The Parables of Christ no. 10
Take
Heed What you Hear
Rev. Brian Kocourek
This morning I will l speak
to you on 2 parables and therefore 2 sermons, since Wednesday night I will be
finalizing my getting ready to leave for
Now, my intent today was to
speak to you today about the Seed that Grows secretly until the harvest which
we find in Mark Chapter 4 from verses 26 through 29.
But in order to understand what this parable is speaking of and the condition
of the Kingdom of God at the time of the harvest we need to read also the
previous two verses, 24 and 25, because
these two verses give us the needed background to understand this parable.
Therefore, let’s begin with
Mark 4:24-29. And he said unto them,
Take heed what ye hear (1): with what measure ye mete, it shall be
measured to you (2): and unto you that hear (3) shall more be
given. 25 For he that hath (4), to him shall be given (5): and he that hath
not(6), from him shall be taken even that which he hath (7).
Now, notice that Jesus is
telling us to take heed what we hear. In other words he is telling us to be
careful what we hear. Now the word that was translated “what” was a Greek word “tis”
and it actually means in “what way”
you are hearing. We are commanded to be careful in “what way” we are hearing. And it also means, “Who” and therefore could be read, or,
be careful of whom you are
listening too. Now, why would it matter whom you listen too? Well, look what happened to the whole world
because Eve listened to the wrong person.
Because we are warned by
the Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy
This same Apostle was afraid
the church at
II CORINTHIANS 11:1 ¶ Would to
God ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me. 2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one
husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear,
lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety (that’s his cunning use of
false wisdom), so
your minds should be corrupted (that means to become polluted) from the simplicity
(which means the single focus) that is in Christ. 4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus (that word another
is the Greek word allos which means a different one altogether), whom we have not
preached, or if ye receive another spirit (and this word another is
the Greek word heteros which means of another nature), which ye have not received, or another gospel
(and this word another also means one of a different nature), which ye have not
accepted, ye might well bear with him (or you seem to put up with it
so easily).
Paul was shocked by the lax
attitude of the believers at
Notice he calls these men
evil and he also calls them seducers. Now seduction is not clubbing you over
the head and beating you to a pulp. But seduction is done by using flattering
language. Language to lure you into their scheme. And notice Paul said, 2 Timothy
Now, teaching is the
essential ministry of the Holy Spirit, and it is God’s way of instructing His Children.
Without the Teaching of the Holy Spirit through his chosen vessel, you can not
in any way understand the
And in the Book of JOHN
Therefore unless you have
been taught and have learned you can not even come to God, because what God are
you going to come to? Now, those are
Jesus’ own words. And so the Ministry of the Holy Spirit has always been one of
instruction. That is why doctrine is so important, because doctrine is
teaching.
Notice how important
teaching was to Jesus. We are told in the Gospels that Jesus taught the people
daily. LUKE 19:47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the
chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy
him, 48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very
attentive to hear him.
MARK 4:2 And
he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
MATTHEW 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these
sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught
them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.
Now, there is one thing you
should know for sure, that if God sends a man and backs up that man with His
presence and His power, then that man will not be there with a message that is
the same old teaching the people have been believing all along. For why would
God send a message if you already know what it. God does not do anything in
vein, and neither does he waste His time , nor does he waste your time. What
would be the reason for sending a messenger with a message if that message is
not new, or at least a clearer understanding than you had before.
From the message, THE TOKEN 64-0308 73 brother
Branham said, Now, when you see signs going on, and no
message behind it, just the same old school of theology and on down, that
wasn't from God. But where there's a sign showed, a Message follows it.
The reason God performs the
signs and wonders is then to attract the attention of the people to the
teaching, which is the message. And yet just because God’s main purpose is to
teach you, does not mean the people always get it.
WHY IT HAD TO BE SHEPHERDS 64-1221 147 All
as we know,
So we see then the main
emphasis that God places on His personal presence is to teach man, and yet man
most often doesn’t get it. They want the fishes and loaves, but they do not
want to be taught. And yet, unless they are not only taught but learn they can
not even come to God, for how are you going to come to God if you do not even
know what God to come to?
And the teaching cannot be
just the thoughts of the man, or he can not be a messenger from God. For if he
is a True Messenger He will say what has been told Him to say by God. And what
good would it be if God sent a man to be his messenger if that man did not say
what God told Him to say. He certainly would not be a true witness. He would be
a deceiver.
In JOHN 8:28 Jesus said, Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of
man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as
my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. Even the Son of
God could not teach contrary to what He had been taught by God Himself.
And in the Book of GALATIANS
Now the fact of it is, is
that we are told by the apostle John that the Holy Spirit is our teacher, and
yet we know that God has placed in the church a 5 fold ministry to do just
that, to teach. And Why is that? Because we know that God has always used men
to teach His word.
In the Book of Acts they
taught from house to house and from church to church and from temple to temple.
Wherever they could gather together anyone that would listen they scattered
forth the Seed which is the Word of God.
And you are commande3d to
give back the word which you are taught back to the one teaching so that he
might know where you are standing. Because if the one teaching does not have
any feed back, he then will not know how to instruct you further. In GALATIANS 6:6 Paul said, Let him
that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good
things.
