Where God Moves, He Multiplies (Luke 9:10-17)

Where God Moves, He Multiplies
Luke 9:10-17

Introduction

Pastor Andy Stanley, in his book Deep & Wide, tells about a time in the life of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Computer and former CEO of Pixar, when he experienced a crisis of faith. At 13 years old, he took the July 12, 1968 edition of Life magazine, with its cover photo of two children from war-torn Nigeria where over one million people died from civil war and famine; he took that magazine cover to the church. There he asked the pastor, “If I raised my finger, will God know which one I’m going to raise even before I do it?” The pastor answered, “Yes, God knows everything.” Jobs then pulled out the Life cover and asked, “Well, does God know about this and what’s going to happen to those children?” According to his biographer, the answer he received was “less than acceptable” and he never went back to church.[1]

Steve Jobs looked at real human need and concluded that if God knew he either didn’t care or was irrelevant. I think God does care. I think that he put me here, and keeps me here, because he does care. But, if I took an honest look at my own life and lifestyle, I might conclude that I either didn’t care or was irrelevant.

How About You?

Do you ever feel that way? We can barely keep up with our own lives—we are tired. There’s just no gas left in the tank at the end of the day. Then the phone rings.

How many of you have a friend where there are tough health issues? How many of you know couples where the marriage is struggling? How many of you know those who have lost jobs or have jobs on shaky ground? Finance issues, kid trouble, and secret destructive habits. What you know in your life, is true multiplied many times over throughout this city.

Is there ever any good news? We are so tired and so much is going wrong. So much is happening in my life and with those close to me, how could I ever be able to deal with their issues? We try avoid thinking about it, we move to El Dorado Hills or to the nice neighborhood, like those high rises in Makati that turn their back on the slums.

Anyway, what can we do? I am just one man. And that is the dilemma. Too much is going wrong. We know we should be doing something, but it is just too much. Any effort we make is like a match in a typhoon wind. Too big. Too broken.

What does God say?

What Does God Say?

When I read the biography of Jesus found in the Bible, in the 9^th chapter of Luke, there is an incident where Jesus’ followers found themselves in the same place. Starting in the 10^th verse, read what happened:

¹⁰When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,

Let’s stop right there for a moment. Back at the beginning of this chapter, Jesus took his twelve closest followers and sent them out to duplicate his ministry of teaching the kingdom of God and healing people in the towns and villages of northern Israel. Now, these ‘sent ones’ (that’s what apostle really means) are coming back to report to Jesus. 

They are excited. So Jesus puts together an impromptu leadership retreat so that they can talk about all of the things that happened. But things didn’t work quite the way they wanted. Let’s keep reading (verse 11)

¹¹but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

Someone leaked the location of Jesus’ safe house, near Bethsaida. Twitter goes wild and there is soon a flash mob outside Jesus’ door. By far the largest crowd of Jesus career, experts estimate over 15,000 people (5,000 men + women and children) are camped on the north-eastern edge of the Sea of Galilee. He could have said: “I need a little me time.” But he doesn’t. He is interruptible. Teaching. Helaing. Good News for this huge group of needy people. And this is a needy crowd. Many of them are sick and need healing. Many of them want the truth. Many of them want to see the circus, because their life is boring and meaningless. And one more thing. Let’s read a little further (verse 12)

¹²Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” <next slide>

¹³He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” ¹⁴(About five thousand men were there.)

Many of them are hungry and they are far from home. The apostles notice it is getting late and they nervously start checking their sun dials. “Ok, Jesus, church is over. Many people didn’t book hotels or make restaurants reservations. Send ‘em home.”

But Jesus was giving his followers a chance to show him what they’ve learned over the past weeks. Pop quiz. Here it is: “You give them something to eat.” And the disciples are thinking, “There goes dinner” because they have only five loaves of bread and two fish. There is a bit of whine in their voice, “But master…” And they may have a degree in mathematics, but they can see that 5 divided by 5,000 is pretty small and 2 divided is even smaller. Great! We’re all going to get an F on this test.

But for Jesus, the crowd is not an obstacle, it is an opportunity. He doesn’t turn them back. These people had hiked out into a “remote place” to listen to Jesus, and his followers wanted to send them away. And for Jesus, it is not five loaves and a few fish, it is a feast. He tells the disciples, don’t hold back.

