OUT OF THE NATURAL INTO THE SUPERNATURAL

I love the story that is told in Mark 6:30-43. Jesus had sent the twelve disciples out in ministry in teams of two, telling them to keep the message simple, sincere and uncluttered.

The disciples returned from their time of ministry full of exciting testimonies of what had happened and Jesus tried to take them to a quiet place for rest. But the crowds followed them and no one had a chance to rest or even to eat.

When Jesus saw that the crowd was not going away, Mark 6:34 says, “He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things."

As the day was coming to a close, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a remote place and it’s late in the day. We need to send these people away so they can go and buy themselves some food” (see verses 35-36).

The outburst of the disciples is the very human response to what is perceived as an unsolvable problem. The size of the crowd was 5000 men and that didn’t include the women and the children, so it’s conservative to say that the crowd could have numbered 8,000 to 10,000. The disciples knew they didn’t have what would be needed to feed this crowd, nor could they quickly lay hold of that much food. So the only answer, to them, was to send the people away to fend for themselves.

The disciples were absolutely thunderstruck by what Jesus then said to them: “You give them something to eat” (verse 37).

The disciples looked at Jesus unbelievingly and answered, “Should we spend two hundred days’ worth of wages and buy bread?” They seemed to be saying, “We can’t buy enough bread for this crowd; it’s too big, so please just send them away.” Honestly now, isn’t that what we do sometimes with the Lord when the problems of life are crushing in on us and there seems to be no way out? “Please, Lord, please just take this away . . . make it go away!”

Jesus had just said to the disciples, “You give them something to eat,” and then He said, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see” (see verse 38).

The disciples obeyed Him and found that all the available food was five little loaves and two small fish (verse 38).

Verse thirty-eight may seem like one of those that is just there to make the story flow well but it’s more, much more than that. Because the disciples were obedient to the Lord’s instruction, the whole incident now steps out of the natural and into the supernatural. What we are about to read is one of the more startling and understated miracles of the New Testament.

Jesus took the available resources and confronted the unsolvable problem with what the disciples brought to Him. First, He lifted the meager amount of food to heaven in prayer and blessed it; then He divided the loaves and fishes among the disciples for them to begin giving to the people.

Can you imagine the trepidation that must have been evident among the disciples? I can hear Peter saying to Andrew, “This could get ugly, real fast. He had us sit them down like we’re going to feed them but you and I don’t have one complete loaf between us. Yes, this could get bad . . . real bad.”

But they did as He asked them to. They went to the first person and gave him some bread and a portion of fish, and then they went to another and did the same. As they got to the third person, each of the disciples had to know that something very special was beginning to happen because there was still bread and fish in their baskets. Suddenly they realized that their obedience to do what He said had caused them to step out of the natural and into the supernatural supply of heaven.

This is an important story that is related in each of the four gospels. I’ve said many times over the years that God does not stutter and when He causes a story, or a phrase or a truth, to be repeated, He does so because He wants to make sure we get the point (see Matthew 14;13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13).

Not only did everyone in that great crowd eat but verse 43 says that the disciples took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces of bread and fishes. Jesus provided more than enough to meet the need! “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

When we are confronted with the seemingly impossible, we are to be obedient and follow Him! Our obedience in faith becomes the “five loaves and two fishes” which He will bless, and our obedience will be our path from the natural into the supernatural. We will get through what had seemed to be impossible to overcome because we gave Him our obedience!

It took the disciples a while to feed that large crowd but they did it. The answer to the impossible may take time but it will come. “For you have need of endurance (patience), so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36).

IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step (walk) with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25, ESV).

I believe that actually walking in step with the Holy Spirit is a vague concept for most Christians to grasp.  

Several years ago as I was preparing a sermon, I stumbled across something Jesus said that throws light on how to stay in step with the Holy Spirit. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV). 

At salvation, we enter into “rest.” There is a cessation/a stopping of the human attempt to please God and instead, as we embrace the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin, as the "rest" is given to us, we see that it is a gift (see Ephesians 2:8 and 9). We call this gift “salvation” and this is the first “rest” that Jesus speaks of in this passage in Matthew 11. The Greek word used here for rest means to take a break from work or activity in order to be refreshed.

In 11:29, as Jesus is continuing this teaching to those who have received Him as Savior, He says, “Take My yoke upon you . . .  and you will find rest for your souls.” This is the second “rest” Jesus spoke of in the passage and it is different from the first.

