Poverty and Excess

Consider harvest season. Some years, an overabundance of produce grows and is more than the farmer and his workers need. They spent days, maybe weeks, picking and still the vines, stalks, and plants need more harvesting. What happens with that excess food? Does it stay on the main plant then spoil? What does the story of Jesus feed the 5000+ people teach us for this scenario?

Today, as I read John 6:1-12 of Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5000 men plus women and children, verse twelve struck me. I never fully noticed it until today. Here is what it says.

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’" [NIV]

Many people had followed Jesus around the Sea of Galilee. Other people heard about Jesus from the people who followed Him around the sea also followed. These people had seen or heard of the miracles Jesus had done. They wanted to know about this man who does miracles and see what He would do next.

Jesus recognized these people had been with Him all day and had probably not eaten. He cared enough for them to make sure they ate. Jesus asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this to test Philip because He knew what He would do. Philip figured they could not buy enough to feed all these people. It would cost more money than they could earn in eight months. Philip used human reasoning and did not think outside his understanding. Why did Jesus ask this question of Philip?

Andrew brought a boy to Jesus who had five loaves of bread and two fish. He must have gone among the people asking if anyone had food. This young boy readily offered what he had. Andrew took the boy to Jesus and offered all he had found, basically asking Jesus, “Is this enough?”

Jesus did three things. He asked the people to sit. He prayed over the five loaves of bread. Next, He prayed over the two fish. Jesus gave thanks to God for supplying food. He also must have prayed thanking the Father for giving Him another teaching moment to the people. Jesus would show the people God’s care for them. He would show them another miracle. Finally, Jesus would command His disciples to gather the leftovers. Why was food left over after over 5000 people ate five loaves and two fish? Why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? What did He expect the disciples to do with them?

Four questions arose in this passage in John 6:1-12. Why did Jesus ask Philip where they could buy enough bread to feed these 5000+ people? Possibly, He asked him to test his faith and grow him. Possibly, Jesus wanted Philip to remember the miracles He had done before and conclude Jesus is the Messiah and can do anything. We realize Jesus wanted Philip to grow beyond his understanding and reasoning. He wanted him to think outside his own box. Jesus wanted Philip to apply what he had seen and learned from and about Him to everyday moments. How often do we encounter a problem and our first thought is, “I cannot figure out how to take care of this?” We need to grow like Jesus was leading Philip to grow. Instead of looking at what we know and what we can do, we need to recognize who Jesus is and what He can do. Instead of looking to our own resources and the problem, we need to look at the Savior, the solution, and the giver of grace.

The next three questions that arose in this story comes from verse twelve. Let me remind you of them. Why was food left over after over 5000 people ate five loaves and two fish? Why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? What did He expect the disciples to do with them?

Why was food left? The simple answer is because God supplies overabundantly more than we can ever think or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) This excess food made it possible for every person there to have their hunger satisfied. These people did not take a nibble so each person could be sure to have some. They each took enough and had no hunger left. One other thing comes from this, too. Later in John 6, Jesus told people He is the bread of life. The bread Jesus thanked God for in verse eleven was real, but it also foretold of Jesus being the Bread of Life. (v 35) Jesus is the Bread of Life that is superabundant and sufficient to save every person that seeks Him, confesses Him as the Son of God, and confesses his/her sins. To answer the question, bread was leftover because God superabundantly supplied enough for each person have satisfaction in their mortal bodies and for eternity if they would accept it.

The next question is why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? If every person no longer had hunger, why carry food that would spoil within a day? We must consider again what Jesus had been doing. He had shown His power by doing miracles. People swarmed to see the man who did miracles and to see if He would do more. Jesus used these miracles to glorify God by telling them who He is and why He came to earth. He came so all people can receive forgiveness of their sins and He can make them righteous. Jesus came to redeem people from sin and death so they could be God’s child and live in His kingdom forever. Back to the original question. Jesus asked His disciples to pick up the leftovers because God always supplies superabundantly. He uses everything He supplies to bring Him glory so more people receive salvation. What did this mean for the 12 disciples? I think Jesus realized these disciples would meet more people who were physically hungry. When they told these people where the food came from, some would trust in Jesus as the Son of God and receive salvation. Just as Jesus used miracles to give God glory and tell people the Gospel, He expected His disciples to do the same. He provided God-given food, fish and bread, and He told them why He came to earth. So, I think Jesus gave them the twelve baskets of food to begin to teach them how to be fishers of men. This answers the question of what Jesus expected the disciples to do with the leftover food.

