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.” Yesterday I introduced you to a passage in Mark 8 that I want us to revisit over the next few days. Jesus fed 4,000 supernaturally people with seven loaves of bread. After everyone ate and were full, there were seven baskets of food left over. After performing the miracle Jesus had an run-in with the Pharisees. They wanted to test Jesus. They wanted Him 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 then left the Pharisees and instructed His team to get into a boat. They were headed to the other side of the lake.
Once in the boat, the disciples realized that they only brought one loaf of bread. This caused an argument about who was supposed to bring the food. Jesus heard the arguing and said, “Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” The disciples said among themselves, “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?”
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s just focus on two things today.
1. It is very easy to focus on the lesser important things in life.
a) After performing miracle after miracle, bringing glory to the Father, the Pharisees approached Jesus and asked Him to perform a miracle on-demand, as proof that He was sent from God. Jesus denied their request and He was furious about their level of disrespect for God. God doesn’t perform miracles on demand, to prove anything to man. He performs miracles in accordance with His will, to bring glory to His name in the earth. The Pharisees claimed to be the closest to God, but in reality they were far from Him. It’s sad, but like the Pharisees of old, many who claim to be close to God today have no clue who God truly is.
b) Jesus warned His disciples against allowing the influence of the Pharisees to get into their hearts. Jesus likened the negative influence to “yeast”, that can grow and expand. If you are not careful, a few negative seeds, planted in your heart, can influence your entire life.
c) When Jesus warned His disciples about the “yeast” of the Pharisees, they thought He was talking about them having only one loaf of bread. Jesus was not concerned with what to eat. He had just fed 5,000 with a little boy’s lunch and 4,000 with a few loaves of bread. Surely He could multiply the one loaf they had to feed the 13 of them. Jesus was frustrated that His disciples were clueless. They were focused on bread, while He was focused on the damage the influence of the Pharisees can have. Jesus’ disciples spent years with Him and they still often focused on the wrong things. This is how easy it is to give your attention to things that don’t really matter. Unfortunately today, many believers ‘major on the minors’ and they ‘minor on the majors’. They put lots of time, energy and effort into things that don’t really matter to God. Be careful what you give your attention to. You don’t want to waste valuable focus on invaluable things.
2. Your focus is very important.
a) If satan can get your attention for five seconds, he can have your mind for five minutes.
b) If satan can get you distracted to the point where you are “giving” your attention to things that are don’t matter to God, then he does not need to do anything else. You are already wasting your time and spinning your wheels. As long as you are not focused on making Kingdom impact, you are no threat to the kingdom of darkness.
c) God can use humans in a powerful way when we are fixed and focused on Him. This is why the enemy does so much to keep you distracted. And this is why God wants your attention. If you don’t GIVE God your attention, then He is going to have to GET IT. Take it from me, it is much better to GIVE God your attention, than to live your life in a way that causes Him to have to GET IT from you.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I am learning of You, growing in You, dying to self, and getting to the point where I want You to flow through me every day of my life. I declare by faith that my heart and mind are fixed and focused on You. I GIVE my attention to You daily and throughout each day. You don’t have to GET my attention. I freely GIVE it to You! Living this way, I am able to focus on things that matter to You. I refuse to waste time, energy or effort on things that are insignificant in Your eyes. I give my life to the weightier matters, so I can be used of You to make Kingdom impact in this world. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
