WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.679 I want you to know that it's a great encouragement for us to know that you are here and to hear of what God is doing here 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:16.339 and to just to see your faithful following of the Lord and your faithful witness here. 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:25.379 So it's an honor to be here with you. If you would turn to Mark chapter 4, that's where we're going to be. 00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:34.100 You may have seen the signpost in your seat. This is the signpost for Carrick Tool. 00:00:34.299 --> 00:00:40.159 Basically what this is is a reminder for you, whether you can use it as a bookmark or stick it around the refrigerator or whatever, 00:00:40.739 --> 00:00:45.719 someplace where I can remind you to pray for God to work in Carrick Tool. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:51.159 Some of you have already been praying and we're very thankful for that. 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:54.500 But I'd like you to know that God is answering those prayers. 00:00:56.239 --> 00:01:06.159 Since we arrived in the town, when we moved there, we knew that there was one family in the town that we could work with. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:18.780 We also spent months of frustration trying to get moved, trying to sell the house in Yall, trying to buy a place in Carrick Tool. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:24.659 It just didn't seem like anything was working. In fact, it looked pretty much impossible in a few different ways. 00:01:25.219 --> 00:01:30.299 But to make a long story short, nothing is impossible for God. And he provided. 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:40.340 And he continues to provide. So not only has he provided us a house, a place to live, but he has also provided people. 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:47.780 People that have, Christians that we've discovered in the community, Christians that have moved into the community from other places, 00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:54.780 even from around the world. And actually, we're at the point now where we don't fit very well in our house anymore. 00:01:54.780 --> 00:02:05.079 And we never saw that coming this soon. We really just praise the Lord for the work that he's done. 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:12.379 We do have, we are a very diverse group. We have people from every continent except Australia. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:16.539 So if you know of anybody from Australia in Carrick Tool, we'd like to have them. 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:23.859 But even more exciting, I think, is that we have seen one man who moved to Carrick Tool from the other side of the world 00:02:23.859 --> 00:02:27.340 who seems to have come to a real faith in the Lord. 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:35.699 And the last time we met in the home group, there were a couple of other people who don't know the Lord who attended. 00:02:35.899 --> 00:02:39.539 One of them very open to exploring what Christianity is about. 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:41.919 The other one I'm not so sure, but she was there. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:45.379 And that's what we want more than anything to see. 00:02:45.519 --> 00:02:54.739 We want to see people really engaging and really coming, turning to the Lord in real repentance and real faith. 00:02:56.279 --> 00:03:01.579 But even if our house is getting full and getting over full, 00:03:02.119 --> 00:03:05.739 the reality is that we've really only scratched the surface. 00:03:06.459 --> 00:03:09.060 There are hundreds of people in our estate. 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:11.840 There are hundreds, there are thousands in the town. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:19.000 There are many more in the surrounding areas who simply don't know what it means to have a relationship with God. 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:23.979 And what Jesus has done to make that possible for us through his death and resurrection, 00:03:24.420 --> 00:03:28.680 taking the punishment for our sin, to bring us back into the family of God. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:34.939 There are so many people around who simply don't have that understanding. 00:03:34.939 --> 00:03:39.800 And looking around us day to day, it can be overwhelming. 00:03:42.359 --> 00:03:45.979 How much need there is for the gospel and the lives around us. 00:03:46.419 --> 00:03:48.699 And how do we move forward in that? 00:03:49.180 --> 00:03:58.139 How can God's kingdom take root in our country, in our community, in the broken lives that we see around us? 00:03:58.139 --> 00:03:59.139 How can God's kingdom grow? 00:03:59.139 --> 00:04:04.899 So this morning I want to focus on three parables that Jesus told in Mark chapter 4. 00:04:05.539 --> 00:04:08.599 And we're going to look at how does God's kingdom grow? 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:13.059 So the first one we'll look at is in verse 3, 00:04:13.559 --> 00:04:18.399 where Jesus tells us something about how God's kingdom begins to grow in the hearts of people. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:22.579 So if you look with me, Mark chapter 4 and verse 3. 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:26.639 Listen, a farmer went out to sow his seed. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:31.500 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up. 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:35.439 Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:38.180 It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:42.539 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and they withered because they had no root. 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:47.379 Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:49.399 So they did not bear grain. 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:51.819 Still others fell on good soil. 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:53.759 It came up, grew and produced a crop. 00:04:53.979 --> 00:04:56.939 Some multiplying 30, some 60, some 100 times. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:01.679 If you skip down to verse 14, Jesus explains what he means by this parable. 00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:05.639 He says, the farmer sows the word. 00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:10.219 Some people are like the seed along the path where the word is sown. 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:14.879 As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:20.740 Others, like the seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:24.339 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:28.680 When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they fall away quickly. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.300 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word. 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:38.879 But the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires of other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:48.040 Others, like the seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop, some 30, some 60, some 100 times what was sown. 00:05:49.319 --> 00:05:55.459 Now usually, when we look at this parable, we think about the different kinds of soil, 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:59.839 the different kinds of hearts that God's word goes into. 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:05.819 And we ask ourselves maybe the question, you know, what kind of soil is my heart? 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:07.859 And that's a good question. 00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:13.979 It's a question we should ask ourselves because it's easy to assume maybe that we are good soil. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:16.219 We all want to be good soil, right? 