The story of five loaves and two fish
in the gospels
demonstrates to us that
God multiplies what we have,
not what we don't have.
in the gospels
demonstrates to us that
God multiplies what we have,
not what we don't have.
Sunday 30 May 2010
Monday 24 May 2010
2 days in the life of Jesus
I was listening to an online message by a local pastor who highlighted 2 days in the life of Jesus as depicted in the Gospel of Matthew from chapters 5 to 9.
Matthew 4:23 shows us the ministry of Jesus from the very beginning.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
He taught on the mountain as seen in Matthew 5 - 7.
And after he came down from the mountain, he touched and healed a leper who was among the crowds that followed him. (Matthew 8:1-4)
He entered Capernaum, and a centurion approached him to heal his servant who was paralysed and suffering terribly. Jesus admired the centurion for his great faith and healed the servant from afar, the very same hour the centurion approached him. (Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus proceeded to Peter's house and found Peter's mother-in-law having fever. He touched her and the fever left, and she got up to serve them. (Matthew 8:14-15)
Evening brought many who were ill and demon-possessed and Jesus healed them all! (Matthew 8:16) This was in fulfillment of a prophecy about Jesus by the prophet Isaiah (Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4)
Jesus was so tired he fell asleep on the boat as they were crossing to the other side. He was oblivious to the wind and rain till woken up by the disciples. He then commanded the winds and waves to stop, and they did.
When Jesus reached the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men approached causing a violent ruckus. Jesus delivered them. However, the town, instead of being grateful for the healing of these two, was upset that their pigs had been driven over the cliff by the spirits and pleaded with Jesus to leave. (Matthew 8:28-34)
Jesus left and crossed the river to go to his hometown. There the first thing He did was to heal a paralytic, brought by friends. (Matthew 9:1-4) Many were amazed at his authority, but there were some religious leaders who were unhappy as Jesus did not adhere to religious principles.
He then called Matthew the tax collector and taught (Matthew 9:5-17).
In the midst of his teaching, a ruler approached him to resurrect his daughter who had died. (Matthew 9:18)
On His way to a ruler's house, a woman with the issue of blood quietly approached Him, believing that she would be healed the moment she touched his cloak. However Jesus knew that power had flowed out of Him, turned around and saw her. She was healed instantly. (Matthew 9:19-22)
On reaching the ruler's house, He put out the funeral party and raised the little girl to life. (Matthew 9:23-25)
Jesus left and encountered 2 blind men, who followed Him till He went indoors. He restored their sight 'according to their faith' (Matthew 9:27-30).
On His way out, a demon-possessed man was brought to Him. He healed him and the man began to speak. (Matthew 9:32-33)
Again, Jesus' ministry was re-iterated in Matthew 9:35, echoing Matthew 4:23.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
He had compassion on the multitudes, and saw the need for more labourers. I believe He talked to Abba Father about this.
The next steps he took has implications for the church today. Matthew 10 delineates clearly the instructions for his disciples, and also for the church of today to take.
Matthew 10:1
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Each believer has the authority to do this today. When we go forth to show God's love and glory to the people, this is what Jesus instructs us to do, found in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-20. Power is given to us through the Holy Spirit as promised in Acts 1:8, and initially demonstrated in Acts 2:1-4, and of course throughout the whole book of Acts.
Praise God for His compassion for people in need, and His grace and wisdom for the church to meet those needs.
Jesus spend 3 years of His life demonstrating the power and glory as well as the love and compassion of God in teaching, preaching and healing every sickness and disease. You should do no less!!
Matthew 4:23 shows us the ministry of Jesus from the very beginning.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
He taught on the mountain as seen in Matthew 5 - 7.
And after he came down from the mountain, he touched and healed a leper who was among the crowds that followed him. (Matthew 8:1-4)
He entered Capernaum, and a centurion approached him to heal his servant who was paralysed and suffering terribly. Jesus admired the centurion for his great faith and healed the servant from afar, the very same hour the centurion approached him. (Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus proceeded to Peter's house and found Peter's mother-in-law having fever. He touched her and the fever left, and she got up to serve them. (Matthew 8:14-15)
Evening brought many who were ill and demon-possessed and Jesus healed them all! (Matthew 8:16) This was in fulfillment of a prophecy about Jesus by the prophet Isaiah (Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4)
Jesus was so tired he fell asleep on the boat as they were crossing to the other side. He was oblivious to the wind and rain till woken up by the disciples. He then commanded the winds and waves to stop, and they did.
When Jesus reached the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men approached causing a violent ruckus. Jesus delivered them. However, the town, instead of being grateful for the healing of these two, was upset that their pigs had been driven over the cliff by the spirits and pleaded with Jesus to leave. (Matthew 8:28-34)
Jesus left and crossed the river to go to his hometown. There the first thing He did was to heal a paralytic, brought by friends. (Matthew 9:1-4) Many were amazed at his authority, but there were some religious leaders who were unhappy as Jesus did not adhere to religious principles.
He then called Matthew the tax collector and taught (Matthew 9:5-17).
In the midst of his teaching, a ruler approached him to resurrect his daughter who had died. (Matthew 9:18)
On His way to a ruler's house, a woman with the issue of blood quietly approached Him, believing that she would be healed the moment she touched his cloak. However Jesus knew that power had flowed out of Him, turned around and saw her. She was healed instantly. (Matthew 9:19-22)
On reaching the ruler's house, He put out the funeral party and raised the little girl to life. (Matthew 9:23-25)
Jesus left and encountered 2 blind men, who followed Him till He went indoors. He restored their sight 'according to their faith' (Matthew 9:27-30).