Now how does this passage apply to us today 2000 years later? We each live in a world where problems occur. Most of us will try to solve those problems within the scope of how we understand them and of our ability and reasoning. I suggest we do as Jesus tried to teach Philip; first take the problem to God. Let Him tell you how He wants the solution to occur. God may want you to let Him solve it in amazing ways that people will recognize they could not do so no doubt arises about from whom the solution came. He may also use any of us to solve a problem with His knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. God will tell us exactly what to do. How do we know what to do when we encounter a problem? Pray to God and keep praying until either He solves it, or He tells you what to do. Sometimes He will tell you to do something at that moment, to wait, or not to do anything. Other times, God may seem not to hear you and you wonder if He even cares. Those are the times to make sure you stay closely connected with God in prayer. Do not give up. God said He would never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5)

We can apply this passage to our lives in another way. If you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Jesus. The lessons He taught the disciples who walked with Him on earth were not just for them. They are for all His followers over the millennia. God gives superabundantly. He gives what each person needs to help us tell people about Him. God gives us what we need to minister to people physically and emotionally, too. Those twelve baskets of leftover food the disciples picked up are still available for us to help people and tell them about God. God’s grace is superabundant. He will supply all their needs and the needs of His disciples. He did this with the broken body of Jesus, the bread broken for us and the blood shed for us to receive forgiveness of sins, redemption from slavery to sin and death, and eternal life. What superabundance has God given you and told you to go out and tell others about Him? Have you kept it for yourself in case you have an emergency or are you using it to bring God glory and lead people to know Jesus as their Savior?

Jesus’ disciples carried twelve baskets of leftover food that day, and, I think, metaphorically for all the days of the rest of their lives. Literally, they carried baskets of leftover food superabundantly given by God when Jesus prayed over it. I think they carried it until they completely gave it all. The disciples probably used the food to tell people about Jesus. When the literal twelve baskets of food became empty, I believe the disciples naturally told people about Jesus because it had become a habit. It once was a practiced discipline but became a habit they did without always knowing. At first, they may have questioned Jesus about picking up the twelve baskets of leftover food. The farmer and his workers with the superabundance of food in the fields represents the disciples. They had more food than they knew how to use. They prayed and God told them He had a reason for this overabundant harvest. People in their part of the nation went to bed hungry every night. The farmer and his workers may not have been able to fathom that since they had so much. Upon seeking God and understanding His purposes, the farmer and workers began putting the excess food into baskets to take to hungry people. As they gave each basket of food to a person or family, they took the time to tell them from where the food came, told them God cares for them, and told them of Jesus’ love for them so much He died to save them from their sins and death. This farmer and his workers received a superabundance because God knew people were hungry for physical and spiritual food. They prayed and thanked God asking what He wanted them to do with the excess of God’s grace. God gives superabundantly to each person at some time because of His grace. We should seek Him and His will. Thank Him for the excess He gave. Then, we should ask God how He wants to use our excess to tell other people about Him.

Bring God glory as you bear the weight of His superabundant excess of grace and provisions.

Lord, You are generous with us and sometimes we do not see it. We are not grateful for everything You have given us. Help us see everything we have as a gift from You. Help us be thankful. Lord, teach us how you want this abundance to be used. Help us see we cannot just assume we should keep everything You give us. Lord, teach us You are giving us tools to help meet physical needs while telling them of You, who will meet their spiritual needs. Help us be unselfish and to be bold in telling Your Gospel to people. Make us more like You for Your service and glory. Amen.

F.I.R.E.: It's a Relationship (redux)

Relationships and the state of the world’s salvation should be the concern of every person, especially of every Christian.

