PARTNERS IN MIRACLES: A CELEBRATION OF THE LORD OF THE HARVEST!
(Mark 6:30-44)
Introduction: On the wall of an office was a framed picturewith these words, “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of another!”
Imagine with me, if you will, a person born and raised in darkness. The only code they have known is survival of the fittest. Kill or be killed. Steal or be stolen from.
And then, one caring person gives! While the gift is not large, it’s sacrificial. And that one gift setsa whole world of events, people, and equipment in motion that only God could have orchestrated.
The dark village is lit with bulbs and projector. JESUS is speaking their language and showing He loves them…all the way to the cross! The message penetrates and produces a radical reconstruction of the heart! The power of JESUS and the partnership of ONE CARING PERSON transform a life! Watch…
Video Illustration: Rescued from the Fire
Did you notice the elements of the miracle? Someone gave financially to support a JESUS Film Team. Led by the Lord, they had a showing in Diego’s town. His friend, Viviana invited him to the showing. A divine partnership produced such a change in Diego’s life that he joined the JESUS Film Team and now is passionately proclaiming Christ to others! ONE CARING PERSON MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
This modern day scenario has been replayed millions of times in the last few years through the JESUS Film ministry. The same type of partnership in miracles can be seen in the story of the feeding of the 5,000.
Read scripture/explain story
I want to highlight several things from our miracle storyof the feeding of the 5,000:
- JESUS’ heart is passionately inclusive!(6:30-34)
- YOU matter to JESUS more than anything else in the universe!
In Luke 19:10, JESUS states his purpose when he tells the religious leaders of that day that he “…came to seek and save that which was lost”
God desires to replace our brokeness with His restoration so that we can once again live in a genuine, authentic relationship with Him.
The Lord is a relentless pursuer of those He loves (which is all of us)!
- JESUS is moved by our need(“When Jesus saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them…” 6:34).
His heart is moved by our condition
His emotions are kindled by our confusion
His compassion is evident by His actions
- Because lost people matter to God, they ought to matter to us
You’ve never locked eyes with someone for who Christ didn’t die.
Have we become like the Church at Ephesus forsaking our first love (Rev. 2:4)?
We can misplace Kingdom priorities because of busyness, distractions, attitudes (lack of caring, lack of love, someone else’s responsibility).
- JESUS wants to include us in a miracle-producing partnership with Him!(6:35-38)
- YOU possess the ingredients for a miracle.
Jesus still comes to us as He did His disciples and says, “you give them something to eat” (6:37).
Many times, our response to JESUS’ invitation is typical:
- “Let them provide for themselves” (v. 36).
- “The need is too great” (v. 37).
- “My resources are too limited to make a difference” (v. 38).
Illustration: “Mother Teresa statement”
“If you can’t feed one hundred people…feed just one”
(Translation: “If you can’t do it all…at least do something” / “If you can’t do the great thing, then do the small thing in a great way” / Parable of the Talents – “good and faithful servant’ as opposed to “wicked, lazy servant”)
Video Illustration: “Fred Huff – Africa Regional Director”
Did you pick up on that? The villagers asking, “What have we done that the JESUS Film should pass our village?” There is a world hungry for the gospel of JESUS. The harvest is ripe...the fields are ready...and the Lord still calls harvesters into the field. Some on the front lines. Others, like most of us, as the support team, keeping the supply lines open…teams funded…equipment operational.
- JESUS wants us to trust Him with our relationships and resources (“How many loaves do you have?” v. 38).
JESUS doesn’t ask for something you don’t have…but He does ask for all you have.
Never underestimate the power of God in YOU – Don’t minimize the impact in eternity of wholehearted living and giving!
God uses anyone or anything totally committed to Him.
Illustration: “Mr. Welch”
His life’s dream was to be a missionary, and it looked as though it was finally coming true. As the nervous young man sat in the mission agency’s office, he assured the interviewer that he and his new bride were committed to working hard, managing their resources as good stewards, and seeing that Christ was shared with as many people as possible. He was confident that everything was coming together for him and his future.
But soon it looked like his dream would fall apart. During their cross-cultural preparation, he and his wife realized she could never endure the rigors of living overseas. She was far too fragile and frail. If they went to Africa as planned, she would certainly die. Confused and emotionally crushed, the young man went to work for his father—a dentist with a small side business that produced unfermented wine for church communion services.
As his father grew older, the young man took over the side business. One day, it struck him that perhaps he could still touch the world for Christ. He could still fulfill the words he had spoken to the mission representative that day. He would work hard, be a good steward of his resources, and see that Christ became known to as many people as possible—he would just do it in a different way. He would keep his promise by financially supporting others who could go overseas as missionaries.
He worked hard and eventually built the company into a huge enterprise. What was his name? Welch. Today his grape juice is sold in supermarkets everywhere. And Mr. Welch has given huge sums of money to the cause of world missions. Ironically, he has done far more for world evangelism than he could have by working in the field himself. Because he adapted to his circumstances and blossomed where he was planted, he became a valuable partner in missions around the world.
Don’t put limits on the type of partnership
God may have in mind for you.
A small gift…committed to Christ…results in large impact (God does not despise the day of small beginnings– Zec. 4:10)
- JESUS provides abundantly, not only for the people, but also for the partners(6:39-44).
- God’s economy is abundance, not scarcity
“They all ate and were satisfied” (v. 42)
“…picked up 12 basketfuls of…bread and fish” (v.43)
“The number of the men who had eaten was 5,000” (v. 44)
- The need supplied always overflows back to us
“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
Illustration: Marysville, WA Church
(This is a wonderful place to tell your church’s story)
The Nazarene Church in Marysville, Washington wanted to do something beyond their four walls. They decided to trust God and connect with the JESUS Film to purchase 2 sets of equipment, deliver them to the field, and participate in several film showings while there. $12,000 was a lot of money to give for a medium size church…but scripture states, “Give and it will be given you…For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”. The measure they used was the largest they could find. And their return?
Six months later, a report came from the JESUS Film teams that had received the equipment. From the church’s sacrifice and investment, 8,393 people had seen and heard the message of God’s love for them through the JESUS Film and the team had started 10 new mission churches! In addition to the victories on the field, a teenager who had gone on the trip was called to be a missionary!
The question is, “What measure are you using?” Many want to use a thimble to give and expect a 55-gallon drum of return.
“…Test me in this, says the Lord, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10b).
Conclusion: Someone once wrote, “Never underestimate the power of giving. It shines like a beacon throughout humanity. It cuts through oceans that divide us and brightens the lives of all it touches. One of life’s greatest laws is that you cannot hold a torch to light another’s path…without brightening your own!”
I want to challenge you today to “take up the torch”…answer the call of God…join in a creative, holy partnership with the creator of the universe who is looking for “lunches and lives” to make a miracle happen in the hearts of thousands of people!
Watch this video of men and women who have offered JESUS their lunch…and their life!
Video Challenge: “Sharing JESUS…Making Disciples”
(After the video, issue the specific challenge you want your congregation participating in, go through the response card, pray, and allow a few moments to fill it out. After collecting them, reaffirm that their commitment to the Lord will produce a harvest of souls for eternity!)