KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:11 KJV “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

We continue with what the Lord Jesus did   to produce a miracle to feed the multitude. On many occasions children of God would want to wait for God to do something to bring about their miracle. Please, it does not normally work that way.

 God would want to see faith in His children, that moves Him to act.

A brother came to me, telling me that, a lady she knew had just called to tell him her baby had just died. This happened at the hospital. I asked him to call the lady for me. I told her to get some water and lift it up, whiles I prayed over it. The lady was crying. I asked her to stop crying, for that was a sign of unbelief and that would obstruct the power of God. I then prayed over the water, and asked her to go sprinkle the water over the baby. She obeyed, and after sprinkling the water the baby started breathing, and crying as well. These were steps that moved God to respond.

In our Lord’s case, He took the bread, lifted it up and then gave thanks. The bible did not report the exact words He used. From the prayer He made at Lazarus tomb, I believe He said something as follows, ‘Father, I thank you that you always answer me. Thank you father for multiplying these loaves and fishes to feed this people.’ Right after the prayer, he gave to the disciples to start distributing among the multitude.

 These steps are not taken just as a principle, but as a result of one’s confidence in God.

In some instances, you start declaring boldly what would happen.  Remember that miracles on many occasions are worked out by acting on God’s word. There are moments when one prays for the Holy Spirit to cause a miracle to take place.

After the disciples went round distributing the loaves and fishes, it kept multiplying until, the whole multitude ate some. There were even some leftovers. Among the many lessons, was the attitude of the crowd. They simply trusted the master’s instructions given to them by the disciples. They were very expectant and never did anything to obstruct their miracle.

THOUGHT:  TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD, FOR HE IS RELIABLE

FURTHER STUDIES

1Corinth 1:9 KJV “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1Thess 5:24 KJV “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:10 KJV” And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand”.

The bible says our Lord Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). The Lord did not only teach about faith but He demonstrated great faith. His life was full of mighty miracles. In this incidence too he gave us some lessons in faith. When Andrew told him he’s found a boy with just five loaves and two fishes, he quickly asked the disciples to make the people sit down and organised them. Faith in God is not an anticipation of a favorable outcome, but an assurance of the conclusion of the matter.

 It involves taking actions that corresponds to the assurance you have in your heart. The Lord Jesus knew that the father had already answered him.

What was the bases for such a conviction? His confidence was in God and His word. Faith is never based on how good or bad things might look.

It is dependent on the faithfulness and the might of God. It is not of faith if you look at how good things appear. The scripture says, faith is the assurance of things we hope for.

 It is a conviction that what I hope to come in the future is real with me in the present.

This was what moved the master to make the men to sit down.

 Miracles are worked out by observing concrete steps of faith.

These steps of faith, in almost all cases will not sound reasonable. It is based on the fact that one has absolute assurance in his heart that what he anticipates cannot fail.

Let’s consider the example of Abraham. Hebrews 11:8 KJV “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Abraham was called out of his father’s house, his family and country to a land he knew nothing about. He dwelt in tents and various strange locations yet never questioned the wisdom of God, who had called him out of his father’s house. Abraham believed God for Isaac who was born after such a time that, both Abraham and Sarah were very old. Romans 4:19 KJV “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” Abraham gives us a very powerful lesson in faith.

THOUGHT: TRUE FAITH LOOKS UP TO GOD AND HIS WORD ALONE

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 4:18 KJV “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.”

Hebrews 11:30 KJV “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:9 KJV There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Andrew after finding a lad with some loaves of bread and two fishes announced it to the master, but asked, what is that among so many people? Everything on its own is ordinary, but if it gets into God’s hands, it becomes a mystery.

Moses’ rod was for tending his sheep. When God took hold of it, the whole of Egypt could not stand its might. The following is a word of wisdom.

You are an ordinary person as an individual, but if you should yield totally to the Lord, you would become a wonder to the world.

Andrew asked, what are those few fishes in comparism to the hungry multitude. The Lord just asked everybody to be seated in an organised manner. God does not see as men see.  If you are vested with the truth, you do not argue with the ignorant, you prove it.

Why is it still difficult for most men to work miracles as demonstrated by the master Jesus? It is all about men’s knowledge of God and their level of fellowship with Him. The next is the influence of the worldly limitations over the minds of men. Men of great impact in their faith lives normally in this world as aliens. Lester Sumrall once said, the first day he entered Smith Wigglesworth’s office with a newspaper, Smith screamed at him to take it out of his sight, because it was a package of lies. Smith Wigglesworth read only the bible. This great man of God saw a number of dead people raised back to life. He raised his dead wife back to life, yet she requested that he allowed her to go to be with the Lord, and so, He allowed it, she slept off and died again.

