Faith Over Fear of the Facts
“The Pause before the Go”: Finding the Presence and Faithfulness of God in Hard Times
Lesson 4: Faith Over Fear of the Facts Mark 6:30-44.
Facts are wonderful things… We use them to guide our daily living, and make wise and important decisions. At a time like this, our attention to the facts is very important, and following directions from our leaders over those facts concerning COVID-19 is critical to our safety and the safety of others. Where facts can get us in trouble however is when we overly speculate, “what if” and worry over our future based on those facts alone instead of leaving room for trust in God and that He is in control and greater than our fears… Whom do we trust? As believers we are asked that question by life and by the facts every day! Where does our faith and confidence lie? And what difference will our Faith in Christ make for ourselves and those around us? What do we have to offer this world? These are the questions we will examine… Read Mark 6:30-44 for this lesson.
Mark starts out this familiar story with an interesting reference; it is only here in his Gospel that the “Disciples” (mathatais- meaning learners) are called “apostles” (apostoloi- meaning those who are sent) – this is like calling a “Senior” a “Graduate” and well the Disciples thought they should be called “Graduates”… They have returned from Jesus sending them out to the villages around the countryside where they have preached the repentance of sins, seen miracles, been provided for and cast out demons and now is the time for their “great debrief” where they will tell Jesus all the incredible and supernatural things they have done and how much they have matured in their Faith! The Disciples are tired, happy, and amazed- but are they understanding? Jesus it turns out isn’t interested in their exploits… instead He tells them to go get some rest and recharge. Why? V.32 tells us because there are people constantly coming and going and they can’t take a break, so Jesus removes them to a solitary place. But their rest doesn’t last long… The people follow them and now, Jesus, instead of telling the crowd to go away, starts teaching the people- and the Disciples are confused...
Have you ever felt like the Disciples? Perhaps you’ve gone on a mission trip or been a part of some great work of God and you don’t want to rest, you think it’s time to get busy- it’s time to work, and God says, “STOP” instead. How has the Corona Crisis brought our previous ministries to a stop? How is the current crisis changing our perspectives on ministry and the power and plans of God?
And then you have those other days, where all you want to do is collapse, and people just keep coming! Ministry is never done, but I need some “me” time- and God says, “SERVE”. It is in these confusing commands that we learn as the still immature in their Faith Disciples were about to learn, that it is God who takes care of us and decides our time and our days especially when we trust Him. How has God challenged and changed your perspective on time and schedules over the last 2 months? It is God that is the source of our strength and it is God that provides! We must trust Him, but how in the midst of our confusion? How when there is fear around our facts? There are 4 answers from this passage…
1. First, we trust God with our ministry. Our service to others is ordained by Him. The Disciples did not send themselves to the villages it was Jesus who sent them, and it is Jesus who told them to feed the 5000 (look at v. 37). Ministry is opus dei- God’s Work (we are simply the vessels by which He accomplishes it). Can you think of some other “providential things” (think of our lesson on Esther) that show God’s hand at work today- in our nation and in His people?
2. Second, we trust God with our time. God’s use of our time is not our use of our time. I think this is blatantly obvious to us in April, 2020. Our passage show that this is seen by Jesus commanding the Disciples to rest when they wanted to work, and telling them to serve others when all they wanted to do was quit and take a break.
3. Third, we trust God to show us compassion and make us compassionate. Why we do what we do in ministry and service to others is not only God ordained and within God’s timing, but because compassionate service is the very essence of who Christ is. When the people came to Jesus the Disciples saw a faceless crowd, Jesus saw His needy sheep made in His image (imago dei)! Do we see people the same way? When we do, we will be able to serve them with compassion even when we are tired… How is your perspective on people and their presence in your life and in your sphere of influence being transformed by this crisis? Are you becoming more compassionate to others?
4. Fourth, what God ordains- God provides- and in abundance.
The problem the Disciples had with their faith was they were looking at a problem through worldly eyes instead of people through heavenly eyes and God’s provision… For the Disciples this was an issue of “scarcity” of too many mouths and not enough food. And isn’t that the way we often look at life? SCARCITY! Our prayers are all about what “we don’t have” what we are “short” of. We watch news programs, advertisements, and listen to politicians, and even “church strategists” that tell us all about what “we are WERE losing” in the Country and the church today. They tell us the “facts” over whose leaving, and what we’ve lost and in some ways they are right, they are just expressing the truth of our “helpless estate” they are just stating the “facts” but if we are ever to make a difference for the Kingdom, if we are ever to see the power of God work with great effectiveness and in great abundance in our lives and the life of the church OUR FAITH MUST BE GREATER THAN OUR FEAR OF “THE FACTS.” Christian Faith is transformational; our faith rests in the soul sufficiency of an almighty and Loving God, who’s Son died and rose again for us! The Bible says, “His divine power has granted us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness (2nd Peter 1:3).” If we believe that, it should change the way we look at our circumstances and our resources in this fallen world.
