Matthew 14:17 - "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. 18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (NIV)
Salvation Wednesday, and the day we pray for the lost and for those who are saved to be able to help bring the lost to the feet of Jesus to be saved. I know sometimes I sound like a broken record, repeating myself over and over again, but again I remind you that we, you and me, cannot save a soul. That is between Jesus and the person who is lost. Our job is to bring in the harvest, for it is ready. I hear so often people saying after a big concert or a revival service that so many, and they give a number, came forth and were saved ... No, they might know how many came forth, but only Jesus knows how many were saved. We just need to be sure that God gets the glory for He is the Savior, and by His Grace we are saved. Also please keep praying for these on our prayer list. Pray for Allison, cancer. Joann Zimmerman, who must have surgery again this week. Leonard Dietz, bleeding ulcer (hospital). Ruth (hospital). Joe, cancer. Patsy Emig (rehab hospital). Barbara (now home). Betty Deardorff (hospital). Vicki, a full plate of health issues. Sarah Weiser, recovering from surgery. Beverly depression. Art, eyesight. Pastor Dan (yes, me), extreme pain. Dolores, extreme pain. And pray that Dolores and I can keep pushing past this pain and working each day for Jesus ... GOD IS GOOD ...
Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for a great day, a beautiful day, and thanks for hearing all of our prayers. Thanks for watching over this line and all who use it. Lord, thanks for dying on the cross for us and for making a way for us to be saved. Help us to get others to You so they also may enjoy the love of being saved. Please hear our prayers for healing, starting with lost souls, and answer our prayers according to Your will for us ... In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Another Fish Story (Day Three). Matthew 14:17 - "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. 18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (NIV)
Yesterday I promised you that I would tell you about how one preacher presented this story about the five loaves and two fish. He stated that a boy brought along his lunch, which when he took it out to eat, others saw him doing that, so all who brought lunches got theirs out and shared them. And that pastor was serious about it, and said the miracle was in people sharing ... More than likely he got this story from a footnote in a Bible, as something like it appears in mine. Okay, first of all back in those days, and you will see in the scriptures, about 5,000 men ate, besides the women and children. The women and children were not in the same area, as back then Jewish men did not eat in public with women and children. So I guess I would need to say that the way that pastor told the story was a fish story the way some are told today.
So let's look at the scriptures and see how it really happened and then let's talk about, does this really happen today? We see according to Matthew that they had only five loaves, meaning five loaves of bread, and two fish. Now we know that since someone brought the fish, they had to be carried, so they more than likely were nice sized fish, but not two of the size that swallowed up Jonah. By the way, this miracle of Jesus is one of only two miracles that appears in all four gospels ... Do you know what the other one is? Tell me, please, otherwise I will let you know tomorrow.
So we have seen in the scriptures that Jesus directed the people to sit down on the grass, and in one of the gospels it states in groups of about 50. That does not make a difference, the fact is they all sat down on the grass. Then the miracle happened ... Jesus took the bread and the fish, looked toward heaven, gave thanks for it and broke it and gave it to His disciples to give out. They all ate, and there were leftovers.
So we know the miracle and it happened, and does it happen today, and will it happen tomorrow? I mean after all, I use this scripture again and again.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
Okay, so let's look at it today ... A kernel of corn is placed in the ground and a stock of corn grows out with two ears of corn on it. How many kernels of corn are on one ear? (You count them and remember as you count to get the ones stuck between your teeth.) A tiny pea seed is placed in the ground and up comes a vine with lots of pods of peas on them. Should I go on? Well, what about those fish? Take your family to a fish hatchery and watch as the fish are born. Today we have more and more people in the world and while some places there is a shortage of food, here in America, as sad as it is, food is pitched daily. Yes, we have farmers, we have bakers, and we have those big machines, and God gave people the brains to do all these things. However, without the rain and the sunshine and God's hand on this, it would not grow. Folks, this is why when helping to feed others, as in foreign countries, we must teach them how to grow food and not just wait for handouts. Oh, and dare I say the same is true in the United States of America today. We have in this country a lot of people who need help and we try and help them with the support of many others, but there are people who will "ride the system" and live on what they can get free. Some even take food things, and trust me on this, they pick out what they want out of the bags and throw the rest away. The Bible tells us that those who do not work should not eat. We do need to take care of those who because of illness cannot work.
Yes, each and every day of our lives, God provides us with food to eat, and that is why we need to give thanks for it and not waste it. Back when I was a child and the streets were still dirt and the dead sea was still sick, what we put on our plate we had to eat. Mom would say it and mean it. Today you go to one of those buffets and you can watch some families and the kids pile the plates high, eat a few bites and go back for more and the first plate full of food goes in the trash. What is in store for tomorrow? Come back and see. Is there more to the fish stories?
Now go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.
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