And in the Book of TITUS 1:9 we read, Holding
fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound
doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many
unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which
they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Now, we know the purpose
behind God teaching us is to draw us to Him, and not to some other object of
worship. And believe me there are plenty of deceivers out there who would try
to influence you after there own persuasion.
I JOHN
John also let’s us know that the evidence that we are
of God is that we will hear those that are of God. I JOHN 4:5They are of the world: therefore speak they of
the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God
heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of
truth, and the spirit of error.
And that is why I believe that those who will not
hear the true five fold ministry and shut themselves off from the ones that God
is using are not even born again.
Now, the Apostle Paul makes it very clear in the Book
of Romans why we need to hear only those that God has sent.
Romans
If you will notice in verse 14-15 there are four
statements that Paul makes that of which follow together in such a way that one
leads to the other, but so that the last forms the foundation on which the
others rest. Thus we see from what Paul said, that it is impossible that those
preach who are not sent, It then is impossible for those to hear who are
without a preacher, and it is impossible for them to believe who do not hear,
and thus it would be impossible for them to call upon the name of the Lord who
do not believe. And thus it would be impossible for them who do not call upon
the name of the Lord to be saved.
So then, the entire source and origin of salvation
rests on this, that God sends out someone, Now, would just anyone do? Not
according to God’s Word. God will send out a true minister of the Word.
Because if God does not send out any, then they who
preach, preach falsely, and their
preaching is not really preaching at all. In fact, it would be better for them
not to preach, because what they are preaching is not what God wants the people
to hear, and therefore is false.
Then also they who would hear such an one would hear
error, and it would be better for them not to hear.
Then also they who believe based on hearing this
error, would believe based on false doctrine, and it would be better for
them not to believe.
Then also they who call upon Him would call
falsely (upon a false Lord), and it
would be better for them not to call.
1
For such preachers do not preach,
2
such hearers do not hear;
3
such believers do not believe;
4
such callers do not call;
5
they will be damned because they would be saved by falsehood.
Then we can see what Proverbs
And so we hear Paul conclude in verse 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord,
who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God. The true, revealed, and vindicated Word of God.
Then can you see the importance this morning of
receiving a vindicated Ministry? Because if it is not vindicated, then how do
you know what you are hearing is not error? And if it is error, then you would
be believing error, and if you believe error, then you would be calling out to
a wrong God, and if you call out to a wrong God, then how could you be saved?
Now, Jesus said, unto them, Take
heed what ye hear (1) Now, we have already covered that.
It means to take heed or be careful in what way or in what manner you are
hearing. And then He goes on to tell us what he means. with what measure ye mete, it shall be
measured to you (2) In other words, in other words, we could
say that as, “with what measuring instrument you use to divide my word that is
the measure you will get. If you use a righteous measuring instrument you will
get a rightly divided word, but if you use some other means to divide my word,
then you will get what you are looking for. If you examine the Word with a
Baptist filter you will get a Baptist Bible. If you use a Catholic filter to
divide the Word you will get a Catholic Bible. And if you use a Pentecostal
experience to measure the Word you will get a Pentecostal Bible, and no
more. But if you rightly divide the Word
you will get right-eousness which is right-wise-ness.
And then he continued, and unto you that
hear (3) Now, we know that not every one can hear or else he
would not be saying unto you that can hear. In Matthew 13:10-17 and Mark 4:
10-12 Jesus said, that not everyone is ordained to understand. He said they
have ears but can not hear and eyes but cannot see. MATTHEW
13:13 Therefore
speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear
not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of
Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and
seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is
waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have
closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with
[their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they
see: and your ears, for they hear.
And then Jesus continued
saying, and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25
For he that hath, to him shall be given (4) Now, we have
covered this before, but that word hath is the Greek word echo and an echo is
being able to repeat back the same words with the same expression so that it is
clear that you do understand. For I can use the same words with different expressions
and mean completely opposite meanings. I could say with assurance “William
Branham is a prophet!” and you will know by my statement that I am sure of what
I am saying. And I stand firm behind that statement. But I could say those same
words, and instead of an exclamation mark, I could use a question mark, and it
would give a totally different meaning, “William Branham is a prophet?”
Therefore, just being able
to repeat the Word is not being able to echo the Word. A parrot can repeat, but it takes a certain
gift from God to be able to echo it back, because in doing so, you are
expressing the same spirit as the composer.
Now, let’s continue, and he that hath not
(5) That means to those who are not made in such a way as to
understand and therefore echo or give back to God what He has given to you. And
that is what true worship and sacrifice is all about. God does not require just
any old sacrifice. What He requires is what He gives to us and we give it back
to Him showing we know from whence it came in the first place. True sacrifice
is giving back to God what He has revealed to you. And did you know that you
become your sacrifice? Abel offered up to God a bleeding dying lamb and he
became that bleeding dying lamb. Jesus was the Lamb of God and that is what He
offered back to God. Therefore, and he that hath not from him shall be taken even that which
he hath (6) And the literal meaning of that is from him shall be
taken even that which he thinks that he hath. Then there is no way for them
to rightly offer back to God anything because they don’t even have it to begin
with.