Lessons From The Miracle of Loaves | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Mark chapter 6 and meet me there in verse 30.

Mark 6 · chapter mention

We'll give some people more time before we begin to read the

scriptures. Mark 6:30.

Mark 6:30

Perhaps I can say this. Because I don't think it hurts.

But recently, I've been Disturbed disturbed by the

amount of false teaching that is being uploaded and shared the

things that are going viral, the things that are being

propagated. And it's almost overwhelming.

I'm not online much, but just a few weeks ago, I had the chance

to scroll through and I am curious to see what's popular

from time to time and evangelicalism and it's just

bad. It's just so bad.

And Jesus told us in Matthew 24, that one of the prominent signs

of the end times, is that there will be deception increasing

deception, believer. Please be careful what you

watch. Be careful who you listen to be

careful of sensationalism. Be careful of people who present

testimonies with their Doctrine and even present signs and

wonders behind their teachings. Be careful.

Cling to the word of God. Hold tight to your Bible, read

it study, it saturate your mind with it constantly because it's

only going to get worse even the Lord himself said that there

will be such sweet Being deception in the lands that

perhaps elect, right? He even said it can be so

persuasive. So magnetic that the elect would

be even tempted in some sense. So be extremely cautious with

what's going out there and you'll be safe as long as you

are close to the word of God. And that's why we love the word

of God, not because it just protects us from deception and

false teachings but because it is the Word of Life To whom

shall we go. Lord, you have the words of

eternal life. So, Mark 6:30 the words of

Mark 6:30

eternal life. Before I read these verses, I

want to tell you ahead of time that the miracle that you and I

are about to serve a together is one of the most notable.

And one of the most remembered demonstrations of Christ

Majesty. In all of the Gospels, And

perhaps it's familiarity to many of us is because of the

originality and the memorability of this particular demonstration

of power but maybe also because of its emphasis in the word of

God. What do I mean by that?

This particular Supernatural occurrence is the only miracle

That is found in every gospel account.

Many of Jesus notable Miracles have been shared by the synoptic

gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, but there is only one unless you

count. The resurrection.

There is only one miracle that you will find in.

Matthew Mark, Luke and John. And that is the miracle that is

before us today. Now, it is believed the monk

most that 90% of what? John the Apostle writes in his

gospel account is unique. 90% meaning 10%, is something that

you might find in the other gospel accounts, this miracle is

within that ten percent bracket. And it is a powerful story to

something that again you and I are very familiar with and if

you haven't already peaked at your Bible, then let me tell you

what it is. It is the feeding of the five

thousand. That might be a misleading title

because we were just told that there are 5,000 men who were

present when Christ did this awesome work of multiplication,

but if you think about it, if you include women and children,

there could be anything between 10 to 20 thousand people that

Jesus fed miraculously at one time.

And so, this, this glorious moment is something that we

know. But my prayer is that we would

look deeper beyond the obvious surface level truth.

Clearly This event is significant enough for the Holy

Spirit to included in every gospel account.

And that as you read through these gospel accounts, you would

come again to encounter this testimony and my prayer is

simply to go through these verses because I am fully

convinced that there is no way. That in one single session, you

can get all that this text has to offer at least in depth.

But we will pray fully trust that as we come before the word

of God today, that the Lord will provide exactly what he is.

Nine to provide us through these verses because as much as we

believe and going through the scriptures verse by verse right,

chapter by chapter, we need the Holy Spirit to still help us and

speak to us. And even in moments like this to

speak, particularly to our own Hearts.

Let's this just become a lecture week after week and so join me

in prayer before we come to this word Lord we do.

Thank you for the word of God and Lord, we do look to you with

absolute faith and hunger in our hearts that this word is indeed

the true word. The only truth, the truth, that

sets free and Lord with absolute reverence and desire for your

name to be glorified. We ask that this presentation,

this declaration of your word would not be mixed with any

error, any personal opinions, any confusion, and how we hear

it. Lord, let there be absolute

Clarity and more than Clarity, we pray for power, we pray for

conviction, we pray for comfort. We pray that you You threw this

word today would speak into our lives, even into some situations

that we might need answers for Lord.

We lean into your bosom and we trust that we will hear your

heart and Jesus name we pray. Amen.

We read. Mark 6:30.

Mark 6:30

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had

done and taught. And he sent to them, come away

by yourselves to a desolate place.

And rest awhile for many were coming and going, and they had

no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat

to a desolate place by themselves.

Now, many saw them going and recognize them and they ran

their on foot from all the towns in got there ahead of them.

When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd and he had

compassion on them because they were like sheep.