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:22.879 Even if we are actually maybe withering or being choked with worry and care, 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:26.099 with the deceitfulness of wealth or whatever it is, 00:06:26.099 --> 00:06:28.599 to the point that we're not really bearing fruit. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:33.439 But that said, I want to take you in a different direction this morning. 00:06:34.179 --> 00:06:38.359 And what I want us to focus on is not the soil, but the seed itself. 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:45.739 What is this seed that goes into the soil of hearts and produces life? 00:06:46.799 --> 00:06:52.599 Life that can actually overflow 30, 60, even 100 times. 00:06:52.600 --> 00:07:00.240 Verse 14 says very clearly, the seed that is sown is the word. 00:07:01.760 --> 00:07:05.840 The beginning of growth in God's kingdom is the word of God. 00:07:06.200 --> 00:07:09.580 The word is the seed that brings life. 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:14.960 It's the message of what God has done for us, of how we can have life in him. 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:22.819 It might seem small and insignificant, but Paul says it contains the power of God for salvation for all who believe. 00:07:23.239 --> 00:07:26.759 If we want to see God's kingdom grow, if we want to see it bear fruit, 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:31.579 there is no other way to go about it than to sow God's word. 00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:36.699 And what that means is that if we only give people ourselves, 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:41.240 we are not giving them a real source of life. 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:43.180 We can be very sacrificial. 00:07:43.979 --> 00:07:46.659 We can give ourselves in great ways, 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:53.039 but our sacrifice actually can't give them life unless it points beyond ourselves to the gospel, 00:07:53.779 --> 00:07:55.740 which is the power of God for salvation. 00:07:56.539 --> 00:07:58.719 We can't give away ourselves only. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:05.920 We can't just give people only ourselves and expect growth any more than a farmer can plant himself in the ground 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:07.480 and expect to grow oranges. 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:09.440 It doesn't work. 00:08:10.520 --> 00:08:13.140 And the same goes for anything else that we can give people. 00:08:14.440 --> 00:08:18.240 I mean, a farmer can plant a great book on farming advice in the ground, 00:08:18.320 --> 00:08:21.380 and it might have really good advice in it, but nothing will grow. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:26.740 Maybe he could find a really engaging and entertaining documentary on farming, 00:08:26.880 --> 00:08:28.300 if such a thing exists. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.780 And he could plant that in the ground. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:36.639 And it doesn't matter how entertaining and wonderful that documentary is, 00:08:37.040 --> 00:08:38.240 nothing will grow. 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:40.879 We can give people good advice. 00:08:41.040 --> 00:08:42.460 We can give people great entertainment. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:45.980 We can give people wonderful moral rules to follow. 00:08:46.700 --> 00:08:48.259 Those are all fine, 00:08:49.040 --> 00:08:52.600 but they won't make life, real life, 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.800 grow in the hearts of people. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:58.160 Those things don't have that power. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:00.220 Nothing has that power, 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:03.379 except the word of God, 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:05.879 which is the power of God, 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:07.200 the gospel, 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:09.800 which is the power of God for salvation. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:12.359 And that's why Paul says in Romans 10, 00:09:12.359 --> 00:09:15.819 how then can they call on the one they have not believed in? 00:09:15.819 --> 00:09:18.899 And how can they believe in the one they have not heard of? 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.899 And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 00:09:21.899 --> 00:09:26.500 So if we want to see God's kingdom grow around us, 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:29.600 we've got to use our words and our actions. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:33.220 We've got to communicate God's word to others. 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:37.159 We've got to plant God's word in the lives of others. 00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:39.559 The farmer sows the word. 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:44.139 So the beginning of growth has got to be the seed of God's word. 00:09:44.319 --> 00:09:45.739 But how does that seed grow? 00:09:47.199 --> 00:09:48.459 What happens next? 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:51.179 So let's look at the next parable and we'll see. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:54.479 Starting in verse 26 of the same chapter, 00:09:54.819 --> 00:09:55.779 chapter 4 of Mark. 00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:58.519 He also said, 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:24.699 If you notice in this parable, 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:26.539 the sowing has already been done. 00:10:26.539 --> 00:10:28.679 The word has gone out. 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:29.980 The seed is on the ground. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.939 So now what does the farmer do? 00:10:34.199 --> 00:10:36.339 He sleeps and he rises. 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:39.879 In other words, he waits. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:42.799 He waits for the life that is in the seed 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.620 to do what life does, to grow. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:47.719 Now he might water. 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.240 He might weed. 00:10:49.839 --> 00:10:51.839 He might do lots of other things to help 00:10:51.839 --> 00:10:55.860 to improve the conditions for the seed to grow. 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:59.899 But still, he can't make anything grow in himself. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:02.879 He still has to wait for the life 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.740 to do what he can't do for it. 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:06.940 To make it grow. 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:10.279 And that's why Paul says in 1 Corinthians, 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:11.659 chapter 3, 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:12.120 he says, 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.860 What after all is Apollos? 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:15.100 And what is Paul? 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:18.060 Only servants through whom you came to believe, 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.700 as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:22.379 I planted the seed. 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:23.660 Apollos watered it. 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:26.160 But God is the one making it grow. 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:29.060 So neither the one who plants 00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:30.759 nor the one who waters is anything, 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:33.940 but only God who makes things grow. 