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In the Word

    by Chuck Livermore

Feeding the Five Thousand
Date Posted: July 28, 2009
After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"
Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost." Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
John 6:1-14

Do you have a need? With God, lack is never a problem. If you need more power to overcome inadequacy, more strength in a difficult situation, or financial grace when bills are accumulating, God can help. Just as Jesus supplied a feast for the multitude, He will supply your need according to His riches in glory.

Some preach that God is like a heavenly vending machine and will feed your greed if you put in the right coins or say the right things. But James makes it clear that the poor of this world are the ones who will inherit God’s kingdom (James 2:5). And Jesus also says that the rich can only enter heaven with great difficulty (Matthew 19:24).

But by God’s power we have everything that is needed for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3). The one who feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field will provide for us also when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:25-34).
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Biography Information:
Chuck Livermore's knowledge of the word is the result of a lifetime of study and reading. He is part of Galilee South Community Church, a multi-ethnic congregation in South Denver. He attended Wayland Baptist University and has participated in world evangelism through research of unreached peoples.
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