Without a Shepherd, I read the verses that you and I heard from

last week to bring you to remembrance about why it is that

the disciples and Jesus are heading towards a specific

Direction. We know here that the Lord has

organized a retreat for his men. They have come back from a

preaching tour and they are exhausted understandably song

and the Lord seeing their need wants to help them escape to a

desolate place for some private rest and the disciples who just

returned from sharing. Also had it fresh in their

minds, the news of John, the Baptist death.

And this also might have been a blow to their own hearts and the

gracious savior here. Using all that they needed says,

let's go. And with that goal set before

him you and I just learned, we just saw that.

There are people who have been watching them, who constantly

watch Jesus, who are longing for a touch who might have mixed

motives. But are helplessly drawn to him.

They learned about their departure and so with their own

calculations they figure out where they might go.

Maybe they heard, were they exactly were going to go and so

they having their eyes on that boat from the Assure begin to

walk on foot. The news started to spread in a

huge crowd, began to make their way to this place, that Jesus

and the disciples were playing to be alone in.

And as they got there, they waited on the shore and there

was a multitude of people, and you would think now, After all

that happened, all the recent events.

The last thing, if you put yourself in the shoes of those

disciples that you want to see, is a bunch of people waiting for

you to serve them for, who knows, how long, who knows what

taking Jesus away from you, taking you away from your

disciples and your friends and your ministry Partners, put

yourself in their sandals for a moment.

Would you there you are on this boat promised.

Some kind of repose At least it was planned.

And as you approach the dock. There you see people and you

can't make out what it is exactly because it can't be.

It can't be people that are covering those Hills and sure

enough you begin to make out faces and different clothings

and everything is interrupted. Everything is sabotage.

And you were anticipating this time to recharge.

You were just finishing serving, people bouncing from City to

City, worn out by recent travels.

And here. You are thinking that this place

is going to be desolate, but in fact, it is populated.

What about the Lord? What about the Lord, who is the

one who organized this trip? How would you feel if you were

the the planner behind your ministry, leaders getting away

from the hustle and the bustle. Muscle.

So that they can receive natural rest for a while in order to for

them to return, back to their service.

And no matter what your feelings might be, I can imagine if we're

honest, things would be bubbling up inside and they won't be the

probably nicest feelings. Regardless of what you might

confess, how strongly, would they contrast with the feelings

that Jesus felt when he saw this site?

Because the spirit tells us explicitly here that when Jesus

saw them, he felt compassion. Not irritation, not

disappointment, not angst. Deep sincere, heart stirring

compassion. and I'm not sure about you, when I read this, the

other day, the mention of the deep compassion of Christ,

challenged me deeply You know, what you, and I would see as an

interruption Jesus saw as an opportunity.

What you and I would probably interpret a self-centeredness

Jesus viewed as helplessness. What you would feel to be a

burden, Jesus, esteemed as a blessing.

And you know, we look at the text and we look at just the

holistic view of Christ and we know as Christians that we are

supposed to be like, Jesus, that should be our ambition.

I don't know what people mean by that though.

When they understand walking and following in the steps of Jesus

is that the preach like Jesus do Miracles like Jesus know the

scriptures like Jesus. Are you challenged by The

Compassion of Jesus? It's the simple things that

don't really attract us, but it's the very things that make

who Christ is. And if you are a person in this

place and I pray to God that you are you long to be molded and

shaped to be like Christ in your contacts?

Christ, in your context you might not be able to raise the

dead but you can surely be patient and loving If you long

to be like Christ, aren't you blessed this afternoon to know

that the holy spirit gives us an insight to bring us that much

closer to the compassion of Jesus, at least to reflect it.

At least two reflected as closely as possible.

Because we are told not just that Jesus was compassionate.

We are given the reason at least a strong reason why he was

compassionate. And the reason why Christ was

overwhelmed with pity for these people was because we just read

it here because in verse 34 they were like sheep without a

shepherd. This is how Jesus perceived

people and his perception of people produced a level of

compassion. And that tells me something

about how I can see compassion grow in my own life and my own

heart in my own world. Do I see people the way Christ

sees people? And the way Jesus perceived

these people is like we just said here sheep without a

Shepherd sheep are extremely, vulnerable creatures, and

they're exposed to so much danger when they don't have a

supervisor over them. They are defenseless, they are

directionless when they don't have a Shepherd, guiding them,

providing for them. Protecting they are obviously

set up for being malnourished and being led astray and getting

lost and losing sight. Of where they're supposed to be

next and, and filth accumulates because our Shepherd is required

to regularly. Clean them.

And to take care of them. And the reality is the physical

realities of a sheep. Without a Shepherd is exactly

how the Lord and the Holy Spirit here tells us what people are

like without Christ. They're just like that.

Wandering confused exposed susceptible to so much problems

and so much Danger. No matter how they clothed

themselves, no matter their riches, no matter their

education, people without Christ are like sheep without a

shepherd, and when Jesus saw this, it moved him, it moved his

heart. And I think that is critical for

us. Believers in this time.

