We serve a Risen Savior A God of

We serve a “Risen Savior” (A God of Miracles!) Mark 6: 34 -44 Jesus’ ministry involved a beautiful blend of teaching as well as personally “touching” people’s lives.

After teaching the parable of the Sower and Seed (Mk 4) he travels across the Sea of Galilee only to face a terrible storm, which he miraculously calms with a word. (35 -41) He heals the demoniac on the other shore. (5: 1 -19) “he that had been possessed …prayed … that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee. ” Vs 18, 19 Vs 20 “he …began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. ”

Jesus then returns to Galilee where Jairus begs him to come and heal his daughter. (Mk 5: 21 -23) As Jesus follows through the crowd, a sick (for 12 years) woman touches him and is healed. (25 -34) While he’s delayed Jairus’ daughter dies! (vs 35) Jesus raises her from death. (Vs 36 -43)

Jesus then returns to Nazareth where Mark 6: 5 says: “He could do no mighty work…and marveled because of their unbelief. ” This seems to imply that there’s a relationship between God’s ability to work in our lives and our ability to “believe”. A type of “Transition” occurs after this. Instead of Jesus doing all of the ministry (and miracles) He empowers his disciples to serve. Vs 7 -13

“I serve a risen savior, He’s in the world today…” today ØHow do we know that? ØHow can others recognize Him? I believe that we serve a miracle working God who “Daily loadeth us with benefits” (Ps. 68: 19) 2 Chron. 16: 9 reminds us that God is looking for people through which he can “show himself strong”

How do you define a Miracle? “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. ” AKA: “God’s intervention in (and/or through) your life. ” Someday you (or someone you love) will need a miracle. (In your marriage, health, finances, family, etc) God allows such situations in order to reveal himself to those who trust Him and understand the principles by which He works. (James 1)

Unfortunately we can easily “Miss” God’s miracles. 1) We simply overlook them or fail to recognize them. “Angels unawares” (Heb 13) 2) We may miss new Miracles because we’ve been so ungrateful (or indifferent) for past ones. 3) We may Miss God’s Miracles because we’re “disqualified” for God’s blessings. “I set before you a blessing and a curse” Dt. 11: 26 -28

“I set before you a blessing and a curse” Dt. 11: 26 -28 Tragically, most CHOOSE to live under God’s curse! King Saul (1 Sam. 15: 23) King Asa (2 Chron. 16: 7 -10)

How to Prepare for a Miracle The miracle of the “Loaves and fish” is the only miracle recorded in each of the 4 different Gospels! Matthew 14: 13– 21, Mark 6: 30– 44; Luke 9: 10– 19; John 6: 1– 14).

The “Stage” is set for a miracle. Mk 6 Ø After returning from an exciting (but exhausting) ministry trip, the disciples are invited to “come apart into a desert place and rest a while: for there were many coming and going and they had no leisure so much as to eat. ” 30, 32 Ø Thousands of spiritually “hungry” people followed them and Jesus spent the whole day teaching them. Vs 33 -34

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: 1. ADMIT YOU HAVE A NEED. A. Our Natural responses to needs include: 1) Procrastinating. “when the day was far spent. ” Vs 35 2) Pass the Buck. “Send them away. ” Vs 36 3) Perspire (worry) “Shall we go and buy 200 pennyworth (7 months wages) of bread, and give them to eat? ” vs 37 Principle: God seldom intervenes until you admit you need His help.

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: 2. ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH. A. What Do I Have? “How many loaves have ye? Go and see. ” Vs 38 1) They found Only 5 barley Loaves & 2 fish. 2) Was this all that was actually there? Did only 1 person out of thousands bring a lunch? Often More is “present” than is actually “presented”! presented Hag. 2: 19 “Is the seed yet in the barn? ”

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: 2. ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH. A. What Do I Have? “How many loaves have ye? B. How Am I Using It? 1) Example: Tabernacle offering. (Ex. 36: 5 -7) “The people bring much more than enough” 2) Elijah and the widow. 1 Kings 17: 9 “I have commanded a widow to sustain thee”

Why does God start with what I have when He wants to work a miracle? Because he wants us “invested” or partnering with Him in order to stretch our faith! 1 Cor. 3: 9 “We are laborers together with God” Jn 6: 5, 6 “Whence shall we buy bread…? this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. "

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: 1. Admit your need 2. Assess your resources 3. Allow God to use what you have! Ro. 12: 1 Jn 6: 9 “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many? A. We remember this boy 2, 000 years later, not because he had the best lunch, but because he was willing to give it to God!

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: 3. Allow God to use what you have! Ro. 12: 1 B. His giving sparked a miracle because He gave it: 1) Willingly 2) Cheerfully 3) Immediately. “let him give, not grudgingly, nor of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver”. 2 Cor. 9: 7

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: 3. Allow God to use what you have! Ro. 12: 1 C. God usually asks us to do what we can and trust Him to do what we can’t. Jn 2: 7 “fill the water pots with water…. draw out…and bear to the governor” Mk 6: 37 -41 “give ye them to eat… Sit down by companies upon the grass… gave to his disciples to set before them…divide…”

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: 3. Allow God to use what you have! Ro. 12: 1 Too often we’re so focused on what we can’t do… that we don’t do anything! Principle: God will use whatever I give him, but I must do my part.

PRINCIPLES FOR MIRACLE PREPARATION: Admit…Assess…Allow… 4. Anticipate that God will multiply it. Vs 42, 43 Mark 6: 42 -44 “they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, fragments And they …were about five thousand men. ” Mt. 14: 21 “And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. ” A. They had more left than they began with!

4. Anticipate that God will multiply it. Vs 42, 43 B. What happened to the leftovers? 1) Mt. 15 he feeds 4, 000 (men) with 7 baskets left over. Mt. 16: 5 says the apostles didn’t take the leftovers! Principle: Whenever I give to God, I end up getting more back. (Mal. 3: 10) (Luke 6: 38) "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. "

While we’re waiting for God to do something For us, God is waiting to do something Through us! People were blessed and Christ was magnified because someone was willing to give. It’s always that way. Every church building you see Every Missionary that’s sent, Every Ministry that occurs: is the result of a group of people sacrificing and reprioritizing their lives in order to partner with God.

We stand at a cross road with two paths. 1) Comfort: Enjoying the sacrifices of others. 2) Commitment: Paving the way for others to benefit from our sacrifice. 2 Cor 8: 9 “ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. ”

God has placed us in the middle of spiritually hungry people and commands us to: “feed them!” This will take resources that are beyond us. THAT’S PART OF GOD’S PLAN. If we had all of the resources needed, we wouldn’t need God. You may not have everything needed for your “Miracle”, but: Ø What do you have? Ø Are you willing to Give it to God? Ø If so, then do so and Expect Him in Faith to multiply it.

Whatsoever He saith do it, though you may not understand. Yield to him complete obedience, then you'll see his mighty hand Fill the pots with water, Fill them to the brim. He will honor all you trusting, Leave the miracle to him.

Bring to Christ your loaves and fishes, though they be but few and small. He will use the weaker vessels, give to him your little all. Do not ask how many thousands can be fed with food so slim. Listen to the masters blessing, leave the miracle to him.

Oh ye Christians learn the lesson, are ye struggling all the way. Quit your trying, change to trusting. Then you'll triumph every day. Whatsoever he bid you do it, fill the pots up to the brim. But remember tis his battleleave the miracle to him.