If I were the disciples in the story of the feeding of the five thousand, I would have many questions. It had been a gruelling ministry season. They had been toiling, crowd controlling, running errands for Jesus for the last 3 days, as he ministered to a staggering crowd whose desire to linger with Christ wouldn’t wane.
Finally, the break that the disciples were hoping for had come. Jesus Christ looked at them and said it was high time that the crowds got something to eat. Naturally speaking the disciples would expect Jesus to send the crowds away since there were so many. Yet he didn’t…he wouldn’t. Jesus Christ was preparing them for a lesson in the school of the extraordinary, as he instructed the disciples to feed the crowds.
The disciples puzzled must have thought Jesus was crazy or joking. Feeding 10-20 thousand people (women and children included) was no joke. Besides all they had were five loaves and two fish. Sure Jesus had done many miracles prior, and so far his word was credible, yet this was different. No one had fed so many, with barely nothing. Food multiplication was far from their thought processes. Naturally speaking, people bought food, or prepared food when they were hungry, thus that was the thing to do.
As we embark on a miraculous journey this year, what do you expect God to do and how? Are you looking for God to move or you. Naturally speaking we know we need to plan, and figure things out. But who is our trust in, and to whom do we look to for results? The disciples represent many of us in that we are stuck in cultural and traditional models of viewing God’s workings. We look to see how God has worked around us, in our circles, and with contemporaries. Yet God clearly declares that all things are possible to him who believes. Belief for us becomes often a mental assent, where we say yes but.
Thus the disciples represent you and I as the “yes buts” people. Yes Lord you will do miracles in my ministry this year, but this is what I am prepared to expect. Jesus, yes I know you will take care of that problem, but its probably going to be this way.
I was recently overcome in a service by a miraculous stream of God’s healing power. This reminds me that while doctors, aspirins and knee braces are necessary, Jesus is the healer.
Friend, Jesus is the multiplier, Jesus is the provider, Jesus is the deliverer. But he needs you and I to hang on to him in faith. For his says all things are possible…not for those who try, not even for those who are faithful. No. All things are possible to him who believe.
So dream big. Reach out big. Talk big. Act big. Do something big, for we serve a tremendous God, who says, I can do more than you can ask think or even imagine, according to the power that works within you.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Movement
Joshua moved a mighty nation through the River Jordan. This would only have been accomplished via a number of symbiotic events inducing hope in an almost impossible vision and commanding a forceful thrust able to accomplish their goal.
It is key at the end of Joshua 1 that the people saw Joshua as powerful as Moses, hence giving their allegiance to him. The first event occurring here is that of obedience. The people simply chose to obey thus making it easier for Joshua to lead them according to the dictates of the Lord. The second event is that of communion. This was no individualistic bunch of robot obeying a dominant general. They were a family, a Godly community submitted to authority. It was through their expression of this koinonia (fellowship) that a fluid passage would occur. This kingdom community thus would consecrate themselves together as the law demand and participate in cultic worship at the leading of the priests, enabling them to maintaining unified fellowship.
Another event is that of the supernatural hand of God. This was a two edged sword that had both direct and indirect effects in the Israelite’s victory. Directly, they experienced miracles such as the parting of the Jordan, thus allowing them to boldly forge their way towards Jericho. Indirectly these miracles generated fear in the enemy’s camp immobilizing them and greatly contributing to their defeat. A final event observed in the movement of the Israelites is that of order. Having the ark precede them carried by the priests (probably in conjunction with procession regulations as revealed in Numbers) as they embarked in to the Jordan. The import of this is that order is intrinsic to victory. Godly order. As the Israelites followed God’s prescribed order, the waters of the flooded Jordan abated, allowing an entire nation to cross in a relatively short amount of time.
God’s words to Joshua initiating the Jericho march are probably the most significant. “The time has come for you to lead the people, the Israelites into the promised land” (Joshua 1:2). This event is timing. For us as believers we also need to understand that the time has come to fulfill God’s destiny for our lives. 2 Corinthians 6 indicates that the time to fulfill God’s salvific commission is now. Not tomorrow, not next year, but now.
Thus be motivated by these events occurring in the book of Joshua. Obedience, Godly community of the saints, submission to Godly authority, a spirit filled life, and God’s timing are but a few keys that you will need to fulfill your destiny, participating as a co-labourer with Christ himself in the fields of harvest.