Over the last twenty to thirty years, Americans and maybe people of other countries, too, have become so involved in succeeding that relationships and a Christian witness have taken a backseat in each person’s life. As you walk in public, if you look, you can see people closed down and in pain. They have no one with whom to share their burdens because relationships in society are minimal in our day and age. Many of these people have  no one, including God, with whom to share their burdens because no one took the time to share the Gospel with them.

Relationships have broken down.

Evangelism took a back seat in Christian lives.

This should disturb every one.

Life should be about relationship. God created every person for relationship – with Himself and with other people. Jesus called Christians to be in relationship. Consider Matthew 22:36-39,

‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied, ‘Love the LORD your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it,  Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [NIV]

When did we Christians close our hearts and eyes to seeing other people?

I think this occurred because: 1) People have adopted a policy of tolerance for all beliefs and, therefore, do not want to "force" their beliefs on someone else; 2) People have become so involved in their lives and efforts at “succeeding” that they literally do not see people enough to have a real conversation with them; 3) People are afraid to tell of their Christian faith to others because they are afraid they will make a mistake or are afraid of being rejected by the person to whom they are talking.  Can I make a suggestion? You are not the one who may be rejected. Jesus Christ is the One who they would reject, if they rejected what you said. You would have been doing what Christ told His followers to do - go out and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

Another thought, if you do not tell others because you are promoting tolerance, remember Jesus has been tolerant for thousands of years. He loves all his creation, men and women of every race and tongue. You may be the one He chose to tell this person near you about Him. Remember, God has a plan for everyone to hear about Jesus Christ and when that occurs, the end will come.

Would you like to be the reason someone did not hear about Jesus and the Father’s love? We Christians have a secure hope of living with God forever in heaven, but we must stand before God and receive His judgment for our actions, too. You need to take the opportunity God gives you to tell others about Him. You must see other people. Act upon the time God gives you to speak His love to them.

What I find is that the number one reason Christians give for not sharing about Jesus is they are afraid. I addressed the fear of rejection earlier. The people to whom you talk will not be rejecting you, but Jesus. The best way to get over this fear is to take a course on how to witness. Take two courses. Then, put it into action. The more times you make the time to share with others, the easier it will become. Most important of all is this: you must truly care about the person. When God saves a person through Jesus, His Son, He puts His love in you. This love is God's Spirit. He has put His love - His Spirit - inside you and you must call upon this love, His Spirit to love other people. You must put aside your human limitations and prejudices and allow God to love this person through you. Once you do that, he or she will realize you care. That person will want to listen to and trust you.

This is relational evangelism - God's love for others shining through you.

God wants a relationship with that person very much.

He already loves him or her.

How do you do relationship evangelism? First, it is easier to love someone, and listen to and speak with a person if you have known him or her for a while. If you do not know the person, you can use the F.I.R.E. method of evangelism to gain an interest in and learn about a person. Your listening to a person tell you about him or herself will make you see he or she is a person who needs love and friendship, too. That person will learn to trust you because of it. During the time you listen to a person, you will recognize he or she has needs, too. This will unlock your heart for others.

What is F.I.R.E.? The short answer is Family, Interests, Religious experience, and Evangelism. The application is easy. It requires you to be human and truly take an interest in another person. Besides this, it requires you not talk as much as you listen. Get to know the person. 

v  Ask about his or her Family. 

o   Does he or she have kids or grandkids? 

o   Who lives at home with him or her? 

o   Where is he or she from? 

o   Find out about him or her. 

v  Ask about the person's Interests. 

o   Does he or she like to read, play an instrument, play computer games, camp? 

Are you now finding out you have a common interest with them? 

v  Ask about his or her Religious background. 

o   Does he or she go to a church? 

o   Which faith system does he or she follow? 

o   What are his or her thoughts on what happens after this life is over? 

Once you have taken time to get to know the person, which may take fifteen minutes, a few days, or months, you will have a heart for the person. He or she will realize you can be trusted and that you care about him or her. By this time, you recognize at least one area of need the person expressed about his or her life.

