Do You Expect God To Show Up?

I love this video. A friend of mine told me about it the other day, and I knew I just had to check it out. It's not everyday you have the opportunity to come face-to-face with a lion. As I watched this situation unfold, there were two things that stuck out to me. First off, was the awe that kept this girl's attention. Maybe she was scarred stiff, but either way, she seemed to be awestruck by what she was experiencing. But more than that, was the way her mom is responding in the background. "That's enough...Come One...Oh My..." At first glance, it seems like mine is in the right frame of mind...she sees the potential danger...a little girl, a large lion, and 3/4 inch of glass between them. For mom, the surrounding environment is enough for her to try to fix the situation. As for the little girl...the idea of fear, what could happen, or how others are responding, these things don't seem to affect her... For her, she is locked into her encounter with the lion...
There is a story we are all familiar with in the Bible. It shows up is all four Gospels. It is the story of the Jesus feeding the 5,000.
You know how it goes...Jesus' disciples have just gotten back from going out 2x2 to heal people and share the love of Jesus with the world. They come back, Jesus tried to have small group with them, but people just keep flocking to Jesus.
So Jesus heals them and teaches them. Night comes and people get hungry...One problem...there are like 20,000 people including women and kids...and no food. Now stop for a moment and remember...
1. Jesus' disciples have been with him for a while and have seen His glory and power
2. The disciples are just getting back from journey's that had them filled with God's power in an effort to heal and preach Jesus

Now, they are in a situation...alot of people need food, there is no food, and Jesus has just told them- "You give them something to eat." Ugh...
The disciples respond immediately...you're funny Jesus...really...but that would take 8 month's wages...we don't have that type of money...

Do you see what is going on? The disciple's have experienced unbelievable moments of God's power through Jesus...they themselves, have even been given power to do great things...but in this moment...the surrounding situation became their focus instead of the power of Jesus to show up and move this mountain of people...
Much the mom in our lion video...these disciples focused on what wasn't present and the possible problems, instead of what was really happening in the moment...
Jesus never expected the disciples to "give them something to eat" on their own power. He was reminding them that in the same way that they had experienced Jesus' presence before, He was going to do it again...they just needed to reallign their focus and trust Him...they needed to expect Him to show up...

Use these questions to help you dig deeper into this week's topic...
1. Read Mark 6:30-44
What would be your reaction in a sitation like this?
Would you get caught up in the sitation?
Or would you rely on Jesus to show up?

2. Remind yourself of a time when you felt the power of God really show up...was it in a cenversation with a friend? While praying or reading scripture? At a concert or retreat? Outside in creation?

3. Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't expect God to show up?
Where were you?
What made you feel that way?

4. How do we go from focusing on situations around us, to focusing on the God and expecting Him to show up and meet us in a mighty way?

Plan to join us Thursday night at Matt & Amanda's at 7pm as we continue to tackle this idea of expecting to experience God.