The Hungry Then the Difficult (Part C)

He sighed deeply in his spirit. Why does this generation seek a sign surely I said, you know, sign shall be given to this generation. There's that sigh again came up in chapter 7 when he was healing the deaf-mute and it was a sigh of you know sin has done this to people you you felt that way about sin, you know, God feels as the same idea within the sin. There is sorrow there is regret, there is anger is not just one thing in this sigh. 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 will continue teaching through Mark chapter 8 and his study called the hungry, then the difficult says that he broke what he took from them.

He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, and he wrote what he takes from us. Often times, in the interest of ministry.

There is going to be things that break ministry causes pain is nowhere around broken hearts broken ambitions, broken friendships, broken expectations. What you do with those things. This is what determines the maturity of the same how we gonna respond to these letdowns and heartbreak.

Still waiting these men is the grand disillusionment that's coming from an Unlikely Pl. in Jerusalem.

There they will arrest their master who they never saw fail before and they will murder him and they will do it in public, and the disciples going to have to deal with that I would not want to go through that 11 of them would handle it differently from just one of them that one Judas Iscariot, he was already outside of the 12 when it came to his heart.

Christ talks about this in John chapter 6 Jesus answered them, and this is about the same time, the time stamp of that were reading our story in John six Jesus answered that I not choose you. The 12 one of you is a devil home man you imagine being in that group.

Hearing this from Christ. Later on the glass when it comes to betraying opposite me. I don't want to be that guy you don't have to be that guy was you that's what you want to do again in John 12 and he said, speaking about Judas. Not that he cared for the poor. John writing, but because he was a thief and had the money box and he used to take what was put in it. They didn't know this at the time and they were pretty steamed when he found out, so my point is, Judas was not one of them at this point because he chose not to be Christ gave him every opportunity to be like-minded with these men and he bailed out. But back to the 11 who did not bail out. They would be disillusioned Judas was to but for different reasons Judas wanted Christ's concept again to whatever he was and is that it was wrong. These men, they, too, thought Christ was going to set up the kingdom and were disillusioned and maybe you maybe you come to Christ. You read your Bible you see these great promises. This magnificent Creator and Savior and then you are confronted with something in life and you disillusioned by how he treats what you supposed to do.

Joe and his book says it very clearly though he slay me, I will trust him trust somewhere else to go. Peterson will from them going of the words of life. Nobody is saying what your subpoena did not say well we going to go you got the miracles you got a goodie bag is what you say is true.

That's the deciding factor. So being his disciple includes continuing in submission, regardless of whatever emotional or physical pain you may incur Judas again excuse the refuse these terms but Joe and Joseph embrace that I made Joseph his principle of faith did not save him all the things he believed about the God of Abraham didn't seem to benefit him one bit his own family threw them away. Send him into slavery. If he died in the salt mines somewhere tough luck, and then he did he think he gets arrested for a crime he didn't commit and he just kept trusting God he didn't like it. He tells the jailer of the. The Butler Vanunu needs to look when he's free. The Butler is freed and Joseph stuck in the prisons tells us, don't forget me in this place. When you get back to Farrell.

Don't forget me because he wanted out.

I just wanted his freedom.

She could go home how long he lived this way we don't know what it was years. We do know that I draw from that.

When I have my pity parties, and I want my pity parties is a little hat. This little string always pinches the skin does not but anyway I struggle with how much work I think I put into ministry over the decades, and seemingly to me have a disk proportionate fruit. I read about the priest and how they would have the pomegranates on the bottom of the rope, which was to symbolize the fruit of ministry on behalf of the people struggle with personal shortcomings or lack of spiritual strength. Sometimes I'm just upset with God, and I know not supposed to be, which adds to me being upset and yet it's 1 foot in front of another for the king because I'm his man and I'm interested in him and he is interested in me, and if he takes me any breaks me then right over that done, just like he wanted because I trust him when I stand up in heaven and all the dust from this cursed life is settled somewhere else because it won't be in heaven, I will be in heaven. Still the king's man this is true for every believer that there is.

So Paul says that I may know him, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death. That's what were talking about. Disillusionment is a death of the flesh.

Our review I did this right. I did that right and this is what I get from it.

I we your man, I'm your child on your manservant on your maidservant.

Whatever the case may be, so it says here in verse six and he gave to his disciples to set before them fellowship in ministry and they will drink from his cup. Also, they will suffer in Christ as in the years to come.

So we here we are seeing a picture of ourselves. He gave to his disciples set before the now he gives us the gospel and all that it includes sets it before us and where to partake of that gospel and then were to give to others, but we can no more save souls and we can create a star but we can serve the gospel. We can do that that is more glorious than creating a star to leave the solar stars of burnout and that's the end of it. Well, I mean I'm sure there's some scientific details about Stardust, but overall the parishes with using but the soul does not in this lesson was what they needed and he was saying there's a need here and you can't fill it. I'm going to fill it but I'm going to do it with you and I'm not going to do it without you. He could adjust through mineral hamburgers and everybody's pocket and been done with it. Of course that be silly and he didn't do it that way. Ministry would not depend on their ability, but their availability. Anybody can hand out bread and fish pretty much not any by me for some exceptions, but overall, these 12 men could put it was their availability that made that happen in another lesson.