Do you know why? Because it's very

understandable. So don't hear me. saying

anything wrong here or Or minimizing the emotions that we

should feel about what's going on in our world.

It's very understandable to be angry.

To be disgusted, infuriated, especially with all the agendas,

and all the narratives that are being pushed, not just on

people, but on children, all the deception and all the lies.

I get it. Righteous indignation is, is

totally valid and totally understandable, but you got to

be careful. Believe you got to be extremely

careful because you and I even feeling those feelings can feel

it and allow it to bring us to a place where we prefer judgment

over. See.

We're we feel this anger and Truth Seekers and Truth speakers

can end up like Jonah believers. If you don't think it's possible

for a servant of God to be hardened by might not might not

the church by the world, and their standards, and their

behavior, and their actions and their convictions, the whole

book of Jonah is about that. will you can allow yourself to

actually find greater pleasure and seeing wrath poured out

instead of Grace poured out and Jonah is an Incredible Book for

a people who are in the midst of a corrupt people.

And when he was told to go out to the city of Nineveh and to

preach, he was so reluctant because of the history of those

people, what they did to others and what kind of crimes, they

committed against different nations, this man who

represented, God was more willing to see again, judgement

than anything else and God teaches him, as much as he

teaches the ninevites about his character, do you remember how

the Book of Jonah ends? It ends with a question?

Then and there is no answer following it and I believe the

reason one reason why ends with a question is for the reader to

answer for themselves? Let me remind you how the Book

of Jonah ends, God speaks to Jonah and Jonah for 11 and it

reads. And should I not pity?

Should I not pity Nineveh the great City in?

Which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know

their right hand from their left and also much cattle.

What a compact adverse filled with compassion?

Should I not pity the ninevites? No Jonah.

Should I not and there's so many things about this verse.

The first thing is how he knows the number of the citizens.

He could have just said the great city of Nineveh he said,

no there are there are little bit more than 120,000 who occupy

that City. Do you know why?

The number is mentioned because he cares for each one of them

The city of Chicago hose close to three million people.

Do you doubt for a moment that God has compassion and pity?

For each one of them. He's the same God, he mentions

the number because he numbered them and he cares for them and

he Longs for them to be rescued from their sin, which brings us

to the next point. He not only mentions the

population but their moral condition, they have no sense of

guidance. They don't know their right from

their left. And the idea there is that they

have no Revelation, there's natural Revelation, but they

don't have the personal understanding of how to be in

the will of God and how to walk in the fullness of the will of

God. And this moved God's heart.

Well, didn't God want to judge them.

He did wanted the judge them and he will judge all men, but

that's not his primary desire. Now, is it, if that was his

primary desire, he wouldn't have commissioned, Jonah.

And the first place, the very reason why he sends Jonah to

this ignorant people. This vicious people is so that

they would be warned and then being warned they would respond

and then repent. And that's exactly what

happened. And so, the Lord, when he looks

upon a vile people, a vile Nation, his primary feelings,

toward them, is I long to heal them from their spiritual

blindness. I long to give them the leading

that we can rescue them from their depravity.

That's God's primary desire. No matter how perverted, no

matter how dark, no matter how ugly they may be due to their

sin. God's primary longing is for

them to be Lee transformed by his love.

And the comfort that comes from this verse convicts me, you say,

why does it convict you? Because of what he said to Jonah

before it and verse 10 of Jonah, chapter 4.

Jonah 4 · chapter mention

Look what he says and the Lord said you, pitied the plant.

You pity the plant for which you did not labor.

Nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and

perished in a night. So, you know, the story, I hope

there's Jonah waiting. Looking over the city, perhaps

thinking that God's going to change his mind and actually,

blow it all up, God doesn't change his mind, but he gives

Jonah an object lesson because sometimes you have to treat

adults like children. And so, he does this object

lesson, right? He greets his plan to grow and

it gives him shade there and the desert heat.

And then in 24 hours, it Withers and dies.

And his beautiful head is exposed to the sun again and

he's frustrated because he's uncomfortable and and the Lord

He brings that out of Jonah to show him something and it's

something that actually speaks of some Believers,

unfortunately. You are upset about this plant

dying, more than people dying. Think about that.

That is that is precisely what is being taught here and again

it points to the potential of the believer what do you mean

Believers can be so invested and so concerned with the materials

of this life Even more than about the faith of men's Souls.

That convicted me, I can get more.

Concerned and moved and lose sleep at night about things that

will perish. One day things that I'm not

taking with me. Those things can actually occupy

my energy, my thoughts, More than the fate of people's

Eternal destinations. And there's his, how can that

be? Well, it's possible.