At this point, you can tell the person about yourself - your Family, Interests, and Religious experiences.

The E of FIRE -

v  As you tell the person about your Religious experience, tell him or her how God met/meets your needs  and can meet his or her needs.

v  Share how Jesus came to give abundant life because He loves him or her.

v  Share how God and Jesus showed that love and how it changed your life.

v  Eventually you will come to a place where you can ask the person if he or she would like to know Jesus in this way -  experience a life in which Jesus:

·         gives meaning to the person’s life.

·         forgives the person of all his or her wrongdoings.

·         is the Savior of his or her life. 

·         is there to take lead of his or her life to be his or her Savior, Provider, Protector, and King. Jesus wants the person to follow Him the rest of his or her life. 

v  Tell the person how your life has changed since you gave your life to Jesus. 

v  Ask if he or she wants to make that commitment to Jesus, to follow Him as his or her Lord and King. 

v  Lead the person in a prayer of confession and acceptance of Jesus Christ as his or her Savior.

Make a commitment to the person to help him or her grow in knowing what this commitment to Christ means and how they can grow to be more Christ-like.

Try this. It is a relational way to speak to someone about God and Jesus Christ - their love and sacrifice.

Try it more than once. Seek to speak to a person each week with an intention of talking with him or her about Christ. 

Intentionally go to a public place with no need to shop or return for a schedule, then you will be more open to seeing people in need or to whom God is leading you to speak. 

Be intentional. Go out once a week with the sole agenda being to seek a person who needs to hear a word from God, a person who needs to know God and you care about and love him or her. 

It is a relationship thing. What is stopping you?

Are You Listening? (redux)

           

             John, in his gospel, wrote many things. He wrote the whole book with the sole purpose being “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31 [NASB]) John showed throughout this book ways we, as hearers and readers, can know Jesus is the Son of God. He gave us his personal testimony. He told the testimony of the Gospel through Jesus’ signs and miracles, through the Spirit, and through the Word (God’s inspired Word). Yet, there is something we – Christians and ministers - must do. Paul stated in Romans 10:14-15a, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent” [NASB]? Unless we who know God personally tell others about Jesus, the salvation of the world, people will not come to know Jesus the Christ.

            In John 13:15, Jesus used the word “example.” He used this word only once when He taught His disciples. Before the Feast of the Passover, after being with the disciples for almost three years teaching them by word and action, He washed the disciples’ feet. Jesus took His tunic off and wrapped a towel around Himself as a servant would. He gave this example to His disciples; they were to be servants to each other. Jesus reinforced this "example" He showed and spoke to them. Later in chapter 13, He told the disciples in verses thirty-four and thirty-five, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35, [NASB]) Earlier Jesus said He was the fulfillment of the Law, but stated they must follow the Shema. The Shema is a Jewish Law combining Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love the LORD your God withyou’re your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 [NASB]). The first Jesus called the greatest commandment. The latter is the second greatest commandment. At the end of His time on earth with His disciples, Jesus added another. In John 13:34-35, He taught them to love each other so that all people would know they were His disciples. These commands cover love of God, love of others (outside the faith), and love among disciples (Christians).

            How are people to know Jesus? They come to know Jesus by Christians coming to know them. John, in his Gospel, stated many times Jesus knew what people thought, what their past was, if they grumbled or complained, and if certain people needed a miracle or sign so they could believe. Jesus knew and knows all people. He spoke into their lives at the point of their need. Consider Mary and Martha. Jesus could have gone to their home in Bethany before Lazarus died, but He knew them and He wanted God to receive glory. Mary and Martha believed Jesus is God’s Son and believed there would be a resurrection on the last day. They did not know that Jesus had power over life and death. By waiting until Lazarus was truly dead (four days after his death), people believed Jesus had power over life and death, God received the glory, and the faith of Mary and Martha grew. You can look at other miracles in the book of John and see this occur often– Jesus’ power over that part of life would be revealed, God would receive glory, and the faith of people would increase or occur for the first time. Jesus knows people and what they need. He meets people at the point of their need - when they are at the end of their understanding and knowledge - so that God’s power is the explanation for any good/miracle that occurred. The question remains: how are people to know Jesus?

