Open Handed - THIS is what we do

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THIS

*Everyone - Hold hand outstretched Shout - THIS!

Message theme: Mark 6:32-44 Do you do THIS?

“THIS” opens doors and solves problems

“THIS” creates networks and connections

“THIS” creates healing and resonates within community

Matter of fact, THIS is so impactful, when it comes to who you and I are - our stories, our legacy, we want THIS to be at the top of the list of most honorably mentioned things.

You and I - we are made for THIS

THIS is who we are, and THIS IS WHAT WE DO

“THIS” is all about the joy of giving - its a complete paradigm shift in talking about giving.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to learn how to move from a scarcity mindset to an abundant, free-flowing mindset.

It’s going to highlight how generosity and giving are foundational parts of who we are as a CHURCH and as imitators of Christ - because of what God did for us, THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

When we talk about THIS, we’re not just talking about monetary terms.

We are, however, talking about God’s economic plan for your and my life.

Here’s an example: Summarize story of Feeding the 5,000

“Little” passed through the disciples hands and became “exceedingly, abundantly” (12 baskets full after)

Last week, we had 3 scheduled baptisms - that quickly turned into 10! With others on the edge of their seats…

We preached the pure Gospel message and sowed the seed - 8 people committed their life to Christ last week!

We serve we in and week out, as door holders, serving in kids ministry, or the cafe, or audio/visual; and we consistently see GROWTH in numbers of people (certainly), but more importantly in FAITH

So I’m excited to see where God is taking us, and as we use THIS to Prepare the Way for our hearts and the hearts of others around us, God’s going to bring an increase…

So what’s next in this story? Because when it comes to God, there’s always more…

MESSAGE TITLE: Just a Little Bit of Faith

Now we see THIS in what happens next here in Mark.

Now we’re in between moments. The moments in between can be shaky..can be nerve-racking some times. The moments in between - when you’re in the middle - between assignments, between major life changes, between readiness and deployments - these moments can put THIS in a precarious situation…

Mark 6:45–52 CSB

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray. 47 Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. 49 When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

Here’s some backstory for the moment recorded here.

Matthew, Mark, and John all give the account of Jesus walking on water.

Right before this, all four gospels record the account of Jesus feeding the more than 5000 people

After that miracle, Jesus sends the disciples to the other side of the sea, while He proceeds to take care of the crowd and find alone time to pray.

Jesus sent the disciples on a mission. They had a purpose, they had a direction, and an intended destination.

But it’s here on the sea that they experienced a storm

Obedience led them to a storm.

Jesus, the Son of God knew where they were headed and what they were about to go through.

And He sent them anyway.

Church, sometimes our obedience leads us to a test of our faith. God knows what you can and cannot handle. Yet He sends us towards an intended destination despite what we may face along the way.

Right now, in your life, you may be facing the perfect storm.

Deployments, mission sets, daily ops, home life, career questions - most of which, if not all, can be completely out of your hands.

Maybe we want react like we see the disciples here - gripped by fear, anxiety, uncertainty…

They didn’t even recognize their own Master coming towards them…

They thought they saw a ghost...

…and maybe they even wanted to die at that moment.

You see, it’s always the fear and anxiety that wants to overshadow the mission, the dream, the vision, the opportunity.

John 1:5 CSB

5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

We’ve got to remember that Darkness cannot comprehend the Light - it cannot overtake it.

There’s an aspect to of our obedience in faith, at times, that simply will not make sense. It’s incomprehensible, it’s seemingly impossible.

But focussing on the end-state, the end-game, the prize, the dream of mission complete. It will take you through the darkness.

Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on the water offers even MORE to this story:

“After they called Jesus a ghost, Jesus replies, “take courage! It is me, don’t be afraid”.

At this point, something rises up in Peter’s spirit. From the depths of who Peter is, something calls out -

Matthew 14:28–31 CSB

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

See, with just a little bit of faith - Lord Jesus, if you are who you say you are… God, if you really are who you say you are God, if you really can do all the things the Bible says you can do God, if you’re truly faithful and strong enough to carry me through… Peter says, “if it is you, call me and I will come to you”

What happens? I BELIEVE there was something in the depths of Jesus that called out at this moment: Come on!

Church its in the middle - it’s in the in-between - it’s while walking through the storm - its while I’m facing the battles - that God is NOT looking for our evaluation.

No, He’s looking for our availability!

Psalm 42 talks about deep calling out to deep - you might have a deep emptiness this morning, but God’s got a deeper fullness still! He wants to fill it! He wants to pour all of His presence, all of His Word, all of His peace, all of His love -

Peter said, “If you call me, I’ll go”

Who else said that? Isaiah, remember Isaiah?

