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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 financially, or counsel us from His Word in any area of our life where we might have need.
Before we can be a blessing, we have to be blessed (Gen. 12:2). One of the purposes of...
1. A man employed in tending, feeding and guarding sheep...
Jesus often separated Himself from others so that He could spend time with the Father. Here, we see Jesus calling His disciples apart for rest and leisure. Many zealous Christians have neglected the needs of their physical bodies and have, therefore, cut their ministries short through death or severe illness. Likewise, many have failed to take the time to be still and know God (Ps. 46:10). This will also cut your ministry short through non-effectiveness. One of Satan's deadliest weapons against those involved in ministry is busy-ness. We must balance our time ministering to others with our time of being ministered to by our Father. If the devil can't...
I wrote this song riding shotgun in an Eighteen Wheeler while my husband Jim was driving. I was known as Songbird on the CB radio back then. We were running south with a tanker driver - Junkman. There was a steady ribbon of traffic lights winding through the hills, fireflies in the meadows, and the Holy Spirit was nudging me to write this song and to let my light shine. I felt unworthy. But God knew the woundedness in my soul, and reminded me to be transparent, not to hide behind a religious shield, but to let His Light Shine. I penned the song, and sang it to Junkman. He got all choked up and came back with "Songbird, thaaat was beautiful!" I have never forgot what He taught me that day, and I am blessed every time I listen to or sing this song. It was truly a gift from God and it healed a deep wound, and changed my outlook on life, ultimately changing my Life. LET IT SHINE IS HERE at Indie Gospel on my site and also at REVERBNATION AT www.reverbnation/songbirdcindy
Others may have thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead, but as can be clearly seen by looking at Matthew's account and especially Mark's record, Herod was convinced of this personally. This illustrates Herod's own conviction of the sin John had rebuked, his guilt and torment over his even greater sin of beheading John, and his fear of John and the God he represented. As revealed in Mark 6:20, Herod once listened to John gladly. It is certain that John was preaching his favorite message of, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For Herod to hear him gladly, he must have been under deep conviction from God.
Herod feared his wife and the opinion of others...
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. However, some of our rewards will not be realized until we stand before God. This is the case with the reward for enduring persecution.
Many of the rewards for ministering the...
GIVING GOD THE THANKS HE DESERVES
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 perform up to some standard to be accepted by God will have no peace. That puts the burden of salvation on our shoulders, and we can't bear that load. We were incapable of living holy...