Twelve Take-Home Boxes

Welcome

Happy Father’s Day!

For all my homies in the house that went and got Logos Bible App after our Pentecostal Resource night, if you’ll pull that up, it should pop up a little window to help you follow along with the scriptures we’ll go through today!

Text

Mark 6:40–41 KJV 1900

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

Intro

Thrown in Head-first

I was speaking with a friend of mine this week. He was telling me the curious story of his career.

He started out as a worker on the floor at a place. Just doing the common, everyday work. He did what he was supposed to. Tried to be helpful and go the extra mile.

One day, one of the bosses mentioned in passing that he might be great for a position of leadership. He said he would certainly be interested but didn’t know if he was even close to ready for something like that.

The called him in for an interview. It seemed to go well. A week later, they handed him a six-figure offer letter to sign. The week after that, he stepped into the new job. He walked into an office with a label that had his name, and underneath the name: “Vice President.” He had no idea they were wanting him for a job this serious.

He told me that he walked in, shut the door, locked it, turned the light out, shut the shades, sat down in his chair, and took several deep breaths trying to calm himself down. He began to pray. He told me: “I went from leading no one to being responsible for a 5 million dollar yearly department budget.”

In his mind, he was thinking, “I don’t know how to manage people! Much less this many! How many other people probably would have been better suited to do this?!”

So he prayed and trusted God to help him.

That very day, people began coming to him with questions and in need of help. It was a daily barrage of issues and emails. Much of it had to do with things he had no idea about. What do you do?!

They would present a problem and he would ask, “What are your three best options?” They would offer them and he would respond with, “Which one is the best option and why?” And after they told, here comes the important part: HE MADE A DECISION.

And that is exactly how he had continued success. It’s not completely that simple every time. But it worked. And he went from the bottom to the top. From responsible to barely anything to almost everything!

Here’s the deal about that, here we are going on through life as sinners, horribly disadvantaged and unable to manage. We have an encounter with Jesus and He becomes a savior to us.

…but that’s not all…

Then, He issues us an offer letter.

The compensation isn’t six figures. Under “Compensation” it simply says “Jesus.” And that means EVERYTHING!

And the job title isn’t “Vice President.” It’s “My Hands and Feet.” It also says “Heir of Christ and carries all the authority of the same.”

Salvation is a crucial and immediate need for every person that walks the earth. God to repent, be baptized in Jesus name and receive the Holy Ghost. There is no other way!

But there’s salvation… and there’s PURPOSE in God! Listen to me: from salvation, you have to go on to fulfill your PURPOSE in the Kingdom of God!

He saves people, and then He builds them and edifies them into apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors and teachers, prayer warriors, disciple-makers, and givers!

Many people are saved and get the offer letter - but never assume the role!

The Need

The Disciples Returned from Their Missionary Journeys, and a Hungry Multitude Gathered

Now, I’m going to show you how I know Jesus operates this way with us.

Mark 6:7–13 NKJV

7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

So think of this… Jesus’s ministry hasn’t been going long here. But he just recently raised up Jairus’s daughter daughter from the dead. And now… He turns to his 12 disciples and says, “Alright. Your turn. Team up with a buddy and go out there and minister in the power of God.”

WHAT.

I am telling you right now… what happened with my buddy JUST HAPPENED HERE. They each went from a dummy following a legitimate miracle-worker to “Hey, go do what I do!”

And not only that. When they returned to Jesus, the excitement was electric. Because they began sharing the experiences of their first ministry assignment. At minimum, we know from that last verse that they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many people who were then healed.

They’re talking over each other trying to tell their stories!

But in all of their excitement, no one had taken time to prepare a meal or arrange for places for them to rest from their travels. So Jesus pulls them aside and they took a boat to find a quiet place to rest.

But here’s what’s happening while they’re away. There’s a gathering crowd on the shore that is anticipating where Jesus and the disciples would land. They had heard so much about Jesus and the miracles and what was happening with Him daily.