            More often than not, people come to know Jesus through His disciples speaking truth into their lives. Let me say it again, “People come to meet and know Jesus through Christians getting to know them.” By getting to know people,

·         We hear them tell us about themselves, their families, their interests, and their religious experiences.

•  We Christians – paid and unpaid - listen intently and hear where people express hurt.
• We hear and realize they are human, too.
• We believers hear with our ears and with the heart that Jesus regenerated in us through His love.
• We hear their physical and spiritual needs.

In the process of listening to them,

•  We Christians earn that person’s trust.
• We remember where Jesus met our need, physically and spiritually.
• We remember where Jesus came to us, met us, healed us, and forgave us, and where we gave our lives to Him.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:26. The birds of the air wear beautiful plumage, have their food needs met, and are sheltered in God’s beautiful trees and bushes. The birds did nothing; God provided for their needs. God will provide more so for the needs of His created people. Jesus stated that in Matthew 6. God provides for spiritual needs as well as temporal needs. Jesus built relationships or strengthened them at the point of a person’s need. He wants to be the provider of everything each person needs. We must build relationships, too, and through building these new relationships and listening, the people give us the opportunity to speak about Jesus - show how He changed our lives, met our needs - physical and spiritual, and how He can be the fulfillment of their own needs now and for eternity.

            Consider the “I AM” statements in John’s gospel. Jesus said seven things that John recorded. Jesus said,

•   “I AM the Bread of Life.”
•  “I AM the Light of the world.”
•   “I AM the gate for the sheep.”
•   “I AM the good Shepherd.”
•   “I AM the resurrection and the Life.””
•  I AM the True Vine.”

Each of these has a temporal and spiritual element to it. Jesus came to be everything a person ever needs –bread, light, shelter, guidance, life and hope, and eternal sustenance/salvation. Jesus is the fulfillment of all our needs before we ever know we have the need for them.

• God provided manna in the wilderness for the Israelites to feed them for a day. Jesus became the Bread that would feed our spiritual need forever.
• God gave a pillar of fire before the troops of Israelites as they found their way to the Promised Land. Jesus is the Light to lead us to eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
• God provided a gate by which to keep out the wolves. Jesus is the gate that keeps the devil and his demons out when we have given our lives to Him.
• God provides shepherds for the sheep who protect them, such as David was for the actual sheep of his father and for God’s people Israel. Jesus is the Shepherd who will not run away, but will fight the wolves to keep us protected in His hands. He protects those who are His own.

·         No one before Jesus had ever beaten death and come back to life. Jesus died to be victorious over death so His children would receive resurrection from the grave at the end of the time. Death does not have any hold on those who call themselves His disciples. Jesus gives eternal life to His disciples.

            God provides sustenance and guidance now to His children. He also provides eternal life forever. God, through His indwelling Holy Spirit, provides the eternal guidance and remembrance of all He taught us through our lives and the ones who went before us. He gives us hope and guidance as the True Vine. We are His, adopted by Him, and grafted into His vine so nothing can separate us from Him. Jesus gives us what He stated in the seven I AM statements now and for eternity.

            We must get to know people as Jesus knows people. We must hear them express themselves, their life, and their beliefs. Only by listening will we gain their trust to speak into their lives. Only by listening will we be able to contextualize the message of Jesus’ salvation for that particular person at that specific moment in their lives. This is relationship. Our telling the Gospel to them after listening is contextualizing the Gospel for them. That is how FIRE helps us. FIRE is Family, Interests, Religious experiences, and Evangelism. FIRE makes us intentional in getting to know Jesus better each day, to have a growing relationship with Him. We must have a daily relationship with Jesus so we are learning more through His Word and through prayer with Him. Without this daily relationship, we may not know a passage of Scripture a person needs to hear as he or she speaks to us. FIRE lets us know a person’s thoughts on their needs so we can share with him or her how Jesus can fill his or her needs here and eternally. FIRE is how Jesus met us through others and it is how He will meet other people more often than not. (See “How to Tell the World: F.I.R.E.)

