Stretch Your Faith

It seems like the world is going south real quick. You have a worldwide pandemic, staggering inflation, and countries on the brink of a Third World War. These times will take a measure of faith that hasn’t been seen in centuries. God is presenting the church with a unique opportunity to share the Gospel. Are you ready to stretch your faith? God is calling disciples to step up and be the church.

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭6:13

“So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.”

There is something special about the feeding of the five thousand. There are really no other miracles like this and the feeding of the four thousand. To provide for so many people on such a grand scale boggles the mind. Jesus prayed began breaking the bread, and pretty soon, the disciples were gathering baskets of leftovers. Most miracles were for individuals, but these were for the masses. It shows that God is sovereign and capable of doing what needs to be done when needed.

Important Lessons

I grew up in the church, and I am not ashamed to admit it. That’s not a popular stance to take today, but my childhood is filled with wonderful memories of church. One of those was my grandmother. She loved to sing and had most hymns memorized. She never needed a hymn book and sang with all of her might. Inside those hymns were some of the most important lessons I’ve learned. That’s what you see in today’s passage.

‭‭PHILIPPIANS‬ ‭2:6-7

“who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”

Last week I told you how Paul inserted several creeds and songs that the early church sang. These were there to help teach and preserve essential doctrines. It doesn’t get any more important than the incarnation (Jesus coming to earth as a human) and the atonement (Jesus dying on the cross as our substitute). Jesus was both God and man while he was on earth, but He emptied Himself and became a servant. Those are life-changing doctrines.

Be of the Same Mind

Amazing things can be accomplished when people work together. Tiny armies defending their homeland have overcome large militaries when they are intent on one purpose. Paul calls the church to be of the same mind and come to a Godly unity so that Jesus can accomplish His purposes through His people. Is your heart ready…

Sing of the Lords Lovingkindness

There is nothing better than going to church on Sunday, worshipping the Lord, and being taught His Word. Surrounded by His people and in the presence of the Holy Spirit can make you feel closer to Jesus than any other time. King David knew this from an early age. He experienced the lovingkindness of the Lord out in the fields as a shepherd and the halls of a king’s palace. Sing of the Lord’s lovingkindness.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭89:2

“For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”

David loved to sing of the Lord’s lovingkindness. Many psalms are expressions of David’s gratefulness. We get some of the Bible’s most descriptive language from his songs. These were all an expression of what was gushing out of his heart. Not bad from one of Israel’s toughest warriors. It shows you can be both strong and heartfelt in serving the Lord.

Used for a Season

History is littered with one-hit wonders. Whether in music, sports, business, or politics, some people rise quickly and fade even faster. It’s no different in ministry. An author/speaker bursts onto the scene, and their platform explodes. Then just like that, they disappear. They were used for a season by God to reach the masses. John the Baptist was used for a season to ready the people for Jesus.

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭5:35

“He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”

It would be easy to think this verse standing by itself is about Jesus. He is described as the “light of the world,” but this is actually about John the Baptist. Jesus is telling the crowd that he doesn’t need man’s witness or testimony to validate His ministry, but God did send John the Baptist. While he was alive, the people basked in the brightness of his light. He was new and was willing to challenge the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

Striving Together

The precision and synchronization needed for sports like rowing always amaze me. You watch as up to eight people row in unison. They are serving together to achieve one objective, victory. Paul calls the church to have the same purpose in mind striving together for the faith. If we all work in unity, it will be an unstoppable force against Satan.

‭‭PHILIPPIANS‬ ‭1:27

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

The church in Philippi has unity issues. Some people were in it for themselves. They preached the gospel for personal gain and wanted their way in particular issues. It was tearing at the fabric of the church, so Paul encourages the saints in what he would like to see them accomplish. I love how Paul spends little time addressing issues and offers solutions instead. He wants their conduct to be worthy of the gospel, stand firm in the Spirit, and strive together for the gospel. In this encouragement, he addresses the unity issues and what needs to be done.

Courage to Speak

Public speaking is still one of the biggest phobias. Ask someone to get up in front of a group of people, and their palms begin to sweat. It takes courage to speak in front of an audience, and only a minority of people are comfortable with the task. The same can be said for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but you can pray for the courage to speak.

‭‭PHILIPPIANS‬ ‭1:14

“and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”

Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from prison. His imprisonment had caused his haters to use that as proof that he wasn’t a real apostle, while his supporters used it to be bolder in preaching the Gospel. Tribulation will cause people to act like this. Some will do anything to prevent pain or suffering, and at the first sign of trouble, they bail, while others will see the trouble as confirmation that what they are doing is on track. Paul rejoiced at those who had the courage to speak.

Called to Harvest

Things change around a farm when it’s harvest season. The activity increases one hundredfold, and the day the farmer gets paid draws closer. If they reap a bountiful harvest, his wages will reflect that, but they often lose money if the harvest is weak. Christians are called to reap a harvest as well. The fields you are called to harvest is the place God has you right now. Those who do will receive their wages in heaven.

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭4:35-36

Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.
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Jesus uses the analogy of fields that need to be harvested to get His point across. He starts by describing how the fields are ripe, to the point of going bad. If you take too long to harvest your crops, you run the risk of rotting. Then Jesus says that those reaping are receiving wages and storing up fruit for eternal life. If you are evangelizing the lost, you will receive a reward in heaven. Jesus is encouraging every believer to share the Gospel.

Living a Fruitful Life

Do you believe that Jesus can change people? I mean those types of people you move to the other side of the road to avoid because they are dangerous. God can take the hardest heart and transform it into a new work. He is the Almighty God. Nothing is too big. He wants to do a work in your life as well. He desires to see you living a fruitful life.

‭‭GENESIS‬ ‭35:11‬

“God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you.”

Right after Jacob wrestled with the Lord and had his name changed, God spoke over him that “A nation and a company of nations shall come from you.” This was referring to the nation of Israel and some other small ones that would fragment off. The twelve tribes would be named after his twelve sons. God was going to bless Jacob by making fruitful and multiplying his offspring. This was being done to a person whose name means “scoundrel.” He changed a scoundrel to a prince when he changed his name to Israel.

Be Strong in the Lord

One of the lingering side effects of recovering from COVID is that your energy is sapped for months. In the process, your muscles atrophy, and you find yourself weak and without energy. It is a long process of recovering the strength and stamina you had before. As a Christian, you can find yourself without strength when it comes to spiritual battles. Paul tells you to be strong in the Lord.

‭‭EPHESIANS‬ ‭6:10-11

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

Every disciple wages a daily battle against an unseen enemy. This enemy is deceptive in his ways, and his goal is to distract and derail your faith. You have to prepare yourself to battle this formidable foe with the proper weapons and in the right strength. This will enable you to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Equip yourself with the full armor of God.