In our last study we said that, God our father is Almighty whiles men are limited by what their minds can accept.

 A man is either going to be great spiritually or weak, depending on how much he had upgraded his mindset about God’s ways and acts.

This can be achieved by feeding on the word of God and not giving in to worldly deceptions that contaminate the truth of God. Apostle Paul advices us in the following verse as follows, Hebrews 4:11 KJV “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” The word used as ‘labour’ means to be diligent to enter into the rest of God, by allowing God’s word to dominate us.

THOUGHT: TO PLACE YOUR LIFE TOTALLY IN GOD’S HANDS, MAKES YOU AN INSTANT WONDER.

FURTHER STUDIES

2nd Timothy 2:21 KJV” If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Jeremiah 51:20 KJV” Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:7 KJV Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

 God is Almighty but man is limited by what his mind can accept.

God is infinite or has no bounds or limitations of any kind, yet man is enveloped in a world of countless limitations. In our key scripture, the moment the Lord asked His disciples to feed the multitudes, I believe, they all started reasoning and they all concluded this was an impossible thing. Philip spoke out his mind. He said, two hundred penny worth of bread is not sufficient to feed all these people, and where are ‘we going to get that amount of money’. This is why most men miss the miracle working power of God. The Lord was not talking about the money to buy the bread. He was talking about where to buy that much bread. Philip was viewing things from his natural limitations. He was thinking about the amount.

What should they have done? In Ezekiel 37:3 the Lord asked prophet Ezekiel whether the dry bones will live again. Since he was not sure of the answer, he responded, you God know. By that answer he did not interrupt the work of the Spirit of God. Philip should have just responded as Ezekiel did. In working miracles there is always some act of faith, that must be done. In some cases, the act of faith is to rest peacefully as the Lord does what He will do. Every action you take at a time when a miracle is expected should always be an act of obedience to an instruction from the Spirit of God.

At the tomb of Lazarus, the Lord asked them to roll away the stone. (John 11:39). Lazarus had been in the grave for four days and might have begun  to smell by then. To roll away the stone implied you believe in Jesus and so you do as He says. When Mary, Jesus’ mother wanted a miracle from Jesus at the marriage at Cana, she asked the attendants to do whatever He asked of them. Miracles happen after one has obeyed the Lord’s instruction. They experienced the miracle when they obeyed.

THOUGHT: MIRACLES ALWAYS FOLLOW SIMPLE OBEDIENCE.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 11:41 KJV” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

John 2:7 ,8 KJV “Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:6 KJV “And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.”

How can one know what a man is made of, if he is not put to test? God has always been testing His children on various issues. In Genesis 22:1, the bible said He tempted Abraham. The word tempted used in Genesis 22:1, is a bit misleading when one considers the explanation of what temptation is according to Apostle James. James 1:13 says God tempts no one, but rather He trials all His children. Temptation according to the explanation given by Apostle James is, when an individual is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. When the lust has conceived or reached its yielding point, then it gives birth to sin, and sin also becomes death after it is fully grown. God does not play any part in temptation, as it is explained above. The proper word should be trial.

 A trial from the Lord, is when the Lord allows a situation to make one prove his allegiance to HIM.

In Jesus’ story the Lord asked the disciples to find food for the multitudes, knowing very well that, there were no places to get such food to buy. He did that to teach them a lesson in how to work miracles in critical moments. The Lord was an excellent teacher, who could use every possible condition to train his disciples. Proverbs 17:3 KJV “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.” Our father consistently gives men an opportunity to prove themselves through divers situations. Most of the trials that God may bring the way of His children is a test of their faith. The Lord says our faith is more precious than gold or silver, and therefore needs to be tried. (1st Peters 1:7)

What do we do when our faith is being tested?

1. Any time you face trying moments acknowledge that you are not the first person or the only one going through such a situation. 1st Corinthians 10:13.

2. We must count it all joy when our faith is tried. James 1:2

3. Know that the trying of your faith, works patience, for patience works out perfection in us, that we may want nothing. James 1:4

4. Understand that all things are working out for your good. Romans 8:28. Remember Joseph in Egypt. Genesis 38:40-41. Daniel and his brothers in Babylon. All these men stood for God in the moment of their trial and came out victorious.

5. Know also that, trials make you triumphant and brings you a promotion if you stand. Daniel 3:30 KJV “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon”.

What really makes for victory in such testing moments? When one builds a close relationship with the Lord. By always obeying the word of God. Matthew 7:24 KJV “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

 A house on a rock will never crumple under trials. Matthew 7:25 -27.

THOUGHT: SEE A LIFTING IN EVERY TEST

FURTHER STUDIES

1st Corinthians 10:13 KJV” There hath no temptation 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.”

