Mark 8:1-9
Running and Serving with Passion
In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat,
Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, “I have compassion (óðëáã÷íίæïìáé the bowels or viscera to be the seat of love and pity; strong desire to alleviate the pain & remove the cause) on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint (as a bowstring goes limp when unstrung) on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”
Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy (÷ïñôάæù to fatten as cattle) these people with bread here in the wilderness (ἐñçìίá an uninhabited region, a waste)?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks (åὐ÷áñéóôέù to be grateful, feel thankful), broke them and gave (kept giving) them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. They also had a few small fish; and having blessed (åὐëïãέù pray God to bless it to one's use) them, He said to set them also before them. So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets (óðõñίò a plaited basket, hamper) vs. (êόöéíïò a basket, wicker basket
Intro – Eric Liddell “Chariots of Fire” 1902-1945
Chariots of Fire is the true story of two British runners competing in the 1924 Olympics. Eric Liddell is a devout Christian and one of the finest runners in the world. Eric's sister, Jennie, wants him to leave competitive running to join the family on the mission field in China. Jennie feels Eric is putting running ahead of serving God, and she questions his commitment.
In one scene, Eric attempts to help his sister see his point of view. Eric announces with a smile, "I've decided I'm going back to China. The missionary service has accepted—"
Jennie interrupts him. "Oh, Eric, I'm so pleased." Eric continues, "But I've got a lot of running to do first. Jennie, you've got to understand. I believe that God made me for a purpose, for China. He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure. To give it up would be to hold him in contempt. You were right; it's not just fun. To win is to honor him." “We are all missionaries. Wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ.”
"I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run, I feel His pleasure."
“Those who honor Me I will honor” 1 Sam 2.30
Jesus walked among those who were rejected by the religious leaders of their day. He walked in Decapolis and the gentiles. God walked among His creation for He loved them all.
On the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus ministered to the people of the Decapolis. It was here the gentiles had the hand of God touch them to heal them. It was here they witnessed…
A Divine Presence 1a
Wherever Jesus went, people followed. They were drawn to Him. These unclean and filthy gentiles were healed, cured and cleansed by the hand of Jesus. He is the
A church will grow if they sense the Presence of Jesus in that place. People want spiritually what Jesus has to offer. The problems are generally the way Christians behave. Why? People act out what they really believe about God.
His Inconceivable miracles (source)
His Incredible lessons (substance)
His Incomprehensible character (spirit)
Illustration - Winning in Losing: Indianapolis Colts Lose in Miami, Win in Haiti
Both teams that play in the Super Bowl think they will win, so both teams have special t-shirts and hats designed that declare them the victors. It costs about $2 million to have the apparel made—which means for the losing team, $2 million goes to waste, right? Wrong. A recent article on ChristianPost.com points out that the items are "sorted and shipped to various countries where World Vision workers distribute them to needy children and families, many of whom have never owned new clothing in their lives." So, this year all the Colts apparel is heading to Haiti. I'd say this a good look at how a loss can become a victory.
A Divine Passion 1b-3
Jesus was concerned about their Spiritual misery
They were lost and living in darkness
He was affected by their Physical afflictions
They were suffering in very real ways
He identified in their daily, Practical burdens
They were a destitute people
He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4.20-22
Illustration - Poor man’s philanthropist
In 2005, when Thomas Cannon died of colon cancer in a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, he was 79. Thomas described himself a "poor man's philanthropist."
When Thomas was 3-years-old, his father died. Once Thomas' mother remarried, the family of six lived in a three-room wooden shack without running water or electricity.
As an adult, Thomas went to work with the postal service. He never made more than $25,000 a year. Upon retirement, he and his wife lived in poverty. Yet over the course of 33 years, Thomas gave away more than $156,000. His gifts were mainly in the form of $1,000 checks given to people he read about in the newspaper who were going through hard times or who especially exemplified courage or kindness. A youth worker in a low-income apartment complex, a volunteer faithfully serving at an elementary school, a Vietnamese couple wanting to return home to visit, and a teenager abandoned as an infant were some of the recipients of Thomas' benevolence.
Thomas' motivation came from an incident that happened as a young man while away at a Naval signal school. When an explosion at Chicago's Port took the lives of many of his shipmates, Thomas concluded "he had been spared to help others and be a role model." This led to his passion for giving.
Cannon biographer, Sandra Waugaman, comments, "Not many people would consider living in a house in a poor neighborhood without central heat, air conditioning, or a telephone, and working overtime so that they could save money to give away."
"Thomas Cannon had Little Money to Give," Omaha Sunday World Herald (July, 2005), p. 13A; Margaret Edds, "Cannon's Canon," HamptonRoads.com (7-24-05); submitted by Ted De Hass, Bedford, Iowa
A Divine Provision 4-9
The Incompetency of the disciples
Nothing to offer or a way to do it
The Insufficiency of the supplies
7 loaves of bread & a few small fish
The Immensity of the task
4,000 men + women & children @ 20,000 people
The Intimacy of the Savior
His immense & intense love for gentiles!
Illustration - BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
USA Today had an article on the front page about those who escaped the World Trade Center on September 11. After interviewing over 300 survivors and family members of victims, USA Today concluded that in the South tower those who didn’t delay but ran for safety immediately are the one’s who survived. Those who delayed are the ones who perished. It occurred to me that the spiritual life is much the same, that those who delay and put off a commitment to Jesus Christ often wait until it’s too late.
USA Today also noted that people lived or died in the towers by groups, influenced to stay or go by the people around them. The same is true in our spirituality, that people are often influenced to seek Christ or to reject Christ by those around them.
If there’s ever a time for courage, it’s in responding to God’s call. Those who didn’t delay and who took a stand are those who survived the world trade center. Those who don’t delay and take a stand spiritually are those who respond to God’s calling and are saved.
If you've never responded to God's call, why don't you do it now as we remember Jesus' sacrifice. As we take the juice that represents his blood, and the bread that represents his body-- respond to his call. "And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