The yoke was used to link two farm animals together to pull a plough or a wagon. In Scripture the word “yoke” is used symbolically to indicate “being in submission.” Christians in the Western world (America) tend to choke on the word “submission”—the spirits of chauvinism and feminism collide (yes, in the Church). Domineering men want to be in charge of everything and feministic women are having no part of any of that, in or out of the Church, because they also want to be in charge. Both of them are wrong because they have missed the import of what Jesus was teaching here. Jesus does not teach submission as, “I am in charge and you’ll do what I say, no questions asked. Now get with the program.” That is not about submission, that is dictatorial and there is plenty of that around if you like that kind of thing. But it is not what Jesus is teaching.

Jesus says, “Take my yoke.” This is an invitation into a relationship— not a command but, rather, an invitation that will culminate in a release of a promise.

I am going to give you my interpretation of verses 29 and 30 but first let me give you the meaning of the word “rest” in verse 29. Then I hope all this will make sense.

The word “rest” in verse 29 does not mean to take a “break from work” but instead to find “rest” while you are “at work.” It is not the “rest” of inactivity but of the harmonious working together of the will, the heart, and the conscience because when we let Jesus/Holy Spirit take the lead, everything suddenly works together, everything makes sense.

My understanding of verses 28 and 29 goes like this. We know that Jesus works in us and through us by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is saying, “Life is like a dance, so would you partner with Me through the Holy Spirit? If you will let the Holy Spirit lead while you follow, you will make an awesome dance team. The Holy Spirit is an excellent teacher and He will not stand on your toes. His leading is always gentle and sensitive and together you will make a formidable team!”

In any successful dance team there can be only one leader; the partner has learned to anticipate and follow. This is the harmony that Jesus was speaking of when He used the word “rest” in verse 29. It is the harmony of coming into synch with the leadership of the Holy Spirit which will make the dance team a flowing, whirling portrait of beauty and grace. It is the “rest” of success.

This is real/genuine submission. It is not one person “lording it over” another. It is two flowing together in recognition of who is leading and who is following. It is a work of beauty and it magnifies our personal gifts and talents to the highest degree possible.

It is not weakness to give another person the lead in the dance team. Weakness is when arrogance drives one to demand the lead when the more experienced partner is ready and willing to lead. Jesus says, “You will find rest . . . for My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

It’s time to dance! It’s time to get in step with the Holy Spirit!

IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Three of the most frequently quoted and generally misunderstood words in the contemporary church are, “In Jesus’ name.” We often hear a prayer finished with these words and for many it has become a closing statement often used without serious awareness of what is being said. It has become as common a closing statement as saying, “Have a good day!”—which is more of a nice verbal gesture than an actual statement of caring.

I have been convicted by my own carelessness over the expression. Several years ago I received a handwritten note from a friend who wanted to wish me well in recovering from hip surgery. My friend concluded by apologizing for not writing earlier but indicated that he had been going through some struggles. He finished his note triumphantly by saying that they had seen a wonderful victory over the difficulties—“In the name of Jesus!”

It was the simple eloquence of that handwritten note that jarred me and I realized how lax I had become in properly using the power and authority that has been given to us as followers of Jesus Christ. I had allowed the name of Jesus to become a mere period at the end of my prayers, just another way of saying, “Amen.”

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14, ESV).

A very simple definition of “power of attorney” is “an authority by which one person delegates another to act for him or her.”

Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus met with His disciples and formally gave them the “power of attorney” to be His ambassadors and to carry out their ministry in His name using His authority. We also have “power of attorney” to use His name when we are carrying out business on His behalf.

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said to the disciples:

“All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the close and consummation of the age” (AMP).

The extending of the “power of attorney” was not just to the apostles and those who would initially establish the Church during the apostolic age. Jesus was clear when He said that His authority would be ours through the end of the age. In other words, when we pray and ask God to meet the need of someone who is sick or in poverty, or we ask God to intervene in a personal situation (assured that we are praying in His will and not out of selfishness or greed), we can be assured that Jesus is backing our prayer.

Prayer is a great privilege. Praying and appropriately using the “name of Jesus” is a privilege with a power attachment. When we pray and use “the name,” we do so because we understand that He has granted us the authority to do so. This is not a privilege to be taken lightly.