And when I see Jesus here, showing compassion feeling

compassion. It's supposed to cause you to

say, oh, God, make me like you when I see a lost world.

Help me desire, help me live. Help me be bold enough to pursue

people's reconciliation with you and not to give up on them and

not to just give them over to their own sin without doing

something about it. It's really easy to preach this

stuff, right? Like, okay, you're preaching.

It may God help us to do it and I include myself in that.

So he felt compassion, but we read in verse 35 of Mark 6 and

he began to teach them many things.

Ascended verse 34, which is interesting Jesus having

compassion, taught them the truth, remember that?

And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said,

this is a desolate place and the hour is now late.

Send them away to go into the surrounding Countryside and

Villages and buy themselves, something to eat.

So here the disciples. Now, this turned to a crusade,

this turn to a conference. Thousands are sitting there and

the disciples which I believe here are being very

understandable and and compassion in their own, right?

Recognize the lateness of the afternoon and realize where

these people came from and understood that we might have a

problem here and here's the problem.

If we keep these people long enough, they're not going to be

able to get back to the town's enough, the quick enough, and

then purchase the food to have dinner.

They probably haven't eaten all day.

And so, we need to make sure that they arrive on time.

And so they bring this problem to the Lord and they were right

in bringing this problem to the Lord.

But they made a mistake that often we make when we bring

problems to the Lord, and when we try to seek for a solution,

genuine matters, genuine issues that we want to see come to

succeed. They told the Lord.

This is a desolate Place. Sure.

The Lord knew that the hour is now late.

I'm sure he knew that to send them away to go into the

surrounding Countryside and Villages and buy themselves,

something to eat. They approached Jesus and that

was right, but they approached Jesus with a preconceived

already prepared prescription and expected Jesus to honor it.

This is how we pray sometimes. Sometimes if not a lot of the

times, our prayers are not getting counsel from God by

giving him counsel. And we want that specific

opportunity or we want that specific person or we want this

kind of future and we tell God exactly how to do it.

Not just that went to do it and we think this is what prayer is

Should prayer be specific, absolutely, but be open to how

God would answer it because God will always answer better than

you think. So, they're giving counsel, but

I believe there's more going on here, could it be?

Could it be? That the disciples here are

telling Christ to dismiss the crowds, and to have them leave,

and go back with their own way because they, in their limited

faith. Don't really understand how he

can solve it. Healing The Sick.

We've seen Jesus do that casting out Devils.

You can cast out many of them, at the same time, raising the

Dead, all raising the Dead. The Lord can raise the dead,

feeding the multitudes, feeding the multitudes.

Making food come out of what? Where?

I believe the disciples at this point in their walk with the

Lord, had a category in their minds that they could not

understand Christ occupying. They could see and they can

believe Jesus doing many things. But when it came to this

specific issue, they could not see how Christ was relevant.

They could not see how his will his word.

His wisdom, his power. Could be applicable.

And you think this is just the disciples hold on there, my dear

brother, my dear sister it's not just the disciples.

How many of us? Oh yes, we I surrender all you

can do all things. Okay good good, wonderful

beautiful, hold on. How many of us practically

speaking spiritually speaking have categories in our own

Hearts, where we really don't see how Christ can really bring

solution to. Seeing brother.

What do you mean? Maybe it's because throughout

Ministry you see different issues and you see people's

approach to it. Yeah, Christ can save my soul

but I don't see how the Bible and how the Holy Spirit can

really bring solution to my marriage.

And you have people fleeing to secular psychologists fleeing to

worldly wisdom, because Jesus is good for Sunday.

But he's not really, this is real life.

Here we need real real, salute tangible ideas, not just Sunday

School Stories and so I got to take care of my business.

The way I think I need to take care of my business.

This is money here. This is not lessons for how you

can, you can do better. In life.

And so whether it's business or whether it's my marriage or

whether it's my children and their waywardness, and with all

these advancements and all these new ideas and these new

technologies of evil. How is a 2000 year old story?

Going to help my kid get out of drugs.

How is it 2,000? Year-old story going to deliver

my kids from gangs. And so it's just kind of like

fluff to us. It's just like, you know, And

the point of this miracle, it's one of the many important points

is that he can solve anything. He can raise the debt and he can

make bread appear out of thin air.

The whole idea of this miracle is the disciples have reached a

ceiling in their understanding of Christ capability.

And now that ceiling is about to be extended And so they come to

the Lord. And they say why don't you just

send him away? And let them deal with this, on

their own and Jesus. Here says, you got it all wrong

and one of the Gospel accounts he says they don't need to go

away. They don't need to go away.

They can stay right here. And I think that's something for

us to consider. This Christ applied to

everything or there's some things that just seem irrelevant

to your faith. Learn to pray about everything.

Learn to trust, God, for everything, bigger, small,

complicated, or simple. God cares.