So this massive crowd is gathering along the lake and people are already spilling over the hillside when Jesus and the disciples make landfall. And instead of rebuking them or sending them away, Jesus was touched by their needs.

Mark 6:34 NKJV

34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

So He begins teaching. And the hours grew long in this. And the disciples are getting weary and they’re concerned for Jesus.

Mark 6:35–36 NKJV

35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

And Jesus’ response was TOTALLY UNEXPECTED.

Mark 6:37 NKJV

37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” …

“YOU feed them.”

Once again, we’re seeing Jesus push the disciples into ministry. No training wheels. No advance warning. No pep talk.

So they’re sitting there, trying to take in what they were going to have to do. They sort of survey the huge crowd. And they’re calculating the numbers to be well over five thousand men plus women and children. And now they’re realizing that it was beyond their means to supply even a little food for each one.

They huddle up and take an inventory of what they’ve got. And they only come up with five barley loaves and two small fish. It was so insufficient that one of the disciples spoke up and said:

John 6:9 NKJV

9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

The Disciples Gave Jesus What They Had

So if you read John’s account of this story, there was a boy in the crowd who had the foresight to bring his lunch. Maybe others had brought food, but by now they had already eaten their dinner.

Andrew finds the boy and asks for his lunch. And then, almost apologetically, Andrew presents the small amount of food to Jesus. He knew how small it was compared to the crowd.

But Jesus receives the boys gift and He tells the disciples to begin organizing the people and preparing them for a meal.

Now, this young boy really is ministering to us. He gave what he had.

What are you willing to give to Jesus? What talents, finances, or other assets can you give to Jesus for Him to bless?

I Will Give Whatever I Have to Jesus

The blessings of God come when we willingly devote our meager possessions, gifts, and talents to God for His service.

For sure, when we see size of our world and the vast population has grown from one billion in the 1800s to eight billion now. The growth rate continues at an accelerated pace. (Current projections are that the world population will exceed nine billion people in about ten years and reach ten billion another ten years later.)

How can we ever reach the population of the world?! What will it take to reach them with the gospel?! How are we in this room going to reach Rector and Clay County in all of that?!

The answer to that is in the multiplication of Jesus. He took a lunch for one person, and it became enough to feed the crowd.

Now, He had done something like this before, actually.

He multiplied a little bit of food for a widow in 1 Kings 17 to feed her in the midst of a famine.

Jesus also taught that the widow’s two mites in Luke 21 exceeded the value of all the other donations.

The perception in our minds can often be:

“I don’t have a lot.”

“I’m not talented in much.”

“I don’t have the abilities I see others having to do this.”

“Other people have more.”

But here’s the deal… and I’m going to put this in the best Arkansan I can: AIN’T NONE OF US GOT MUCH OF NOTHIN’!

But the miracle comes when we take whatever it is we have and put it in the hands of Jesus! Here comes the multiplication!

Luke 16:10 KJV 1900

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

And all of a sudden, little becomes much in God’s hands!

Deuteronomy 32:30 NKJV

30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them?

How could this happen, EXCEPT THE LORD!

Stop worrying about what you don’t have! That’s what the enemy inserts for you to focus on! Look at what you DO have and put it in the hands of Jesus!

Hear the power of this scripture:

Ephesians 3:20 KJV 1900

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Sacrificial giving - Kierstin and I decided on an amount for MTM. It was outrageous. But by the following week, God had miraculously provided that amount and more.

“I’m prepared to eliminate long-standing giants, when you put the five smooth stones you have to work for Me.”

“I’m prepared to provide for long-standing needs, when you begin to open your mouth, lift up your voice, and pray.”

“I’m prepared to pour out mighty revival in this region, when you boldly submit and speak to them what I’ve already given you!”

The Miracle

Jesus Involved His Disciples in Serving the Multitude

Jesus asked the disciples to bring the food to Him. And He then asked them to organize the crowd into separate groups, between fifty and one hundred in each.

They obeyed His instructions but they weren’t sure how this is going to help feed the crowd.

