The Hand of Sovereignty (Part B)

Whatever weaknesses I have still have enough word he knows that and it has I will. I can say is I'm still standing and it is because of him. So when he says you give them something to eat and they counter with what you want us to take a lot of money in town and buy bread for these thousands of people is bringing them face-to-face with their own inability to meet human needs without jealousy at the moment they're going to get full force. Eventually this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick brings us part two of the study called the hand of sovereignty in Mark chapter 6 Mark does not return to the story of Gerard Gerard is unimportant. He's made his point… That part of the narrative evaporate and he continues with the story. The lesson that comes from this is that, as horrible as it is that we've lost John. Life goes on and when life goes on for the believer.

So does ministry simultaneously go on and as life goes on.

We come across those craving people. John tells us, as was Mark and Matthew that they were looking for miracles and the apostles.

They saw the cravings they felt they were part of Jesus satisfying those needs. But then the apostles began to care about the people likely exhausted themselves and wanting to be rid of the people for addiction. Likely very much what was going on. So the craving people.

The caring apostles sketch the alliteration and the compassion of Jesus. These come off the pages for us.

Thanks sovereign God is working it out in this life with us.

Life goes on.

In spite of all the things that we find ourselves in conflict with, and of those who minister do not come aside from always serving they will come.

Apart from always serving and so he says, side by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while. Time for a Sabbath, you can always minister so you plan to take breaks within those breaks are interfered with.

This is the story before us.

Verse 32.

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. Now the Lord chose no less then four men who fished and sailed this lake and knew it very well. He chose those bulls for maybe more, but at least those for to be with him and here we see him using their skills whenever he needed their skills he called upon. Of course he could overrule their skills when those skills were not sufficient, such as that strongly read about in the fifth chapter that almost drowned them all. Christ skillfully guides whatever skills I may have whatever talents I may have whatever abilities I may acquire and or develop. He is still the master craftsman.

He is still the master Psalm 78 verse through 72, so he shepherded them to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skill fullness of his hands. You can say that of a father you can say that of a leader, pastor, but it belongs to Christ belongs to the God who is there who is involved so that when I am struggling when I am perplexed when I can't figure it out when I've had about enough of all this stuff, I still find myself submitted to him and waiting in my perplexity trusting by faith that he'll do what he needs to do when he's ready to do it and it is my business to be ready when he is ready, regardless of how much squirming I may find myself doing verse 33, but the multitude saw them departing in many knew him and ran there on foot from all the cities they arrived before them and came together to him, this is the peak of his popular enthusiasm. This is the time in his ministry. When people are just seeking him and wanting him there last listening to him there's going to be a twist at the end of the story, but they're coming out in droves. John adds in chapter 6 that a great multitude followed him because they saw his signs which he performed on those who were diseased. Matthew says.

And when Jesus went out, he saw a great multitude and he was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick. So if you've got people coming out there is the first that initial group that beats him to that destination. The boat was headed towards they just go for little over ran along the shoreline and then the others that they were picking up the momentum was gaining the word was that you don't. Jesus is coming to someone's always heading to this and and people are closing up shop and they're all racing to this place that was supposed to be the place of rest. Jesus said my father works until now and I do to know the words is no rest for God. God is working all the time. His tireless and I'm working also. We see this in action verse 34. Now in Jesus when he came out, saw the great great multitude and was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things. Just a moment ago I read you the two verses that said they were also coming out bringing their sick with them because Mark leaves that part out of the story so we just bring it in from the other ones. This compassion for them as a shepherd seeing them as a flock vulnerable without a protector without a shepherd. Latin word pastor is an Old Testament expression being used here by Mark Ed when he says he was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. All that is picked up in Kings in Ezekiel, Jeremiah hammers, it speaks of inadequate and or corrupted leadership sheet. Having no shepherd may have a leader but if he is corrupted. They have no leader. They have no shepherd.

They have a ruler, they began to teach them many things interesting. He sees them coming out bringing their sick. He has compassion on them, so he teaches them.

Now a lot of people might take issue that why didn't he just, you know, meet their social needs.

Why didn't you give them all new sandals. They decided going to give a Bible study. The carnal recoil at that annexing a Bible study fixes everything. Not at all other times, which is not appropriate to give someone a Bible story, but there are many times when it is we better take those times that were doing right now with taking those time, the time it was seizing the moment to preach the word of God the way exposition works is God appoints his servant. He works with him in his study to filter out a lot of the junk to organize the thoughts to be able to present something. That way everybody can follow to some degree and then after the focus of listener while they listening the Holy Spirit himself comes alongside of them may point out things during the message may pointed out later may pointed out years later, decades later, all of a sudden you have a flyer number. Pastor said this one that handsome one. I remember that guy I know everybody says that but I'm too modest to bring it up to you.