He really does care. Oh, I wish.

I can tell you stories of how God cares about your furniture,

and he cares about the shoes on your feet.

Yes. He cares about your soul being

saved and escaping hell and all that wonderful things.

But he also cares about what you're going to eat that night.

So what happens while they come up to him with this problem, and

look what Jesus says in verse 37, but he answered them, you

give them something to eat. You give them something to eat,

and they said to him, shall we go and buy 200 denarii worth of

bread and give them to them to eat.

And he said to them, how many loaves do you have go and see?

And when they had found out, they said five and two fish.

I love this interaction between Christ and the twelve.

Because it really sheds light on how prayer works.

This may shock, you. I alluded to prayer earlier but

let me bring it up again. That prayer when it is brought

to God does not promise. This might This Might Sting,

this might shock you, but it's important prayer before God does

not promise. That Christ will solve it

without your participation. Bear with me.

There are things that only God can do right there are things

that only God can do, no doubt. But there are also many things

That Christ expects us to actively be involved in as we

seek and wait for him. How many miracles include human

participation before Christ came through?

And sometimes even after Christ came through, you want to see

wine come to this wedding, fill those jars with water, the

Christ, fill them with water know the servants did.

The servants had to get water and fill those ceremonial jars

with it and then he turned it into wine Lazarus.

With that was, they're trapped in a tomb.

What did Jesus? Say, Stone move Lazarus, Alf.

Clots on bind yourselves that he do that.

No, take away the stone. They took away the stone Lazarus

come out. He came out unloose his cloths

and they did. And now we have Christ ready to

multiply food but he asks him to find some food first and he's

going to ask them to give them seats to sit on, so to speak

before he comes through with his power.

And the idea is very important for you and I to consider in

life that when we pray and we expect Christ to come through

supernaturally. It does not mean that we are not

serving, doesn't mean that we're not organizing.

Doesn't mean that we're not planning.

Does it mean that we are not doing things and the process?

Yes. And there are moments that

prayer will bring about inexplainable testimonies but it

also means that sometimes when you pray, God will give you the

wisdom and instruction that is required for you to take the

next step. And sometimes what prayer will

do is energize you and give you the grace to perform what you

already knew, you need to do. How are they going to eat?

Well, why don't you find whatever food we have here?

First, could Christ have made fish and bread appear in his

hands? Absolutely.

But he invites us. He invites Us by faith.

He invites Us in service to him to participate and be part of

the equation from time to time and that's exactly what's

happening here. And so they go and they find

they find some loaves. They find some fish.

We know that from John's account.

This came from a little boy who obviously brought lunch was

smart enough to ask Mommy to bring lunch for that day.

The little boy gives up what he had.

And it was multiplied to feed thousands, but notice what

happens here. Five, and two fish.

Verse 39. Then he commanded them all to

sit down in groups on the green grass.

So they sat down in groups by hundreds and by fifties, you

know, if you've been here long enough that no versus random No

versus insignificant. Let me read that again.

After they found the food, he commanded them all to sit down

in groups on green grass. More than that.

So they sat down in groups by hundreds and by 50s, Mark is the

only one who gives this detailed.

Organization in comparison to the other gospel accounts.

The only one that comes close to it is Luke where Luke says that

they were organized in groups of 50s.

Mark goes beyond that. He's just hundreds and 50s.

Why would the Holy Spirit inspired?

This gospel account writer, this witness to include in our minds

that they were told to have them sit on Green Grass and then to

organize them in different groups and rows of hundreds and

fifties. Well, do you remember what the

purpose of the Gospel of Mark is to portray Jesus Christ as what

the perfect servant of God? And Jesus Christ, your

commanding for this to take place, says something about how

he serves the father and it's for our instruction.

In our example, the kind of Minister Jesus was, is the kind

of ministry. We ought to be in the kind of

Christians. We ought to be Jesus ministered,

attentively and orderly. Attentively and orderly.

You know, there's a verse that Christians often quote and when

they quote it, they usually apply it for a situation where a

Believer might be confused about a certain thing or a certain

decision and they are comforted with this apparent verse that

brings some kind of clarity to that fogginess of mine and it is

this God is not the author of what.

Confusion, but is a God of Peace.

He's a god of order, right? Can you turn there with me?

Because I know what people mean by that verse, but it's not

about when you have difficulty making a decision.

I'm sorry if I disheartened you, but there's context, go to First

Corinthians 14. Very quickly in verse 33.

I want you to see what Paul meant by the spirit.

When he said that God is not the author of confusion but is a God

of Peace or order. First Corinthians 14:33.

1 Corinthians 14:33

There is the verse for God is not a god of confusion, but of

peace. And we take diverse out and we

apply it as we see fit. And yes, it is true that it has

a broader application and meeting concerning God in his

work in his ways with us but its primary function.

