Be Confident - God is at Work (Part 2)

So far in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’s ministry and His dealings with the Jewish religious leaders show resistance from many hearers. Some believe and follow, but some reject, some challenge His Word and His life, and others remain apathetic to Christ’s Word. This may be thought-provoking given that there is no other preacher like Christ who Himself is the reason for the Gospel. To help us this understand better, Jesus has given us parables to explain the mysteries of God’s Kingdom:

Jesus has sown the Word of God, and some receive it with a teachable heart by faith, while others reject it. (Mark 4:1-20) Two other parables are meant to give us confidence that God is sovereignly at work even though we may not see it. (Mark 4:21-29) Yet another parable is used to build our faith by showing that God employs humble beginnings. (Mark 4:30-32)

All four parables explain the Why? of what is happening as Jesus and the twelve minister and preach the Kingdom message. Jesus gives His disciples reasons to have faith and be confident that God is at work whether people, satan himself, or creation itself resist their ministry.

Three Reasons for Confidence 

The first two points were covered in the previous sermon.

1. Be confident knowing that God’s sovereign work is continuous, undetectable, and unstoppable. (Mark 4:26-29)
2. Be confident known that God’s sovereign work begins with humble means. (Mark 4:30-34)
3. Be confident knowing that Jesus is our sovereign Savior who gives us peaceful confidence. (Mark 4:35-41)
• The chaos
• The calm

NOTE: This is the fifteenth sermon in a series titled The Gospel According to Mark. See the rest of the series here.