Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 21, Issue 15 September 4, 2011
“Jesus said to His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” John 6:12
We noted last week that Jesus is among other things the LORD OF RESTORATION. “I will restore to you the years that the caterpillar have eaten.”
Now it is true that He cannot bring back or change the years you have wasted, nor can He remove the consequences for your past sins, but you can start here and now to serve Him with what’s left.
Up to now, perhaps you have been doing this in your own strength. Your choices, although reasonable and logical, have profited you little. Now as you step out with Jesus as Lord of what is left, it is time to make “Faith Choices”.
Mark 6:35-36 “The day was now far spent, Jesus’ disciples said, This is a desert place and it’s getting late: send the crowd away, so they can go into the nearby villages and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.”
The disciples thought this was the sensible, the logical thing to do. And why not - Matthew records about 5000 men, not counting women and children.
Everyday we are faced with choices - basically two choices:
1. to lean on our own strength or
2. to put our trust in Him
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.”
I hope to encourage you to make choices
that exercise your faith and God’s ability
to do the impossible!
“Ah Lord GOD!, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for You.” Jeremiah 32:17
Let me say that again…. there is nothing too difficult for God!
I’ve discovered that whenever you come
to a place where a choice needs to be made -
there is always a “REASONABLE”
alternative to a FAITH CHOICE!
Note: Reasonable alternatives will rob
YOU OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PLEASE GOD!
Jesus said, “You don't send hungry people away; you feed them!” Mark 6:37a
“And they said, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?” Mark 6:37b
The buying power of a penny was equal to a days wages.
Here again they chose on the side of logic.
"Master that's impossible!”
My dear friends….
The Christian life can only rightly be explained in terms of faith in JESUS!
If your life as a Christian can still be explained in terms of you…..
- your personality
- your will power
- your gift
- your talent
- your money
- your courage
- your dedication
- your scholarship
- your sacrifice
- your ANYTHING
The Christian life has got to go past being HIGHLY COMMENDABLE!
It cannot be explained in the natural, it must be SUPER NATURAL!
So what did our Master choose to do? He made a “FAITH CHOICE”!
However, He first sets the scene so as to prove He was acting as man not as God. This means we too can make Faith Choices.
John 6:5-6 “Jesus looking at the large crowd asked Philip, Where shall we buy bread for these people?”
Jesus was not anxious… He is completely PANIC PROOF! Are YOU?
Did you notice the disciples response to the LORD?
John 6:7 “It’s more than 1/2 a year’s wages.” (today $15,000 wouldn't be enough!)
The Disciples chose NOT to reckon in the
PRESENCE AND POWER of JESUS!
Just with the money in the bag or should I say the lack of money in the bag!
LOGIC would say:
- How many people
- How much a loaf
- How much money do you have? We can’t afford it!
Mark 6:38 “Jesus asked, How many loaves do you have? Go find out!”
Andrew chose to respond, “five loaves and two small fishes,” even though there was some doubt as to their significance. John 6:8-9
“But what are they among so many?”
He still chose in the direction of faith!
John 6:11 “Jesus took the loaves and fishes and when He had given thanks, he distributed them to his disciples, they in turn gave them to the people.”
Look at the results. “When the people had eaten their fill, Jesus said to his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. They gathered and filled twelve baskets with the left-overs.” John 6:12-13
Little is much when God is in it!
Here is the KEY to making “Faith Choices” “Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks.”
He acted in faith!
The loaves and fishes didn’t multiply until they were handed out! Jesus did not wait for the miracle, He acted in faith! And that my friend pleases God!
Who fed the 5000? Not Jesus!
John 14:10 “The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, He does the works.”
When we make “faith choices”
God gets the glory!
John 14:12-14 “He that believes on me, the works that I do, shall he do also whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Your perceived poverty
can rob you of a miracle!
II Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is trusting in Him.”
Jesus simply brought the situation before His Father then in faith chose to say, “Thank You”!
The Three “T’s”
- Thank Him
- Trust Him
- Take action
DO NOT BE UPSET IF YOU DON’T
LEARN THIS IN ONE SETTING!
LEARN THIS IN ONE SETTING!
Mark 6:46-52 “And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary to them: and about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them saying, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were amazed beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
Jesus was in prayer on land, yet He saw the disciples struggling.
I pray that you see that NOTHING takes Jesus by surprize!
Christ was trying to show His disciples that He was aware of everything coming their way. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
“And when He came into the boat, the wind ceased.”
Jesus, said to them as He says to us, “It is not difficult to do the impossible, just count me in!”
Here is a prayer you can pray today:
Lord we ask You to be the Lord of what is left of our lives! We repent of our self reliance, we repent of making life choices based on our strength, our abilities and in our power. We surrender our choices to you and will from here on in make Faith Choices as we “Count You In”! May our lives be found pleasing in your sight. AMEN
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