I often think that God wants me to move quickly or make a big splash when it comes to ministry. It’s just the opposite. In the kingdom of God, He is looking for receptive people who trust God to grow the ministry from small beginnings. Human strategies often get in the way of God working out His plan in His way and in His time. Mark 4 illustrates the various levels of receptivity to God’s word and describes kingdom principles directly affecting God’s reputation introduced in the prior chapter. 

Description of Individuals in Kingdom
1. Blank Mind: Ignored Word
The seed of God’s word falling beside the road has no traction because people ignore or don’t pay attention because Satan takes it away  (Mark 4:4,15). 

2. Unchanged Mind: Powerless Word
Seed falling on rocky ground has superficial connection since affliction, peer pressure or persecution render it powerless (Mark 4:5-6,16-17). 

3. Double Mind: Choked Word
Seed falling among thorns represents the worries of the  world, deceitfulness of riches and desires for other things, which choke the word from bearing fruit (Mark 4:7,18-19).

4. Receptive Mind: Fruitful Word
Seed falling on good soil yields 30, 60 and 100-fold fruit (Mark 4:8,20). The blank mind, unchanged mind and double mind hide the light, but the receptive mind shines the light of Christ like a lampstand. Your level of receptivity to God’s word is directly proportional to the amount of truth and responsibility He will reveal and entrust to you in the kingdom of God (Mark 4:8,20-25). 

Description of Kingdom Principles
1. Organic Growth 
Kingdom is like man who casts seed upon the soil, which grows in quantity and quality (maturity) while he sleeps (Mark 4:26-29).

2. Start Small
A mustard seed is smaller than all seeds but grows up larger than all plants (Mark 4:30-34).

3. Bold Faith
Jesus showed faith by sleeping in midst of storm  and then He rebuked the wind so the sea became calm (Mark 4:35-41).

Will you have faith in God to grow you, other individuals or your ministry by starting small in word or deed? For example, mentor or disciple one person and watch what God will do.


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