Why Paul said it at this point in First Corinthians 14 is

because he was speaking about the orderly worship service that

Christians ought to have when they meet together.

I don't know if that inflated you or that deflated you What

God is saying here through the Apostle, Paul?

Is that in our worship, what we're doing here in this very

afternoon, this very room whenever you gather with

Believers in our worship, we ought to reflect the nature of

God, and God is not a god of confusion.

He's not a god of chaos. He is not a god of

disorganization. He's a God of Peace.

He's a god of order. He is careful.

And we ought to be the same. You know, when I was growing up

early in my faith, I had people in my life that Associated

spirituality with strange spontaneity, What do I mean by

that? That let me say what I don't

mean by that. What I don't mean by that and I

don't think what they meant by that was that we believe that we

should be open to God's leading that whatever we had hoped or

plan or even prepared. For God can make it very clear

that he wants a different direction.

Amen, we should that is not what these people that I knew, and I

observed meant by this idea of spirituality being synonymous

with spontaneity, What they meant is that there is no need

for Preparation, there is no need for organization.

And that, for whatever reason, if it's chaotic, if it's

spontaneous, if it's unforeseen, then it must be the spirit of

God. And that's dangerous.

For many reasons and there are still churches today that

operate in that fashion where you enter into a meeting and

it's more confusing and unclear than anything else.

And let me say this, many of those assemblies would claim

that such an experienced, such an atmosphere is because of the

Holy Spirit. And that is contrary to the mind

of Paul who is the Apostle of God.

I remember when I went to a conference once and I was

sharing this as many years ago and I met different Believers

and unbelievers introduced himself.

We were getting to know each other and he was talking about

how Spirit-filled his churches. And what God is doing in that

church. And I was listening and he had

made certain comments, and then he said something that never

left me. And I think it speaks to exactly

what Paul meant here. It's a very extreme example, but

it's out there. He said, you know what?

In the middle of the service of the Holy Spirit told somebody to

paint the wall in the church, they would do it.

And that's a that's supposed to be apparently Spirit lead and

holy spirit. Inspiration.

That's exactly what Paul is. Speaking about God is not a god

of confusion. He's a god of order.

And so to enter into an atmosphere, that is eerily

disruptive. And an orderly.

Could actually be saying something.

That the Holy Spirit might not be out an operation here.

At least at some level. But what God wants to see is

peace but not just peace because don't now here's the other

extreme you have people that want peace and order but they're

dead. And you don't want that either.

Lifeless, I don't know why in our Evangelical world.

We have two extremes either have to be chaotic and that's

synonymous with passionate but you're not you're not

bible-based or your bible-based but you're dead as a stick.

Why not be bible-based and be alive and be passionate and be

filled with the spirit and be excited.

You have the truth Back to Mark chapter 6.

Mark 6 · chapter mention

In Mark chapter 6, we are told. Jesus commanded them.

Mark 6 · chapter mention

To sit down in groups on the green grass.

I love that. Even the green grass is

mentioned. Why?

It's comfortable. I know it's not deep.

Hey, there's a lot of green grass here.

Let's make sure that they are cushioned as they sit, you know,

because some people think spirituality means that you have

to inflict pain on yourself and make things uncomfortable to

show, just how serious we are about serving God, that we will

suffer for his name. Well, you don't have to suffer

if suffering is not God's will in this season of your life.

It's okay to think about these things and I love how Jesus

thinks about these things. There's some green grass there.

if that will make people more comfortable, And let's sit them

down and organize them because this can get like a mob and we

don't want to do that. Now, do we let's have them

order. Lisa and we'll have the

disciples. Wait on them it'll be it'll be

beautiful Christ is so practical.

He thinks about these things. It's okay to think about these

things. Okay, so avoid extremes here.

I love how it's in Mark of all the gospel accounts, but I think

there's something else about these Green Pastures.

There are a lot of things and I think one of the reasons why

this Miracles and every single gospel account, is because it

alludes to many Old Testament pictures, right?

Especially in John chapter 6, which parallels, this account

John 6 · chapter mention

where you have Jesus doing this miracle in the people concluded.

This is the profit that we've been waiting for, and it mirrors

the Moses, like, Who provided Manna in the wilderness.

He's the greater one the Moses, right?

He's the greater Moses, but I think there are even more than

that there are. There are future prophetic

implications of this of how the law.

Lord right will come and bring a feast to his own.

That's Isaiah, there's so many, so many, so many, so many

pictures. And I think one of them is

something that you and I know very well, let me let me recap

this for you here, you have Jesus coming into the scene and

he feels compassion because they're like sheep without a

shepherd. And now as he entered sins, he

teaches them and he feeds them and then he places them on green

grass. The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want. He makes me lie down on Green

Pastures. Yeah, the Lord Yahweh is my

shepherd. Jesus is my shepherd, Jesus is

Yahweh and he makes me lie down. I love the wording of that.

