Wanting Jesus More

Mark 8:11-21

Is it possible we Want More From the world than we want from God?

I have been asking myself this and unfortunately the answer is yes.

Even Churches can fall into this…we can be so worried about public opinion we fail to do the hard things such as care for the poor, stranger, widows orphans and others in general.

On the other hand Churches sometimes do all those things but fail to grow in their spirits studying scripture, spending time in corporate prayer crying out to God for our world and Standing up to power when it is warranted.

All of these things are a result most times of wanting more from the world than we want from God.

Is it possible you want more from the world than God? Don’t run from this question…Its not new nor is the answer a surprise to God.

Let’s Break Down these two different but connected Stories

Pharisees: V 11-13 Pharisees Came to Argue not Learn, demanded a sign to prove Jesus Authority even though he already provided several.

Disciples: V 14-16 Disciples were focused on wanting to be seen as competent. They had bread for the journey not bread for the multitude. More sensitive to being seen as essential to Jesus than to hearing the message of Jesus.

Jesus had two very different responses

Jesus Sighs in his spirit not in contempt but understanding nothing will change the mind of the Pharisees so he gets in the boat and sail back to the side he came from. V12,13

Jesus reprimands the disciples and is frustrated but continues to try to teach. V14-21 Don’t you understand?????

Why the Two different Responses?

The Disciples were clueless but at least they wanted to believe.

When I coached I would rather have a committed hungry average player than a natural athlete. Why? Becuase I could make something out of the Hungry player.

We all struggle at times with wanting more from the World than from God.

The Key to growing closer to God is being Teachable and Willing.

Being teachable a willing however is of no use if we are not committed to being closer to Jesus than to the rest of the world

Part of the reason we default to material ambitions is we spend most of our time trying to fit into this world instead of trying to stand apart from it.

In order to overcome the temptation to want more from the world than God is to put ourselves in closer proximity to God.

Charlie from the west wing…Young man applying for a position as a 9 to5 White House Courier…being vetted for a 24/7 personal assistant to the president. Why Becuase someone saw more in Charlie than he saw himself.

The sacrifices were many but the experience was worth it.

In order to achieve what we are searching for we must stop settling for a couriers job when God wants us to have direct access to God.

In so doing we find that it is not only about what we consume that makes life matter…it is what we allow to consume us.

Come to the Word of God whether in your personal time, listening to you pastor or your small group with a desire to learn not negotiate.

Practice saying Yes to Kingdom Mission over the pursuit of Religion Comfort

So as we prepare to come to the table let us come:

Confessing times you sought to argue instead of seeking to understand.

Confess times you have allowed material/worldly concerns to push out Kingdom concerns.

Confess times when you wanted more from the world than you did from God.

Communion Liturgy: