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FEEDING
THE 5,000
Only
one miracle of our Lord's is recorded in all four Gospels. It is
the only miracle afforded such high honor. It is the one miracle
Our Lord wanted us to be sure to hear about, in order to deepen
our Faith and Trust in Him. It is the miracle of the feeding of
the 5,000--- the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes.
The Feeding of the 5,000 is found in:
Matthew 14:15
Mark 6:34
Luke 9:10
John 6: 1-13
FEEDING THE 4,000
And to emphasize Our Lord's power to provide, there is a repeated
incidence (involving the feeding of 4,000 people this time) found
exclusively in the accounts of Matthew and Mark.
The feeding of the 4,000 is found in:
Matthew 15:34
Mark 8:1
AND OLD TESTAMENT
ACCOUNTS TOO
Besides these 6 accounts of miraculous feedings in the New
Testament, there is a recording in the Old Testament Book of
2 Kings 4:42-44…….. 20 loaves feeding 100
people.
And of course, the all-time, unprecedented wonder of daily
sustenance is found in
Exodus 16…the daily manna for 40 years!
Have we lost our wonder over that testimony?? If we have, we
ought to re-read this chapter and meditate on its awe.
Most assuredly, Our Lord is our provider. Our Father gives us
each day, our daily bread. Is anything too hard for the LORD?
(Genesis 18:14)
With that introductory
background, let's read the feeding of the 5,000 in
Mark 6:34:
"And they (Jesus and
His apostles) departed into a desert place by ship privately. And
the people saw them departing, and many knew Him, and ran afoot
thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together
unto Him.
And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with
compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a
shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.
And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came onto Him
and said,
"This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
Send them away, that they may go into the country round about,
and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have
nothing to eat.
He answered and said unto them, "Give ye them to eat".
And they say unto Him,
"Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and
give them to eat?
He saith unto them,
"How many loaves have ye? Go and see.
And when they knew they say,"Five and two fishes".
And He commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the
green grass.
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
And when He had taken the
five loaves and the two fishes, He looked up to heaven, and
blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to
set before them;
And the two fishes divided He among them all.
And they did all eat, and were filled.
LEFTOVERS
And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the
fishes.
And they that did eat of the loaves were about 5,000 men."
Mark
6:32--44
DO YE LIKEWISE
This miracle is taught so thoroughly in order that it may be
APPLIED. If you notice in all four accounts, Jesus asks the
disciples themselves
to feed the multitude. Our Lord merely pronounced a blessing upon
the food, and gave the Father thanks for it.
The rest was up to
them.
In none of the four accounts
is there any mention of a huge care package descending from
above….nor was any large conglomerate of food mentioned on
the ground. Where then did all this abundance come from? Remember
we're talking 5,000 men and probably 20,000--25,000 people in
all, including women and children. If all the food was in one
place, logistics alone would tell us that it would take hours to
pass the food along (while being hungrily eaten.) None of the
scenarios add up. So, what really happened? What really took
place?
MULTIPLYING
BY DIVIDING
Let's go back to the premise the Lord gave his men. He told them
two very important things. He told them to
act themselves in order to accomplish the task, and
he asked them to draw
from the resources they had. Now taking these two principles and
applying them throughout the multitude, we conclude that:
As pieces of fish and bread were continually broken among the
ranks, each one receiving the pieces continued the miraculous sharing/supplying within his group and thus all the
groups were fed at the same time. Instead of mass distribution,
there was mass participation.
Each person "broke" into the miracle by
sharing…"and they did all eat, and were filled."
ACTS
CHAPTER "29"
What an awesome miracle! Our Lord not only fed their stomachs,
but He also fed their minds and spirits with Kingdom principles:
PRAY, TRUST and ACT. The blessing comes after the action is taken, and not before.
PRAYER initiates the blessing.
TRUST evokes God's intervention.
And then our deeds complete the ACTion.
It was such a large concept that many people did not comprehend
it all. They felt they had a magician on their hands and wanted
to make him a king…(John 6:14).
"Anything, just feed
us"…..is the cry of pragmatic politics. Jesus wanted to
reign over our hearts, not our stomachs. He declined the offer.
Jesus worked this miracle out of compassion…not for their
hunger necessarily; the people could easily quit for the day,
return to their towns and buy food. Our Lord's compassion was
larger than that. These people were wandering sheep, without a
shepherd. Formal religion wasn't filling their inner
cravings…John the Baptist had recently been taken from them,
and now they turned to Jesus. Would He be their leader? Yes. But
his Way is a way of delegation and participation. He would be an
example for them to follow, not to be put on a pedestal to be
idolized. His way demands maturation.
