“A Season of Struggling”

Mark 6:45–52 KJV 1900

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Just like There’s Physical seasons

In life

Winter — Spring — Summer — Fall

There are different

Seasons for the christian

That we go thru

And just to encourage you

You need to remind yourself

That there are 5 seasons of the christian life

Winter—Spring—Summer—Fall—My Season

And no matter

What season you’re in

you will need Faith

But remember this

Because each season is different

That means your Faith

Is going to be different

From season to season [ Explain ]

One season you might have :

Wavering faith — James 1:6

Small faith — Matthew 17:20

Great faith — Matthew 8:10

Strong faith — Romans 4:20

No faith — Mark 4:35-41

There’s good seasons

And there’s bad seasons

And there’s So So seasons

But each season serves a PURPOSE

Some seasons

It will make you

Throw your fist at God

Some seasons

Make you wanna

Just lay down and die

But God will use seasons

To build our faith

And to develop us

In certain areas of our lives

In other words God will allow it to get stormy in our life

But we have to

Take each season

With a smile

Because God controls each season

Daniel 2:21 KJV 1900

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding:

There’s two words that describe time;

1st: Chronos

2nd: Kairos

Chronos—gives us the word chronological

Chronological—mean one thing after another

Chronological suggest that Tuesday come after Monday

Chronos suggest things have to go in an orderly fashion

But God doesn’t operate on Chronos time

God operates on Kairos time

Kairos time is this

No matter how comfortable

you get

With one particular season

you’re going to have

To get used of the different

Changing of seasons in life

[Because nothing stays the same always]

The Marriage — The Job — The Finances— The Ministry

God is not going

To allow us

To experience seasons

That’s always successful

With Fun—Favor—Finances

God is not going

To allow us to always

live in a season

That’s Free of Tearless eyes—Stressless days—Restful nights

But God is going to allow us

To experience seasonal changes

We can expect

To cry some tears—walk some floors—carry some burdens—have some headaches—some folks to smile in our face—talk behind our back

Because seasons will change

In Mark 6

We discover that

The disciples are not

handling the season well

In which the Lord

Has allowed them to experience

They don’t have faith for the season

In verses 30-44

The disciples are in

A season of success

In verses 30-44

The disciples in that

Section of scripture

They’re in a season

That every child of God

Would love to live in always

They are in a successful season

1st: Because the Ministry is Prospering

Verse 39-40

Now Verse 44 says

“ (Just men) “ so many people

We would love

To have this type

of success in our

Home—Church—Ministry—Money — Jobs — Health

They are in a successful season

1st: Because the Ministry is Prospering

2nd: Because Miracles are being Provided

There was more

People Than Provision

But the people didn’t worry about that

Because Jesus was there

To perform miracles

In verse 30-44

Jesus feed 5,000 men with 2 fish & 5 loafs of bread

Now one Jewish loaf of bread

Can feed 3 people

And they have

5 loafs of bread

so they can feed 15 people

But there’s 5,000 men there

So that means

They need another 1,662

More loafs of bread

To feed the other 4,985 men

And Jesus MEETS THE NEEDS of ALL the Men there

Whenever Jesus is doing for us

What we can’t do

for ourselves

Whenever Jesus is making away

Whenever Jesus is making a way out of no way

Whenever Jesus is turning things around in your life

It’s safe to say

That’s a successful season

When Jesus is doing for you

What you can’t do for yourself

They are in a successful season

1st: Because the Ministry is Prospering

2nd: Because Miracles are being Provided

3rd: Because means are Plenteous

Verse 43-44

They are living

In the overflow

It’s always

a successful season

When you got leftovers --- FOOD --- MONEY

The Feeding — shows us that God is ABLE

The Filling — Shows us that God is ADEQUATE

The Fragments — Shows us that God is ABUNDANT

But Seasons NEVER STAY THE SAME

The Disciples go from a Successful Season

To a Struggling Season

Verse 45

Straightway (euthys)—Immediately; at once’ with no time intervening

The bible says

They was enjoying

A season of success

But all at once

Things change overnight

Verse 30-44

Was a season

of Success

But in verses 45-52

The disciples are

Experiencing a season of struggle

[ And the season shifted just like that ]

[ What do you do when your season change overnight ]

These disciples are in

A season of struggle because

They are struggling because

1st: They are separated from the Savior

Verse 45 [separated]

Whenever there’s a separation

Between you and the Savior

you can expect struggle

I know some people will say “ I Never feel Separated from Jesus “

Psalm 13

But when you REMOVE anything

Or anyone

From their LIFE SOURCE

You can expect STRUGGLE

Fish from water---Fish struggle

Fruit from The Vine---Fruit struggle

Man from God---Man struggle

Never let trouble

drive you away

From God — From church--- From your life source

[ Trouble should make you come to church ]

The Devil should not

Stop you from reading

The bible

But the Devil should make you

Start reading the bible

It’s amazing how

The Devil STOP US

From getting close to God

And he make us

Run away from God

There are struggling because

1st: They are separated from the Savior

2nd: They are stranded in the Storm

Verses 47-48

Toiling — means [ torture, tormented, vex]

These disciples

Are going thru

A situation that’s

Stronger than they are

Every now & again

God will allow you

To get in something

you can’t get out of

On your own

God is trying

To show you

That you’re not

As strong as you

Think you are [you’re not as Spiritual]

This strand

Will make you

Hold up your arms

And say

“ I Need you God “

There are struggling because

1st: They are separated from the Savior

2nd: They are stranded in the Storm

3rd: They are scared of what they See

Verse 49

They are in a season

where they are

Living by sight

And not walking

By Faith

And when you are

living by sight

And not walk by Faith

you are going to struggle

[ We’re not called to live by Sight we are called to walk by Faith ]

[ What we see can be scary ]

Example: Exodus 14:13

Exodus 14:13 (KJV 1900)

13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

[ You have to live By what you believe — John 11 Mary & Martha ]

John 11:15 (KJV 1900)

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

John 11:25–27 (KJV 1900)

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

John 11:40 (KJV 1900)

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

John 11:42 (KJV 1900)

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

There will be times

That you will have

To fight between

The Facts & your Faith

The Facts says you’re sick — Exodus 15:26

Exodus 15:26 KJV 1900

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

The Facts says I’m broke—Scrip Mal. 3:10

Malachi 3:10 (KJV 1900)

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

The Facts says I’m Lonely—Ps. 27:10

Psalm 27:10 (KJV 1900)

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up.

The Facts says I’ve been crying—Ps. 30:5

Psalm 30:5 (KJV 1900)

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The Facts says I’m surrounded by my enemy — Psalm 37:1 ,9

Psalm 37:1 (KJV 1900)

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

Psalm 37:9 (KJV 1900)

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

1st: They are separated from the Savior

2nd: They stranded in the Storm

3rd: They are scared of what they See

You got to have faith even when your season TURN