us we are to
shine differently than the world around us.Jesus says…
•“Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given
—and you will receive even more.”
Mark 4:24 NLT
Verses 21 – 25 the parable of the lamps.
Next Jesus teaches that we are to seed the kingdom of heaven into the world
•“Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.”
Mark 4:26 NLT
Jesus continues reinforcing his lesson but he is fully aware that only those with ears to hear can fully understand and
apply the teaching to their lives.
•“In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his
disciples, he explained everything to them.”
Mark 4:34 NLT
Now the disciples would not fully understand this teaching until when?
PENTECOST — at the infilling of the Holy Spirit into ALL 120 who waited and remained in the upper room.
•“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven
like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or
tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-3 NLT
The Holy Ghost’s empowering is our only source of God’s supernatural eternal kingdom of heaven power and authority!
John the Baptist declared:
•“For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.”John 3:34 NLT
Jesus came with the authority of Heaven. He had too because He is God. But He freely made restitution for us because
we could not ever do it ourselves with our sinful natures.
So what’s next for us then?
Jesus says:
•““I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I
am going to be with the Father.”
John 14:12 NLT
On Wednesday’s Small straws in a soft wind by Marsha Burns.
•1 Chronicles 29:11 days this…
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth
is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.
Have you forgotten who you are? I speak to those who are experiencing an identity crisis. I would remind you of who
you are in Me. You are chosen by Me, saved by grace, empowered by My Spirit. You are not a victim. You are victorious
as you abide in Me, and you need to adjust your outlook so that you can live up to your position.
•““I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I
am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to
the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
John 14:12-14 NLT
Larry Craddick