He discussed the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water.
Pastor Joel made the point very clearly that you can shape up and clean up your life and still hate God. I don't think most people know that. I think most people assume that being shaped and cleaned up is evidence that you know God. Most people, I believe, fail to observe that will power, human pride, the fear of man, and the desire not to fail can accomplish amazing feats of strength, determination, endurance, change, and prosperity in one's life. Jesus does not necessarily need to be part of any person's conscience equation in accomplishing a life of being cleaned up, responsible, and successful.
Pastor Joel pointed us to the following passage:
Numbers 11:23
23 And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord's hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”
What a beautiful articulation by God of His power and faithfulness. God can do whatever He wants. He can make 5 loaves and 2 fish last for a feast of thousands. He can walk on the water He created in a body He created and sustains. If the LORD has promised it, it will happen. In the words of Paul from 1 Tim 1:12, "I know whom I have believed."
At the end of the passage, many are brought to Jesus and as many as sought Him out and touched Him were healed. I wonder how many ended their interaction with Jesus at that point. Ambition, self-interest, and will power helped them trek across the wilderness to find Jesus. I wonder for how many of them, ambition, self-interest, and will power remained the primary source of trust and reliance for those healed.
The disciples themselves are reported to have had hardened hearts after the walking on water incident. However, Jesus has chosen them and was commited to seeing them through. He was patient and compassionate with them as they fumbled through life on this earth with Jesus at their side. Let not your understanding or commitment to Jesus be your strength and boast as you fumble through this life, but boast in His understanding and commitment to you.
What a beautiful articulation by God of His power and faithfulness. God can do whatever He wants. He can make 5 loaves and 2 fish last for a feast of thousands. He can walk on the water He created in a body He created and sustains. If the LORD has promised it, it will happen. In the words of Paul from 1 Tim 1:12, "I know whom I have believed."
At the end of the passage, many are brought to Jesus and as many as sought Him out and touched Him were healed. I wonder how many ended their interaction with Jesus at that point. Ambition, self-interest, and will power helped them trek across the wilderness to find Jesus. I wonder for how many of them, ambition, self-interest, and will power remained the primary source of trust and reliance for those healed.
The disciples themselves are reported to have had hardened hearts after the walking on water incident. However, Jesus has chosen them and was commited to seeing them through. He was patient and compassionate with them as they fumbled through life on this earth with Jesus at their side. Let not your understanding or commitment to Jesus be your strength and boast as you fumble through this life, but boast in His understanding and commitment to you.
i also loved the line he dropped about there being plenty of cleaned-up people who still hate god. the difference is whether god allows us repentence and humility to recognize that we are cleaned up IN SPITE of ourselves and our efforts, that what we see as clean isn't necessarily so to god, and that in the areas where we're no better off than the day we met jesus he is still patient and powerful.
ReplyDeleteso glad i got the chance to be reminded of this message tonight.