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:37.360 The farmer knows that the seed he plants 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.860 has life in it. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.379 As small as it is, 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.660 as insignificant as it looks, 00:11:43.660 --> 00:11:46.440 it holds the power of life inside. 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.960 He knows how to plant it. 00:11:49.160 --> 00:11:50.580 He knows how to water it. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.260 He knows how to bring in the harvest 00:11:53.260 --> 00:11:54.440 when the harvest is ready. 00:11:54.760 --> 00:11:57.880 But the farmer cannot do the most important thing. 00:11:58.160 --> 00:12:00.880 The farmer cannot make that seed grow. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:02.960 And in the same way, 00:12:03.060 --> 00:12:04.920 we cannot force God's life 00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:06.600 to grow in people's hearts. 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:11.720 We can scatter the seed. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:13.840 We can tell people the truth 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.300 of what Jesus has done for them. 00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:18.220 We can know that that seed has life in it, 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:20.700 has the power to change any heart, 00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:22.460 to bring life to any heart. 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:24.019 We can water that seed, 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:25.899 like Paul says that Apollos did. 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:29.700 But Paul also says that when it comes down to it, 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:32.340 only God gives the growth. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.820 We can have confidence in the seed. 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:38.040 because we can have confidence 00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:41.180 in God who causes the growth. 00:12:42.400 --> 00:12:45.500 God has given us these hugely important jobs 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:48.440 of sowing, of watering, of harvesting, 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:50.020 of getting the good news out, 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:51.420 of doing whatever we can 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:54.520 to help people's hearts to be ready to grow, 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:56.000 to receive God's word. 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:57.820 But we've got to recognize 00:12:57.820 --> 00:13:01.400 that all the best sowing and watering in the world 00:13:01.400 --> 00:13:03.700 cannot create life. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:05.960 Only God can do that. 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:07.160 He is the source of life. 00:13:07.520 --> 00:13:09.580 And all of our sowing and all of our watering 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:13.080 has got to be done in dependence on Him 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:16.180 to pour His life into people's hearts, 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:18.000 to make His life grow. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.820 But there might seem to be a problem 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:25.899 because we've already seen in the first parable 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:27.899 that some of the seed that we sow, 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:31.059 in fact, it sounds like most of it, 00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:35.399 falls on soil and does not in the end produce fruit. 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:37.620 Hearts that reject the word of God. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:39.679 Hearts that may spring up 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.759 and then get choked out by other things. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.720 Which raises the question, 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.899 can we really be confident 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:49.700 that God's kingdom will grow 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:52.799 if so much of the seed seems to be unfruitful? 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:57.000 The answer is yes, we can be confident. 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:59.779 And let's look at another parable to see why. 00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:01.519 If you look in verse 30, 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.580 again he says, 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:27.440 Jesus is making the point here 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:29.560 that no matter how small, 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.340 no matter how insignificant 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:33.840 or unfruitful God's kingdom may look 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.680 at any particular place, 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.280 at any particular time, 00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:40.860 the growth of His kingdom is certain. 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:43.060 Not because of us. 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:46.180 Not because of our amazing efforts 00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:46.899 at planting 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:50.139 or our really expensive fancy watering cans. 00:14:50.780 --> 00:14:52.300 And that's good news for us. 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.280 Because to be honest, 00:14:54.780 --> 00:14:56.700 we don't have many of us 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:57.800 that are able to run, you know, 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:59.000 big fancy programs 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.460 or expensive events 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:01.639 or whatever it is. 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.340 But we don't have to worry about that. 00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:05.960 We can carry on 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.280 and we can do small things. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.519 We can do the things that we can do. 00:15:10.280 --> 00:15:11.660 And we can work hard at them. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.379 We can try, 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:13.920 we can do our best 00:15:13.920 --> 00:15:15.420 to plant the seed as often 00:15:15.420 --> 00:15:16.899 and as well as we can. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.860 We can water it. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:19.440 But we can do all of this 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:21.600 knowing, ultimately, 00:15:21.780 --> 00:15:22.920 that the kingdom will grow. 00:15:23.180 --> 00:15:24.879 Not because of our great efforts. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:27.519 but because of the one 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.299 who the kingdom belongs to. 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.799 Because He has promised, 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.519 I will build my church. 00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:36.120 And the gates of hell 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:38.159 will not stand against it. 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:39.500 It's that promise. 