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God's Options Or Ours?
Matthew 14:27-28. 'But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water.'
MATTHEW 14:22-33
It is important to analyze Peter's statement. Peter was overwhelmed when he saw Jesus walking on the water, and he wanted to do the same. While there is really nothing wrong with his desire, the request he put before Jesus was totally wrong. He didn't ask the Lord if he wanted him to walk on the water, or if his faith was up to it. Instead he said, 'If it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.' What was Jesus going to say, 'It isn't me. Don't come.'?
There are no other examples of...
DO YOU DREAM OF GODLY THINGS? DREAMS OF YOU HEALING THE SICK, PREACHING TO THOUSANDS, OR EVEN RAISING THE DEAD? TAKE HEED OF THESE DREAMS AND DON'T JUST PASS THEM OFF AS IDLE THOUGHTS YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD BEFORE YOU WENT TO BED. GOD JUST MIGHT BE TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
He Blesses What We Already Have
John 6:9, 'There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?'
JOHN 6:1-13
Notice that Jesus didn't just turn some of the stones into bread (as Satan had tempted Him to do in Lk. 4:3). We find only one instance in scripture where God created a supply to meet a need (Num. 11:21-23). Usually, the Lord simply blesses what we set our hand to do. The resources were totally inadequate to meet the need in this instance, but when the Lord blessed it, there was more than enough.
Jesus didn't just teach the disciples, but He trained them also. He was constantly trying to involve them in these miracles. Just a matter of days later, He again asked...
Jesus Meets All Our Needs
Matthew 14:16, 'But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.'
MATTHEW 14:15-18
The disciples were using natural reasoning and recognized that they didn't have the ability to minister to the multitude's need for food. Jesus did have the ability and the willingness to minister to their needs, so the multitude did not need to depart. All of their needs could be met through Jesus.
The same thing is true today. Some disciples today are sending the multitudes to the world to meet their physical needs (finances, health, counseling, etc.) and proclaiming that God only meets spiritual needs. But, 'they need not depart.' The Lord is willing and able to heal our bodies, prosper us...
I KNOW I AM CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT READING AND STUDYING THE BIBLE AND WHEN I CAME ACROSS THE FOLLOWING VERSE, I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. EPHESIANS 5:6-8 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
He Rewards Even Little Things
Matthew 10:42, 'And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.'
MATTHEW 10:1-42, 11:1, MARK 6:7-13, LUKE 9:1-6
This verse shows that even our smallest acts of kindness will be rewarded. As revealed in 1 Corinthians 3:13, every man's work shall be tried to determine 'what sort it is,' not what size it is. Many people who have never done anything to gain the attention of the masses will shine bright in the day when the Lord passes out His rewards.
Some of the Lord's rewards for our actions come in this life, such as children, financial blessings, health, and many others....
Opposition To The Gospel
Matthew 10:34, 'Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.'
MATTHEW 10:34-42
This statement seems like a contradiction to some prophecies concerning Jesus and some of Jesus' own statements concerning peace, as well as what was written of Him in the New Testament Epistles. However, the peace that Jesus purchased was peace between God and man. We have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). We are exhorted to take this peace and extend it to all men, but it is also made very clear that not all men will receive it.
Peace can only come when we relate to God on the basis of faith in what He did for us, instead of what we do for Him. A person who is thinking that he must...
2. The pastor of a parish, church or congregation; a minister of the gospel who superintends a church or parish, and gives instruction in spiritual things. God and Christ are in Scripture dinominated Shepherds, as they lead, protect and govern their people, and provide for their wilfare....