Here’s what Jesus teaches us: 1) in the face of people’s overwhelming need, it is not an obstacle, it is an opportunity.  2) if we want to see what God has, we must be willing to trust God with what we have. 3) where God moves, he multiples.

 Fear says: there’s nothing left. Faith says: there’s more coming. This is not a limited blessing universe. Stingy people convince themselves that God is like them: stingy.

Fortunately, the disciples give the food to Jesus. Let’s see what happens next, in the 2^nd half of verse 14.

But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. ¹⁶Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. <next slide> Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. ¹⁷They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

They gave Jesus the bread and fish. And did they starve? No, they had more than when they started, and 15,000 people were satisfied. And they got the amazing privilege of being the ones who served the food. We can feel the electricity of being the conduits for Jesus’ blessing, or we can watch God work from the sidelines.

Application

Years later, the Bible shows us that Jesus’ friends learned this lesson. One day, as described in the 3^rd chapter of the book Acts, a man born crippled was begging near the gate going into the temple. Peter saw him and said these words, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.” (Acts 3:6)  He said, “what I have” (not what I don’t have) What do you have?  It may not be much, but you have a surplus of blessing in some area of your life.

• Experience - God has brought you to the other side of something and you are still in one piece. That is a blessing! And it is one that you can share with someone else.
• Dollars - You can make a difference between hunger and not hunger, thirst and no thirst, sheltered and not sheltered. If you have any surplus, be generous rather than grudging.
• Wisdom - Maybe you have thought deeply about something. Share it!
• Time - I was at a funeral this past Saturday where over 30 members of a volunteer organization that my friend had worked with showed up. They had time, and showed great support for the widow and family. Use your extra time and give it away, rather than squander it.
• Forgiveness - Do you have a surplus of forgiveness? Has God or someone else forgiven you freely? Then use that surplus of mercy that you have received and spend it one someone else, taking the sting out of hurtful words and deeds by applying the surplus of grace you have received.
• Joy - Sometimes there are just happy people. And there are grumpy people. And God delights in putting them together, sometimes in the same marriage, for sure in the same family, absolutely in the same church. That surplus of joy is not a private joy, it is meant to be shared. Because we need it.

This week, God will give you the chance to aim big and give that blessing away. If you give nothing, it can’t become a miracle. Multiply 0 by anything is still zero. God will give you a chance.

Here are three chances.

1)      The chance to pray. Someone you will know will share bad news. Volunteer to pray for it or go with them to pray with someone else.

2)      The chance to be interrupted. Someone will interrupt you with an urgent need. Drop what you are doing and help them.

3)      The chance to give what you have. Someone will share with you an overwhelming need. Give what you have, trusting God to multiply its impact.

Prepare your heart now. The disciples weren’t prepared. They asked Jesus to send the needy away. He redirected them, giving them the chance to show the very mercy of God with five loaves and two fish.

Conclusion

In July 14, 2005, Kyle Macdonald traded his large red paper clip for a fish-shaped pen. The same day, he traded the pen for a hand-sculpted doorknob.  Over the next year, Kyle traded his doorknob for a Coleman camp stove (with fuel), traded the stove for a Honda 1000-watt generator, then traded that for a beer keg, an IOU for a keg of beer and a neon Budweiser sign. He traded those for a snowmobile, traded the snowmobile for a trip to Yahk, British Columbia, traded the trip for a box truck, traded that for a recording contract, traded that for a year’s rent in Arizona, traded the year’s rent for an afternoon with Alice Cooper (the rocker), traded that for a KISS motorized snow globe, traded that to Hollywood film director for a speaking role in the movie Donna on Demand and traded that for a two-story farmhouse in Kipling, Saskatchewan, where the movie was being filmed.[2] He kept the house.

If Kyle can take a paperclip and end up with a house, how much more can God do with what you will give him? His exchange rate is much better.

When God moves, he multiplies. Will you move with Him?

 

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[1] Taken from Deep & Wide, Andy Stanley (Zondervan, 2012), p. 139

[2] Derived from Man turns paper clip into house, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5167388.stm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_red_paperclip, retrieved on October 19, 2012

Mirror Jesus (Luke 9:1-9)

Mirroring Jesus

(Luke 9:1-9)

Introduction

Mirrors are strange things. I was sitting in a restaurant recently where the entire circular booth was surrounded by 1’ x 1’ mirrors. I could see three images of myself, but I could also see three of everyone else. And because the mirrors reflected mirrors, I could see Miriam’s reflection behind Brahms’ reflection behind my reflection. Before there was PhotoShop, there were mirrors that would make you look skinnier, or fatter, or taller. I am still looking for the mirror that can show me with a tan.