Anyway, he begins to teach them that they knew they needed to learn to know that if he left them in the dark stumble wouldn't be able to see which we mustn't lose this when Jesus came across the two grieving disciples on the road to Emmaus.

He did not pamper them. He expounded on the Scripture Moses and the prophets, the whole scripture he opened it up to them as much as he could on that walk.

When I see those guys and have a 20 right we would do what'd he say so. He knew he knew that they had to learn how to conduct themselves or they would never really develop skills to be used by God. Jeremiah chapter 3 verse 15 one of my favorite verses and I will give you shepherds. According to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. This is the will of God.

Got a sense what I'm going to do because is what I want to do and it's going to happen. Sadly here. Many who profess Christ don't appreciate these things. They don't cat it they reduced you know pastors to sort a like baseball cards you not like this when I do like that when this was good in her saw the swappable something in a non-understanding the divine processes in back of these things Pastor could have no powerless.

It was given to him from on high, from heaven is God's process. It is not because of the man on cow much schooling he goes through. I don't get how much he reads his Bible and praise. It is the work of God or nothing, and it's a good system well they received his sermons. Many of them not to their benefit. Many of them are just like it just about how heartbreaking, how heartbreaking it is to teach God's word, only to have it sort of turned against you when you're innocent and that's what Christ is going to experience. Hebrews chapter 4 verse three. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well. And, as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. That's the submitting kind of faith. That's the faith that includes surrender. That's the faith that says I myself will myself interests must decrease so that God Christ in me can increase can expand can gain power can gain the upper hand. Paul said to Titus, while he's in otitis was one of Paul's strong assistance when ticket kiss and Titus when he needed those guys to exist go out and clean things up immediately when he needed many bills were two men he'd be choose playwrights to Titus and he's giving him instructions on how to run the church.

And he talks about a type of people that are change churchgoers or Christ professors. He says they profess to know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, disqualified for every good work. They ruin the whole thing that corrupted they had this all I'm a Christian, but the way they live, the things that they do to people. It's abominable is not obedience, and in doing so there disqualified is quite remarkable.

We do well to heed these things as Peter said you'd do well to heed God's word. Verse 35 when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him and said this is a deserted place, and already the hours apart married.

I read that with the wrong tone that read as though they just discovered this when the day was now far spent the disciples gave him is that this is a deserted place already. The hour is late, send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread. They have nothing to eat so the disciples at the genuine concern they do care, but still they going to be happy to see the people go. They want that rest much of their work was crowd control, and you just how much I mean you this going to be a conservative number of how many people here very conservative 10,000 more likely 15 will get that at the end. This is that a lot of people and with that comes a lot of other things in these men that tired. They're hungry there ready for arrest seeming list endless multitudes and need people coming up to them. Can I have a word Christ can I just got on it only goes verse 37 but he answered and said to them, you give them something to eat. They said to him, shall we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat. Now John John gospel. His account is almost comical because he singles out Philip is his fellow Philip the baskets Philip doesn't do that but a child willing to Philip Philip Philip scratching his Eddie's run figured out everything we see Philip is getting the question wrong is kind of an interesting study but there almost being wiseguys when he wants to do going to town with $200 money cash rollout.

All members buy bread for everybody else's get the kind of pushing back is not getting still still not getting who he is. They got a lot of it I look at this and as I'm criticizing them, I'm right there with them because there are times when I'm not getting it.

You know when I will have a flashback of Nicodemus in the Lord saying to him, are you the teacher of Israel and you don't get it. I heard God say that to me are you the pastor. The Bible teacher, you don't get it. Make that I don't get it. I don't want it. I don't want the circumstances, I know what you want me to do.

I always know what you want me to do.

Just don't always want to do it my flash and he tells us, you know, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Okay, so what you're telling me are you telling me faster that that you're out every time you just week just you know you don't want to do it. Not at all. I will still grab for my sword and I will swing it nonetheless. Whatever weaknesses I have still have enough to hold the word he knows that and it has. I all I can say is I'm still standing and it is because of him.

And so when he says you give them something to eat and they counter with what you want us to take a lot of money in town and buy bread for these thousands of people. Please bring them face-to-face with their own inability to meet human needs without him and I'll see you at the moment they going to get a full force. Eventually mean in a harsh way again. John's Gospel in his parallel account with this he said to test him when he asked the disciple, for he knew what he would do.

He knew he was going to the whole time. Denarii is a day's pay and to have 200 denarii is about 800 him in about eight months of wages which money that they don't have Judas might have it. They may have stolen enough from everybody else.

But anyway, well, that's what you doing still something that's from everybody else. Verse 38 and he said to them, how many loaves do you have go see and they went and found out and said five for five loaves and two fish. You can hear the tone like you know okay his how much we have, we have a boys lunchbox. That's what they had little basket. Mom said them okay you gonna go wrong with the disciples and see Jesus find you.

