Friday, November 2, 2012
Sowing Seed, Bryant Hewitt Message
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8jQszfMtXE
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26626248
http://www.bryanthewitt.com/
WHAT THIS PARABLE REVEALS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD...
1. It describes how the Word of God produces fruit (i.e., how the
kingdom grows)
a. While the "seed" is not identified in this parable as the
Word of God...
b. ...it was defined as such in the parable of "The Sower" -
cf. Mk 4:14; Lk 8:11
2. The growth produced by the Word...
a. Is a mystery - Mk 4:26-28a
1) The sower can sow the seed and see it sprout and grow
2) But the growth is beyond his comprehension, and even
grows by itself
b. Is gradual - Mk 4:28b
1) It doesn't all occur at once
2) But step by step: first the blade, then the head, then
the full grain
3. But through such growth the harvest eventually comes - Mk 4:29
-- So the kingdom of God, growing by virtue of the Word of God
being planted, is similar to the amazing growth observed in
the sowing of grain
B. COMPARING THIS PARABLE WITH THE ONE OF "THE SOWER"...
1. The parable of "The Sower" emphasizes human responsibility
a. The seed did not produce the desired fruit unless it fell
on good soil
b. It takes "a good and noble heart" for the seed to produce
fruit! - cf. Lk 8:15
2. But the parable of "The Growing Seed" stresses the divine
power within the Word
a. A "good and noble heart" cannot bear fruit by itself!
b. It takes a seed that has within itself the power to
germinate and grow in good soil
3. And this parable emphasizes the need for those who sow to
trust and hope in the power of the seed, i.e., the Word of God
[Yes, the Word is the "seed" which contains the power for spiritual
life and growth when planted in the soil of a good and noble heart!
We may not be able to understand the true working of that power, but
this parable illustrates how we can still use it!
That we might utilize this powerful seed more often and more
successfully, consider a few more thoughts as we talk about...]
II. THE PARABLE APPLIED
A. THE WORD OF GOD IS A POWERFUL "SEED"...
1. It can cause us to be "born again" - 1Pe 1:22-25; Jm 1:18
2. It can help us to "grow" - 1Pe 2:1-2
3. It can indeed "save your souls" - Jm 1:21
-- All of this is possible because the Word of God is living and
powerful, filled with Spirit-giving life - He 4:12; Jn 6:63
B. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO UTILIZE THIS POWERFUL "SEED"...
1. By receiving it into our own hearts
a. Here we are talking about the growth of the kingdom of God
in our lives
b. Of course, we must receive it properly
1) With a good and noble heart - Lk 8:15; cf. Ac 17:11
2) With meekness - Jm 1:21
3) As babies longing for their mothers' milk - 1Pe 2:2
-- All the while "laying aside" those things that would
"choke" out the Word in our lives- cf. Jm 1:21; 1Pe 2:1
c. When so received, growth will occur
1) But remember the parable, for the growth is gradual
2) "first the blade, then the head, after that the full
grain in the head..." - Mk 4:28
-- Therefore the need to continue to feed upon the Word of
God, "that you may grow thereby" - 1Pe 2:2
2. By sowing it as far and wide as we possibly can
a. Here we are talking about the growth of the kingdom of God
in the world
b. Like the sower in the parable of "The Sower", we must sow
the seed everywhere
c. But like the sower in the parable of "The Growing Seed", we
must remember...
1) Growth comes only through the divine power of the seed
a) It is God who gives the increase
b) We are simply "seed-throwers" and "water-boys" - cf.
1Co 3:5-7
2) Growth comes in stages, not all at once
a) There will be days when all we seem to be doing is
"sowing"
b) There will be days when all we seem to be doing is
"waiting"
-- Like the farmer, then, we must be patient - cf. Jm
5:7
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Grace. Bryant Hewitt Message
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubJfLpKauEU
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26606424
GRACE AND THE CHRISTIAN
A. WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE!
1. Salvation is first, foremost, and always a matter of grace!
- Ep 2:5-8
a. God doesn't owe us anything
b. What we deserve is eternal damnation, because all are
sinners - Ro 3:23; 6:23a
c. Salvation is a gift, which God in lovingkindness offers to
man - Ro 6:23b; Tit 3:3-7
2. No matter what God may call upon us to do in order to receive
His grace, when we do those things (cf. believe, repent,
confess Jesus, be baptized)...
a. In no way can we ever say that we earn or merit salvation
b. We are still "unworthy servants" - cf. Lk 17:10
3. We must forever remember that only by God's grace is salvation
possible!
B. GOD'S GRACE REQUIRES HOLY LIVING!
1. Some people reason that since we are saved by grace, we are
free to do whatever we wish
2. Yet Paul wrote that the "grace of God...teaches us" to:
a. Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts
b. Live soberly, righteously and godly
c. Look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus
Christ - cf. Tit 2:11-13
3. As he continues, Paul explain why Jesus in grace gave Himself
for us...
a. That He might redeem us from every lawless deed
b. That He might purify for Himself His own special people,
zealous for good works - cf. Tit 2:14
4. The unmerited favor of God is no excuse to go on sinning!
C. HOLY LIVING REQUIRES GOD'S GRACE!
1. To live "soberly, righteously and godly" requires the grace of
God
2. We cannot do it on our own, but with God's help we can!
a. He works in us to do His good will - Php 2:12-13
b. By His strength we can do all the things He desires of us
- Php 4:13
D. WE MUST GROW IN GRACE!
1. This is especially true if we are going to live holy lives
2. Peter commands us to grow in grace - cf. 2Pe 3:18
3. Dear brother or sister, it is not enough just to experience
God's grace in forgiving our sins
a. God has so much more to share with us, both in this life
and the life to come - Ep 2:7
b. This explains Paul's salutations and benedictions - cf.
1Th 1:1; 5:28
4. We can grow in grace through:
a. Heeding the Word of God - Ac 20:32
b. Drawing near to God in prayer - He 4:16
Blessings of God. Bryant Hewitt Message
http://bryanthewitt-hue.blogspot.com/2012/11/blessings-of-god-bryant-hewitt.html
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26594961
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9599SmihAjw
I. GOD AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER - 1Jn 3:1 A. CONSIDER THE BLESSING OF HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER... 1. He is the source of every good and perfect gift from above - Jm 1:17; Mt 7:11 2. He provides us comfort in all our afflictions - 2Co 1:3-4 3. When needed, in love He chastises us - He 12:5-11 4. He has promised never to forsake us - He 13:5-6 B. YET, THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER... 1. We must SUBMIT to God - Jm 4:7 a. By submitting to His Word b. By submitting to His providential workings in our lives - 1Pe 5:6-11 2. We must also DRAW NEAR to God - Jm 4:8 a. Just as an earthly father delights when his children want to draw near to him, so does God - cf. Mt 23:37 b. We draw nearer to God by "cleansing our hands" and "purifying our hearts" - Jm 4:8 1) That is, by obtaining forgiveness and then strengthening our resolve to serve Him 2) For the Christian, this involves REPENTANCE, CONFESSION OF SINS, AND PRAYER - Ac 8:22; 1Jn 1:9
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