Feeding The One Hundred
FEEDING THE ONE HUNDRED.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT JESUS FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.
AND YOU'VE PROBABLY ALL HEARD ABOUT JESUS FEEDING THE FOUR THOUSAND.
BUT HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ABOUT THE FEEDING OF THE ONE HUNDRED?
TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO:
2 KINGS 4:42-44 (NIV)
42 A MAN CAME FROM BAAL SHALISHAH,
BRINGING THE MAN OF GOD TWENTY LOAVES OF BARLEY BREAD BAKED FROM THE FIRST RIPE GRAIN,
ALONG WITH SOME HEADS OF NEW GRAIN.
“GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE TO EAT,” ELISHA SAID.
43 “HOW CAN I SET THIS BEFORE A HUNDRED MEN?” HIS SERVANT ASKED.
BUT ELISHA ANSWERED, “GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE TO EAT.
FOR THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS:
‘THEY WILL EAT AND HAVE SOME LEFT OVER.’ ”
44 THEN HE SET IT BEFORE THEM,
AND THEY ATE AND HAD SOME LEFT OVER,
ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD.
THE THOUGHT HERE IS THAT:
GOD HAS THE POWER TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
GOD MET THE NEED FOR FOOD THAT THESE 100 MEN HAD.
OUR GOD IS A GOD OF HAS UNLIMITED POWER,
HE HAS THE POWER TO MEET ANY
AND EVERY NEED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE MAY BE FACING,
GOD CAN MEET OUR NEED.
AND IF GOD HAS THE POWER TO MEET ALL OF OUR NEEDS,
THEN WHY WOULDN’T HE MEET THE VERY BASIC NEEDS OF OUR LIFE:
BASIC NEEDS LIKE:
Þ THE NEED FOR
FOOD, SHELTER, AND CLOTHING
TRUTHFULLY NOW, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD TO PRAY A MATTHEW 6:11 VERY OFTEN DURING OUR LIFETIMES.
(MATTHEW 6:11) SAYS;
“GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD”
JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO ASK GOD FOR THEIR DAILY NEEDS.
BECAUSE GOD IS OUR SOURCE. HE WANTS TO BE OUR SUPPLIER. HE WANTS TO BE PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES.
JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 6:28-33 (NIV)
28 “WHY DO YOU WORRY ABOUT CLOTHES? SEE HOW THE LILIES OF THE FIELD GROW. THEY DO NOT LABOR OR SPIN. 29 YET I TELL YOU THAT NOT EVEN SOLOMON IN ALL HIS SPLENDOR WAS DRESSED LIKE ONE OF THESE. 30 IF THAT IS HOW GOD CLOTHES THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH IS HERE TODAY AND TOMORROW IS THROWN INTO THE FIRE, WILL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU, O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH? 31 SO DO NOT WORRY, SAYING, ‘WHAT SHALL WE EAT?’ OR ‘WHAT SHALL WE DRINK?’ OR ‘WHAT SHALL WE WEAR?’ 32 FOR THE PAGANS RUN AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM. 33 BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.
ON AUGUST 31, 2005, FEMA (FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY) REGIONAL DIRECTOR MARTY BAHAMONDE EMAILED
THE FEMA DIRECTOR REGARDING THE GRAVE SITUATION
IN NEW ORLEANS RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA HIT.
BAHAMONDE WROTE:
"SIR, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE SITUATION IS PAST CRITICAL.
HERE [ARE] SOME THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW.
HOTELS ARE KICKING PEOPLE OUT,
THOUSANDS ARE GATHERING IN THE STREETS WITH NO FOOD OR WATER.
HUNDREDS STILL BEING RESCUED FROM HOMES.
"THERE ARE DYING PATIENTS AT THE DMAT [DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM] TENT.
ESTIMATES ARE MANY WILL DIE WITHIN HOURS.
EVACUATION IN PROCESS.
PLANS DEVELOPING FOR DOME EVACUATION,
BUT HOTEL SITUATION ADDING TO PROBLEM.
WE ARE OUT OF FOOD AND RUNNING OUT OF WATER AT THE DOME,
PLANS IN WORKS TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED.
"FEMA STAFF IS OK AND HOLDING OWN.
DMAT STAFF WORKING IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS.
THE SOONER WE CAN GET THE MEDICAL PATIENTS OUT,
THE SOONER WE CAN GET THEM OUT OF THE DOME.
"PHONE CONNECTIVITY IMPOSSIBLE."
THE DIRECTOR RESPONDED: "THANKS FOR UPDATE.
ANYTHING SPECIFIC I NEED TO DO OR TWEAK?"
THE DIRECTORS INSENSITIVE RESPONSE TO THIS SERIOUS NEED
IS NOTHING LIKE THE WAY OUR GOD RESPONDS TO THE PRAYERS AND NEEDS OF HIS CHILDREN.