Even this task of organizing the crowd into smaller groups was not a little thing because of the sheer number of the people. If all the groups were one hundred people each, there were still more than fifty groups. If we were to think of what it’s like to serve a wedding reception or church banquet, and then multiply that effort thirty times or more, that’s what we’re dealing with here.

But despite the questions the disciples may have had, they went ahead and prepared the people for a miraculous event.

And here’s what we need to see here… and yet again, I come back to what we talked about earlier: Jesus involved His disciples in the miracle!

Sure, He could have simply performed it with no help from them at all. But He did not do that! And so often, He directly involved them. Because God wants you to be directly involved with His work, His miracles, and His power - DAILY! (Not just consuming - producing!)

Jesus Multiplied the Bread and Fish as They Served

He simply takes the loaves and blesses them, looking up into the heavens. Then, before their very eyes, He multiplies the meal. The more bread Jesus tore apart and put into the baskets, the more remained. The fish were multiplied, too!

The disciples began taking it to the people. Baskets of bread and fish! They brought back empty baskets and exchanged them for full ones! And there became more than enough for everyone to be filled and satisfied!

I Will Trust Jesus Even When I Do Not Understand His Ways

Miracles often happen within small steps of obedience.

Faith initiates an action even when we can’t see the outcome. (Get used to not knowing the outcome!)

And then, when we take Jesus at His word, pray a simple prayer, speak a simple sermon, encourage a person in need with a simple Scripture, or speak a simple word of faith… incredible things happen!

Unexpected miracles occur when we simply follow Jesus’ teaching and speak His Word with confidence.

Listen to me: trusting in God does not require us to know the outcome or how it will all work out. Just preparing for the miraculous is an act of faith! We can do the simple things and get ready for the greater things we only dream of!

The Miracle After the Miracle

Twelve Baskets Were Left Over

More than enough - that is just the way God works.

Not only did Jesus feed the entire multitude of people, but there were also leftovers - lots of leftovers. It was like the abundance of a holiday meal, and it exceeded their expectations.

Mark 6:42–43 NKJV

42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.

How are you going to end up with more leftovers than what you started with?! Jesus is the only one who can take a meal and cause your leftovers you put in the fridge to be more than what the full meal was!

Five thousand families ate. And the remaining food filled 12 baskets - not eight, ten, or twenty, but twelve. It’s interesting, considering there were twelve disciples.

God Rewards Those Who Serve

The crowd goes away filled and satisfied. And the disciples are left with something extra, a reminder of this blessing.

It was the miracle after the miracle…

Did you know that God can do that??? Many times God will do a great work in our midst and we, in our nature accept that His work is done. What is there’s a miracle after the miracle?

I’m talking about sensitivity and pursuit of the things of God! Our cup runs over - let’s drink from the saucer, too!

I Will Serve God and Allow Him to Minister to Others through Me

God does not want for you to barely get by; survive. He wants for you to thrive!

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

When we are open to God’s leading and instruction, we will find God’s provision is more than enough.

God desires to minister to the hurting, the broken, the needy. People who may look fine on the outside, but there’s an inner struggle going on.

When His compassion becomes our motivation, anything is possible! We serve God by serving others, and He is delighted to work through us to minister to those who are desperate for Him.

Conclusion

In Bangladesh, there is much affliction. Much hunger and much spiritual starvation. And a massive number of people. In India, even if they do turn to Jesus, they suffer persecution for it.

There’s a simplicity there, because it’s the way things are. Simple food, cooked well. Not extravagant. Nan bread, rice. Chicken or mutton in sauce.

But when I’ve come back to the states… I can remember sitting inside the 777 and seeing all the lights below, each light representing souls, thousands of them. And the darkness represented the spiritual blindness that smothered them. Same thing as I approached Rector - the lights.

And I thought to myself, “Thousands of people in this city and this region. And we have yet to scratch the surface to fulfill the commission.”

How’s it going to happen? If we can place our talents, our abilities, our finances, our efforts into the hands of Jesus, He can multiply our offering to minister to the multitude!

Jesus ministers through us to reach the world He loves. He would not have called us if it were impossible.