It is key at the end of Joshua 1 that the people saw Joshua as powerful as Moses, hence giving their allegiance to him. The first event occurring here is that of obedience. The people simply chose to obey thus making it easier for Joshua to lead them according to the dictates of the Lord. The second event is that of communion. This was no individualistic bunch of robot obeying a dominant general. They were a family, a Godly community submitted to authority. It was through their expression of this koinonia (fellowship) that a fluid passage would occur. This kingdom community thus would consecrate themselves together as the law demand and participate in cultic worship at the leading of the priests, enabling them to maintaining unified fellowship.
Another event is that of the supernatural hand of God. This was a two edged sword that had both direct and indirect effects in the Israelite’s victory. Directly, they experienced miracles such as the parting of the Jordan, thus allowing them to boldly forge their way towards Jericho. Indirectly these miracles generated fear in the enemy’s camp immobilizing them and greatly contributing to their defeat. A final event observed in the movement of the Israelites is that of order. Having the ark precede them carried by the priests (probably in conjunction with procession regulations as revealed in Numbers) as they embarked in to the Jordan. The import of this is that order is intrinsic to victory. Godly order. As the Israelites followed God’s prescribed order, the waters of the flooded Jordan abated, allowing an entire nation to cross in a relatively short amount of time.
God’s words to Joshua initiating the Jericho march are probably the most significant. “The time has come for you to lead the people, the Israelites into the promised land” (Joshua 1:2). This event is timing. For us as believers we also need to understand that the time has come to fulfill God’s destiny for our lives. 2 Corinthians 6 indicates that the time to fulfill God’s salvific commission is now. Not tomorrow, not next year, but now.
Thus be motivated by these events occurring in the book of Joshua. Obedience, Godly community of the saints, submission to Godly authority, a spirit filled life, and God’s timing are but a few keys that you will need to fulfill your destiny, participating as a co-labourer with Christ himself in the fields of harvest.
A new family
Family in ancient times were essential for survival, industry and affluence. Imagine the immense surprise that Jesus’ disciples would have met with when told that following Christ would bring family division in Matthew 10. Is Jesus against family? Why such polemical talk from the saviour who has created family and upholds peace and harmony.
Christ chose to use the established intrinsic institution of family to convey the new community that he had come to establish. This community would be as integrated as the family, yet also bring strong opposition.
The close knit characteristic of the family meant that Christ’s disciples were supposed to be united. Though they would come from different backgrounds, philosophical views, and different ethnicity (Romans and Jews) they would be grafted into a new community that was as close as the family. In this new family Zealots would have to love Romans, Jews would fellowship with Gentiles and slaves with their masters. No longer would one define themselves simply by their birth family, but their spiritual family would be just as important. This of course meant that prejudice and superiority ideals had to be done away with. Walls of division and suspicion would disintegrate as these believers worked towards having a close fellowship in Christ.
Not only would these new believers have to overcome divisive boundaries, they would also be subject to persecution from their own family. Parents wondered why their children were now involved with others not like them. Family traditions that were unbiblical or religious would be ignored causing further division. A passionate family member might even choose to forsake the family business for the calling of ministry.
Thus Jesus reminds us that joining his family takes extreme commitment. We commit to loving one another though we are very different. We commit to getting to know each other, understanding one another and valuing our differences. Despite the criticism of the world and often well meaning loved ones, our eyes remain on the prize – of maintaining real unity with those whom God has called us to share this supernatural life with.
So God I thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to be a blessing to day, serving, loving, giving all I am for those you gave your all to. Amen.
Christ chose to use the established intrinsic institution of family to convey the new community that he had come to establish. This community would be as integrated as the family, yet also bring strong opposition.
The close knit characteristic of the family meant that Christ’s disciples were supposed to be united. Though they would come from different backgrounds, philosophical views, and different ethnicity (Romans and Jews) they would be grafted into a new community that was as close as the family. In this new family Zealots would have to love Romans, Jews would fellowship with Gentiles and slaves with their masters. No longer would one define themselves simply by their birth family, but their spiritual family would be just as important. This of course meant that prejudice and superiority ideals had to be done away with. Walls of division and suspicion would disintegrate as these believers worked towards having a close fellowship in Christ.
Not only would these new believers have to overcome divisive boundaries, they would also be subject to persecution from their own family. Parents wondered why their children were now involved with others not like them. Family traditions that were unbiblical or religious would be ignored causing further division. A passionate family member might even choose to forsake the family business for the calling of ministry.
Thus Jesus reminds us that joining his family takes extreme commitment. We commit to loving one another though we are very different. We commit to getting to know each other, understanding one another and valuing our differences. Despite the criticism of the world and often well meaning loved ones, our eyes remain on the prize – of maintaining real unity with those whom God has called us to share this supernatural life with.
So God I thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to be a blessing to day, serving, loving, giving all I am for those you gave your all to. Amen.
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