1st Peter 1:7 KJV “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:5 KJV” When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

Our Lord is not ignorant of the plight of all men. He is not just aware of our plight but is always moved to do something about it. In our key scripture the multitude thronged Him, to hear the word from His lips, yet they were hungry. The Lord said, where can we get bread to buy for this multitude? The Lord is always concerned about the total well-being of all persons that come to him. These people had come to him, all by themselves. He had not made any promise to feed them and so nothing bound him to feed all these multitudes. He is moved by great passion to alleviate men of their difficulties.

Most men find themselves in all kinds of miserable situations, and they ask, is there a God, who sees all the pain and agony that they go through? Please I want you to know that no matter how long and discomforting a condition may be, God knows about it, and he is indeed ready to save man from it. His name is Jesus, which means Jehovah is Saviour or salvation. On many occasions men are just not ready to receive the help he provides. God has designed that anyone who will partake of His bounties or blessings, must come to him like a little child. This is what is too difficult for most people to do, because they are so sophisticated.

Just consider what our Lord Jesus says about those God reveals His blessings to. Matthew 11:25 KJV” At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes”. Dear one if you would act like a little child and accept God and His words like the little ones do, you would come out of most of your difficulties.

How do children receive promises from parents?

1. Children do not imagine any difficulty about how a condition may be. So long as daddy or mummy promised, to them it is done.

2. Children believe their parents can do whatever they have promised.

3. Once their parents promised it, it is done and so they expect it.

May we be like little children so that our father will be able to do for us those things that we have no answer for. Yes, he wishes to do them for us.

CONFESSION

God my father is Lord of all. He freely gives me all good things to enjoy. I humble myself before Him. I accept and believe in all his promises.

THOUGHT: CHILDLIKENESS IS SYNONYMOUS TO TRUST

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 11:28 KJV:” Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 18:3 KJV “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

KEY SCRIPTURES: John 6:2 KJV “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”

Miracles are mysterious acts to men, yet they are the normal acts of God. Miraculous acts answer the questions of men.

 All men, no matter their status, colour, race or what have you, will always be drawn to where miracles occur. Christianity was birth through the miraculous resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity has survived the times of life through a stream of miracles.

 Without the miraculous Christianity is just another religion. Every minister of God should never underrate the importance of miracles.

 The truth is that every child of God and every minister can be a vessel for the miraculous.

Our key scripture reads, John 6:2 KJV” And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. ” They followed Him because they saw the miracles. He did this to alleviate people of situations and conditions that they could not free themselves by any humanly possible means. 

In Mark 16, the Lord revealed that certain signs shall follow them that believe. He was simply saying they shall be miracle workers. We have come to know that it is not all so-called believers who are workers of miracles. Acts 2:22 said the following about Jesus. It said “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles   wonders and signs……” Note the word APPROVED. One goes through a regime of required standards to be ultimately approved. He passed some standards for the Father to declare that, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. What did He really do?

 He completely threw away His will and lived only for the will of the Father.

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” It is the presence of the Father with Him that makes the difference. (Acts 10:38)

 The Father is ever present with everybody, yet it is those who have turned their will over to Him, that He works through. Acts like fasting, prayer, bible study and giving unto God are all practices, one does as a result of His submitted will. There may be individuals who may, subject themselves to fasting prayer and many more, yet may not have a submitted will to the Lord.

 For God to stay with one, to do mighty works through him, it is not what He does but who he or she is ; whether a surrendered life or not?

God will always want to show His presence but what limits or allows Him is whether the individual has a submitted will or not. This is the secret of the life of miracles.

CONFESSION

I am yielded to the Lord. My will is dead to my personal cravings, but alive to the word, will and ways of God. My Father is first in all I do. I seek His will His power works through me, to save many asking questions because of pain.

THOUGHT: GOD WOULD USE ANY TOOL HE CAN TURN ANY WAY HE LIKES

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

Matthew 16:24 KJV Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

KEY SCRIPTURES: John 6:2 KJV “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”

Miracles are mysterious acts to men, yet they are the normal acts of God. Miraculous acts answer the questions of men.

 All men, no matter their status, colour, race or what have you, will always be drawn to where miracles occur. Christianity was birth through the miraculous resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity has survived the times of life through a stream of miracles.

 Without the miraculous Christianity is just another religion. Every minister of God should never underrate the importance of miracles.

 The truth is that every child of God and every minister can be a vessel for the miraculous.

Our key scripture reads, John 6:2 KJV” And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. ” They followed Him because they saw the miracles. He did this to alleviate people of situations and conditions that they could not free themselves by any humanly possible means. 

In Mark 16, the Lord revealed that certain signs shall follow them that believe. He was simply saying they shall be miracle workers. We have come to know that it is not all so-called believers who are workers of miracles. Acts 2:22 said the following about Jesus. It said “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles   wonders and signs……” Note the word APPROVED. One goes through a regime of required standards to be ultimately approved. He passed some standards for the Father to declare that, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. What did He really do?