On His way out, a demon-possessed man was brought to Him. He healed him and the man began to speak. (Matthew 9:32-33)
Again, Jesus' ministry was re-iterated in Matthew 9:35, echoing Matthew 4:23.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
He had compassion on the multitudes, and saw the need for more labourers. I believe He talked to Abba Father about this.
The next steps he took has implications for the church today. Matthew 10 delineates clearly the instructions for his disciples, and also for the church of today to take.
Matthew 10:1
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Each believer has the authority to do this today. When we go forth to show God's love and glory to the people, this is what Jesus instructs us to do, found in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-20. Power is given to us through the Holy Spirit as promised in Acts 1:8, and initially demonstrated in Acts 2:1-4, and of course throughout the whole book of Acts.
Praise God for His compassion for people in need, and His grace and wisdom for the church to meet those needs.
Jesus spend 3 years of His life demonstrating the power and glory as well as the love and compassion of God in teaching, preaching and healing every sickness and disease. You should do no less!!
Thursday 20 May 2010
rest and peace (adapted from a devotional by PT)
Mark 4:35-38
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them just as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind arise, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish? And He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still.” And the wind ceased.
Look at the word care, or you can replace it with one big word you all know worry. “Don’t you care that we are perishing? Do you not worry at all? Are you not concerned for us?” Jesus stood up and said, “Why are you so fearful?”
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them just as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind arise, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish? And He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still.” And the wind ceased.
Look at the word care, or you can replace it with one big word you all know worry. “Don’t you care that we are perishing? Do you not worry at all? Are you not concerned for us?” Jesus stood up and said, “Why are you so fearful?”
You can never calm the storm that rages against you until you have that calm in your own life. Unless that peace is in your own heart you cannot release it through your spoken word.
The Prince of Peace says peace.
Unless you are at rest you cannot bring others into rest.
Unless you are at peace you cannot bring others to peace.
Have you seen some one who is frustrated and tense trying to calm another guy? They will add to the problem.
Have you seen some one who is fearful trying to tell some one not to be fearful? You can’t give what you don’t have. Unless peace is in your heart you cannot release it out. Jesus was sleeping on a pillow. He was at rest. And He releases rest.
If you have a storm raging on your inside, how can you calm the storm raging on the outside? And yet so many Christians have storms raging on their inside. Outside they put on a plastic mask. But inside there are lightning bolts, thunder storms and all kinds of turmoil going on.
Hebrews 4:9-10
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from His.
We can rest and be at peace.
We can learn from Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Thursday 13 May 2010
prayer school series 2010 - part 4 (praying for missionaries)
Let their way NOT be hidden! Let them NOT say they’re passed over by our God!
* Away from their families, away from friends & church, they may cry out, “Is there anyone who cares for me? Who knows my difficulties?
Isaiah 40:27-31 "Why do you say, O Jacob, .. “My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God?..."
* We believe the Holy Spirit will speak to them; their families & church will start writing to them, saying “No, your way is not hidden, it has not been passed over by the Lord.”
* As we connect to The Source, as we pray, a supply of the Spirit will go out to them according to Philippians 1:19
Tuesday 11 May 2010
prayer school series 2010 - part 3 (what God put in my heart)
“What you Begin, In the Spirit, You CONTINUE In the Spirit.”
The Lord calls you and shows you steps along the way. However when He has not shown you the steps ahead, you need to seek Him, pray and spend time with the Lord.
* Don’t continue in the “mind” nor in “self-efforts”. God showed you up to “that point”. Don't go beyond what the Lord has shown you; wait until He shows you the next step.
* Many of you start well in the spirit. Don’t stop halfway or whenever you face difficulties or encounter obstacles. No! you see it to the end! "He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion"
Colossians 2:6-9 “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk in Him, rooted & built up in Him, & established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with Thanksgiving.”
* You can discern whether something is of Godly (or human) wisdom by being rooted & established In Him and In the Word of God.
* Those who continue in the spirit are the ones who will go a long way.
Galatians 5:16-25 “.. Walk in the Spirit, & you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, & the Spirit against the flesh; & these are Contrary to one another..”
* These are opposing forces. When you hear from the Spirit, it will Not be from the works of the flesh; it will bear fruit of the Spirit.
* Don’t slip into doing things from the flesh as it will sabotage the process. When you realise you’re going that way, come back to and choose to continue in the Spirit. There’s such a thing as a “U-turn”. Many many, second chances!* It is a Supernatural journey we are on. Whatever good work He has begun in you, He will complete it as you remain in Him. We will end so well in the Spirit!
Monday 10 May 2010
prayer school series 2010 - part 2 (molten lava - updated)
I was praying with friends when this phrase came up in my spirit: Molten Lava.
His power, His love, His compassion and His anointing flow like molten lava, liquid fire, burning and yet healing.
I then saw in my spirit red hot lava moving over the earth, slowly and surely.
I found out on wiki about the formation of lava:
New formations are created with the volcanic eruptions - new lives, new ministries, even new life to that which is dead or dying.
Nothing can stop this flow from the Lord. It burns all that is oppression and darkness, bringing light and freedom.
His power, His love, His compassion and His anointing flow like molten lava, liquid fire, burning and yet healing.
I then saw in my spirit red hot lava moving over the earth, slowly and surely.
I found out on wiki about the formation of lava:
"Lava is molten ROCK expelled by a volcano during an eruption. A lava flow is a moving outpouring of lava, which is created during a non-explosive effusive eruption. When it has stopped moving, lava SOLIDIFIES to form igneous ROCK.
Lava flows to the low places, covering all cracks, causing all that it touches to be fertile soil, bringing forth good fruit.New formations are created with the volcanic eruptions - new lives, new ministries, even new life to that which is dead or dying.
Nothing can stop this flow from the Lord. It burns all that is oppression and darkness, bringing light and freedom.
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