But real mirrors, true mirrors, reflect an accurate depiction of what is—not what we want it to be. Yes, that pimple is real, no matter how we might wish for a smooth complexion. Yes, those wrinkles are showing more wisdom. That smile is still brilliant. But the darkness, reflected in the mirror, is still darkness.

But the Bible tells us that, in our spiritual journey, there will be a point when we look in the mirror, and the face of Jesus looks back. And mirrors don’t lie! Not the literal 1^st century bearded Jewish face of Jesus, but our same face, transformed by the character and glory of Jesus.

¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. – 1 Corinthians 13:12

The best mirrors are true friends. They tell you not only what is, but what could be. True friends often have insight about flaws and potential that we have not yet glimpsed ourselves. Jesus was a master at this. In the 9^th chapter of the book of Luke, one of the four biographies written about his life, Jesus has reached his limits. His voice can only carry so far, his hands can only touch so many, his feet can only walk so many miles. So now, he needs someone else’s voice to carry the kingdom message, someone else’s hands to reach out in healing and someone else’s feet to go to unreached people.

Jesus looks at his followers, the disciples, and see not only who they are—awkward, poorly educated, and rough around the edges-but who they could be: on-fire, die-hard  mirror images of their Rabbi. But they must learn this themselves, so Jesus sends them out. We are his mirror images, and we must reflect his Mission, his Power, and his Focus, so they can have his Impact.

Reflect Jesus’ Mission (vs. 1-2, 6)

First, we need to reflect his mission. Look at what the Bible says in verses 1-2 of the 8^th chapter of the book of Luke.

¹When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. #JesusMission

If you flip back a few pages in Luke, chapter 8, what was Jesus doing? He was finding people who need him (Luke 8:1-3). He was preaching the kingdom of God (Luke 8:4-15). He was healing (Luke 8:40-56). He was casting out demons (Luke 8:26-39).

Now what is he sending his followers to do? Find people who need him, preach the kingdom of God and heal people. What Jesus did, they should do. What Jesus did, we should do.

It’s like the time my parents threw me the keys to their car (not the beater car they normally let me drive). They said it was ok. Their car! They gave me the keys, which would turn on the engine, which would let me cruise. Their car!  Now, Jesus, in effect, threw the keys to the disciples and said, “It’s your turn.” Of course, my parents expected me to remember all  the things they had taught me. So does Jesus.

Jesus expects us to reflect his mission. For a mirror to be effective, it has to be pointed in the right direction. Where did Jesus point his disciples? Where does he point us?

First, he sends us out. So, when we reflect Jesus’ mission, it must be with an outward focus. Did you know that fire stations rarely burn down? But the focus of the fire fighter is away from the station, where the fire is.

Second, he sends us out to tell the truth about God. Jesus said that his mission was “to seek and save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) Perhaps the biggest lie in America is that God is optional. We need to tell the truth.

Third, he sends us out to tell the truth and bring life. Jesus was asked why he went where he went and he said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Luke 5:31) He may not put healing in our hands, but he does put the generous, giving hearts that comfort those who are hurting and dying and lonely.

Reflect Jesus’ Power (vs. 3-4)

So, first, we reflect Jesus’ mission. Next, we reflect Jesus’ power. Look at verses 3-4:

³ He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. #JesusPower

Welcome to our reality show, Road Trip with Jesus. On today’s episode, we’ll be putting our 12 contestants (aka disciples), through a rigorous obstacle course filled with sick people, stubborn people and the demon-possessed. Just to make things interesting, we’re going to introduce a few new rules: disciples may not bring any money, no food, no personal equipment, no hotel reservations and no rent-a-camel. Will the twelve remember Jesus’ power and authority, or will they try to do it on their own?

That was the disciples. How about you? This reality show has a moral: the most important thing you can bring on Jesus’ mission is you. Be available! His power. Not your stuff. His authority. Not your money. His resources. Not your suitcase. His mission. Not yours.