HIS RESOURCES ARE ABUNDANT AND HIS MERCY IS AMAZING.
HE LOVES US AND HIS EAR IS TURNED TOWARD US.
(PHIL. 4:19) SAYS
"BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS".
AND DEUTERONOMY 11:14-15 (NIV) SAYS
14 THEN I WILL SEND RAIN ON YOUR LAND IN ITS SEASON, BOTH AUTUMN AND SPRING RAINS, SO THAT YOU MAY GATHER IN YOUR GRAIN, NEW WINE AND OIL. 15 I WILL PROVIDE GRASS IN THE FIELDS FOR YOUR CATTLE, AND YOU WILL EAT AND BE SATISFIED.
BEYOND OUR NEED FOR FOOD AND CLOTHING, WE ALSO HAVE A NEED FOR
PURPOSE, MEANING, AND SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR LIFE
DURING WWII WHEN THE GERMANS IMPRISIONED MILLIONS OF JEWS.
THE GUARDS WOULD TAKE THE PRISONERS OUT TO A FIELD AND HAVE THEM MOVE A LARGE PILE OF DIRT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE FIELD, TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAME FIELD.
THEN THE NEXT DAY THEY WOULD TAKE THEM BACK OUT TO THE SAME FIELD AND HAVE THEM MOVE THE SAME DIRT BACK TO IT’S ORIGINAL LOCATION.
THE PURPOSELESSNESS OF THIS MEANINGLESS WORK DROVE MANY OF THE PRISONERS MAD.
THEIR MIND WOULD SNAP AND THEY WOULD SUDDENLY BREAK AWAY AND RUN, ONLY TO BE SHOT IN THE BACK OR TO BE ELECTROCUTED ON THE FENCE.
A PURPOSELESS LIFE IS A MISERABLE LIFE TO LIVE.
WE ALL NEED A REASON TO LIVE,
AND GOD GIVES US THAT REASON.
WE'RE IN SERVICE TO THE KING
AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE WORK
OF HIS KINGDOM.
IN THE MOVIE CAST AWAY, TOM HANKS,
PLAYED A FEDEX SYSTEMS TROUBLESHOOTER
NAMED CHUCK NOLAND.
HE WAKES UP STRANDED ON A SOUTH PACIFIC ISLAND,
AS HIS MIND CLEARS HE REALIZES THAT HE IS THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF A COMPANY PLANE CRASH.
THE FILM TELLS THE STORY OF THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
OF NOLAND'S LIFE.
OTHER THAN MINIMAL PROTECTION
AND A SUPPLY OF COCONUTS,
THE ISLAND PROVIDES LITTLE ELSE FOR ITS NEW INHABITANT.
BUT LIKE ROBINSON CRUSOE,
HE LEARNS TO SURVIVE IN A SETTING THAT'S IN STARK CONTRAST
TO HIS
"IT'S A SIN TO LOSE TIME," CONSUMER-DRIVEN WORLD.
AFTER NOLAND FIRST REGAINS CONSCIENCENESS AND REALIZES WHERE HE IS,
HE UNPACKS A FEW OF FEDEX PLASTIC-WRAPPED PACKAGES
THAT HAVE SURVIVED THE CRASH AND FLOATED TO SHORE—
SOME VIDEO TAPES, A PAIR OF ICE SKATES, AN EVENING GOWN, AND A VOLLEYBALL.
HE OPENS ALL THE PACKAGES EXCEPT ONE.
THE ONE MEDIUM-SIZED CARDBOARD BOX, IDENTIFIED ONLY WITH A PAIR OF ANGEL WINGS,
REMAINS SEALED FOR THE ENTIRE FOUR YEARS
THAT NOLAND IS CUT OFF FROM CIVILIZATION.
EVENTUALLY NOLAND SAILS FROM THE ISLAND
AND IS PICKED UP BY A SHIP.
AT THE VERY END OF THE MOVIE, NOLAND ESCORTS THE UNOPENED BOX UP A DUSTY TEXAS FARM ROAD.
HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE, BUT NO ONE ANSWERS.
HE LEANS THE WEATHERED BOX AGAINST THE DOOR
AND LEAVES A SHORT NOTE.
"THANKS," HE WRITES, "THIS PACKAGE SAVED MY LIFE."
AND WITH THAT NOTE, THE MEANING OF THE MYSTERIOUS BOX IS REVEALED: WE CANNOT REALLY LIVE WITHOUT A PURPOSE.
THERE IS NO GREATER PURPOSE IN LIFE THAN TO GO TO HEAVEN AND TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE WITH US AS WE CAN.