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:42.279 And it's His power 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:44.340 that gives us the strength 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.019 to keep going 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:46.320 no matter what might happen. 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:49.120 No matter what the future holds 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.179 in our town, 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:50.960 in Karagtuul, 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:51.519 or here, 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.820 we can keep going 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:54.940 because we have God's promises. 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.679 It doesn't depend on us. 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.740 It depends on Him. 00:15:58.940 --> 00:15:59.899 And He has promised 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:01.399 that His kingdom will grow. 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:04.639 God is already providing 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.659 for us in Karagtuul 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:06.340 in ways that 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:09.319 we never would have dreamed 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:10.019 at this stage. 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:10.959 We've got opportunities 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:11.740 in the community. 00:16:12.579 --> 00:16:14.159 We've got things happening 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.399 that are... 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:18.740 We're amazed 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.459 at the opportunities 00:16:19.459 --> 00:16:20.199 that God is giving. 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:25.159 But this is God's work. 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.419 And if things are going to happen, 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.919 if people are going to be changed, 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.620 it's going to be because 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.460 of His Spirit 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:33.139 bringing His life to people 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:34.779 through the Gospel. 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:40.299 We've got to always be dependent 00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.980 on God and His promises, 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:43.980 which is why we're so thankful 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.899 and why we want you to pray. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.179 Because God answers 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.240 the prayers of His people, 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.460 and it's God's power 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.480 that we need to work. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.000 It can still be very overwhelming 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.799 to look around 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.720 and think that there are 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.740 so many people around us 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:02.600 who really don't know 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.799 how to have a relationship 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.839 with God through Jesus. 00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.720 And who's going to tell them? 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.519 And then to look beyond, 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.819 to see the towns 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.859 and villages around us, 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.880 just in Cork and Kerry, 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.400 but beyond in Ireland 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.819 and even around the world, 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.319 where we may not know 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.700 of anybody telling them 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:22.740 how they can know Christ. 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:25.500 how Jesus has finished 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.460 the work of salvation 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:28.039 for everyone who trusts in Him. 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:31.039 The task is really huge, 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.240 not only in Ireland, 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.460 but around the world. 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.099 And if it were not 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.900 for God's promise 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.279 that He will grow His kingdom, 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.299 that He is the one 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.299 who has the power 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.059 to bring life, 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.500 I mean, 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.720 we could easily despair. 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:46.819 But there's no need for that. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:49.900 We are seeing God work. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.660 And if we look around us 00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.920 and if we think back, 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.039 we can actually see 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.779 that God has been 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.740 keeping His promises 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.839 right here 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:58.460 in this area in Ireland. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.039 If we only just even look 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:01.140 at the Cork-Carrie project, 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.259 40 years ago, 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.519 there was one little 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.579 Baptist church 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.680 in Cork City, 00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:06.620 Cork Baptist. 00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:08.860 Now there are churches, 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:09.920 there's a church here, 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.120 there's one in Middleton, 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:13.000 one in Douglas, 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:13.919 one in Vanden, 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:14.839 Kinsale, 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:15.439 Yall, 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.059 Killarney, 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:16.759 Tralee. 00:18:17.199 --> 00:18:17.799 There's outreach 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.939 into Passage West 00:18:18.939 --> 00:18:20.299 and now into Cork-Tool. 00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:22.739 God is working. 00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:24.839 The seeds are growing. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.219 Fruits are coming 00:18:26.219 --> 00:18:27.639 into the harvest. 00:18:28.179 --> 00:18:29.239 And we are seeing Him 00:18:29.239 --> 00:18:31.119 bringing life 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.719 into new areas 00:18:32.719 --> 00:18:33.419 and new fields. 