Summer Mixtape Week 3 - Prioritizing Proximity
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John has past away
Jesus is looking to get a vacation
He has compassion on the crowd.
Asks Philip about food...
Feeds 20,000 with 5 loaves and two fish.
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Today we pick up in John 6:14
This passage today reveals to us three differentiations of people and three differentiations of location.
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1. Jesus is in the hills.
1. Jesus is in the hills.
When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”
They saw Jesus as “the prophet.”
This was a nod back to Moses.
They assumed he was Moses 2.0
(Moses led out of Egyptian captivity…Jesus would lead them out of Roman captivity.
APP: They were so governed by the past that they were letting the past move of God dictate to them the plans of God in the present.
{They’re understanding of and enamorment with Moses created a box they tried to fit Jesus into.}
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Gods plan is too big for our box
Gods plan is too big for our box
When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
God’s plan is too big to fit into our box.
If Jesus allows them to crown him in this moment it is actually a sabatoge of his overall purpose.
HE WOULD BE THE KING OF A NATION IN CAPTIVITY.
He goes to the hills because he understands there are more steps that need to take place before his purpose can be fulfilled.
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Ruling is inferior to dying when your purpose is what dictates your life
Ruling is inferior to dying when your purpose is what dictates your life
Jesus first purpose was to die not to rule.
If he had tried to rule before He had died he would not have satisfied the ultimate prophecy over His life.
PREMATURE PROMOTION CREATES A PARAMETER ON YOUR POTENTIAL!
If you are willing to go into the hills instead of being sat on a throne…you are ultimately more ready for your purpose when it comes knocking on the door.
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2. The Disciples in the boat
2. The Disciples in the boat
That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum.
The disciples are cool with waiting on Jesus as he does his thing in the hills…as long as the sun is out.
But then it got dark.
Their circumstances changed and they didn’t have a clear answer as to when he was going to return.
They grew impatient with the slow pace at which Jesus was operating.
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Mega Storm is coming
Mega Storm is coming
Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough.
Gale = anemos = Mega
The disciples soon discover what was taking Jesus so long…He was waiting because he knew the uncertainty of the shore was safer than the severity of the sea.
When they abandoned their place of waiting…they sailed into a MEGA STORM!
God is not slow for no reason…Sometimes He’s slow because he understands the danger in rushing the process.
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Mega Storm = Mega God
Mega Storm = Mega God
In the midst of their mega problem…something unexpected took place...
They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified,
Jesus had every right to let them just shake and stir and break their boat…THEY’RE THE ONES WHO SCREWED UP
But our God is so merciful in that even when we shortchange the process…HE MEETS US IN OUR MEGA STORM.
while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
I read that verse to you because Titus refers to Jesus with the adjective..anemos.
In the midst of their mega storm…the disciples discover the presence of a mega God.
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They chose presence over power
They chose presence over power
Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
We see a paradox in this passage.
The crowd wants more of the miracle which we will uncover in a bit.
But the disciples actually ask Jesus to cut the miracle short.
The storm they faced created such a sense of desperation within them that they would rather be close to Jesus sitting in a boat that being spectators watching Him walk on water.
THE DISCIPLES CHOSE PROXIMITY OVER POWER.
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When we choose proximity…sometimes it allows us to bypass process.
When we choose proximity…sometimes it allows us to bypass process.
The real secret place is when you say I know you could do the miracles…and that’s cool…but I just want to be with you.
They were amazed he could walk on the water but they were eager to get Him in the boat.
When proximity becomes your focus…it’s a cheat code.
The moment they chose presence over power…they bypassed process.
While process is important…those who are walking in His presence get to skip steps that others have to take...
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3. The crowd on the shore
3. The crowd on the shore
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them.
It’s important to note that the crowd understood that Jesus was not with the disciples.
In their understanding; Jesus was still in the hills.
They were interested in finding the disciples but there were no boats to be found.
Later Jesus will reveal the intentions of their heart but I want to submit that they were not looking for the disciples because they were specifically interest in community.
THE DISCIPLES HAD THE BASKETS!
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Stolen boats to chase stale bread
Stolen boats to chase stale bread
No boats but their hungry…They know Jesus is in the hills but the baskets are in the boat.
Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.
They take boats that don’t belong to them…to go farther from Jesus…in search for the baskets.
The disciples chose proximity over power…the crowd chose provision over proximity.
ON FATHERS DAY…LET ME ENCOURAGE SOME DAD’S; DON’T VALUE PROVISION OVER PROXIMITY.
Boats that don’t belong to you.
The job you don’t need
The relationship you aren’t ready for
The car you can’t afford.
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Surprised by the savior
Surprised by the savior
They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
We know they aren’t looking for Jesus because you’re never surprised to find what you’re looking for.
They aren’t mad to see him because they think it means more food is coming.
Everybody is excited about His presence when it means another meal.
Often the presence of God is filled with conviction.
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Misunderstood signs
Misunderstood signs
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.
He tells them that they didn’t understand the “miraculous signs.”
Signs are not settlements
Miracles signs and wonders are supposed to point to something.
The gifts are supposed to point to something.
Being Spirit-filled should mean we are always pointing to something.
GIFTS THAT DON’T POINT TO SOMETHING ARE COUNTERFEIT AND DANGEROUS.
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The point of the chapter - Eternal Life
The point of the chapter - Eternal Life
But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
Don’t be concerned with perishable things
Jesus tips his hand as to the point of this entire chapter…IT’S ALL ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE!
We abort waiting for comfort
We abort waiting for comfort
When they got tired of waiting on Jesus…They got in a boat and head back towards Capernaum
Capernaum is significant because it is where they call home.
When circumstances changed…and they didn’t have clarity as to Jesus whereabouts…they retreated to what was comfortable.
APP: Have you ever aborted your season of waiting on God because he was moving too slow…so you went back to what was comfortable?
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