RENEW: faint not, be filled

Second Wind

Living life can wear me down.

Today, we are talking about being weary and worn and loosing capacity and being renewed.

Illustration: worn jeans no longer functional in the worn area.

Pulse: on a strength scale, what is your level of vitality today from 1 (being weary) to 5 (being strong)?

Pulse: in what area are you most worn? I am most worn...

physically--in my body

emotionally--in my feelings and capacity to allow, regulate and understand how I am doing

spiritually--in my faith, hope and connection with God

mentally--in my thought-life and capacity to have a calm yet alert mind

relationally--in my connection with others and capacity to be with people and people to be with me

financially--in my ability to purchase what I need, share with others, live comfortably and comprehend with detail a bright financial future

Q: What wears you down? What erodes your capacity to stand, progress and/or contribute in some particular area? What brings you strength?

When I

don’t see myself clearly.

don’t see God clearly.

don’t see others clearly.

don’t see my purpose clearly.

When I don’t see clearly I expend energy pursuing things that God said He would otherwise take care of…and I forget to depend upon God.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

——-------

Jesus Feeds 4,000

Mark 8:1–10 NKJV

1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” 4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” 5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Matthew 15:32–39 (NKJV)

32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”

34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”

And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

Renew: faint not, be filled.

Intro

By all intents and purposes, fainting delays progress. And in some circumstances, fainting eliminates progress all together.

Fainting has a way of taking one out of one’s journey.

Someone else then takes control of your destiny for you.

Fainting demands a reassessment of everything.

And if one can avoid fainting altogether then it is all the better.

Mark 8:1–4 NKJV

1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” 4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”

Opening Text

In our opening text we find Jesus traveling. Jesus is outside of the city--the hustle and bustle and convenience one may find in a city. Jesus left the city and entered a locale His disciples described as "the wilderness".

The people--a multitude--are following Jesus. For 3 days the people continued with HIm. Jesus presented/made public no itinerary. It's just that when He moved, they moved--continued with Him 3 days. And now they have traveled with Jesus to the wilderness.

Jesus acknowledges the multitude's commitment to Him and what predicament they now find themselves in. And Jesus has compassion because the people have continued with Him.

Pause: this is one thing I greatly appreciate about Jesus. Jesus will not forget about your sacrifice to Him. Jesus will not forget about your devotion to Him. Jesus will not undermine your commitment or confession of faith.

When Peter said:

Mark 10:28–31 NKJV

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Hebrews 6:9–12 NKJV

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Jesus said:

Matthew 10:32–33 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus has compassion on the multitude. Jesus acknowledges the predicament the people face (perhaps a predicament even unknown to some of them).

Mark 8:3 NKJV

3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”

And so what does Jesus do? Jesus feeds the multitude. Jesus and His disciples take the little bit of food that is in the area, thank God for it, bless it, and distribute it to the multitude.

Mark 8:8–9 NKJV

8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away,

Faint not, Be filled.

It’s one thing to faint on your physical journey across town, faint going from one geographic location to another geographic location, faint on your way back to your home.

It’s another thing to faint in the journey of your faith.

(The Race of Faith)

Hebrews 12:3 NKJV

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Q: May I be honest with you this morning?

There are things in this life that can hit you so bad that you begin to rethink your walk with Christ.

Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

But saints, I’ll tell you this morning what the authored told the believers in that day:

Hebrews 12:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Saints, the key is the joy. Don’t look at the race. Fixed your eyes on the joy. The joy of Jesus. Looking unto Jesus.

(Song: we would sing, Trouble don’t last always)

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NKJV

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

And I’ll say to you what Jesus says to us:

Matthew 5:3–12 NKJV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus told His followers:

John 14:1–3 NKJV

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:4–6 NKJV

4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

He’s real.

He’s your joy in the midnight hour. Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning light.

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

5 For His anger is but for a moment,

His favor is for life;

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning.

Faint not, Saints. Hold on just a little while longer.

It’ll be worth it. (Worth it All)

(Sing: I don’t understand your ways. But I will give you my song. Give You all of my praise)

God, let us Faint not.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9 (KJV 1900)

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Prayer:

- God, revive us.

- Re-fill us.

- Let us take heed according to your word.

- Let us not chase after things that are of no profit.

- Riches fly away. Relationships without you leave us thirsty. When we take our eyes off of You (and instead watch trouble) we begin to drown.

Teach us to seek first your Kingdom.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Help us to keep our eyes stayed on you.

Let us not be overwhelmed with financial constraints. 2 Kings 4

Let us not be overcome with worry.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Practically, speaking, how do we faint not, be filled, be renewed, be revived and strengthened in Christ?

Isaiah 40:28–31 NKJV

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

First, let's know or remind ourselves Who is God:

- God's wherewithal remains. His strength does not exhaust itself/is not exhausted.

- God's comprehension cannot be framed so as to say this is where God's understanding begins and this is where God's understanding ends. God's understanding cannot be scrutinized. As living beings, we find the end/limits of our own understanding and readily do so.

God declared through the prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah

Second, let's know or remind ourselves Who God can be in our lives.

- God gives power to the weak.

- God gives strength to those who have no might.

Are you weak (and humble) enough to cry out?

I need Thee, O I need Thee

Every hour I need Thee

O bless me now, my Savior

I come to Thee

(A quick heart check: )

Or do you look at yourself pridefully or unaware (saying,)?

Revelation 3:15-22 (NKJV) 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 "Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ’ "

God gives power to the weak.

And where is this power?

There is power in the blood.

We would sing:

There is power, power, wonder-working power

In the blood of the Lamb

There is power, power, wonder-working power

In the precious blood of the Lamb

Hebrews 9:11–14 NKJV

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

There is power by the Spirit.

Jesus told His disciples:

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Paul reminded:

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

But how do we get this power to go on?

We got to be humble enough in our weakness to get strong.

2 Corinthians 12:6–10 NKJV

6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There is power with the body of believers.

Romans 15:1–3 NKJV

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

Power through the people of God: you, God has given you His power for the strengthening and healing of one another.

James 5:16 (NKJV)

Confess [your] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Mark 16:18 (NKJV)

“they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

RENEW

1 to cause to grow up, new, to make new. 1a new strength and vigour is given to one. 1b to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state.

I implore you today:

be the people of God,

Who live the will of God and rely on the strength that He provides.

And strengthen one another.

Colossians 3:12–17 NKJV

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Peter 5:5–11 NKJV

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.