__________________________________________________________
WE ALSO HAVE THE NEED FOR
A SENSE OF FULFILLMENT AND SATISFACTION
AFTER HIS ORDINATION IN 1969,
PASTOR PHILLIP JOHNSON RECEIVED A CALL TO SERVE ONE LARGE CHURCH AND TEN SMALLER CHURCHES
ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF HIS NEW CIRCUIT MINISTRY,
PASTOR JOHNSON LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO GET TO THE SMALLEST OF HIS CHURCHES,
HE WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL 40 MILES BY SNOWMOBILE TO A LITTLE TINY VILLAGE.
WHEN JOHNSON FINALLY ARRIVED THERE,
ONLY ONE PERSON HAD SHOWN UP FOR WORSHIP—
A FISHERMAN WHO HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 20 MILES TO GET THERE HIMSELF.
AT FIRST PASTOR JOHNSON THOUGHT HE WOULD JUST SAY A PRAYER AND CALLING IT A DAY.
BUT THEN HE REALIZED THAT TOGETHER,
HE AND THE FISHERMAN HAD ALREADY LOGGED 60 MILES
OF TRAVEL AND THEY HAD 60 MORE MILES TO GET BACK HOME.
SO, PASTOR JOHNSON DECIDED TO CONDUCT THE WHOLE SERVICE JUST AS IF THERE WERE A FEW HUNDRED WORSHIPERS THERE.
THEY DID IT ALL: THE HYMNS, THE READINGS, THE PRAYERS,
THE SERMON, THE LORD'S SUPPER, AND THE BENEDICTION.
DURING THE SERMON THAT REVEREND JOHNSON WONDERED WHY HE HAD BOTHERED. THE FISHERMAN NEVER LOOKED UP ONCE.
THEN WHEN REVEREND JOHNSON
GREETED THE FISHERMAN AT THE DOOR
AND THANKED HIM FOR COMING,
THE FISHERMAN SAID.
"REVEREND, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BECOMING A CHRISTIAN FOR ABOUT 30-ODD YEARS. AND TODAY'S THE DAY THAT I DID IT!"
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY GREATER SENSE OF FULFILLMENT AND SATISFACTION
THAN WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WERE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING SOMEONE TO JESUS CHRIST
ANOTHER ONE OF OUR NEEDS IS THE NEED TO
CONQUER THE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS IN OUR LIFE
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER TROY POLAMALU,
HAS WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN HIS CHRISTIAN CHARACTER SINCE JOINING THE NFL IN 2003.
BEFORE WINNING HIS SECOND SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE STEELERS IN 2009,
TROY AGREED TO AN INTERVIEW FOR CBN.
THE CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK.
POLAMALU TOLD THE INTERVIEWER "PRIDE IS TOUGH,"
"YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT'S PRIDE, AND IT'S COURAGE.
IT'S ALL THESE TYPES OF WORDS THAT WE USE TO MOTIVATE US.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYWHERE IN THE SCRIPTURES …
WHERE PRIDE WAS EVER A POSITIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF ANYBODY.
THAT KIND OF EGOTISM IS A REALLY TOUGH STRUGGLE FOR ME—ESPECIALLY IN THIS BUSINESS. …
TROY WENT ON TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT THE OBVIOUS THINGS THAT ARE THE HARDEST TO DEAL WITH IN HIS LIFE.
HE SAID "IT'S … THE BIG THINGS THAT ARE THE EASIEST TO TURN AWAY FROM.
IT'S … THE ACCUMULATION OF SMALL THINGS [THAT ARE HARD]. …
PEOPLE KNOW THAT ADULTERY'S BAD AND MURDER'S BAD.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND SLEEP WITH THE FIRST GIRL I SEE.
BUT WHEN YOUR EYES START WANDERING,
AND THESE PASSIONS START RISING UP INSIDE OF YOU—
THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY BECOMES DANGEROUS.
BECAUSE THE DEVIL'S STRATEGY IS ALWAYS TO BE VERY SUBTLE
AND CONTINUE TO BUILD ON TOP OF THAT EVIL SEED
THAT HE PLANTED."
(IT'S THE LITTLE FOXES THAT SPOIL THE VINE Song of Solomon 2:15)
TROY POLAMALU SAID PRAYER HELPS KEEP HIM ROOTED.
"AS YOUR PRAYER LIFE BECOMES MORE AND MORE FINE TUNED, AND YOUR CONSCIENCE BECOMES MORE AND MORE FINE TUNED,
YOU'RE ABLE TO START PLUCKING AWAY AT THOSE LITTLE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.
[YOU'RE] LIKE, 'WOW…THIS IS NOT GOOD.'"
DID YOU HEAR THAT PART ABOUT SATAN'S STRATEGY?
HE CONTINUES TO BUILD ON THAT EVIL SEED HE PLANTED.