            The questions now to consider include the following.

•  How is your relationship with God? Are you close to Him or has it been a while since you read His Word or prayed to Him?
• How are your listening skills? Are you a keen listener and often hear a word from God? Are you a devoted listener of other people or do you hear some of what they say and then begin thinking about what you will say?

            We must be in an active vertical relationship with God. We must also know how to have a horizontal relationship with other people. Jesus did this well. He was very relational and showed by example how to be in a relationship with God and with one another. Jesus died on the cross because of these relationships - with the Father and with humanity.

Look at it this way. (See picture below.)

Each of us has to make a decision:

Are we willing to get to know people like Jesus knows each of us so we can tell them the great news of Jesus Christ?

The Miracle of Faith - book

The book, Miracle of Faith, now available for purchase from Amazon.com. Beginning later in the week, Barnes and Noble and Crossbooks.com will also be selling the book. Currently only soft and hard cover books are being sold. In a couple of weeks, the ebooks will be available for purchase. For those people who do not live in North America, CrossBooks (the publisher) distributes their books worldwide through Ingram Book Distribution. They will print the books in the UK. For ease of purchase, the ISBN number for the soft cover book is 978-1-4627-3158-9.

This book is a compilation of 53 Bible studies written over 18 months. Originally these Bible studies were posted on a blog site. Over the 18 months of the blog site, almost 30 countries had people read the blogs. Currently there are now 35 countries represented as regular readers of the Bible studies. Since the start of the book making process, another 32 Bible studies have been posted to the blog site.
Copied below are the Preface from the book and a review of it, as well.

Preface:

WHEN I BEGAN ON THIS leg of my journey with God , He was preparing my family and me to become missionaries. Part of the preparation was making us feel comfortable with moving to another

continent and another hemisphere. When hearing about the cultural differences from that in which I was accustomed, nervousness ensued, as would be the case for most people embarking on similar adventures. During this part of preparing, God brought a Bible verse to my attention during one of my quiet times. This verse comes from John 14:2 . This verse records Jesus telling His disciples about His imminent departure from earth. He said, “In My Father ’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you” [NASB]. For me, at that time, it showed me that anywhere on earth to which God calls me to work is just one of the rooms or dwelling places in His house. God had already gone before us to prepare a place for us, a home in a

neighborhood that would be friendly with a church family who are loving and accepting and with a people who have the same heart as us because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ . This was so reassuring. It is also the reason for my blog title, Thoughts from Another Home.

God began a new path for my journey with Him while in this new dwelling place. In 2011, He told me to start a blog site. I had no idea what He wanted me to put on it, but after 18 months, I definitely know some of the things He wanted to put on there. This book is a collection of some of the articles I have posted on my blog site over the last 18 months. As I wrote and posted them, people would call or send me emails, telling me just how much the articles helped them, how much they learned, and

the ease with which they could understand the articles. Many people began to ask me to put them in a book. I put them off for quite a while, but after more requests, I decided to get information regarding the process of publishing and to determine if these writings were worthy of publishing. My initial conversation with the publishing representative said he had prayed about it the night before and on the way to work that morning. After talking with me, he felt the book should be published, so we discussed the process with CrossBooks. From that point in time, I did research for about a week along with much praying and seeking of God’s will. Some of the articles in this book come from this seeking. The long and short of it is that this book was published.

 

My prayer is that you would learn from them just as I did when God taught them to me, draw inspiration from them, and be encouraged to step out on this bold journey with God. He is always calling you to follow Him. Are you willing to follow Him?

 

Review:

"Making the decision to become a disciple of Christ can be difficult, especially if you are not sure what exactly it entails. And if you have already professed your faith in Christ, you may still want to grow in your faith without knowing how to achieve this greater understanding. Though these are different starting points, the needs of these two positions are similar.

