September 4 2016 When Only A Miracle Will Do

WHEN ONLY A MIRACLE WILL DO

A Time To Build

1. Admit we have a need.

Mark 6:34-37 - When Jesus saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, so He began teaching them.  By this time it was late in the day, so His disciple came and said, ‘This is a remote place. Send the people away so they can go and buy something to eat.’  But Jesus answered, ‘You give them something to eat!’ They said, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages!’

2.  Assess our ability.

Mark 6:38 - How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked, ‘Go and see.’  When thy found out, they said, ‘Five small loaves of bread and two fish.’

John 6:6 - Jesus asked this only to test them, for He already had in mind what He was going to do.

3.  Give God the resources we have.

Mark 6:41 - Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish.  He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.

The boy gave what he had, willingly, cheerfully and immediately.

4.  Expect Him to expand it.

Mark 6:42-43 - Everyone ate and had enough.  Afterwards they collected 12 baskets full of leftovers!

Mark 10:27 - All things are possible with God.

EXPECT FOUR THINGS

1.  Expect us to grow spiritually.

2 Corinthians 8:7 - You are growing in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us.  In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving.

2.  Expect greater fellowship.

1 Peter 3:8 - You should be like one big happy family.

Acts 2:47 – Enjoying the favor of all people.

3. Expect great worship and celebration.

Psalm 95:2 - Let us come before Him with thanksgiving.

4.  Expect a challenge to sell out to God.

2 Corinthians 8:5 - They first gave themselves unreservedly to God.  Then the other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.

June 5 2016 Living What You Believe

The Apostle's Creed: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."

• Wasn't written by the apostles
• Is not Scripture
• Was used to distinguish orthodoxy from heresy

FOUR QUESTIONS OF BELIEF

1. ASK: WHAT DO I BELIEVE?

"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups." — 2 Corinthians 13:5

2. ASK: ON WHAT ARE MY BELIEFS BASED ?

"An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies." - Proverbs 15:14

"Truth stands the test of time; lies are here today, gone tomorrow." - Proverbs 12:19

3. ASK: DOES MY BEHAVIOR MATCH MY BELIEFS?

Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. - James 2:17

4. ASK: HOW WILL I LIVE OUT WHAT I BELIEVE ?

"Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong." - 1 Corinthians 16:13

"Fool! When will you ever learn that 'believing' is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith." - James 2:20

My Beliefs Determine:

• MY BEHAVIOR

(James 4:17; Psalm 119:59)_

• MY SIGNIFICANCE

(Genesis 1:27; John 10:10; John 8:31-32; Mark 6:34)

• MY ETERNITY

(John 5:24; John 3:16-17)

"For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

January 17 2016 How To Prepare For A Miracle

How to Prepare for a Miracle

Daring Faith ­ Key to Miracles Part 2

Mark 6:34­-44 – The Miracle of Feeding the 5,000

Memory Verse: Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

1. ADMIT I HAVE AN UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM.

Mark 6:34-37a (NIV) "When Jesus . . . saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them . . . so he began teaching them. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came and said, ‘This is a remote place.

Send the people away so they can go and buy something to eat.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You give them something to eat!’ They said, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages!’"

2. GIVE GOD WHAT LITTLE I ALREADY HAVE.

Mark 6:38 (NIV) "‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘Go and see.’ When they found out, they said, ‘Five small loaves of bread and two fish.’"

John 6:6 (NIV) "Jesus asked this only to test them, for he already had in mind what he was going to do."

3. PUT IT ALL IN THE HANDS OF JESUS.

Mark 6:41 (NASB) "Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish . . . He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people . . ."

The boy gave what he had . . . willingly, cheerfully, & immediately.

4. EXPECT GOD TO MULTIPLY IT.

Mark 6:42-­43 (Ph) "Everyone ate and had enough. Afterwards they collected 12 baskets full of . . . leftovers!"

Mark 10:27 (NIV) "All things are possible with God."

John 12:24 (NIV) Jesus: "A kernel of wheat must be given away and planted in the soil. Unless it dies and is buried, it will remain a single seed. But its death will produce many more seeds and a great harvest!"

October 6 2013 How To Prepare For A Miracle

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MIRACLE

A Time To Build

1. Admit that I have a need.
Mark 6:34-37 - When Jesus saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, so He began teaching them. By this time it was late in the day, so His disciple came and said, ‘This is a remote place. Send the people away so they can go and buy something to eat.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You give them something to eat!’ They said, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages!’

2. Assess what I already have.

Mark 6:38 - How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked, ‘Go and see.’ When thy found out, they said, ‘Five small loaves of bread and two fish.’
John 6:6 - Jesus asked this only to test them, for He already had in mind what He was going to do.

3. Give God whatever I have.

Mark 6:41 - Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.

The boy gave what he had, willingly, cheerfully and immediately.

4. Expect Him to multiply it.

Mark 6:42-43 - Everyone ate and had enough. Afterwards they collected 12 baskets full of leftovers!
Mark 10:27 - All things are possible with God.

The next miracle in Our Church’s history

A TIME TO BUILD - 4 PURPOSES

1. To help us grow to spiritual maturity.

II Cor. 8:7 - You are growing in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving.

2. To deepen our fellowship as a Church family.

I Peter 4:9 - Open your homes to each other.

I Peter 3:8 - You should be like one big happy family.

3. To Worship God by celebrating Thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2 - Let us come before Him with thanksgiving.

4. To challenge us to complete our family/Worship center.

By having a Commitment Day on Nov. 17th when each of us can make a gift and a three year giving commitment.

II Cor. 8:5 - They first gave themselves unreservedly to God. Then the other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THIS TIME?

1. To see some miracles.

2. To grow spiritually.

3. To be hassled by Satan.

4. To experience joy.

July 25 2010 How To Handle Life When It Comes Up Empty

How To Handle Life When It Comes Up Empty

(Mark 6:34-44 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish." Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.)

When there is a need, sensed by a few, and each individual accepts his responsibility to do what he can with what he has, regardless of the odds, God works a miracle.

What Are The Four Steps To A Miracle?

I. Identify the problem

A) Verses 34-36 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

*Every miracle begins with: a problem

B) How do we identify the problem?

1. Decide what is causing discontent in your life

2. Decide what needs to be changed in your life

a) Matthew 20:32 - What do you want me to do for you?

II. We need to accept responsibility for our problem

A) Verse 35 - By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late."

1. John 6:6 - He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

2. Verse 37 - But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"

How To Assume Responsibility

1. Don't procrastinate

a) Verse 35 - By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late.

b) Ephesians 5:16 - making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil

2. Don't "pass the buck"

a) Verse 36 - Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

3. Don't worry about it

a) Verse 37 - But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"

III. Begin with what you have

A) Verse 38 - "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."

How Do We Begin?

1. Be available

a) A Lesson.

2. Give everything

a) 2 Corinthians 8:12 - For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

3. Give immediately

*Examples: David & Goliath - Elijah

IV. Expect a miracle

A) Verse 41 - Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

1. Matthew 9:29 - Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"

How Do We Expect A Miracle?

1. You can't out-give God

a) Verse 43 - and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

2. Faith knows God wants to work through us

3. God's resources are always adequate

a) Wedding feast.

You can handle the empty side of life.