 He completely threw away His will and lived only for the will of the Father.

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” It is the presence of the Father with Him that makes the difference. (Acts 10:38)

 The Father is ever present with everybody, yet it is those who have turned their will over to Him, that He works through. Acts like fasting, prayer, bible study and giving unto God are all practices, one does as a result of His submitted will. There may be individuals who may, subject themselves to fasting prayer and many more, yet may not have a submitted will to the Lord.

 For God to stay with one, to do mighty works through him, it is not what He does but who he or she is ; whether a surrendered life or not?

God will always want to show His presence but what limits or allows Him is whether the individual has a submitted will or not. This is the secret of the life of miracles.

CONFESSION

I am yielded to the Lord. My will is dead to my personal cravings, but alive to the word, will and ways of God. My Father is first in all I do. I seek His will His power works through me, to save many asking questions because of pain.

THOUGHT: GOD WOULD USE ANY TOOL HE CAN TURN ANY WAY HE LIKES

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:29 KJV “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

Matthew 16:24 KJV Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John Joh 5:47 KJV” But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”

The bible is one whole. It was written over one thousand five-hundred-year span yet its message is one. It is all about God’s redemption of mankind. The bible is written by about forty authors across three continents, Africa, Asia and Europe. Despite these long-time intervals, as well as varying authors across three continents it still maintains one message. This reveals that, the bible was basically inspired by one author who is the Holy Ghost. 2nd Timothy 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

The prophet Moses gave the following prophecy about the Lord Jesus. Deuteronomy 18:18 KJV “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” In Acts 3:22 after apostle Peter had healed the cripple who lay at the gate to the temple, he confirmed what Moses said in Deuteronomy 3:22. Moses taught on atonement and all the sin offerings in Leviticus were all about Jesus Christ.

What do we do with all that we have learnt about Jesus in the above discussions?

1. It teaches us that Jesus who is the last revelation of God to mankind as the Saviour, shows us the heart of the Father. God is always ready to save men from any kind of danger, distress or unpleasant state.

2. It also teaches us that Jesus who is the grand theme of the bible must have the preeminence in all things. Colossians 1:18

3. Thirdly we must announce Him to all men as the only Saviour and the only name given among men whereby, we might be saved.

4. Finally you must love the Lord above every person, thing or state.

CONFESSION

Jesus is the only Lord of my life. I am saved from every evil work of darkness. The Lord Jesus has the preeminence in everything I do. Jesus is all that matters to me in this life. He gives meaning to my existence

THOUGHT: WHEN JESUS IS LORD OVER YOU, EVERY OTHER THING SETS UP WELL.

FURTHER STUDIES

Colossians 1:18 KJV “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Acts 4:12 KJV “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:45 KJV” Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.”

The Lord continued His discussion with the Jews. He told them that He will not accuse them before the Father, rather Moses will. What did He mean by Moses will accuse them to the Father.?  It meant since they claim they live by the law of Moses, that same law will judge them. Romans 2:12 KJV” For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” God is a just God. Each person will be judged according to the opportunities that he or she is exposed to.

Dear reader we are not expected under this era to keep living under the Law. The law is God’s holy and righteous demands that every man is expected to obey. Grace also says all these laws are fulfilled in Jesus, and by believing in Jesus the laws are fulfilled in us Romans 10:4 KJV

” For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth”.

Under grace, we believe in Jesus who likewise expresses Himself through us. The law must be fully obeyed by our effort, yet by grace through faith we welcome Jesus who has fulfilled all the law to live through us.

The law was therefore a schoolmaster leading us into this era of grace which is through faith. Galatians 3:24 KJV” Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith”. Under grace we have received justification as well as the life of Christ all by faith. This is the reason the scripture said sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are not under the law but under grace Romans 6:14.

Those under the Law are not in faith and so have not received any divine ability to fulfill the requirements of God’s laws.

The Lord taught in the opening scripture that those who claim to be under the law would be judged by the very law they have. Now the scripture tells us that, it is a curse to live under the law, if they do not keep all the law. Galatians 3:10 KJV” For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” The dispensation of the law ended when our Lord died, was buried and resurrected. Turn from your self-effort and trust the Lord to save you and also live through you for a victorious life.

CONFESSION

I believe in Jesus who washed me from every sin and gave me His very life to be ever victorious in this life. By grace through faith, I am free from all the entanglement of the devil because it is Christ now living in me. Glory be to God.

THOUGHT: THE LAW DEMANDS MY SOLE EFFORT, GRACE GIVES ME A HELPER

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 3:11 KJV” But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:12 KJV “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”