Christianity is a hands-on Faith. It is a way of Applied Faith.
As we acknowledge
God our Father over all, and Jesus as Lord, then
guided
by the power of the Holy Spirit
we participate in deeds beyond our capacity. We do not have a spark of the Divine in our
nature, acting on our own merits. We're too filled with clay for
that; our egos would burst at the seams, without the humble
dependence upon God for our every need.
But Jesus loves us so much, He wants a co-operative manifestation
of grace in our lives. A child lets someone-somewhere 'out there'
handle the affairs of life. A mature person enters into a
relationship of applied trust, and together---- partnering
with God----- grace flows. We are all
called to that higher level of relationship with Jesus Christ.
(All 5,000+ ate)
Jesus gave us the keys to the Kingdom. He has delegated His
authority to the Believer, and as such we are to be conduits of
God's miraculous power, "that worketh IN US."
For it says in Ephesians
3:20 ….
"Now unto Him that is
able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US, unto Him be glory in
the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages ( 2000, 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004,2005
ad infinitum) world without end . Amen."
Jesus Christ is the same "yesterday, today, and
forever." Hebrews 13:8
AUTHENTICITY
Was the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes a fairy-tale that
happened long, long ago?
No; none of the supernatural wonders Jesus enacted were fairy
tales. These events were all eye-witnessed by thousands of
people, and recorded by four journalists of highest integrity and
truth (not to mention Josephus, the greatly respected historian,
who recorded the actual historicity of Jesus in his journals).
The credentials are impeccable!
Yet more important than establishing something in the past , is
the fact that today
you and I sit on that same hillside as it were, at the feet of
Jesus, being taught the very same kingdom principles with no less
of an outcome.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and
forever!" Hebrews
13:8
We read in the Gospel of
John Chapter 14 verse 12:
"He that believeth on
Me, the works that I do shall he do also:
and greater works than these shall he do".
Can we be led of the Holy Ghost
to push-through to higher levels of partnership with God? Do we
take the keys of the kingdom and first bind the strongman, under
the blood covering of Jesus?( Matt. 12:29 and Mark 3:27 ) Do we exemplify kingdom-authority?
If not, why not?
"The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent
take it by force."
Matthew 11:12
Does that mean we are to be
violent people? No. Not in the earthly sense, but in the
spiritual realm, yes. We are to bind powers and principalities
(demons), in the name of Jesus Christ, that hinder God's work
here on earth. We are to step out in faith and appropriate
all that God gives us for the task. Only those who realize that
they can't do it without God's help will make it.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven."(Matthew
5:3)
The keys to the kingdom are
these: PRAY, TRUST and ACT....and give the glory
to God.
WILEY WAYS
Evil governments like to make sport of faith in God. The
Communists tell a classroom of children that prayers and miracles
are fantasy. They tell the class to close their eyes, pray for
candy, then open their eyes and see if any candy really appears.
Of course, the candy does not appear. "Thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God"
These atheists try to represent a Genie-god who, they say, in
actuality does not exist. Their scenario is obviously a gross
misrepresentation.
Three things are missing…
1. There is no actual need (only whim)
2. There is no actual partnering with God… no responding to
the initiative of the Holy Ghost, in obedience to His voice.
3. There is no Faith, Trust [ curiosity is not Faith ]
Had sincere prayer, in true need, been made to one's Heavenly Partner--Almighty
God-- an answer comes. It may be later than we like, and it may
be through channels we had not perceived, but God answers
"the effectual prayers of a righteous man"
(James 5:16)….even if that answer is:
"My grace is sufficient"( 2 Corinth. 12:9 ).
His Grace IS sufficient.
That strengthening Grace keeps our Relationship in good faith,
and interactive. Our Partnership with God stays living and
reciprocal.
Charity is God-based...not government-funded. Please see:
"Separation of Church and State"
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/sep.htm
OVERCOMING TESTIMONY
(Rev. 12:11)
Here is a modern day example of
God's Miraculous Provision (ANZAC) Must read!!
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/miracle.html
Recently Pat Boone had on
his show a female singing-artist who gave the testimony that she
had cancer, and was given a short time to live. This cancer
attacked her blood cells, and unless she could get her cell count
up, there was no hope of reprieve or recovery.
In desperation this woman prayed to the God of the Loaves and
Fishes, and asked for a multiplication of the necessary cells.
