God's Ability for our Inability

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>God's Ability for our Inability</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Power for a Changed Life"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Replacing Legalism With Real Holiness"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> previous/next sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>“God’s Ability for our Inability,” </B><B>Mark 6.1-52</B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, </B><B>July 30, 2000am</B></div> <bR> <div> With what we know about the disciples from the gospels, we wonder where Jesus came up with these guys! They were not exactly a world-class group starting out.</div> <div> We also are incapable of serving Jesus Christ in our resources alone.</div> <div> In Mark 5, we saw that Jesus has the power to change lives (his power leads to dramatic changes, is based on faith not status, Jesus specializes in hopeless situations). The disciples had to learn what difference that made to their own activities of service for Christ. They discovered in Mark 6.1-52 that God’s strength is available, for serving Christ, and for handling their personal needs.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Because of our inability, we must rely on God when we serve Christ.</B></div> <div> A. The disciples were sent out, Mark 6.6b-13; they reported success to Jesus (vss. 30<B>-</B>31)</div> <div> B. Jesus challenged THEM to Feed the 5000, Mark 6.35-44; key vss. 35-37!! “<U>YOU give them</U> . .” This was far beyond their own abilities and resources.</div> <div> – Serving Christ and seeing lives changed through our ministry, demands our trust in God, because our greatest resources fall short of what is required.</div> <div> – Areas of application: the pastoral; small group leadership; teaching Sunday school; sharing the gospel; working with youth; serving the needy; quality leadership in worship and music; giving.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Because of our weaknesses, we must rely on God for our personal needs (be consistent).</B></div> <div> – Areas of application: sicknesses, financial needs, personal losses, family struggles, stress at work.</div> <div> A. The disciples were in the boat facing trouble, Mark 6.45-52. They had “<U>hardened hearts</U>” (vs. 52), which means they failed to understand, to get who Jesus was and what difference in made in every part of their lives. After Jesus had solved their immediate problem, they were amazed, not connected what Jesus did in feeding the 5000 with how Jesus could act for them.</div> <div> B. Recall the lack of faith in Nazareth, Mark 6.1-6. Jesus responds to the faith of his people.</div> <div> C. Note the John the Baptizer factor, vss. Mark 6.14-29: God doesn’t solve every problem or heal every sickness, even though he could. (Remember, Mark was writing to persecuted believers in Rome, many of whom were dying far before their time for the cause of Christ).</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. Three practical suggestions to help us rely on God: </B></div> <div> 1. Stay in the Word (discover what God promises; discover what he is like).</div> <div> 2. Stay on your knees (prayer expresses dependance upon him).</div> <div> 3. Keep serving (or start serving).</div> <bR> <div> Because of our inability, we must rely on God to serve Christ. Because of our weaknesses, we must rely on God for our personal needs.</div> <div> Whatever resources you have that you are trusting in, give them over to God and let him give you far more so you can serve him effectively. Give over to God all you are trusting in and let God provide.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2000, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>