We were in Mark 4 this morning, and we were talking about storms. We're going to look at storms again, but in a different place, a different storm. Have a look in Mark 6:45, and I want to just share on the gospel on the supernatural. I'll just keep it brief, because I think the testimonies are just very powerful themselves, in letting us know that God wants us to have his power, and to make His gospel known.
Let's have a look in this scripture here. Immediately He made His disciples - Jesus compelled His disciples - verse 45 - to get into the boat, and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida. Bethsaida means: house of fishing. And He sent the multitude away, and when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. And when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land; and He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, He came to them on the sea, and would have passed them by. When they saw Him, walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and they cried out. Now that word 'cried out' means: AAAGH! They shrieked out; so if you thought you someone saw someone walking on the sea, you would probably shout out too; and they all saw Him, and were all troubled. But immediately, He talked with them, and said to them: be of good cheer! I am; or: it is I. Do not be afraid. Then He went into the boat to them, and the wind ceased, and they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marvelled; for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
Tonight we were hearing about the loaves and the fishes, and the disciples had just seen an amazing miracle. Sometimes when we read the gospels, we just read them almost with eyes blinded to the reality of the supernatural, so this is a problem particularly in the west, as we start to rationalise everything, and lose our understanding that the God we serve is a supernatural God. This is what Jesus said, when He commissioned the church: go preach the gospel, and signs will follow those who believe. See, Owen's not an ordained Pastor, but he's a believer. Sandra's a believer. People that are believers, signs can follow them; and so Jesus made it very clear that the supernatural would accompany the preaching of the gospel. Why? Because the gospel will go to cultures where there are idols, idols openly worshipped, sorcery, witchcraft. There's a need for demonstration and release of the power of God. Our idols are different. We cover them over. We call them a car, and we put them in a garage and then take them out and dust the dust off them, polish them all up, and spend half our life paying them off.
We've got our own set of idols that we worship in the west. It's usually material things, but nevertheless they do represent idols, when they've got a hold of your life, and take the place of God. I want you to see in this story here, Jesus wants every believer to engage in the work of harvest, every believer. Notice what it says: He compelled His disciples. He had to pressure them, and persuade them, because there was a reluctance in them to get into the boat. The place He wanted to send them to, was a place He intended there to be a harvest. It's called Bethsaida, the house of fishing. Jesus said: follow me, I'll make you fishers of men. The heart of God is to help people who are broken. There is a harvest everywhere. You don't have to walk very far to meet someone who tells you their story; a story of tragedy, of heartbreak, of marriage, of family, or abuse, or some kind of horrendous thing that has happened in their life.