He makes me lie down. You know why?

Because he knows what you need more than what you know.

So, he takes these people, and he places them, and he not only

feeds them with the truth. The truth about the kingdom of

God, but he feeds their belly and energizes their bodies.

He's the all-encompassing shepherd who's not just

concerned for your soul. But concerned again, about your

frame. And he makes me lie down, right?

He knows exactly. When to put me where to put me

and how long to put me there, he knows what to provide for me.

What to remove from me. He is the perfect leader of my

life. So you have Christ here in some

way. Fulfilling Psalm 23 in a very

real way. And what's Happening Here is

he's not just shepherding, he's not just shepherding their

souls, he shepherding all that they are When Christ is your

Lord, that's what you can expect in your life.

That's what you can really believe God for.

And I think what makes us more worried than anything else?

It's not about our souls getting to Heaven.

It's about how we're going to pay our bills in the next few

months or what. We're going to wear to the

wedding and that's precisely what Jesus taught about.

Don't get caught up with the food and with the clothing.

Right. It's not the big things that

often worry us that still, that is the case.

It's often a little things that occupy our time, and keep us up

and make us run around. When Christ is Shepherd, he's

Shepherd overall absolutely everything and these people

would know it and I'll tell you and closing who's going to

really really know what his own disciples, hold on to that

thought but what happens verse 41 and taking the Five Loaves

and the two fish he looked up to heaven.

And said a blessing and broke the Loaves and gave them to the

disciples to set before the people.

And he divided the two, fish among them all, and they all ate

and we're satisfied. You know, this miracle is

impressive for many reasons. And one of the things that

impresses me is that we are not given the mechanics behind it.

He just multiplies it. I don't know how that looked.

I don't know what happened. Did he pull it out of a basket

that it just appear in his hands?

I don't, it doesn't say and there's reason for that, right?

We're supposed to just trust in this.

But what's incredible, here is the principle that out of

nothing. Can come something.

And this is not just for these people, this is not just for a

moment's time where the people would receive something.

This is a lesson for all time. I'm going to prove that to you

in closing but what I want you to see here is just that the

Lord the Lord is completely aware and completely present and

completely capable of providing. And as these people are sitting

there and enjoying all that is being provided for something

happens. You know what makes me?

So blessed by the story. Is the disciples the miracle?

Yes the prophetic illusion sure. All these connections are

wonderful but it's the disciples we started with the disciples

and we end with the disciples. They were supposed to come here

for a retreat and they ended up becoming Waiters this whole

thing was planned so that they could rest and now they are

running around organizing people answering questions.

When is the food coming? When is our turn and I'm sure

those were asked and then serving them.

And it makes you wonder, because Jesus is idea in verse 31 was

Come Away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.

Catch your breath. Pause.

Rejuvenate and what I see in the following verses everything, but

rest. And, but taking a breath.

Jesus, forget about them. The Christ lose sight of his

own. You know, you have a lot of

Servants of God who feel that way they just give and give and

give and give and they don't perceive what what they get out

of it. Or they don't know of God, will

take care of them. And yet something happens at the

end at this is the way, the story ends, it's verse 42, and

they all ate, and we're satisfied, a picture of physical

satisfaction, but something that Christ gives us of himself,

spiritual satisfaction, verse 43.

And they took up twelve, baskets full of broken pieces and the

fish and those who ate the loaves were 5000 men.

When you go to John 6 and you read there in verse 12, we are

told that the disciples that they are the disciples, the

disciples were instructed. At the end of this glorious,

banquet to go and get the pieces that were untouched and to

gather them together. People.

Look at this and teach about how God is Not wasteful and how we

should not be wasteful with the leftovers of our lives, and

that's all true. But is it a coincidence that

there's 12 baskets? Coincidence 12 baskets for how

many disciples that were called to pick up the fragments 12.

Coincidence. No, no, no perfect provision.

That in gathering. These twelve baskets.

I have a hunch. It was for the 12th servants.

Same brother. I made may be reading too much

into that. No, I'm not and I'll prove it to

you because there was a time when the disciples again were

without food. They only had one loaf and they

were traveling again and they began to talk about their their

need. And go there and Mark to see

what Jesus says to these 12 the same 12 who gathered up this.

Set of leftovers. Mark 8 16 and they began

discussing with one. Another, the fact that they had

no bread and Jesus aware of this said to them, why are you

discussing the fact that you have no bread?

Do you not yet perceive or understand?

Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes, do you not see

having ears? Do you not hear and do you not

remember? Now, look at this, when I broke

the Five Loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full

of broken pieces, did you take up?