Gail Davis' Miracle of Faith offers Bible studies for everyone. You can grow closer to God so you can be one with the Father, as Jesus and the Father are one. Miracle of Faith seeks to help you become more like Him. Davis explores various topics of faith and hope, advocating loving God and loving others. She also considers miracles, righteousness, ways to be certain in Christ, and to know the voice of God.
Each lesson uses profound questions to help you consider the depth of your faith in Jesus Christ. These lessons may be used at your own pace and are suitable for both daily and more protracted study.
Whether you have been on the Christian journey three days, three years, or thirty years, God can speak to you through His Word. Let Miracle of Faith help you find the way to hear and understand God."

Please tell all your friends who are growing Christians as well as those who are seeking for the Lord. No marketing is being done. Word of mouth is the means of getting the news out. God used His teachings to me, to reach others through the blog site. The blog site has developed into a book published by demand of the blog readers. My obedience was to study with Him and make the Bible studies available to others through the blog and book. Now, we must let people know God is real, loves everyone and wants a daily relationship with us. This book is a way to show them the reality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the One true God - when used in conjunction with the Bible. Use this book as a resource for your witnessing. Use it for your personal growth. Use it to teach others about Jesus and how to grow more Christlike.

May the name of the Lord be declared from all the corners of the world until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord.

Grace and Peace,
Gail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are You Listening?

On April 16^th this year, I wrote an article called “FIRE: It’s a Relationship.” Since then, people have asked me more about FIRE and the basis for it. This article is an expansion on that article.

            John, in his gospel, writes many things. His whole book is written with the sole purpose being “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31 [NASB]). John showed throughout his book ways that we as hearers and readers could know Jesus as the Son of God. He told us his personal testimony. He told of the testimony through Jesus’ signs and miracles, through the Spirit, and through the Word (God’s inspired Word). Yet, there is something we must do. Paul in Romans 10:14-15a states it this way, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent” [NASB]? Unless we who know God personally tell others about Jesus, the salvation of the world, most will not know Jesus.

            In John 13:15, Jesus used the word “example” only once to His disciples. After being with the disciples for almost 3 years teaching them by word and action, before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. He took His tunic off and wrapped a towel around Himself as a servant would. This is the example Jesus gave His disciples; they are to be servants to each other. Jesus reinforced this "example" He showed and spoke. Later in chapter 13, Jesus told the disciples in verse 34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35, [NASB]). Previously, Jesus said He was the fulfillment of the Law but stated that they must follow the Shema. The Shema is a Jewish Law combining Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” (Luke 10:27 [NASB]). This Jesus called the greatest commandment. At the end of His time with His disciples, He added another, John 13:34-35, they were to love each other so that all people will know they are His disciples. These two commands cover love of God, love of others (outside the faith), and love among disciples.

            How are people to know Jesus? They are to come to know Jesus by us coming to know them. In the gospel of John, John states many times that Jesus knew what people were thinking, what their past was, that they were grumbling or complaining, and that certain persons needed a miracle or sign so they could believe. Jesus knew and knows all people. Jesus spoke into their lives at the point of their need. Consider Mary and Martha. Jesus could have gone to their home in Bethany before Lazarus died, but He knew them and He wanted God to receive glory. Mary and Martha believed Jesus is God’s Son and believed there would be a resurrection on the last day. They did not know that Jesus had power over life and death. By waiting until Lazarus was truly dead (4 days after his death), Jesus’ power over life and death would not be doubted, God would be given the glory, and Mary and Martha’s faith will have grown. You can look at other miracles in John and see this same thing occur – Jesus’ power over that part of life would be revealed, God would receive glory, and the faith of people would increase or occur for the first time. Jesus knows people and what they need. He meets people at the point of their need, when they are at the end of their understanding and knowledge, so that any good/miracle that occurs can only be explained as being from God. The question remains: how are people to know Jesus?

