“In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus summoned His disciples and said to them, “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” And His disciples replied to Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And He directed the people to recline on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve, and they served them to the people. They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He told the disciples to serve these as well. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. About four thousand men were there; and He dismissed them.” Mark 8:1-9 NASB

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty…For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:35,40 NASB

Assumption #1: God doesn’t care

“In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat…” Mark 8:1 NASB

Reality #1: God is compassionate

“I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat.” Mark 8:2 NASB 

Assumption #2: I am in an impossible situation

“Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” Mark 8:4 NASB

Reality #2: Nothing is impossible with God

 “And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces.” Mark 8:8 NASB

Assumption #3: I don’t have enough

“And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” Mark 8:5 NASB

Reality #3: We are only asked to give what we have

“And He directed the people to recline on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve, and they served them to the people.” Mark 8:6 NASB

Why do we get stuck in our assumptions instead of living in the realities of the gospel?

“And the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation!” And leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side. And the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.” And they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet comprehend or understand? Do you still have your heart hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” Mark 8:11-21 NASB

Three Signs of Unbelief

1. 
   
2. Searching for the sensational
   
   
3. An attitude of cynicism
   
   
4.  A scarcity mindset