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MARKed by Faith - Chester Mupaya
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. --------- 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 5 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
Mark 6:6-12,30-37 (NIV)
In this chapter, we see Jesus shift from preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, and driving out demons himself to sending out his disciples to do the same.
Jesus calls the disciples to him
He demonstrates the Kingdom to them
He imparts authority to them to go and do the same
Before they go, He instructs them to take nothing with them but their sandals and a staff. He tells them to leave behind the things that one would usually take on a trip (money, a bag, a change of clothes, food etc..) - he forces them into a place of lack so that they must depend on his Word and provision.
This is a powerful picture of a readiness to go and a total dependence on God to provide. They could not take any credit for themselves, as they had no provision, planning, or preparation for the mission but for the authority given by Jesus.
When they returned, they had many stories of what had been accomplished, powerful testimonies of the Kingdom breaking out... however, just a short while later, when confronted with the multitudes that needed feeding, they seemed to have forgotten all about the power and authority in which they had been operating in.
When Jesus said "You give them something to eat" the disciples looked at the lack - this seems to be the default setting of their hearts, and of ours too most of the time...
The story that we are invited into is one of
Interrupting evil!
Advancing the Kingdom!
Changing the spiritual atmosphere!
Living in the power and authority that Jesus gives requires faith and belief in who Jesus is, what He has done, and that He is with us. We shouldn't be looking at our lack!
What might God be calling you to, and what are you trying to bring with on the mission that needs to be left behind?
LIFE GROUP GUIDE
Like last week, set aside time to break bread at the table.
As we break bread; our dining tables become sacred spaces of celebration and remembrance of our hope in Jesus. In order to facilitate a deeper conversation with your group members, consider using the SOAP.
Use the SOAP framework on Mark Chapter 6
Scripture - Read the chapter of scripture out loud (you can share the reading, a few verses each)
Observation - Have each person share an observation; something in the Scripture that stands out to them
Application - Discuss how you can apply what has been shared in your own life
Prayer - Pray with your group about what you have learned or how you can apply what you have learned in your life
Additional questions to discuss
Is looking at "lack" your default setting?
What hinders you from operating in the power and authority of Jesus fully?
What practical step can you take this week to step into His power and authority in a greater way?
Beautiful message