They set to him 12. And the seven for the 4000,

which is another miracle coming down the line.

How many baskets full of broken pieces that you take up and they

said to him, seven will explore the seven when we get there and

he said to them, do you not yet understand?

Understand what that I can feed. Thousands of people, no

understand this. That I can feed you.

They were talking about how there was no bread and Jesus.

Looking at them as a teacher would, after demonstrate not

giving to sermons about it showing into amazing ways, how

he can actually provide, he, you don't get it yet, you don't

understand it yet. How notice he could have said

how many people that I feed out of nothing and they would have

said 5,000 and then 4,000 but he doesn't say that.

He says how many pieces? How many baskets did you pick up

after the Miracles 12? Seven.

Why would he bring up the baskets?

Because the baskets were for them?

And so, when these disciples who yet again sacrifice another day

to serve the Lord, and yet again had another Interruption to

their schedule and yet again gave more of themselves.

Jesus through this miracle intentionally calls for the

leftovers to be picked up because Jesus, yes, Jesus

perfectly knew that 12 baskets would be the measure and that

each of them would have a basket in their name.

Proving what? When you serve him, he takes

care of you. When you serve him, he will take

care of you perfectly. And sometimes you see that at

the beginning, sometimes you see it in the middle sometimes you

see it at the end of the matter. But one thing is for certain, he

has you in mind, you know what this tells me as much as Jesus

had compassion for the thousands Jesus had compassion for his

servants. He cared about those who serve

you can guarantee this for yourself.

If you serve God, he will show up.

He will never ever let his servants down.

He might make you wait a little bit.

He might make you serve in a manner in which you might not

immediately perceive it, but it is coming and the Lord will come

through and you will know his compassion for you.

Not just his compassion through you.

I love that. And I can testify today.

Of eight years of serving the lord.

Jesus, my basket has always been full and as you serve, the Lord

Jesus, you can guarantee that you will know his fullness and

he will make you lie down by Green Pastures and he will bring

you by Still Waters. Does that mean that you will go

through life as somewhat propose?

Without testimonies and without trials, and without the need to

call upon him. Know, the very same people who

experience. The twelve baskets came to a

point in Mark 8 where they felt like they had nothing.

Why? Because God forgotten oh because

God wants your faith. And he's not just going to

endlessly Supply without interruption everything that you

ever need, so that you don't have to worry.

You don't have to wake. Yes, you should never worry.

But to bring you two moments where you actually have to pause

and trust and call upon his name, he will do that

frequently. But every single time he will

come through This is what it's all about.

And I want to encourage the Servants of God in this house

today as the example of Jesus Christ has and this chapter

Christ was a compassionate Minister.

He actually loved the people that he served and especially

the lost the S, the Lost. He had compassion towards them.

But Christ was also a orderly Minister which is important for

us as a church growing up and wanting to see God do many

things. Remember that the spirit of God

is a God of Peace, not a god of confusion And he is a God who

helps his servants as they seek to help him and serve him and

honor him. If you're in a place today where

you are in need, I want to close this time by praying for your

faith to sustain you for God, to come through, because he will

come through and how you can worship and trust him as you.

Wait on him, he is faithful. Let's pray.

Lord, we thank you for this text.

Thank you for what it teaches us though.

We know that there is so much more in these verses that we can

understand and apply and worship you for.

But for now, We have eaten and we are satisfied.

Lord, as we said before, this prayer we want to, we want to

seek you for the various needs of this house, specifically for

those who give their time, their resources, their energy to

honoring, you and glorifying you.

If there is a particular want, if there is a dilemma in their

lives, Lord, we just pray that this story would Infuse enough

faith for them to continue to serve and believe that you will

come through at the right time. And Lord as perhaps some might

be waiting for a miracle believing you to come through

for something that they can't do on their own, may they be

sensitive enough to your spirit to know what you ask them to do

in this particular situation. and so Lord, even as a church,

as we're believing you for many things, as we're believing you

for the future of this place, a new building Growing Ministries.

Whatever the case may be loyal, we will, we will, we will

continue to serve you in the midst and we will continue to

pray as we wait, and we will continue to sing and rejoice for

the season that we are in believing that those baskets

will come and believing that you have not forgotten us as we have

Faithfully served. You, you are a good God lord.

We worship you. We worship you because you have

spoken to our hearts this afternoon.

We thank you for Angie's baptism.

May your hand be on. Her life.

We thank you for every saint. In this place, may your hand

continue to be on their lives for the person in this place

that there's a know. You may they see the compassion

of Jesus Christ that it is not just for then it is for them.

Now here today that they would respond by surrendering to you

as the ninevites then and repenting and turning from their

sin. Realizing that you are the one

who gives life and life abundant and Jesus name we pray.

Amen. And I let stand Church and

worship.