Jesus expects us to reflect his power. For a mirror to be effective, it can’t shine it’s own light. There is a scene in The Phantom of the Opera, where the singer Christine is looking in a mirror, thinking she is talking to an angel. But then the Phantom turns on a light and it turns out that it isn’t a mirror at all, but a piece of glass and she is looking at the Phantom’s face.

Jesus must be the star. We must be reflecting him. If we try to shine, we are no longer working with his power and his authority and therefore we will only have human results. When we reflect Jesus, we open up the possibility of supernatural results.

Reflect Jesus’ Focus (vs. 5)

First, we reflect Jesus’ mission. Second, we reflect his power. Now, third, we reflect his focus.

⁵If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” #JesusFocus

Jesus gave his followers some instructions about how to narrow down their mission. As they were going out on Jesus’ mission, maybe they would come to a town where, even with Jesus’ power and his authority, no one welcomed them. Jesus said, if that happened, then they should continue to the next town, not even taking that town’s dirt with them. That left-behind dirt would be a sort of evidence that they had a chance.

When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time at the Knapp’s house, which was right next to twenty acres of plum orchards. We played there through the fragrant time of plum flowers, the setting of the green fruit and then the gradual change to a ripe red. Sometimes, we would get impatient and try to harvest and eat the fruit while they were still green. In addition to being incredibly sour, they had an unfortunate side effect on our digestive system.  

We can bring Jesus to people, but they may ignore us or make fun of us. That’s ok, they aren’t ripe for harvest yet. Jesus told his disciples to open their eyes and see where the harvest was ready. That is Jesus’ focus: people who are ready to welcome him.

If we want to reflect Jesus’ focus, we must look where he is already at work.

For our church, we are trying to reflect that focus and we think that families with younger kids are ready to welcome Jesus. Do we know families? Can we try knocking on their door and serving them? Who among your friends and my friends is willing to take one step closer to the kingdom of God?

Reflect Jesus’ Impact (vs. 7-9)

So, first, we reflect Jesus’ mission. Second, we reflect his power. Third, we reflect his focus. Now, fourth, finally, we reflect his impact.

⁷Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. ⁹ But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him. #JesusImpact

Notice what it says: Herod heard about all that was going on. What has been going on? Jesus’ disciples are making an impact in Galilee-the part of Israel where Herod the tetrarch (son of Herod the Great) ruled. They are making such a stir, healing people and telling them about Jesus, that Herod is confused and curious.

All Herod wanted was a peaceful life, sleeping with his brother’s wife. John the Baptist said that was a bad idea so Herod cut off his head. End of problem, right? No! When Jesus heard this, it was his signal to start preaching and healing. What is going on? And now, we’ve got twelve Jesus clones plaguing his territory. Cut off one head, suddenly there are thirteen more on the gospel preaching tour.

When we reflect Jesus’ impact, the world sees Jesus multiplied.

¹⁶But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. … ¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. – 2 Corinthians 3:16, 18

Into the image of Jesus, so that when people see us, they see the impact of Jesus. That was what was happening to Jesus’ followers then, and it is what can happen to Jesus’ followers (us) today.

We reflect Jesus’ mission. We reflect his power. We reflect his focus. Finally, we reflect his impact.

Conclusion

In Jesus’ ministry, there were three “sendings” This is the first wave, here in chapter 9. It is the sending out of the 12, where they are first called “apostles” (vs. 10), which means “sent ones”. The second wave of sendings is in chapter 10, where Jesus sends out, not 12, but 72, telling the truth about God and healing hurting people.

The third wave of sending is the one Pastor Tito talked about last week. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” In Acts 1:8 (ESV), Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”

It was 31 years ago when Mark Platt, the regional director for church planting in Northern California recruited a new pastor to start a church in the little town of Morgan Hill, here in California. That new pastor, in order to get paid, had to go and knock on doors and introduce himself. One of the doors he knocked on was that of my mother and my step-father. Both of them had church experience, but neither had been in a while. They started attending a small Bible study.

I was away at the time with my grandparents. Growing up, I had struggled as a Christian. But that summer, my walk with God had never been stronger, and I came home to find that my parents had started going to this new group, Morgan Hill Bible Church. These two things, my personal walk and this new church, came together in an amazing way. It changed me.

That is what God is doing right here in Folsom. He is changing lives. We could never have guessed that we would be here on this day. God has sent us here. If we will reflect Jesus, we will have Jesus' impact, and Folsom will be changed.