Sometimes, In God's Will ...

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I don’t like this sermon!!!! But know this – very simple, but practical.

Our main teaching in will come in at verse 45, but we need to know the background to make sense of the rest of the passage. Do your best to actively listen – visualize the narrative.

Mark 6:7 NIV

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

- Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

Mark 6:12–13 NIV

They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

- They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Some time later …

Mark 6:30–36 NIV

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 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 that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

Some time later …

Ministry, especially spiritual warfare is taxing and exhausting – emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. I think they plopped down, exhausted yet excited to share their stories. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” “You guys did a good job, you deserve a break.”

Somehow, the people knew where Jesus was going – loose lips, sink ships. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, (the disciples were possibly like – “Seriously!”) but Jesus had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

In other words, “Jesus, you’ve been talking for a very long time (if Jesus talked for a long time, so can I). We’re tired and hungry. You know that break you said we would get - can we kind of call it quits for the day.”

Mark 6:37 NIV

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

- But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

These guys are wanting rest. Jesus acknowledged that they needed rest – and what did they get? Another task.

When it comes to my shampoo or toothpaste, and things like that – I want to get my money’s worth. When the bottle or tube seems empty, I do everything I can to get as much out of it as possible and make it last as long as possible. I turn bottles upside down; push all the toothpaste to one end …. When most people toss their shampoo, I get about another week’s worth. See, there’s usually just a little more inside than what you think.

That’s what Jesus did with the disciples. He squeezed them; turned them upside down if you will, to get just a little more out of them. Here’s what I’m learning – Jesus still does that with His disciples. It’s not uncommon for Jesus to see more in us than we see in ourselves. It’s not unusual for Jesus to say, “I know your tired, but there’s more in you – give just a little more, go a little longer, reach a little higher.”

I wonder what would have happened if the disciples said, “We’re too tired. We’re done for the day.” Would we still have the story of Jesus feeding over 5,000 men and women?

What can we learn about God’s will?

Sometimes, God doesn’t let us rest when we want to rest. And, sometimes, there’s a miracle just around the corner if we don’t quit too soon.

And, sometimes, there’s a miracle just around the corner if we don’t quit too soon.

More importantly,

Sometimes, it’s tiring when following the will of God.

We have this idea that if were in God’s will, we’ll have this superhuman energy. Not always true.

After feeding the crowd,

Mark 6:45–46 NIV

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

- Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Both Matthew and Mark use the word “immediately.” There was a sense of urgency from Jesus. I’m only guessing, but two things come to mind. One is that it’s possible that the disciples were just about to lie down and crash, and Jesus said, “This is not the time or place to rest. Get going.” Secondly, Jesus had a schedule to keep. I lean toward the latter, and we’ll see why in a moment.

But here’s what we need to understand - sometimes, there’s a change in direction or plans when following God’s will. They crossed the lake to be alone and get some rest, but they ended up feeding over 5,000 people. Instead of making the crowd go home, Jesus made the disciples leave. That’s not fair. Sometimes, life isn’t fair when following God’s will.

Mark 6:47–48a NIV

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,

- Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.

Need to really use your imagination here.

Need to really use your imagination here. The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. John says they were about 3 miles from shore – which if you’re going East to West, that’s about the middle. I want us to get this –

The Sea of Galilee

is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. John says they were about 3 miles from shore – which if you’re going East to West, that’s about the middle. I want us to get this –

They were totally struggling. They were spinning their wheels; running against the wind; going upstream without a paddle – ever feel that way. They were rowing and bailing water – doing everything that seasoned fisherman knew how to do, still, they were getting nowhere. On top of that, they were totally exhausted. Remember, they were already tired – now this storm. This was about all they could take.

They were totally in the dark. According to the text and Jewish culture, this was well after midnight. Being in the middle of the lake, in the middle of the night, in the middle of a storm is a scary place to be. Wind was blowing. Waves were crashing. The boat was tossing. Remember, the sea represented what? Chaos – they were in the middle of chaos.

Imagine what was going through their minds. “Where’s God when we need Him? Why doesn’t He do something! Did we listen correctly? Were we supposed to go across the lake or along the shore? How come this always happens to us? Did we do something wrong?”

So, they were totally struggling, totally in the dark, totally in chaos – and get this – they were totally in God’s will. They were doing precisely what Jesus had directed them to do. So what can we learn about God’s will? Sometimes, obedience is difficult and dangerous. Sometimes, obedience is harder than disobedience.

We think obedience and being in God’s will should be a piece of cake. Sometimes, but not always.

But we need to see something else here. They were totally in God’s care. Jesus saw them. Whether it was supernatural or natural, Jesus knew where they were and what they were going through. What can we learn about God – no matter how dark, how chaotic, no matter how much you are struggling, God sees us.

Mark 6:48b–50 NIV

He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

- Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake.

When did Jesus start walking? These guys have been rowing and fighting the storm for 6, 7, 8 hours! Why did Jesus take so long? Hold onto that question – we might answer it here in a moment.

He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

This is critical – God passed by someone else in Hebrew history.

Exodus 33:18–19 NIV

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Yahweh said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, Yahweh, in your presence.

- Then the Yahweh came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, Yahweh. And he passed in front of Moses ….

Exodus 34:5–6 NIV

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

- Then the Yahweh came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, Yahweh. And he passed in front of Moses ….

In Mark, it seems like Jesus was intending to walk past them without helping, but that’s not the case. Jesus wanted to be seen. He wanted them to see and know His glory, who He was – that He was God in the flesh. What did He say? “Take courage! Hang in there. You’re going to be okay! It is I!” I – the Great I am.

What should we learn here about God? Sometimes, God uses difficult situations to declare His glory. Sometimes, it’s the only way to see His glory because some of us are so dense (me). Look at verses 51 - 52 for a moment -

- They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:51–52 NIV

Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

It’s obvious they were not impressed with the feeding of the 5000. Either they were too tired or just didn’t get it. They didn’t connect the miracle with Jesus being God in the flesh. You would think they would have gotten the hint – but some of us are a little slow. Jesus, wanted to show them His glory – the feeding didn’t work. Well, what could He do?

Look at

for a moment - And when they (Peter and Jesus) climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:32–33 NIV

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I’ve mentioned this before, but only Yahweh has authority over nature. The dots were finally connected – they were in the presence of the Messiah, the Christ – Yahweh’s One and Unique Son.

Sometimes, it takes a storm for us to understand who Jesus is. Not all storms are because of sin, or poor choices or being out of God’s will.

- Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.

Mark 6:51 NIV

Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

You know, we often talk about getting out of the boat – that’s what Peter just did. But when did the storm cease? When Jesus got in their boat. When it comes to Gods’ will, sometimes it’s not about getting out of the boat. Sometimes, it’s about waiting for Jesus to get into our boat.

What are you facing today?

Where are you at today?

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