A lack of faith with a concentration of fear of the facts breeds a spiritual impoverishment in the church. Instead we are commanded to rise up and with confidence seize the eternal and abundant heavenly treasures the church has been given by the one who founded her! Like the early church did, on her founding at Pentecost! Holy Spirit power is still Holy Spirit power available to us today for God’s glory and the spiritual welfare of others! In the midst of the current crisis what spiritual sources are you seeking to do God’s will and be salt and light to a needy world?
Where the Disciples saw the problem of scarcity: empty stomachs, empty hands, and weariness, Jesus saw the blessing of fulfillment: people to feed, bodies to rejuvenate from the inside out, and hands to fill and not just anyone’s hands, HIS DISCIPLES HANDS! Let’s look at the four progressive steps Jesus took to show how Faith triumphs over Fear of the Facts…
1. First, THE COMMAND: “You give them something to eat!” Yes, Jesus fed the 5000 but he accomplished it through the obedience of His followers… If we want to accomplish God’s Work (opus dei) then we must have the faith to obey and follow through in the ministries He has called us to even when it seems impossible or the odds are stacked against us and the facts fill us with fear.
2. Second, THE RESOURCES: Was there enough food to feed everybody? No. How much food was present? Just enough to fill a person’s hands! Jesus asked His Disciples not about what they didn’t have, but what they DID have. Look in our hands Christians: what do we have? Do we think Jesus can meet all our needs? Don’t stop there- do we think God can multiply what we possess to meet the needs of others that He loves through us? Do we have a significant role in reaching a lost and dying World for Him? Will His grace be multiplied through us? Don’t complain, don’t look at the enormity of the task, don’t get discouraged, stop being afraid, timid, unsure and doubting over whether God can use us, over whether He will provide… He will, He can and wants to use us (THAT’S SCRIPTURE- too many references to list- check your concordnance!)…
3. Third, THE BLESSING: Mark simply says that Jesus gave thanks and the disciples distributed the bread and the fish. When we realize what God has given us, and we entrust it all to Him by faith the overflow of our hearts will be abundant thanksgiving as God works His miraculous power through us and multiplies it to others!
4. Finally, THE PROVISION: Mark says there were 12 basketfuls of “leftovers” after everyone (5000 plus) ate and were satisfied. Let’s not fret, worry, and scoff over the “scarcity” of provisions in our lives- or in someone else’s, have faith. Jesus says that the Father is pleased to give us the very keys to the Kingdom but so many of us have turned our hands away from grasping those keys and the treasures they unlock, because we let the facts scare us, we let the ways of this world and the scarcity of what the world possesses determine how we see God and His abundance instead of the purity of heart that comes from His Word (“blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”) The beauty of this passage is the way we see the abundance of God result through the progression of the handling of His provisions: The Father provides the grain and the fish, Jesus multiplies it and the Disciples distribute it to ALL the people. What has the Father, Son and Holy Spirit given us? Will we give this World something to eat out of what Christ has placed in our hands! Let’s entrust what we have to Him by faith and act on it and watch the blessing of God multiply to a starving and needy world through us. What do we have? Who will we give it to? And what will we do with it? The choice of “Faith over Fear of the Facts” is ours…
I know FEAR is everywhere today… Courage, peace, and active obedience in Jesus and His commands is not about the absence of fear but faith in God overcoming fear in our lives. My prayer for all of us together in the midst of these “strange” days is that God will strengthen us, ENCOURAGE us and equip us to be salt and light right now while it is desperately needed. Y’all have been equipped, and are doing just that! Keep it up! Don’t give up! We all wish we were not at this particular time, but I believe we have all been place here for such a time as this because God is able and wants to use His children in new and incredible ways to reach the lost. God loves you and so do I! Let’s keep praying, keep trusting, keep obeying, keep serving and loving each other, and praising Him. He will take of the rest! We will be together soon! And I look forward to that day! Let’s have Faith Over Fear of the Facts! Love in Christ, Darrin.
If any of you need to talk or are in need of prayer, please email me at dray@wyliebaptist.org.