Are You Amazed? Or Do You Really Have Faith?

November 3, 2013
"Are You Amazed? Or Do You Really Have Faith?"
Mark 6:45-52
Scott Howard

• Ministry is to become your life
• How does God shape faith in us so that, as we embrace Him by faith and we live by faith, we then become useful tools in His hands?

"Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.  [after feeding the five thousand]  After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.  He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.  About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake.  He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.  They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.  Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I.  Don't be afraid."  Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.  They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened."
--Mark 6:45-52

• There is a significant difference between amazement and faith.  For example: you can be amazed at rollercoasters, airplanes, new inventions, but still not trust them or put your faith in them.
• The disciples weren't just to be informed; they were to be transformed by His grace.

Devine Power + Devine Compassion = Everything You Need

• There is a God of Awesome Power who, because of Devine Compassion, has invaded my life, and that means He will Deliver to me all things that I need. 
• Jesus wanted the disciples in this seemingly impossible and dangerous moment. Mk 6:45.  It was part of His plan, He was not surprised by the storm.  He knew how self reliant we humans are, and wanted them to have faith in Him, not just be amazed by His works.
• God will take us where we have not intended to go in order to produce in us what we could not achieve on our own.

               A theology of uncomfortable Grace: God's grace will come to you in uncomfortable times.
               The Grace of refinement: being loved, being changed, and being rescued.

• in verse 48, Jesus went to them.  He could have just told the storm to stop, but he wanted them to know that He will take care of them through any storm. 
• God is not so much after your situation as He is after you.
• Amazement is a function of the brain.  Faith is an investment of the heart that changes the way you live.
• The problem with many of us is we're all too easily satisfied.  It's possible to believe in Jesus and still have a hard heart; a heart resistant to the redemptive change that comes from faith in Jesus. Mk 6:52
• I don't become a better me; I become, by grace, a radically different me.

It is definitely amazing what God can do, but it can be even more amazing what He can do through people who put their faith and trust in Him!