MATT 69 - FEEDING OF THE 5000

Transcript

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Hello everyone, this is Pastor Deed Thompson with the word of hope feeding the five thousand Matthew chapter fourteen verses thirteen through twenty one. When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart. And when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past. Send the multitude out to the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart. Give ye them to eat, to eat. And they said unto him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the men and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat and were filled, and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full, and they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. When Jesus heard of John's death, he withdrew to a desolate place, but crowds followed him. Despite his grief and need for solitude, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. The word compassion splagnitzomai describes deep gut level empathy. As evening approached, the disciples suggested sending the crowds away to buy food. Jesus said, They need not go away, you give them something to eat. He turned their practical problem into a faith opportunity. With only five loaves and two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven and said a blessing, and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. The blessing means to speak well of or praise God. Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. The word satisfied means to feed to the full. God's provision exceeds need. How do you respond when interrupted during difficult times? Do you trust God with impossible situations or do you immediately look for practical solutions? What small resources is God asking you to offer Him? Oh Lord, please give us compassion for others. That when we are hurting, even when we are hurting, help us to trust you with our impossible situations and use our small offerings to make to meet the great new needs of others for your glory. Amen. God bless you, brothers and sisters.