The Character of God in You
Mark 4:24-32;  Luke 8:18

The main message to the Philippians is 'keep on keeping on'.  They were doing the work of God and the devil was trying to discourage them to make them stop.  God tells His people to keep on doing his work regardless of circumstances and trials.  Have faith that God will give you the reward after you pass the test.

1. God's character in us provides for our eternal rewards: (Mark 4:24-25; Luke 8:18).
• Mark says Take heed what ye hear.  Reject doctrinal error.  Meditate on God's word that God's messenger brigs to you.
• Luke says: Take heed therefore how ye hear.  Listen for the spiritual lesson as primary and see how to apply it to your own life.
• Mark says with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.  The phrase you that hear means people who hear and obey the spiritual message.
• The phrase shall more be given is referring to the parable of the pounds and the parable of the talents.  In these places, and other places in the Bible, we are taught that people who return a profit to God receive greater rewards in eternity.  The saved people who return no profit to God lost everything and were eternal paupers.
• Luke says: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.  Thus, we see two witnesses telling us this is true.
2. It proves our faith that God does the work (Mark 4:26-30)
• Mark says And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 
• The man does his part and then God does His part.
• The phrase he knoweth not how tells us that we don't know how God works.
• The phrase For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.  The full corn in the ear is a bunch of new seeds which is a bunch of new life.  In the Parable of the Sower, the good ground produced much fruit, just like our phrase talks about.  Fruit is a new small life.  When we plant God's life into a heart of someone whose heart is good ground, then God will use that heart to make the person spiritually productive and to get others saved.
• Mark 4:29 says: But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.  We can know the results that God produces even though we don't know how God produces them.
• This is Biblical faith.  We do what is required on our part and expect God to do His part even though we don't know how God does His part.  We sow expecting a harvest even though we don't know how God will produce the harvest.
• Our parable starts with So is the kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God is God's character in you.  The more of God's character that is in you the greater will be your harvest and your eternal reward.  God's character is holiness, righteousness, sacrifice, service and faith in God's promises.  In particular we sacrifice and serve now to get an eternal reward after we get to Heaven.
3. It provides us with a ministry here in this world.
   Mark 4:30-32 says And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?' or with what comparison shall we compare it?' It is' like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
• When we first receive salvation, and God's character in us, it is so small that many people will not see it.  If you held a mustard seed in your fingers, most people would not see it.  However, as you let it grow in your life, and make you more like God, it becomes more obvious to the world.  In addition, God wants to grow His life in all of His people until they have a ministry which provides protection to all people, saved and lost alike.  That is the symbolic meaning of so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.  After the lost are provided protection, they can be shown the advantage of getting saved.
• This kingdom of God is for all saved.  Luke was a Gentile physician yet he wrote two books of the Bible and only a few Bible writers wrote more.
• Aquila and Priscila are recorded as using their profession to move to three different cities and help start churches in each of those cities.
• Wild grown oak is about 10 times as strong as farm grown oak and has more character in the grain.  God allows trials and circumstances to happen in our life to increase His character in us.  The more trials that we successfully pass the stronger we will be spiritually and the more useful we will be for God.
• No matter what happens know that God loves you and this trial is for your good and His glory.

When God allows a trial, say 'Thank you God for making me stronger and more useful'.

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