A lot of Christians don't get or just don't have time or not available lived things you need to get done coming to the same sure is nice and clean coming to the church the bathroom to clean somebody's doing that we don't have the bathroom O-Matic. We just know, kind of like shove it down the hallway. Let it do its thing. We've got real servants that have to go in there with riot gear on and take care business so it is, could you think about it.

Christ working through those who made themselves available Christ ministering to the multitudes through them the same way today. Christ could use them has his instruments because they made themselves available. King Saul did not. We talked about this Wednesday night.

Saul king Saul was supposed to be the leader as God's people were the instruments in God's hand to execute judgment on the Amalekite people for their wickedness was pulled off the chart and now had to be dealt with but because of selective obedience.

King Saul hindered God's work which cause problems.

Generations later, in the age of Mordechai and Esther and so I don't want to be a king Saul in any level. It says he and they set them before the multitude, which is the objective. Verse seven. They also had a few small fish and having blessed them, he said to set them also before them. Decedent was kind of the way it's written is like well I didn't want just put that with the fish. I'm in the bread. What is this is fragmented. It seems in reading it and you paint start digging into this is and then dishing to the bread taking the bread and blazing in bus blessing and he does it with the fish also. I think it is true. The law does not do for us what we can do for ourselves, or else you know I would never have to go to a gas station again how nice would that be you just drive by your full. Better still is the run out of gas. So anyway as it's it is the fact that there's something that we're supposed to be doing then then we're supposed to be doing it. This was one of the problems with Moses.

When God when Moses wouldn't circumcise his son.

God was going to kill him as pretty serious. Moses was to be the leader of the covenant people and he was neglecting to do critical tasks. Moses didn't care for was not for his wife. We would not have had the story of Moses. But God knew all of this of course, so the disciples who could not multiply the fish and the bread they could serve to the multitudes verse eight so they ate and were filled, took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. I think verse eight is a summary of what has already taken place and there's a departure here was with me and other commentators almost all back all of the commentators that I highly respect.

I turned to their wisdom often are all dead and gone, and in heaven. I disagree with them on this. I have to for conscience sake, and you make your choice.

Make the right choice agree with me so they ate and were filled.

See, I think that's the disciples first.

I'll tell you why in a moment, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments interesting. We don't read about the Lord eating during these multiplications of the bread and the fish he told the disciples I have beautiful deed you know nothing about a probably did but I we guide to be just not the son said. But back to and they took up the seven large bass, tics, baskets of leftover fragments where they get the basket 30 mentioned the carts used the different Greek word used for baskets here than in Mark chapter 6 of these are the larger ones large enough to put a human when Paul was lowered from the wall in Damascus and fleeing from his for his life. It was the same Greek word that type of basket like a hamper which is consistent with as I mentioned the Gentiles. Anyway, the part that becomes a little difficult is the leftover fragments leftover fragments from whom are you telling me then this is with the other. The commentators treat this this way the people. The 4000+ people ate and then the disciples went and picked up the fragments and filled up the seven baskets with fragments of bread and fish have a big problem with because this think about. I mean just go to a stadium and pick up the breadcrumbs and would then what you do with it. Things work and not off feeding the speed yeah that was the objective is to feed the people. How did they get the full really didn't stand in line. There was no drive-through so the disciples had to eat collect their fragments and then into the baskets and then that is what they shared from I've always approached it this way. I approached the other miracles. This way you may differ with it. Those who say these are leftover fragments don't see Marcus summarizing and out of sequence. Now, but logistically I don't see how you do it. Clearly the disciples did not take any of this with them because we get the verse 14 Jesus going to say beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the disciples are going to sale because we didn't bring meet with our bread with us. He's getting on our case I lose you on assembling what are you talking about, see hand raising question. So, just to summarize what I'm saying going back to verse seven of verse eight is a Bible student I can't dismiss these think I need to crack the case and if I can crack it and finally opt also render how tap out as I don't know what that means but that's not here.

If you're a look at this date so they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. The question is who is them, and most commentators say is the 4000+ people and I say can't be because how long would it that would be out there all day collecting I would need to put a facet. I mean it would just get a hamper full seven baskets of just on work okay. You might be seeing the smoke I got the point I've made my decision on not telling you what my decision is what. Let's move on.

Verse nine and I know not have to service if you come up to me a lot.

Talk about someone very open to it on me like I'm going to smiling grin. If you don't see my opinion and just when are they going to leave getting mail those who had eaten were about fourth or you can be human or yeah I get mail those who had eaten were about 4000 and he sent them away is done. I think they kept a belly like the rest of us do, and left was an amazing time. Who in the history of the world has ever done anything like this. Not once but twice anything man can do. Jesus Christ could do better us what we love them so much. Matthew 15 verse 38 now those who ate were 4000 men, besides women and children. I read it because Mark doesn't mention the women and children. Matthew does they did not live by bread alone, here's another interesting thing the blessing was big.