Isaiah 6:8 CSB

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

You may be stuck this morning facing the “I’m not holy enough, I’m not smart enough, I’m not educated enough, I don’t have the personality… I’m not theological, I’m not tall enough…

God’s not looking for your list of qualifications - nor is He looking for your unqualifications.

He simply wants to know - are you available? Are you willing? A simple “HERE I AM” is what He’s looking to bless.

We know the story here - Peter steps out of the boat, the other disciples probably thinking he’s nuts.

But Peter finds a firm foundation, and that encourages him to take another step, and another..

What we learn from Peter is that storms are meant to draw us out of the security of the boat and towards the Master’s arms, not to drown us at sea.

We can become so comfortable in our perceived security. Sometimes we have security blankets in life we’re not willing to let go of. Sometimes those things become idols in our lives.

But in our comfort, we become motionless. We become even more motivated to stay motionless.

It’s one of those laws of physics right - what is at rest remains at rest. UNTIL something initiates the move.

Our faith has to be the catalyst for moving.

Jesus came to comfort the disturbed…but He also came to shake things up - to disturb the comfortable.

Peter here takes another step, and then he stops.

Why did he stop? It’s very simple actually.

He stopped because He took his eyes of Jesus - and began to observe and focus the waves around him, the wind blowing the spray, the unsettling of the storm, the darkness of the night.

He could have kept His eyes on Jesus, and his faith remained secure in the impossible.

But when he focused on the improbable, he doubted. He sinks.

And as Peter sank, Jesus reaches out, grabs him, and said, “you of LITTLE faith, why did you doubt?”

Little…did you catch it? Little faith.

Peter took his eyes of the spiritual and focused on the natural.

All we need is a little bit of faith. Peter only had a little bit, and he walked on water.

Where were the others? STILL IN THE BOAT. They had no faith.

Peter could see the next step - the way to breakthrough, while the others were shivering and wet in the boat.

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Don’t doubt what God can do with a little bit of faith!

God can do A LOT with Just a little bit of faith!

We may think it doesn’t make sense…but it will make faith.

It is impossible to accomplish anything on our own ability.

You and I know this.

This is how we get caught up in the predicaments we do in the first place.

There was NO way Peter was going to walk on the water on his own.

See, faith is understanding the direction I need to go in, the purpose I need to fulfill, the obedience to keep going and get to the other side…all of which doesn’t come from my own ability.

This can’t be accomplished on my own shoulders. I need the grace of God to fulfill what He’s commanded me to do.

And it’s the same for you.

Refuge Aviano, we purchased this building on faith. We’re doing renovations by faith. We’re fulfilling ministry by faith. We’re doing summer camps by faith. We’re going to send missions funds out by faith.

I don’t have $21,000 to replace this roof. I don’t have $200,000 to build the Director’s apartment. These things are going to have to be done by faith.

But hasn’t God already proved Himself faithful? We’re in this building. We’ve had heat all winter long. We’ll have cool air when we need it. And there’s a decent level of comfort where you’re sitting right now. All the while, your pastoral family is being taken care of. Ministries are able to support the local needs. People are coming to Jesus.

We’re taking the steps of faith needed - and yet BIGGER steps are needed!

Is it hard? Is it difficult? Is it uncomfortable?

Here’s the facts: GOD WILL ALWAYS BLESS A FAITH-BASED DECISION

He can’t do much with a fear-based decision.

It was in the moment that Peter said YES to Jesus, and NO to fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and doubt.

When he said YES to Jesus, the miracle was available. Had Peter said no, he would have missed out.

What are you saying YES to today? In your saying NO, what are you missing out on? What blessing are you excluding yourself from?

Peter said YES to walking on water and was INCLUDED with JESUS.

You may feel alone, like you’re stuck, or even maybe sinking…

But I’m wondering if there are a few here today like Peter,

Just a few people who will say, “IF no one else will, I WILL”

- I will live up to the name of the Church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it

- Peter stepped out of the place of comfort and walked INTO the storm - who’s willing to storm the gates of Hell?

We are taking the culture of Christ and we are invading the culture of man

We are focused on robbing Hell and making Heaven crowded

We are focused on seeing Heaven near to people throughout this region

We are focused on every blood-bought child of God flex their faith in spite of every storm

We are focused on seeing the power of God redeem every person and story

You may feel like you’re alone - but believe me when I say this - someone is watching!

Let their faith increase from your flex!

