Incredible Timing

Mark 14: ¹² Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”

¹³ And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.¹⁴ Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹⁵ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”

¹⁶ So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

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Driving on an expressway in a city of millions my junker of a car broke down in the middle of a lane. “What am I to do now?” I thought. Only a few minutes passed when I felt a gentle bump. I looked in my mirror and it was a couple of people gesturing that they would push my car with theirs. I put the car into gear to “pop the clutch” and the car started. Later I found out it was a friend I knew who pushed me.

• There have been times when something great happens to me.
• There have been times when something difficult happens to me.
• There have been times when the timing was just right and things just happened to go my way.

JESUS lays out a plan that on the surface sounds pretty staged. Did HE meet with a guy and set the whole thing up? I don’t think so. JESUS sent HIS disciples to a willing person who was open to share his place. The timing had to be perfect in order for them to follow the right person in this crowded town.

• GOD has incredible timing for me.
• GOD has miraculously watched over me every day.
• GOD has done some amazing things around me that I categorize as the mundane.

Giving thanks to GOD for what I consider “mundane” may be giving HIM thanks for a huge miracle. HIS timing includes protection from harm, guidance during stressful times and paths to HIS awesome plan. GOD’s timing is always incredible for me.

• Can you see GOD’s timing in your life?
• Do you think HE has pulled away from you?
• Will you open the eyes of your heart to see HIM working in your life?

Powerful Instructions

Mark 6: ³⁵ When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. ³⁶ Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

³⁷ But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

³⁸ But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

³⁹ Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. ⁴¹ And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. ⁴² So they all ate and were filled. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. ⁴⁴ Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

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“Run the division” were the words spoken to me that were absolutely outrageous. I hadn’t run anything large and the request, while exciting, quickly became overwhelming. How am “I” supposed to do that? I laid awake thinking.

• Sometimes I think “I” have to do everything under “my” power.
• Sometimes the task placed in front of me seems huge.
• Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the unknown.

“You give them something to eat” were JESUS’ words. HE expected HIS disciples, who had just performed all sorts of miracles, to believe they could perform another. Somehow JESUS knew they could do more than they thought, but HE also knew the people were hungry so HE performed the miracle.

• JESUS knows the faith I have.
• JESUS knows that if I believe and have faith in HIM, amazing things can happen.
• JESUS knows the plans HE has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

JESUS knows I can do more, but most times I don’t think so. I think miracles are for the select few and reduce GOD down to only finding keys, jobs and money. GOD can heal people, relationships and diseases. HE can bring lost people back to HIS loving arms and HE can even forgive me.

• Do you feel lost?
• Is GOD saying you can do more than you can ever imagine?
• Will you stop getting your faith from what you can see and rely on GOD to provide the power?

Unseen Solution

Matthew 14: ²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

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“LORD, please grant me my prayer” is what I asked. Days later I got exactly what I asked for but got nervous that I would mess up. “What If I don’t do well?” “What if I can’t handle this?” More questions flooded my mind and I began to falter.

• Sometimes GOD gives me exactly what I asked for.
• Sometimes GOD instantly grants me favor.
• Sometimes GOD does some amazing things in my life that I am not quite ready for.

“If you don’t really want it, don’t ask for it”, don’t ask it is what I learned. GOD has said “Okay” to some of my prayers and I found myself in over my head and overwhelmed. I looked around and suddenly began to sink. BUT GOD pulled me through.

• GOD hears me when I earnestly cry out to HIM.
• GOD knows I need saving even before I get into a mess.
• GOD saves me from the turmoil’s of life even when I ask for them.

Faith was the unseen solution to Peter’s problem and mine. When I place my faith in GOD I can face enormous challenges. I have to tell myself constantly, “Don’t look left, don’t look right, just keep looking straight towards CHRIST.” When I focus on GOD my worries diminish. GOD saves me from the waves.

• Are you sinking?
• Do you have worries and doubts?
• Can you stop looking around at your situation and look at CHRIST as your Savior?

Hits Too Close

Matthew 13: ⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

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“But you are supposed to be a role model to me” I said to myself as I watched yet another mentor fall by the wayside. This person seemed like a godly giant, but turned out to be just like the others. My faith dwindled quickly.

• My faith used to be based on someone else’s actions.
• My faith used to be based on what I could see others do.
• My faith used to be easily thwarted by the fall of others.

When “that” person sinned, I would be so disappointed. I could not hear any preaching or teaching from them. BUT GOD wants me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to have faith in HIM and the people HE sends.
• GOD wants me to drop my arrogance of thinking “that” person can’t possibly perform miracles.
• GOD wants me to stop looking at the sinner and look at GOD inside.

I am in a very popular club, namely ALL those who committed sins. Miracles do not come from humans rather they come from GOD. I should focus only on the SPIRIT not the sinner. Judging people weakens my faith. GOD wants me to see HIM in action, even through the highly unlikely.

• Are you judging someone who is an unlikely candidate for GOD?
• Are you basing your faith on someone else’s actions?
• Can you stop looking at others and start looking at the HOLY SPIRIT?