He taught them he healed them. He spent time with them and then he feeds them miraculously, Jacob. As you know, the prayer of Jabez and in first Chronicles treated this way is a man. It starts off, he's introduced to us as an honorable man and Jabez called on God, the God of Israel, saying all that you would bless me indeed. We stopped there in the Hebrew. It is we would bless me, bless me do this emphatic Jabez believe God could bless him, bless him, not a morsel of a blessing, but a lot of a blessing and he doesn't say then that you would then you know enlarge my garage give me that inground swimming pool with servants. Does that mean if you're going to get these things. Who wants to maintain need folks to do it. So let's go back to his prayer.

All that she would bless me indeed that tell the translators have dealt with it and enlarge my territory.

He was in an introvert and that's really what it is expand my influence that your hand would be with me and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain home manned the sky was not mean he was treated that way wasn't treated and so is brothers. Nobody knows their names is sort of the guy's name means paying he saw the guy was the outcast's were hurt anybody that I may not cause pain, and then it says this so God granted him what he requested is this guy just, you know, living life, and he makes his prayer and somebody captures it and God preserves it forever. I want to pray like this man will appoint the connection is God bless them. He bless them. Didn't just feed them food, verse 10 immediately got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of doubt maneuver with no storm picture, whatever they can about all I the somebody's not going to catch anything or is going to be rocking of the boat. This location is not really known what they are now returning going heading back to the area where the Jews are the predominant people. Verse 11 then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing him. Yeah why Satan from the start tempted and tested Christ wanted some great sign. Matthew chapter 4 then the devil took him up to the holy city, set him on pinnacle of the temple to syndrome. If you are the son of God, which is God the son, throw yourself down. For it is written, he shall give his angels charge over you, and in their hands they shall bear you up.

Bless you – your little foot against a stone at the gun I Jesus said to him, it is written again, you should not tempt the Lord your God. So Satan takes a Scripture takes it out of contact abuses the context of your abuse of the Scripture. Christ is in the Bible also says this and shuts him down people demand signs are usually inhabited many more signs that demand is not a noble act. These men were not sincere is the tendency is of the legalists, the one that lives by rules and regulations as opposed to grace and love of God, they came to pick a fight you know any religious folks like that. They look to pick a fight, they just waiting for the conversation to get to the that their pet point so they can hammer you with it to condition usually handles that no it is not that would not be was the flesh, crying out to spirits of man nevermind.

Let's go to verse 12 but he sighed deeply in his spirit.

Why does this generation seek a sign surely I said, you know, sign shall be given to this generation. There's that sighed again. He came up in chapter 7 when he was healing the deaf-mute and it was a sigh of you know sin has done this to people.

The view view felt that way about sin, you know, God feels as the same idea within the sin.

There is sorrow there is regret, there is anger is not just one thing in this sigh anger towards those who are making it easy for Satan to dam their souls and how do they make it easy for Satan to dam their souls by rejecting truth in the very Scripture that they claim to hold so I Jesus will later sale, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one that killed the prophet stones those who are sent to her. He says how often I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her brood under her wing, but you were not willing is willing to bless these men to not willing in the deep size because of the hardness of their hearts. The dishonesty in their minds. How many people come the church like that stubbornness of their wills know they have not they can refute anything the same does not stop them from refuting him anyway. What's he supposed to do pin a metal on these men. Language is very strong and it is a glimpse into the heart of God when he is faced with those who are dishonest and damning their own soul by head helping Satan.

Damn them. What can God do but sigh and he said why does this generation seek a sign knowing that they have no interest in believing him there get their size array had many signs. Surely I said, you know, sign shall be given to this generation so flat ice is no girl love it because they needed to hear that no one also tell them no. Everybody else was afraid to disagree with them, especially in public. Those who the sign always looking for sign are those who always looking for omens reading omens into everything. Ignoring faith in fact mingling faith with faithlessness leaves you with faithlessness and we guard against that. The Bible tells us in the Old Testament the just shall live by faith. Paul grabs that three times. He tells us the just shall live by faith Romans and Galatians and I believe Hebrews believe Paul wrote Hebrews. So anyway I can go on were about out of time. Verse 13 and he left them in getting into the boat departed to the other side sailed away from. They were a waste of his time there were other people that he could reach what he had to offer. They weren't interested in so he does what he told his disciples in Matthew 10 and whoever will not receive you nor hear your word when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet goes with this verse from Philippians Paul writing from jail again. I like to think whenever we read Paul's letters he doesn't.

He's not saying you get me a good lawyer is concentrating on ministry where he is like a lily among thorns. So is my beloved, he grows weary where God planted him. You guys need to get that kind of faith. And when you get a tell me how you did. Philippians 2 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Don't forget that you're not supposed to be many politicians you suppose or many hundreds you most of the witnesses of Jesus Christ's or mine. God help us to do it. 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.

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