Today’s sermon was from a favorite passage in Luke where Jesus miraculously feeds the 5,000 +. I’m with Pastor Alex, there is something that happens when you gather around food. The saying of grace, the passing of the food, the interaction of the group and the discussions are all part of being family whether it is our physical family or spiritual or friends. Hollywood sees the binding in this too in popular TV series like Blue Bloods where each week there is a scene of family bonding around the table. The discussions reveal who we are and what we care about. Growing up, we always had dinner together and talked about our day or problems we might have encountered. There is strength in the sharing!
This big dinner Jesus held on the slopes of the Galilean hillside was the same but a bit bigger. Pastor’s first point resonated with me. Jesus meets us in our real needs.
What real needs did the people gathered on that hillside have?
They were physically hungry but also spiritual hunger had driven them to follow Jesus. Maybe they were hurting and in need of healing, be it physical or spiritual. In 5,000 + people there were definitely more problems that we can list- money issues, relationship issue, physical problems, illness, homelessness, worry, confusion, despair…. Just like then, when we come to Jesus, he is the great healer and provider. There is no problem too big for Him! Philippians 4:19 comes to mind, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We can trust Jesus with any and all of our needs.
Jesus invited them to sit down in groups to be served. What does this tell you about God? I see organization in the chaos of the crowd. It made it so much easier for the disciples to ‘get around’ and pass out the food. God never does anything haphazardly! His work is always planned and organized. It may take us a bit to see it but it is there. He desires that we follow His plan for the best outcome. Remember to claim the truth of Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God’s plans always have purpose and are filled with hope!
In this group of 5,000+ what do you see each of the people bringing? To receive what God had for them, they needed to be open to His food. This was physical food in the loves and fish but Jesus also provided spiritual food in His teaching. We don’t know how many received this spiritual food with open hearts but the physical food was given and all were satisfied. Don’t you think they remembered that meal for the rest of their lives? Maybe that day they did not come to know Jesus, but in the future as they remembered perhaps they did. God desires that we be open to His food and partake. Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Linda
Jesus invited them to sit down in groups to be served. What does this tell you about God? I see organization in the chaos of the crowd. It made it so much easier for the disciples to ‘get around’ and pass out the food. God never does anything haphazardly! His work is always planned and organized. It may take us a bit to see it but it is there. He desires that we follow His plan for the best outcome. Remember to claim the truth of Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God’s plans always have purpose and are filled with hope!
In this group of 5,000+ what do you see each of the people bringing? To receive what God had for them, they needed to be open to His food. This was physical food in the loves and fish but Jesus also provided spiritual food in His teaching. We don’t know how many received this spiritual food with open hearts but the physical food was given and all were satisfied. Don’t you think they remembered that meal for the rest of their lives? Maybe that day they did not come to know Jesus, but in the future as they remembered perhaps they did. God desires that we be open to His food and partake. Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Does that describe you? Do you hunger after God’s Word and a right relationship with Him? Jesus’ promises that if we do- we will find satisfaction!
What abundance do you see in your life?
What abundance do you see in your life?
After feeding the crowd there were abundant leftovers. Think about your life and things that have happened to you.
Do you see leftovers- things that continue to happen or did happened because of something God set in motion?
What comes to mind in my life is my writing books. I was in a time of great despair and troubled in spirit and God led me to His word. I sought out the No Fear passages and hungered after the truth He had in the Word for me. I was prompted to write a book by a friend about my struggles and what God revealed to me. I followed God down that pathway and have seen so many ‘leftovers’ from that obedience. I ended up writing 3 books so far, blogging on the internet for about 10 years, blogging for Pastor Alex in writing these ‘recaps’ and have been able to witness to many both verbally and in writing. Who knew that my ‘leftovers’ from the blessings I received from study when I was hungry for God would have such abundance? I claimed Isaiah 55:11 for my book and blogging too, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God knew how amazing my leftovers would be as He sent it out and it will not return void!
Linda
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Linda is a member of Crossroads church and regularly blogs about her faith.
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