00:18:33.679 --> 00:18:34.519 That's very exciting. 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:35.699 Now it's not only happening 00:18:35.699 --> 00:18:36.119 through the Baptists, 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:38.239 but that is an example 00:18:38.239 --> 00:18:39.179 of what God is doing. 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:42.580 And the fact that God 00:18:42.580 --> 00:18:43.840 is working around us, 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.140 though, 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:46.180 should not lead us 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:47.539 to just sit back 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.900 and to be complacent. 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:50.200 To just have the attitude 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.759 that, you know what, 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.799 God's going to do it anyway, 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:52.840 so I don't need 00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.480 to get involved. 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.840 Not at all. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.500 Seeing God work 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.240 and having the confidence, 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.380 having the certainty 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.600 of His promise 00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:01.759 should give us hope 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.799 that our labor 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.400 in the Lord 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.640 is not in vain. 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:06.720 We have the precious 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.680 seed of life. 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.220 The Word of God 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.880 with the power 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:12.519 to bring rebellious hearts 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:14.000 back into relationship 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.840 with their Creator. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.320 That seed can bring life 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:19.060 even to the most barren, 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.759 even to the most desolate heart. 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.940 How could we ever 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.860 just sit back 00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:25.600 with our bags of seed 00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:26.580 in the barn 00:19:26.580 --> 00:19:27.980 while so many fields 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.680 around us 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.299 lie hopeless 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.320 and lifeless 00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:33.539 here and around the world? 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.000 I mean, 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.960 if we really believe 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.820 that God's promise 00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:37.420 is true, 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:39.460 we would be 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.220 sowing everywhere 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.740 we can, 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.920 even into the most 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.480 desolate desert 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.360 of a heart 00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:46.560 or a town 00:19:46.560 --> 00:19:47.700 or a nation 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:49.680 because of the confidence 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.420 we have 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.920 that the seed 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.680 that we sow 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.820 has the power 00:19:53.820 --> 00:19:55.060 of life in it. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:57.200 That life 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.000 can transform 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.880 absolutely anyone, 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.700 any town, 00:20:02.300 --> 00:20:03.100 any nation 00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:04.940 because it is full 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.180 of God's power. 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.860 He's the God 00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:09.340 who can make 00:20:09.340 --> 00:20:10.400 a mustard seed 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:12.059 grow into a tree. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.759 He promised 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.600 that His kingdom 00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:15.220 would grow 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.180 in a similar way. 00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:18.140 He commanded 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.920 that we sow 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.620 His seed, 00:20:20.580 --> 00:20:21.779 His gospel, 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.440 His truth. 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.340 Is there any 00:20:23.340 --> 00:20:24.059 greater joy 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.820 than keeping 00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.400 that command 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.640 and getting 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.779 to actually see 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.640 Him 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:31.160 change hearts 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:32.380 and transform hearts, 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.540 bring life 00:20:33.540 --> 00:20:34.880 into a dead 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.240 heart 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.800 by His power? 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.240 Psalm 126 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.900 says this, 00:20:40.260 --> 00:20:40.900 He who goes 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.560 out weeping, 00:20:42.300 --> 00:20:43.160 bearing the seed 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:43.740 for sowing, 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:45.120 shall come home 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:45.920 with shouts 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.780 of joy, 00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:48.460 bringing His sheaves 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:48.880 with Him. 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.200 I want that joy. 00:20:52.280 --> 00:20:53.360 I want you 00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:54.200 to have that joy. 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.559 And the way 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.340 that we'll get it 00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:58.580 is by going 00:20:58.580 --> 00:20:59.360 into the fields 00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:00.240 and sowing 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.080 the wonderful 00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:02.100 truth 00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:03.519 of God's Word. 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.279 Amen.