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.