Let me illustrate what I am trying to say in this way. A policeman may pull you over and give you a ticket for speeding (in our family this only happens to Carol and our daughter Barb). The police officer does not have the personal authority to give you that ticket but he is granted authority by the laws of the land. The policeman is exercising his delegated authority. Likewise, Jesus has delegated authority to us and we bring that into play when we pray, “In Jesus’ name.”

Jesus taught us that we are to use His name as a part of our personal arsenal in facing all that life pushes at us. In Mark 16:17-18 He said:

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (ESV).

I don’t believe Jesus was giving a list of the only things that He would respond when His followers use it during prayer. He was illustrating for us “the power attachment” that would be available to us in all parts of our journey.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17, ESV).

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

The storm had come out of nowhere! What had started out as a peaceful journey across a calm lake had turned into a frightening and dangerous voyage. The men on the boat were scared, as the ferocity of the storm increased and the relentless waves began to fill the small boat with water.

They had launched the boat when their leader had spoken confidently, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” Soon after they cast off from shore, the leader fell asleep and His slumber continued even as the storm raged.

In frustration and fear, the disciples roused the Lord Jesus with cries of, “Master, don’t you care that we are in jeopardy?” (Luke 8:24 and Mark 4:37).

Jesus awakened, rebuked the storm, and immediately the wind and the waves calmed. He then turned to the disciples and very pointedly asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

The combination of the event and the questions of Jesus seemed to really stagger the disciples. They looked at each other with some alarm and amazement and asked among themselves, “Who is this man? . . . When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” (Luke 8:25, NLT). They seemed to be asking “Is this the Jesus we know? Does He have authority even over the forces of nature?” 

A lot in this story is applicable to our lives as followers of Jesus Christ today.

When Jesus said to the disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake” (Luke 8:22), He was not just giving instructions; He was also making a promise. 

The instructions were, “Let’s go across to the other side.” The promise is that He will be with us in the journey: “He got into a boat with His disciples.”

Forty-nine years ago the Lord gave Carol and me our first directions to follow in ministry with just two words, “Go east.” A few days after He breathed that into our hearts, an invitation came for us to minister for two weeks in New Jersey. We were living in California at the time but we knew we were to accept the invitation and we did. When the Lord spoke those words of instruction into our heart, it was also coupled with a promise. The Lord was not saying, “Go east and I’ll see you when you get there.” No, He was saying, “When you take Me at My word and are obedient, I’ll be with you until the full journey is complete” (see Matthew 28:20). Forty-nine years later He is still “in the boat with us.” He is still leading, still opening doors, still calming raging seas!

In the midst of the journey, the boat the disciples were in was overtaken by a storm. It was totally unexpected and unwelcome and the disciples felt they were in danger. They also seemed to think that because Jesus went to sleep, He didn’t care about their circumstances, that He was indifferent to the danger they were in.

Please remember who gave the disciples the instructions to make this journey. It was the Lord Himself who said, “Let’s go across to the other side.” The disciples had not done anything wrong and that is not why the storm had come. 

After He calmed the storm, Jesus turned to the disciples and asked, “Where is your faith?” In other words, He was asking, “Why are you acting like this? Have you learned nothing about faith? You said you had faith. Where did it go?”

Was this a test of their faith? Would the Lord allow difficult circumstances to arise to see if they really did have faith? Sometimes the storms go on while the Lord waits in order for us to exercise our faith.

The disciples had spent months with Jesus. They were with Him day and night. They were there when He performed His first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. They had heard Him teach countless times. They had seen Him heal hopeless cripples and lepers and watched Him as He raised a young man from the dead. Would they ever learn to walk in faith?

Jesus had been teaching and modelling faith but if this incident was a test, the disciples did not get a passing grade. It was, I believe, with some disappointment and frustration that Jesus asked the disciples, “Where is your faith?”

I believe this is a question He is still asking each of us today: “David, where is your faith?” “(Put your name here) ____________, where is your faith?” Are we fair-weather champions of faith? When the storms of life descend on us—and they will—do we still have rock solid confidence in Him? Do we really believe that He is with us at all times? When He doesn’t immediately answer our prayers, do we still boldly declare that our faith is in Him? Or, when the boat shows signs of sinking, do we panic and yell, “God, why have you forgotten me?”

So honestly now, “Where is your faith?”

”O Lord God of hosts,
    who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
    with your faithfulness all around you?
 You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you still them.” (Psalm 89:8-9, ESV)