WE NEED TO BE SO VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE EVIL SEEDS THAT WE LET, BE PLANTED IN US.
ONCE THAT SEED HAS BEEN PLANTED, IT WILL BEGIN TO GROW.
WE NEED TO DIG UP THOSE EVIL SEEDS AND LET GOD GET RID OF THEM.
PAUL SAID IN 1 COR. 10:13
"THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION [TRIAL] TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN:
BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE;
BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT".
WHEN WE FACE TEMPTATION OF ANY AMOUNT, WE MUST RUN AWAY, AS FAST AS WE CAN.
AND THEN THERE'S THE NEED FOR
EITHER
A HEALTHY BODY
OR THE STRENGTH TO BEAR OUR
SUFFERING, PAIN, AND INFIRMITIES.
TONY SNOW, FORMER PRESS SECRETARY FOR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, HAD BEEN BATTLING CANCER, OFF AND ON, SINCE EARLY 2005.
WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHAT SPIRITUAL LESSONS HE HAD LEARNED FROM HIS BATTLE, HE REPLIED:
"WE WANT LIVES OF SIMPLE, PREDICTABLE EASE—
SMOOTH, EVEN TRAILS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE—
BUT SOMETIMES, GOD LIKES TO GO OFF-ROAD."
TONY LEFT THIS WORLD ON JULY 12, 2008.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT
HE DOESN'T HAVE CANCER ANYMORE.
GOD HAS THE POWER TO MEET ALL OUR NEEDS.
EVEN IF IT MEANS TAKING US OUT OF THIS WORLD
AND INTO ETERENAL BLISS.
THAT'S GRADUATION DAY!
AS A CHRISTIAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO STEPPING
ACROSS THAT LINE AND INTO HEAVEN.
BUT THERE IS A CONDITION:
WE MUST SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
BEFORE ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO US.
WE MUST LOVE—REALLY LOVE—THE LORD,
THAT MEANS
OBEYING HIS COMMANDMENTS AND FAITHFULLY WORSHIPPING HIM.
WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, EVERY DAY
WE MUST TAKE CARE OF OUR BODIES,
WHICH ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
_______________________________________________________
THE MIRACLE OF THE FEEDING OF THE 100
IS A PROTOTYPE OF THE BREAD
THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL PROVIDE FOR US.
AS I CONSIDERED THIS TEXT AND ITS MESSAGE TO US,
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF THE JEWS AFTER
JESUS' FED THE 5,000.
JOHN 6:30-34 (NIV)
30 SO THEY ASKED HIM, “WHAT MIRACULOUS SIGN THEN WILL YOU GIVE THAT WE MAY SEE IT AND BELIEVE YOU? WHAT WILL YOU DO? 31 OUR FOREFATHERS ATE THE MANNA IN THE DESERT; AS IT IS WRITTEN: ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD FROM HEAVEN TO EAT.’”
32 JESUS SAID TO THEM, “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, IT IS NOT MOSES WHO HAS GIVEN YOU THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN, BUT IT IS MY FATHER WHO GIVES YOU THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. 33 FOR THE BREAD OF GOD IS HE WHO COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND GIVES LIFE TO THE WORLD.”
34 “SIR,” THEY SAID, “FROM NOW ON GIVE US THIS BREAD.”
THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVISION OF ALL
IS THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
AND THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE NEEDS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN NEVER PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES.
IT'S SOMETHING GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US
IN THE PERSON AND WORK OF HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
DON'T FAIL TO ACCEPT THIS SALVATION,
IT'S THE GREATEST GIFT ANYONE CAN EVER RECEIVE.
AND FINALLY, LET ME CAUTION YOU NOT TO SEE THIS TEXT AS A PRETEXT FOR LAZINESS.
GOD DOES PROVIDE,
BUT IT IS VERY CLEAR FROM HIS WORD
THAT HE NORMALLY PROVIDES FOR US
AS WE WORK BY THE SWEAT OF OUR BROWS,
OUR HARD WORK
AND OUR SACRIFICIAL GIVING TOUCHES GODS HEART
AND MAKES HIM FAVORABLY DISPOSED TO OUR NEEDS:
I NEED TO POINT OUT THAT
GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS PROVIDE FOR US
AS EARLY AS WE WOULD LIKE
SOMETIMES GOD WAITS UNTIL IT IS PAINFULLY APPARENT
THAT WE ARE DESPERATELY NEEDY,
THIS IS SO THAT HE WILL GET THE GLORY
AND SO THAT OUR FAITH WILL GROW.
32 AND NOW I ENTRUST YOU TO GOD
AND TO THE MESSAGE OF HIS GRACE.
THAT THIS MESSAGE IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP
AND GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE
AMONG ALL THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED. ACTS 20:32
LET'S PRAY