If You Have It, Flaunt It

Isaiah 60:1-14; Mark 4:21-25 / Psalm 40:1-11

I.  Eventually Christianity Will
    Become Obvious

A. Jesus used parables to teach believers,
not to obscure the truth from them.  "And he said
unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a
bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a
candlestick?" (Mark 4:21)

1. Light cannot be hidden away to advantage or
hoarded like gold; light finds its meaning in its
use. "Holding forth the word of life; that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run
in vain, neither labored in vain."  (Philippians
2:16)

2. The prophet takes what is obscure to
the world and opens it for the people of God.  "I
will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark
sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and
our fathers have told us. We will not hide them
from their children, shewing to the generation to
come the praises of the LORD, and his strength,
and his wonderful works that he hath done."
(Psalm 78:2-4) cf. Perkins, William:  The Art of
Prophesying

B. Ultimately, everyone will understand.
"For there is nothing hid, which shall not be
manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but
that it should come abroad." (Mark 4:22)  "For the
earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the
glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
(Habakkuk 2:14)

1. All genuine truth comes from God when
it is peeled back to its roots.  "That was the
true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world."  (John 1:9) "For with thee is the
fountain of life: in thy light shall we see
light."  (Psalm 36:9)

2. The whole world benefits as God opens
His parables through His people.   "Arise, shine;
for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD
is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness
shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and
his glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the
Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising."  (Isaiah 60:1-3)

3.  There are no limits for Christians who
understand that darkness is defenseless against
light.  "For God shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be
good, or whether it be evil."  (Ecclesiastes
12:14)  "The spirit of man is the candle of the
LORD, searching all the inward parts of the
belly."  (Proverbs 20:27)

C. Anyone with the capacity to hear God
should listen to Him.  "If any man have ears to
hear, let him hear."  (Mark 4:23)  "Therefore
judge nothing before the time, until the Lord
come, who both will bring to light the hidden
things of darkness, and will make manifest the
counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man
have praise of God."  (1 Corinthians 4:5)

II. Pay Attention 

A. Listening is an interactive matter with
eternal consequences; there is a direct
relationship between how people listen to God and
what He tells them.  "And he said unto them, Take
heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it
shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear
shall more be given."  (Mark 4:24)

B. Berea and Thessalonica illustrate the two ways
of hearing and the inevitable consequences of
each.  "And the brethren immediately sent away
Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming
thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received the word with all readiness of
mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so. Therefore many of them
believed; also of honorable women which were
Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews
of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God
was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither
also, and stirred up the people."  (Acts 17:10-13)

C. The Berean pattern works because it is
faithful to the established revelation of God in
Scripture.  "Beloved, believe not every spirit,
but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the
world."  (1 John 4:1) "But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than
that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed. As we said before, so say I now again,
If any man preach any other gospel unto you than
that ye have received, let him be accursed."
(Galatians 1:8-9)

D. The detractors who twisted everything He said
so that He had to say everything in parables have
their surrogates in every age.  "But there were
false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction."  (2 Peter 2:1)
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many
false prophets are gone out into the world."  (1
John 4:1)

E. Each person will get more of what that
person most desires. "For he that hath, to him
shall be given: and he that hath not, from him
shall be taken even that which he hath."  (Mark
4:25)

F.  I am a pastor because I live to study and
teach the Word of God - every faithful saying of
it. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is
none upon earth that I desire beside thee." (Psalm
73:25)

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom's sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.