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This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” For the last couple of days we have been looking at the importance of renewing your mind in order to accept and experience the grace of God. Today we will look at how God expects our experiences with Him to actually change the way we think.
In Mark chapter 6 Jesus fed 5,000 with two fish and five loaves. But before Jesus performed the miracle, He wanted His disciples to do it. He had been walking with them long enough for Him to expect them to operate in the supernatural, by God’s grace. When presented with the hungry crowd Jesus said to His disciples, “You give them something to eat.” They were not ready, so Jesus performed the miracle, but He used His disciples to do it. He made the disciples give out the fishes and the loaves and the food multiplied right in their hands. Jesus was hoping that this would help them renew their minds in order to accept the supernatural.
After the miracle Jesus sent the disciples on a boat and He spent time with the Father in prayer. Later, about 3am, Jesus walked on water to meet up with the disciples. They were all terrified when they saw Him, because they were tired, they were battling the waves, and they thought Jesus was a ghost. They never expected Jesus to be walking on water, because they had no expectation of the supernatural. Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage! I am here!” When Jesus got into the boat with them, the Bible says, “The wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves.” Did you catch that? What is the connection between Jesus walking on water and calming a sea, and the fishes and loaves? The connection is the supernatural. The disciples were amazed and Jesus was disappointed, because He expected them to actually expect the supernatural by that point in their ministry.
Two chapters later, in Mark 8, Jesus fed 4,000 with seven loaves and a few small fish. After the miracle Jesus got into a boat with His disciples. But there was a problem. The disciples had forgotten to bring food. All they had was one loaf of bread. When Jesus heard them talking about not having enough food He was baffled. Jesus fully expected the disciples to expect God for a miracle. They had already seen Jesus feed the 5,000 and the 4,000 with a miracle of multiplying food. Jesus, who was surely both upset and disappointed, said, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. You will not be able to operate in the supernatural until your mind is renewed to accept God’s power by His grace.
2. The supernatural does not flow with your power, it comes from God, and He will freely provide His power, by His grace, for His purposes. All we must do is believe and receive.
3. The grace of God enables us to operate beyond human limits.
4. The experiences God gives you are designed to help grow your faith to the point where you are open the supernatural.
5. Every experience with God is supposed to cause you to think differently.
6. As you walk with God He is looking to teach you to accept and experience His supernatural power. To do this God will give you experiences designed to help you think the way He thinks.
7. We are supposed to have the same impact in this world that Jesus did.
8. If your walk with God does not lead to the supernatural, then you are wasting time. God has called us to live in His presence, and His presence is full of His power!
9. 2013 was a Year of Preparation. Now that we learned about God’s grace and how He wants to use us for His glory, 2014 shall be a Year of Power!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your amazing grace. The more I learn about Your grace, the more my mind is renewed to accept it. I know I am limited, but You are limitless. I see in Your Word how Jesus had an expectation for His disciples to operate in the supernatural. Jesus expected them to do what He was doing. Jesus even said that we would do what He did, and even greater works. I have an expectation of the supernatural. I am ready to live my life with a “No Limits” mentality. I am ready to die to self in order for You to freely flow through me. I decrease, that You may increase through me daily. I am open to whatever You want to do in, with and through my life. You are my Lord, You are my king, You are my God, and I worship You. I give You my life and I am ready for whatever You want to do. Your Word teaches me that I am supposed to live just like Jesus lived. By faith I agree with Your Word. I declare, “As Jesus is, so am I, in this world.” 2013 was a year of preparation for me. 2014 shall be a year of power. Not my power, but Your power. Not because I am worthy, but only because of Your grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
