"KEEPING HOPE ALIVE: HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MIRICLE"

Note:This lesson is dedicated to the love of my life...My wife Krissy who someday soon with bare children as promised by our Heavenly Father!

MARK 6:34-44 Jesus noticed fear in some, and pysical exertion of His disciples. He provides rest for those that are tired, and refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the Spiritual Food of Christ's word, and then He took care that they should not want bodily food. If Jesus and His disciples put up with mean things, then surely we should. This miracle shows that Jesus came into the world, not only to restore, but to Preserve and nourish Spiritual life. In Him there is enough for all to come...None are sent away from Christ but those who come to Him full of themselves. Though Jesus had bread enough at command, He teaches us not to waste any of God's rewards, remembering how many are in want. We may sometime need the fragments we now through away.

We need to admit, when we have needs...notice the three things that the disciples did, that we also do:
(1) We procrastinate...in vs.35 "THIS IS A DESERTED PLACE, AND ALREADY THE HOUR IS LATE."
(2) We pass the buck...in vs.36 "SEND THEM AWAY."
(3) We worry about our problems...in vs.37 "SHALL WE GO AND BUY TWO HUNDRED DENERRII WORTH OF BREAD, AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT." Two hundred denerrii is equal to 8 month's wages. We all assess what we already have. HAS GOD EVER ASKED YOU TO DO ANYTHING IMPOSSIBLE?

JOHN 6:6 Jesus asked this only to test them, for He already had in mind what he was going to do. We can limit what God does in our lives by ASSUMING what is and is not possible.IS THERE SOME IMPOSSIBLE TASK YOU FEEL GOD WANTS YOU TO DO?

God can do the miraculous, all we have to do is trust Him to provide the resources.

We should give God whatever we have...notice the kind of giving that the little boy had that sparked a miracle:
(1)He gave it willingly.
(2) He gave it cheerfully.
(3) He gave it immediatly.

WE NEED TO EXPECT HIM TO MULTIPLY.

MARK 10:27 Jesus said "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD." There is a misconception still common today. Many believers enjoy material prosperity, many others live in hardship. Wealth is not a sign of faith or partiality on God's part.

THERE ARE FIVE PURPOSES FOR KEEPING HOPE ALIVE!!!

(1)TO HELP US GROW TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:7 GIVING IS A NATURAL RESPONSE OF LOVE. Paul did not order the corinthians to give, but He encouraged them to PROVE their love was real. WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE, YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM/HER YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION, AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS. If you refuse to help...your love may not be as genuine as you say. DO YOU GIVE FREELY TO GOD, AS HE COMMANDS? OR DO YOU CONTINUE TO ROB FROM HIM? It is not enough to know what God wants from us...we must do it.If you dont tithe, do you relize you are labled a theif!!!Some Christians don't tithe, and they wonder why God doesn't Bless them. Why do people hold back from God? To save for retirement? To buy more expensive vehicles? For security? Jesus chalanges us to think beyond earth-bound goals and to use what we have been given to help others.
What you treasure reveals your true priorities!
DOES YOUR MONEY FREE YOU TO HELP OTHERS? IF SO, YOU ARE STORING UP LASTING TREASURES IN HEAVEN.
Money has the power to take God's place in your life. It can become your master.

YOU CAN TELL IF YOU ARE A SLAVE TO MONEY
1. DO YOU WORRY ABOUT IT FREQUENTLY?
2. Do you give up doing what you should do or would do to make more money?
3. Do you spend a great deal of time caring for possessions?
4. Is it hard for you to give money away?
5. Are you in debt?
Money is a hard master and a deceptive one. Money promises power and control, the problem is, that it cannot deliver.
Money can be made and lost overnight, and NO AMOUNT OF MONEY CAN PROVIDE HEALTH, HAPPINESS, OR MOST IMPORTANTLY.....ETERNAL LIFE.
HOW MUCH BETTER TO LET GOD BE YOUR MASTER, AND HAVE PEACE OF MIND BOTH NOW AND FOR ETERNITY.

(2) To deepen our Fellowship as a Church Family.
1 PETER 4:9
We need to live expectantly, for Jesus is coming back for us. Getting ready to meet Him involves, continually growing in love for God and for others. It is very important to pray regularly, and it is also important to reach out to the needy people.
Your possessions, status, and power will mean nothing in God's Kingdom. But you will spend eternity with other people. Invest your time and talents where they can make an eternal difference.

1 PETER 3:8 We should be in unity, We should think the same, to be like-minded. Most of all we should pursue peace and unity, and be an example. We should be like one big happy family.

(3) We want to help everybody find a place of ministry.

2 TIMOTHY 4:5

At the end of Paul's life, you could say confidently that he had been faithful to His call. He faced death calmly most likely He knew that He would be rewarded at Jesus's second coming.

1 PETER 5:8
In Christian life we battle agianst "the evil rulers of the unseen world," FIGHT in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit.

IS YOUR LIFE PREPARING YOU FOR DEATH?
Do you share Paul's confident expectation of meeting Jesus??
NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THE FIGHT SEEMS- KEEP FIGHTING!!! COMPLETE THE MINISTRY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU!
CHRIST RETURN AT AN UNEXPECTED TIME IS NOT A TRAP OR A TRICK BY WHICH GOD HOPES TO CATCH US OFF GUARD.
IN FACT,God is delaying His return so more will have a better chance to follow Him.
People who are ready for Jesus's return are:
1. Not hypocritical, but sincere.
2. They are not fearful, but ready to witness.
3. They are not anxious, but are trusting.
4. They are not greedy, but are generous.
5. They are not lazy, but diligent.

In coming to a close...
(4) WORSHIP GOD WITH THANKSGIVING TOGETHER.
PSALM 95:2
We should be thankful in His presence, even when sometimes we face disappointments in this life.
God will not let you down, we can safely put our confidence in Him for the eternal life promises.

(5) To challenge us to get to the Phases.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:5
"They had first given themselves unreservedly to God...The other giving simply flowed out of the purpose of God working in their lives." Most pastors have given more than most people could ever imagine, God call's them into the ministry, and placed on there hearts to see God's Kingdom grow. I know that God will continue to Dump His Blessings, not only on pastors, but on the Church...That means you and me!!!

LETS ALL HELP EACH OTHER, HELP THE CHURCH GROW, AND MINISTER TO THE COMMUNITY. We need to join together to do God's work. To increase Christian unity and to help his Kingdom grow.

YOU MIGHT ASK...WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THIS TIME?
(1)To see some miracles.
(2) To grow Spiritualy.
(3) To be hassled by satan.
(4) To experience Joy.
"GOD GIVE US A FAMILY IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY."

Thank you Shani in Charleston for this Award...I dedicate it to my wife Krissy and our child who now resides in Heaven.