Make sure you get your bread and fish basket and you go and he does and Andrew is the one that bloodied up with the kid Nina Andrews is everybody's body. We got tickets and and you know so he brings word back.

Verse 38 but he said to them, Emily loves you have go see and they found and said five and two fish. Verse 39 then he commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass green grass chloro's will beget our English word chlorine from it is a green yellow and the Greek is was that the do with the story was Passover season. The grass is beginning to still raining and starting to turn brown up as it dries out the seasons.

John's Gospel again. Chapter 6 now the Passover feast of the Jews was near since March April just a timestamp for us.

Verse 40 of money pause there.

Of course Peter is telling the story more than likely. John may have drawn Mark may have been there also. Somebody remembered this little detail to someone. This was a vivid memory and it enters into the Scripture and is a very human touch. It is, is God saying these eyewitnesses. These are men that were there and just quite natural.

Of that I can remember. The grass was green and yellow kind of just you know, and if it finds its way into Scripture.

This is over creative right-of-way writing we have pages more of this kind of stuff but we don't we just have these little bits every now and then, as these men were so focused on what was going on. I think they hid the identity of many people fearing that they would be persecuted.

I think they also left out some facts because of various good reasons. I think the way we have the gospel presented to us with the three synoptic Gospels and the one independent gospel.

I think it is an act of God. How it is given to us. It forces us to think through the challenges the see if there's contradictions are not will come to that trust in the word little bit but coming back to this verse 40 so they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in 50s now that kind of organization will make distribution go a lot more smoothly in the coming miracle of fish sandwiches that everybody's going to get does not need to be hampered with chaos very, very smart and this would also help identify how many people were there to break them down into ranks just to the multiplication verse 41 and when he had taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them and the two fish he divided among them all. So he says grace before the meal he does this at the Passover to we are to do the same thing. First Thessalonians.

Our little background here.

The Thessalonian church when Paul writes this first Thessalonian letter. It's a new church. He and Silas established his church while still bleeding from the beating in Philippi and so these people that were attracted to their message knew about this beating knew what they were getting into their pretty solid believers early on and not just months after he establishes his church. He writes to them. This Thessalonian letter and so he is. He treats them. He gives them end times information he gives them how to be disfellowshipped if you have to somebody on who to be with and who not to be with. As far as fellowship goes and he says this in everything give thanks for it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you and everything you know, we all know the Philippian be anxious for nothing, but in all things with Thanksgiving prayer and supplication. Well, here it is straight out. This is the will of God. We see Christ giving us that example he takes the food and he blesses I try not to let even in our bed, anything go into my mouth without saying thank you Lord ate the you know you could be fruit, vegetables, candy milkshakes are very grateful for God feeding me, and I don't mean to say that I am you haven't been not being preaching down at you.

I'm just enjoying the moment because I remember when I wasn't that way.

So he looked to heaven because that's where everything comes from.

That is good, but what we see in this. Also on this is kind of standard and preaching on this verse. What he takes he blesses and what he blesses, he breaks and what he breaks, he distributes that is very good preaching. I just don't want to be the one broken, but there's no way to really have the Lord distribute through you and Lester some breaking going on and Lester some hardships and facing life suffering of various sorts.

You know you can you can go through life. You know healthy and really unscathed by many things but still internally there's that struggle. You can't put your finger on why it's there.

As David said why you cast down all my soul. Why trust in God.

David goes is that I didn't need all dissertation well what you've got is in all that he distrusted in God. Verse 42 so they all ate and were filled. These are the apostles now they ate. First, everybody also saw a gathering, wondering was going on. Christ is enough momentum through his healings and teachings for them to be patient enough. But before we can be used to feed others. We ourselves must feed on the great work and truth of Christ personally kind of annoyed at someone who acts like a know it all and they know nothing, we identify the person on the what he's talking about John's Gospel Peter said to him. Chapter 13 is when he's washing the apostles feet. Peter said to him you should never wash my feet Jesus answered, if I do not wash you, you have no part with me if I don't feed you I don't wash you if I don't fill you. What can you do first Corinthians, Paul says, for I delivered to you. First of all that which I also received first receive. Then he goes on to say this, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures see is always the word of God. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the word of God and Satan is notorious for coming along and sing. Okay, enough with the Bible. Now now is time for something practical. While we doing practical things as best we can, but that can get away from us to. I mean, you start give we just open the bookstore and gave just gave everything out. People would take books away that they would never would reach us because their free just how people are. We have to learn how to manage the blessings that God gives us. I remember as a relatively new believer, I was just following God's word and I want on our church camping trip and I'm lying there in a tent and Satan said I think you putting just too much of them into crisis.

Too much Bible reading, just way too much and almost instantly, the Lord spoke to me shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind you need to throw everything you've got into me best you can and that's where largely my struggles a bit in my life not been able to do that move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio you could search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of Mark Rocky on cross reference radio