Life confronts us with many complexities and dilemmas. Many times in life where we are called to face situations that are greater than we can face with the resources we have available to us. Often we are staggered when viewing the difference in what we have available to us and what we are called upon to do. Our text sets up such a situation. The multitude gathered that day numbered in excess of 10,000 people. The disciples knew that they could not feed that crowd with five loaves and two fish. The disciples could not imagine that the resources to meet the need before them were on that hillside. This miracle teaches many things, but Bro. Hughes points out that one of the most important things it teaches is that Jesus awakens possibilities that otherwise are not available. When He becomes involved, the situation changes.

This miracle teaches us many things. It teaches us that we have to use what we have no matter how meager it may be. It also teaches us, that until we use what we have, we will only have what we have. Until we are willing to put what we have in His hands, we will only have what we have. Until we use what we have, we will never have more than we have now. If it is going to grow it has to be developed. The third lesson this story teaches is that no matter what our failings or limitations may be, He has none! Finally this miracle teaches us that God wants what we have to bless us. He can take whatever we have and use it to bless our life. The multitude was fed with the loaves and fishes that they brought. Human nature is to wait for things to get better. Life does not give us that opportunity. Bro. Hughes tells us that we have to play the game of life with what we have. We have to use what we have right now and give it to God to meet the situation that presents itself.

When the question is “what do we have?” and the answer is “not much” we have to learn to put what we have into God’s hands and He will use what we have to rise and meet the challenge.

Bro. Hughes gives us a history of the events in David’s life that led up to the 34th Psalm. David opens this Psalm with the most important decision he ever made in his life. No matter the situation, good or bad, he declares: “I will bless the Lord at all times.” This decision forever altered his life. He realized that he had been operating outside of the will of God and that he had taken matters into his own hands. Then he realized that God had been protecting him all the way. Whether he was on the throne or in the dungeon, God was his protector.

Bro. Hughes gives us a history of the events in David’s life that led up to the 34th Psalm. David opens this Psalm with the most important decision he ever made in his life. No matter the situation, good or bad, he declares: “I will bless the Lord at all times.” This decision forever altered his life. He realized that he had been operating outside of the will of God and that he had taken matters into his own hands. Then he realized that God had been protecting him all the way. Whether he was on the throne or in the dungeon, God was his protector.

Jesus began His church with 12 disciples. One of them used bad language, one was a doubter, and one was a traitor. The others also had their failings. But using these twelve flawed men, Jesus started a church that has grown and flourished to what we know today. He continues to use flawed men in His work. God’s work with man is fraught with difficulties and setbacks. God’s progress with work in our life is often slow. When we should get it, we don’t When we should have received and responded, we must be told again and again before we get it, if we get it at all. The bible recounts many examples of Jesus demonstrating His power, His ministry, and His glory. The disciples had seen miracles: healings, the feeding of the multitudes, the raising of the dead, water to wine and many more. Even so, when confronted by a troubling situation or storm, they were fearful and unbelieving. Mark records in our text Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples: “Do you not yet get it?”

We also have knowledge of the power of Jesus. We have read and re-read the description and accounts of His work. Yet we too still have doubts. After all the grace and mercy that God has shown in our life, we still do not get it. We are fearful and doubting. There are those who have not yet put behind them the failures of the past. We may have given it to God, but still we hold onto the very thing that God has forgiven and cast into the sea of forgetfulness. To these people Bro. Hughes comes tonight to say that God is not yet done with us. He will never abandon us in the storm. He will come to where we are and let us know “it is I, be not afraid.” Jesus got into that boat with the disciples knowing what would happen. Even though He knew they would fail, He still invested in them. He shows over and over that he will stand by us even in the midst of failure. No matter how many times we may fail, He will never write us off. God is not yet finished with us.

Jesus began His church with 12 disciples. One of them used bad language, one was a doubter, and one was a traitor. The others also had their failings. But using these twelve flawed men, Jesus started a church that has grown and flourished to what we know today. He continues to use flawed men in His work. God’s work with man is fraught with difficulties and setbacks. God’s progress with work in our life is often slow. When we should get it, we don’t When we should have received and responded, we must be told again and again before we get it, if we get it at all. The bible recounts many examples of Jesus demonstrating His power, His ministry, and His glory. The disciples had seen miracles: healings, the feeding of the multitudes, the raising of the dead, water to wine and many more. Even so, when confronted by a troubling situation or storm, they were fearful and unbelieving. Mark records in our text Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples: “Do you not yet get it?”