Matthew experienced this - and intentionally added this part of his testament. He watched Peter, he was an eye-witness to the faith encounter with Jesus.

Mark carries a different tone at the end of this story.

FAITH Carries You Through

[closing]

What happens after the storm?

Jesus finally gets in the boat with Peter and the rest and they make it to the other side.

Immediately they’re met with people that need a miracle. That need to see the power of God active in their lives.

Hungry, hurting, in need of a savior..

Just on the other side of the sea, Jesus fed the 5000+ - those who were hungry, hurting, need help.

The storm caused the disciples to forget what happened on the previous side and they almost gave up before making it to the other side.

The word here says their hearts were hardened - they forgot about it!

Mark 6:52 CSB

52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

They were so focused on the storm, and their hardship, that they forgot the supernatural hand of blessing they just experienced before they got in the boat!

We can’t forget the blessings we’ve experienced these last couple of years!

Hey, we can’t forget the blessings we experienced last Sunday - 8 People redeemed, 10 public proclamations of God redeeming their stories!

We’ve got to hold on to that faith - and be reminded again, and again, of what our awesome God can do!

When the disciples got to the other side, people flocked to Jesus - carrying their sick, their hurting, and when they got just a glimpse of who Jesus is and touched just the edge of His garment, they found healing!

THIS is what we DO!

We let what seems to be the little we have in our hands, pass through and become multiplied in the hands of Jesus

We live in the little bit of faith - the measure God gave to each of us - and if we flex that, God is able to amplify it for His glory

When we share our gifts capacities with others - time, talents, and resources - (remember gifts are what you give away)

Ephesians 4:11–12 CSB

11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

We show people Jesus, the Son of God, the Anointed one, the Christ and the capacity He came in - not to be served, but to GIVE His life for ransom of many! FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE!

We got to see this in action last Sunday. We still had water. We still had faith. It was enough for people to jump out of their seats and say ‘I’m ALL IN!” I WILL! HERE AM I!

The Bible is full of people that said yes at the right moment…here in this Church family, we see that saga continuing in the lives of those around us!

And even still, here right now, we can know - there’s still water for those who believe to never thirst again!

Here’s how I’ve been praying this year:

GOD, I NEED YOUR PRESENCE

GOD, I NEED TO SEE YOUR GLORY

GOD, LET YOUR GLORY FALL ON THIS PLACE, ON AVIANO

GOD, LET US SEE YOU MOVE PEOPLE FROM GLORY TO GLORY

GOD, LET US SEE PEOPLE REDEEMED, SET FREE INTO YOUR PRESENCE

GOD, POUR OUT ON US A REVIVAL and PASSION FOR YOUR PRESENCE

GOD, EMPOWER US TO BE THE HEAVENLY AGENTS TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE, HEAL THE SICK, AND RAISE THE DEAD

And here’s what we need to do - we need to connect with those who have influence in this region and let them know Refuge Aviano is here to be of benefit; to be the hands and feet of Jesus reaching this community, providing the safe-haven of connection and community. To be salt and light in this community.

We are more than a pit-stop in the life of the Airman and their family. We are more than a short-tour assignment. We are the Church, active and on-mission for this time and space. We are part of the Kingdom of Heaven near.

Refuge Aviano is a healing agent, a healing salve for this community - where people find relief from the pressures of this world, where people find HOPE in a place of anxiety and depression, where people find JESUS and HE SETS THEM FREE.

We are more than a building, more than a community center, even more than a family - WE BRING PEOPLE HOPE. And HOPE has a NAME.

JESUS IS OUR LIVING HOPE.

And THIS is what we DO.

THIS is carrying our LIVING HOPE to the world around us. THIS is bringing JESUS to people

THIS is bringing people to JESUS

There will FOREVER be an asterisk for your situation.

There will always be the foot notes you need to remember and hold on to.

Is life hard right now?

*Fear not, for JESUS has ALREADY overcome the world

Are you living with anxiety right now?

*Worry not, because you have the prince of Peace

Are you feeling drained by all the goings on?

*Jesus came to give you life and life MORE abundantly

Are you dealing with chronic sickness and disease?

*Jesus is the Great Physician, and by His stripes we are healed

Are you feeling lonely and desperate?

*Our hope has another name - Jehovah El Roy, the God who Sees you, is with you, and will never leave you.

Hope has a Name. And He comes with all His glory and power and splendor. If you’ll grab hold of Jesus, you’ll find real quick that you have a Hope to give others who are in the same boat as you.

In only takes a little bit of faith to believe.