            More often than not, people come to know Jesus through His disciples speaking truth into their lives. Let me say it again; people come to meet and know Jesus through us getting to know them. By getting to know them, we hear them tell us about themselves, their families, their interests, and their religious experiences. We listen intently and we hear where they are hurting. We hear they are human, too. We hear with our ears and with the heart that Jesus regenerated in us through His love. We hear their physical and spiritual needs. In the process of listening, we earn that person’s trust. In the process of listening to them, we remember where Jesus met our need, physically and spiritually. We remember where Jesus came to us, met us, healed us, and forgave us, and where we gave our lives to Him. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:26 that the birds of the air wear beautiful plumage, have their food requirements met, and are sheltered in God’s beautiful trees and bushes. The birds did nothing; God provided for their needs. God will provide more so for the needs of His created people. Jesus stated that in Matthew 6. God provides for spiritual needs as well as temporal needs. Jesus built relationships or strengthened them at the point of a person’s need. He wants to be the provider of everything humankind needs. We must also build relationships and through building these new relationships and listening, we are given the opportunity by the other person to speak about Jesus and show how He has changed our lives, how He has met our needs, temporal and spiritual, and how He can be the fulfillment of all their own needs now and for eternity.

            Consider the I AM statements in John’s gospel. Jesus said seven things that John recorded. Jesus said, I AM the Bread of Life; I AM the Light of the world; I AM the gate for the sheep; I AM the good Shepherd; I AM the resurrection and the Life; and I AM the True Vine. Each of these has a temporal and spiritual element to it. Jesus came to be everything a human being ever needs –bread, light, shelter, guidance, life and hope, and eternal sustenance/salvation. Jesus is the fulfillment of all our needs before we ever know we have the need for them. God provided manna in the wilderness for the Israelites to feed them for a day. Jesus became the Bread that would feed our spiritual need forever. God gave a light of fire before the troops of Israelites as they found their way to the Promised Land. Jesus is the Light to lead us to eternal life in God’s Kingdom. God provided a gate by which to keep out the wolves. Jesus is the gate that keeps the devil and his demons out when we have given our lives to Him. God provides shepherds for the sheep who protect them, such as David was for the actual sheep of his father and for God’s people Israel. Jesus is the Shepherd who will not run away but will fight the wolves to keep us protected in His hands. He protects those who are His own. No one before Jesus had ever beaten death and come back to life. Jesus died to be victorious over death so His children would be resurrected from the grave at the end of the time. Death does not have any hold on those who call themselves His disciples. Jesus gives eternal life to His disciples. God provides sustenance and guidance now to His children. He also provides eternal life forever. God provides the eternal guidance and remembrance of all He has taught us through our lives and the ones who have gone before us through His indwelling Holy Spirit. He gives us hope and guidance as the True Vine. We are His, adopted by Him, and grafted into His vine so that nothing can separate us from Him. This is what Jesus gives us for now and eternity and what He stated in the seven I AM statements.

            We must get to know people as Jesus knows people. We must hear them express themselves, their life, and their beliefs. Only be listening will we gain their trust to speak into their lives. Only by listening will we be able to contextualize the message of Jesus’ salvation for that particular person at that specific moment in their lives. This is relationship and our telling the gospel to them after hearing is contextualizing the Gospel for them. That is how FIRE helps us. FIRE is Family, Interests, Religious experiences, and Evangelism. FIRE makes us intentional in getting to know Jesus better each day, to have a growing relationship with Him. We must have a daily relationship with Jesus where we are learning more through His Word and through prayer with Him. Without this daily relationship, we may not know a passage of Scripture a person needs to hear as they are speaking to us. FIRE lets us know a person’s thoughts on their needs so we can show them how Jesus can fill their needs here and eternally. FIRE is how Jesus met us through others and it is how He will meet other people more often than not.

            The questions now to consider include the following. How is your relationship with God? Are you close or has it been a while since you read His Word or prayed to Him? How are your listening skills? Are you a keen listener and often hear a word from God? Are you a listener of other people or do you hear some of what they say and then begin thinking about what you will say also? We must be in an active vertical relationship with God. We must also know how to have a horizontal relationship with other people. This is what Jesus did well. He was very relational and showed us by example how to be in a relationship with God ( vertical relationship) and with one another (horizontal relationship). (These two relationship beams make a cross.) Jesus died on the cross because of these relationships, obedience to the Father and love for us created human beings.

Each of us has to make a decision: are we willing to get to know people like Jesus knows each of us so we can tell them the great news of Jesus Christ?