With everything to gain, what have you got to lose?

In Mark chapter 8 we once again see a great multitude in need of nourishment, much like in Mark chapter 6. They had been traveling with Him for 3 days and have nothing to eat..

I've always viewed these very real illustrations through the this lense: "God can take what little you have, and multiply it" or "Nothing is impossible with God, He can take a few measly morsels and satisfy a multitude, He is a God of miracles." or even this statement "Isn't that amazing how God used the seven loaves and not only fed 4,000 people, but also gave them (the disciples) back more than they previously had..God is able to to exceedingly, abundantly above or beyond anything that we could possibly imagine. If we give, he will bless us and entrust us with even more."

All these statements I believe to be true as revealed to us through Scripture in various ways, however I never really paid attention to this particular facet of truth.

They (Jesus' disciples) were asked to give away all their bread..

Comfort Zones: Let's do some rezoning

Unity: The posture for power and blessing

Scripture: Psalm 133 A Song of Ascents. Of David.

                                   Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in

                                   unity!  It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the

                                   beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

                                   It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!

                                   For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Observation:  We all love this Psalm don't we?  I know I do.  I've quoted it often in times of worship or in gatherings of believers.  I've always quoted Psalm 133:1, but I've never really bothered to dig more deeply into the similes given to describe what it is like later in the this short psalm.  And wow!  I'm so glad I did.

Disbelief: Don't lose your voice!

In the opening chapter of Luke we read about 2 stories: The conception and birth of John the Baptist and the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb.

Zechariah, a priest before God in the temple was chosen to burn incense before the Lord and upon entering the temple he was visited by the angel Gabriel.  Gabriel told Zechariah that he and his wife would conceive a child appointed by God to turn the children of Israel back to Himself and "make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

But here's prophetic part. 

At the crossroad of the supernatural power of God intersecting the Zechariah's life and declaring a promise over him..the declaration is immediately measured against an earthly impossibility:

They're too old to have kids...

Remember, live like you're standing upon the Great Mountain and not beneath it!

King Nebuchadnezzar had a startling dream in which no wisdom of the earth could interpret, none but Daniel.  A man filled with the Spirit of God.  Along with the prayerful petitions of his friends (power of unified prayer, c'mon now!) God heard their request and in His mercy gave them the answer.
God used four righteous men from the destroyed city of Jerusalem, raised them up in their humility and fear of Him (He makes beauty from ashes), to glorify Himself in the presence of the highest earthly authority on earth at that time.  That's our Go!
The dream that was interpreted represented 4 earthly kingdoms in a statue of gold, silver, bronze and iron mixed with clay


Daniel 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

and later we read:

Daniel 2:45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”


We read in the Old Testament and the New, that the stone is Jesus Christ.  As Romans 9:33 records "“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”


Jesus is our Rock.  He was hurled at the enemy of our soul and satan's kingdom has fallen in ruins.  And in glory He rises from the ashes as a great mountain to be seen by all and make known to all that His glory far surpasses the glory of anything and everything.  There is none greater!

In every area of Your life are you standing upon the Rock of your salvation?  Would fear  cause you to question His ability to deliver and save?  Would the cares of this world and the anxieties attached to it steal your rest and peace found in Him?  Stand firm upon His promises upon which He has set His seal of "Yes and amen."  Remember this promise:


2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

and this promise

 Psalm 40:2
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Christian brothers and sisters, you are standing upon the Rock that is greater than all!  There is none higher and none more glorious, so walk in the kingdom authority that He has sealed upon you and go in the strength of the Lord, for He is with you even unto the end of the ages!

Worship privately and you will shine publicly

I was just listening through our churches Sunday service that I had the awesome privilege of leading and I was once again moved by what God was doing in our church.  I was worshiping and thanking God all over again this morning for His goodness, His manifest presence, His love for His church.  Not too mention Pastor Ryan's sermon was OFF THE CHART!  It was clearly annointed and resonated deeply in the hearts of everyone here.  Honestly, if you get a chance give it a listen.  I'm certain it will impact your heart as well.

As I was worshiping the Lord this morning my heart suddenly turned outward.  I began to send encouraging text messages and emails.  I wasn't even really paying attention to the fact I was doing it, it was just welling up within my heart and His love was pouring out to others around me.  It was just a natural (or rather supernatural) product of my time with Jesus.   His love and power truly can't be contained within these simple earthen vessels.  We were meant to be poured out!

I'd encourage us all to be filled with the Spirit daily by drawing near to Christ through your private worship time with Him.  Let's make the time.  "The days are evil" the bible tells us, and without us contending for His Kingdom to break forth into them, the days will go about themselves producing nothing good.  But God is good and He has called us to herald His goodness by the power of His Spirit, to be a fragrance in every place we go, amen!

CHALLENGE:  Send at least 2 encouraging emails, phone calls, text messages out and see what God produces through it!

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Love you guys!

Thoughts on Lamentations 2:15 "let us give no opportunity for the mocking from our enemies"

Jerusalem had finally fallen.. the Lord had given His people over to their surrounding nations and they ravaged them.  God had given His word and instruction to His called-out people, but they continually inclined their ears to the false words and deceitful lusts of the surrounding nations.
He relented from His protection and gave the divided nations of Israel and Judah over to their enemies.
Lamentations 2:15 All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: "Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?"
Doesn't it just make you cringe?  The enemy overthrew God's people and then went on to mock them!  They were at their lowest point: starvation, murder, even babies dieing on their mother's breast for lack of food.  It was dreadful and awful and their were no words of comfort to find, only mockery from their enemies and even the nations that were supposed to be their allies and friends.

And sadly, I've seen this play out in my own life.  Having received Christ into my life and initially being on fire for Him and His plans for me.. I soon began to seek company and surround myself with people who had no knowledge or love for Christ.  I was a glowing ember surrounding myself with wet coals and slowly I began to smolder, and smoke..and eventually become saturated with the same earthly rains that soaked their lives.  At occasional moments when words were said that just irked me and grieved my soul I would lash out and try to defend the gospel.  A backsliding, double-minded, lukewarm Christian trying to make a stand for Christ.  What was I thinking?!  I had no testimony, and so invited mockery upon my life.  How could anyone take my faith seriously if I wasn't taking Christ seriously?  I was supposed to look like a "city that was called the perfection of beauty" and a "joy of all the earth."  I was supposed to be a shining light of Christ, an ambassador to my Jerusalem, Judah, and Samaria...even to the ends of the earth.  Instead, my life and words only invited mockery instead of praise to God.

And like Jerusalem God handed me over to the destructive desires of my heart and I hit bottom.
I was in great lamentation and at my bottom.  But in my distress I did a powerful thing. I repented!
I looked up!  And I found open arms waiting to take me back and pour forth lavish love upon me.  Restoration, redemption..the ember would soon be a raging inferno for the glory of the Lord.  He is so good!

Team, let's commit to take our walk with Christ especially seriously in light of the transformative work that He wants to work through us in the Philippines!  This is an extraordinary mission's trip.
This is nation changing, earth shaking..this is the power of God!  Let us commit to not ever put forth salt water and fresh water from the same spring within us.  Let us not with our mouths praise God and with the same tongue tear down others.  Let us be what Christ calls us already: a royal priesthood, holy, chosen, perfected, children of light.  Let us rise to the upward calling of "be holy as I am holy."

Lord, may the enemy have no voice of mockery upon our team and work that You are doing and will do.  May we be so united in our pursuit of the high praise of Your name in all that we do, that we would be an impenetrable force of unstoppable Kingdom love!  Amen.