Read Mark 8:1-21
This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus.” We spent 20 messages on the miracle of Lazarus. That was the last miracle Jesus performed before going to the cross for us. But I left one miracle out. We will cover it today. It is the miracle of the feeding of the 4,000. We covered the feeding of the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves. But in Mark 8 we see Jesus feed 4,000 with seven loaves of bread. The reason I left this miracle for last is because something happened after the miracle that I want to use as a segue into the next phase of this series, where I want to focus in on YOU doing what Jesus did. It’s one thing for you to believe Jesus performed the supernatural, but it is another for you to see yourself flowing the same way in this world.
After Jesus fed the 4,000 with seven loaves of bread, the Pharisees approached Jesus, wanting to test Him. They wanted Jesus to perform a miracle as proof that He was sent from God. Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Why do you people ask to see a miracle as a sign? I want you to know that no miracle will be done to prove anything to you.” Jesus was clearly frustrated with the Pharisees and their lack of divine perception and insight. So Jesus left the Pharisees and instructed His team to get into a boat.
When Jesus and His team got into the boat, the disciples realized that they only brought one loaf of bread. They started arguing amongst themselves as to who or why they forgot to bring more bread. Jesus saw them arguing and said, “Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” The disciples discussed the meaning of this. They said, “He said this because we have no bread.” To which Jesus replied, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see? Are you not able to understand? Do you have eyes that can’t see? Do you have ears that can’t hear? Remember what I did before, when we did not have enough bread? I divided five loaves of bread for 5000 people. How many baskets of food were left over?” The disciples answered, “12 full baskets.” Jesus continued, “And when I divided seven loaves of bread for 4000 people, how many baskets did you fill with the leftover pieces?” They answered, “Seven full baskets.” Then Jesus said to them, “You remember these things I did, but you still don’t understand?”
There is a lot here to cover. Over the next few days we will seek to glean a few things from this passage.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s see.
1. Manifestations of the supernatural serve as a sign for unbelievers.
a) Jesus performed miracles to destroy the works of the devil, but He also performed miracles so people could know that God is real. Many won’t believe until they see the power of God manifested in the earth.
b) God still performs miracles today. The supernatural is still supposed to be natural to us today. People are looking for a supernatural God and they can’t find Him in the lives of religious people who have no true relationship with the God of all power.
c) Churches with no power are drying up and shutting down. They are closing their doors all over this country because people don’t want a God that they reach. And more importantly, they don’t want a God who can’t reach them. They want to SEE the power of God in this world. Guess what? They are supposed to SEE HIM IN YOU!
2. God won’t perform parlor tricks for people with wrong motives.
a) Jesus never had a problem manifesting the supernatural in front of people who were hungry for a God of no limits. But like He did in Mark 8, Jesus refused to perform miracles to prove anything to the Pharisees. They did not have a true desire to seek God. They were trying to discredit the one they should have been worshipping.
b) If you ever want to see God move in your life in a supernatural way, your motives need to be pure. God won’t move for people with wrong motives.
3. God wants you to look at every situation from His perspective.
a) Jesus was frustrated with His disciples when they were complaining about only having one loaf of bread to eat, after He had fed 5,000 with a little boy’s lunch and 4,000 with seven loaves of bread. Even after all Jesus had done, the disciples were looking at their situation from a completely human point of view.
b) If you ONLY look at a situation from a human point of view, you are failing to factor in God. When you factor God in, you will also have to factor OUT every limit, because there is nothing God cannot do.
c) God is looking for you to look at your situation from His perspective, considering His power, and expecting His will to be manifested. You won’t receive what you are not expecting. But you won’t expect what you don’t even consider. So, in closing, what are you considering this morning? When you look at your situation, are you only considering YOU? Are you looking at it from a completely human point of view? Have you factored in God at all? If not, it’s time to change your perspective.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I see You as the God of NO LIMITS! I am learning to look at every situation from Your point of view. I am no longer limited to the human point of view. I am no longer bound by the limits of this world. Once I factor You IN, I also have to factor OUT every limit. When considering any situation I face, I also choose to consider You Father. I expect You to move in my life in ways that exceed the limits of this present world. I expect the supernatural to be natural to me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