When she came back in for a blood-count, the figure jumped far
past any other previous recording . Needless to say, this woman
(I do not know her name) totally recovered from her cancer and is
active and living an abundant life.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it MORE abundantly." John 10:10.
What is your need? Why not
turn to Our abundant Good Shepherd and ask him for MORE? "Ye
have not, because ye ask not." James 4:2
100 Million Miracles (from
Flower Drum Song)
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/million.html
EXPLOITS BY THE GODLY
These being the Last Days,
our marching orders will be more forthcoming.
Are we prepared for such a time as this?
It says in the Book of Daniel 11:32:
"But the
people that do know their God shall be strong, and do
exploits."
Please see "1 + 2 Kings and the Great Tribulation"
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/sparo.html
Are we strong in the Lord's
might and power? Hopefully
yes.
"Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord, and IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT".
Ephesians 6:10
Our charity and works are not from us.
"Not by power, nor by might, but
by My Spirit, saith the LORD of
hosts,"
( Zechariah 4:6 ).
The power of the Holy Spirit works wonders.
Our Jehovah-Jireh
(all-providing God) is abundant in mercy and forgiveness, as well
as in all the necessities of life. Why not partner with Him
today….put your hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee and
let Him fill your mouth with praise and blessing.
Please see " The Great Tribulation and Jehovah-Jireh"
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/JJ.html
"Thank you, Almighty and Eternal God, for caring for us in
every aspect of our life.
May we dare to trust you more. Amen"
FALSE
MIRACLES
False Prophet www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/ch6p1.html
Biblical
prophecy tells us that soon there will come the "False Prophet" Rev. 13 ("another beast").
This person is described in 3 places:
1. "And he doeth great wonders,
so that he maketh fire ( lasers, lightenings, missiles?) come
down from heaven on the earth (imitating Elijah)
in the sight of men (TV, webcast, assemblies etc.) Revelation
13:13
2. "the false prophet that wrought miracles before him (the
antichrist), with which he (the false prophet) deceived them that
had received the mark of the beast." Revelation 19:20
(great illusive deceptions, tricks etc.)
3. "And then shall that Wicked be revealed (the false
prophet) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His moth
and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming
Even him (the false prophet)
whose coming is after the working of Satan (occultic powers,
demonic partnering)
with all power and signs (great spectacles,
manifestations....like Merlin the magician)
and lying wonders
(consummate liar, manipulating visual techniques, digital
deceiver, special effects phenomenon.....please see www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/fool.html )
"And with all deceivableness (subtle sham, phoniness) of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not
the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them STRONG DELUSION, that they
should believe a lie.
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness (sin)". 2 Thessalonians 2: 8--12
Beware: mental potent, poisoning of the mind, capitalizing on
fears
STRANGE FIRE
It is conceiveable that a day is coming when the False Prophet
seeks to overturn the
validation of Yahweh's authority and power (demonstrated at Mt.
Carmel in 1 Kings 17) by having a contest number 2.
In this scenario, the False Prophet calls upon the God of the
Christians to send fire down from heaven.....the fire does not
come. This is akin to the Communist' ploy of asking God to send
candy. Since there was no real faith in the Living God, the
Living God does not respond in this scenario. "Thou shalt
not tempt the Lord thy God."
Next, the False Prophet calls upon the "god of this
world" (Satan, the dragon, that serpent, the devil...2
Corinthians 4:4 ) to send fire down from heaven. The fire
descends. Many people will be in awe and this will consummate the
bond between the False Prophet and those who have never accepted
the Gospel. The False Prophet then leads his flock to the Beast
(antichrist) whom the people worship. And the Beast acknowledges
the power behind him as that of Satan, whom all the unsaved will
worship. "And they worshipped the dragon".
Could Almighty God have sent the fire down from heaven in this
scene ? Yes.
Then why didn't he ?
The answer lies in Deuteronomy 13
"If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams,
and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee saying,
'Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let
us serve them;'
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that
prophet, or that dreamer of dreams:
FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD PROVETH YOU
TO KNOW WHETHER YE LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL." Deuteronomy 13:1-5
This is the litmus test of all miracles ? Do they point to God or
to someone else?
It's that pure and simple. Either the conduit (miracle-performer)
is attesting to the power of the Living God and His Son Jesus
Christ, or he is enticing people to follow after Satan and his
breed....the sons of Belial ?
For more on False prophets please see 2 Peter 2... and Jude
"Lying Signs and Wonders" RK
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2000/roshkodesh526.htm
Salvation:
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/sal.htm
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