We also have knowledge of the power of Jesus. We have read and re-read the description and accounts of His work. Yet we too still have doubts. After all the grace and mercy that God has shown in our life, we still do not get it. We are fearful and doubting. There are those who have not yet put behind them the failures of the past. We may have given it to God, but still we hold onto the very thing that God has forgiven and cast into the sea of forgetfulness. To these people Bro. Hughes comes tonight to say that God is not yet done with us. He will never abandon us in the storm. He will come to where we are and let us know “it is I, be not afraid.” Jesus got into that boat with the disciples knowing what would happen. Even though He knew they would fail, He still invested in them. He shows over and over that he will stand by us even in the midst of failure. No matter how many times we may fail, He will never write us off. God is not yet finished with us.

It is amazing how often we can go to the bible and find in that book written so many years ago, the answers to the current problems we may be facing in life. There is something about the word of God that is timeless. It is timeless because God is not constrained by time. Bro. Hughes reminds us that our journey through life will not be without incidents and issues. It is inevitable that each of us will face trouble as we live life on earth. The Israelites faced many adversities. Even as they were being led out of Egyptian bondage, they had to cross the Red Sea between two giant walls of water that looked as if they would rush in and crush them. Even as God is delivering us, the outlook can be rather dangerous looking. As they wondered in the desert, Israel faced many adversities that surly appeared to be defeat to them. So much so that they wondered if they would be better off back in Egyptian bondage. The truth is that even though things looked bleak and dangerous, God was delivering them. God had made a promise to them and He meant to keep it. Our scripture text is a song of worship that reflects back to the painful experience, and giving praise for the revelation that He was delivering them all the while. They were not able to see at the time what was happening, but upon looking back, they saw the hand of God keeping them and leading them all the way. The best they could say in this text was “we went though.” God was taking them somewhere that was better than where they were. They had to go though some rough places to get there, but His plan was better than where they were. God has a plan for us too. It may take us through some scary places, but if we allow Him to lead, we will be taken to a place that is better than we can imagine.

It is amazing how often we can go to the bible and find in that book written so many years ago, the answers to the current problems we may be facing in life. There is something about the word of God that is timeless. It is timeless because God is not constrained by time. Bro. Hughes reminds us that our journey through life will not be without incidents and issues. It is inevitable that each of us will face trouble as we live life on earth. The Israelites faced many adversities. Even as they were being led out of Egyptian bondage, they had to cross the Red Sea between two giant walls of water that looked as if they would rush in and crush them. Even as God is delivering us, the outlook can be rather dangerous looking. As they wondered in the desert, Israel faced many adversities that surly appeared to be defeat to them. So much so that they wondered if they would be better off back in Egyptian bondage. The truth is that even though things looked bleak and dangerous, God was delivering them. God had made a promise to them and He meant to keep it. Our scripture text is a song of worship that reflects back to the painful experience, and giving praise for the revelation that He was delivering them all the while. They were not able to see at the time what was happening, but upon looking back, they saw the hand of God keeping them and leading them all the way. The best they could say in this text was “we went though.” God was taking them somewhere that was better than where they were. They had to go though some rough places to get there, but His plan was better than where they were. God has a plan for us too. It may take us through some scary places, but if we allow Him to lead, we will be taken to a place that is better than we can imagine.

Bro. Kilgore shares his experiences and his burden for God and encourages us to simply love the Lord. Being loving and friendly and living a life loving the Lord is the best ministry to a lost world.

So much in life does not work out as we have planned. Often what we looked for did not come to pass. No matter how crazy life is, it goes on. It doesn’t stop or wait for us to catch our breath. Many times our faith is tried by the facts of life. In our text, Martha notes that Jesus was not present when she needed him to save her brother. The family’s faith was tried by the delay of Jesus arriving on the scene and by the death of Lazarus. We sense in this story the desperation of the family. Things had gone from bad to worse for this family. Lazarus became more and more sick, and ultimately died before Jesus could arrive. Martha knew that “even now” Jesus could make something good happen. The same God in which Martha had this faith, has the same power in our life. Even now, God can reach us where we are and resurrect something in our life that has died. Even now God can make a difference in our life. The One that brought back Lazarus, who had been dead four days, can resurrect something in our life.

Bro. Kilgore shares his experiences and his burden for God and encourages us to simply love the Lord. Being loving and friendly and living a life loving the Lord is the best ministry to a lost world.