1/30/12 YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF Monday, January 30, 2012
Luke 9:10-17  Key Verse: 9:13

“He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”

Dear Lord Jesus. Thank you that I can get up in the morning and take time out to think of you and hear your words of truth, love and hope in the morning. What a blessing it is. I pray that uyou guide my heart and my ways today. Help me to focus on the task at hand. Lord, I need to read two books in a week. Help me to focus and read and learn from what I read. I pray that you may help us this semester to effectively share the gospel with the students of NIU and Dekalb. Please grant me one word of God through this passage. I pray all of these things in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen!

1. Jesus Welcomed Them And Spoke Of His Kingdom (10-12).

Verses 10-12 read, “When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

The apostles had a time of fellowship with Jesus. They must have been overjoyed that God had worked through them. Jesus wanted to give them some spiritual and physical rest. Some crowds of people had another idea. Jesus found that he was not able to find rest at this time. He welcomed the people and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. He touched the needs of their souls. His healing touched the needs of their spirit and their bodies.

When we get involved in the work of God there are always demands made of us. Our time to spend relaxing and engaging in personal matters is limited. There is more work of God to be done around us that could possibly be done, even if we had a 30 hours day. I can imaging some of those medical missionaries in Africa. The demands made on them would push them to not even sleep. I am sure that many of them sleep 4 to 5 hours a day at most. That is not good for the mind and body. But I am sure that God gives them strength to carry on with the life giving work of God. There are more than enough students in spiritual need at NIU. To reach them I would have to go to try to meet them. I would have to make appointments and be stood up most of the time. I would have to give up my time to read and write things, write daily bread and gospel messages and develop my web site. Maybe this is what I should be doing. I don’t know. Maybe I am not overwhelmed because I am ignoring the need as a self preserving measure. May God lead me to have the proper attitude towards the crowds of people who need Jesus and the gospel.

I pray that I may not be like these “young” disciples who wanted to send the crowds away. But I pray that I may be like Jesus who took time out to embrace the crowds and serve their needs.

I am amazed that Jesus was only one person, but yet he served the peoples’ physical and spiritual needs. There is always something that we can do. The best thing that we can do is to preach about the kingdom of God for when people enter the kingdom of God through repentance and faith in Jesus, Jesus changes their inner heart and he dwells in their hearts. The Holy Spirit strengthens and guides them. I can not do much, but I can preach about the Kingdom of God and lead others to Jesus. Then Jesus can take over in their lives and help them very personally. I pray that I may do this at the hospital and in this campus ministry.

2. You Give Them Something To Eat (13-17).

Verse 13-17 read, “ 13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.”

By late afternoon, the disciples were ready to go home and suggested the people go first. Jesus wanted the apostles to learn faith and take spiritual responsibility and find a way to help others. He would not always have to tell them what to do and how to do the work of God. His request seemed unreasonable. And a small amount of food was not enough. Yet in Jesus’ hands, it was plenty.

There is a time when we need to take absolute responsibility to do something. We need to stand up and take leadership. If not us…who? If not now…when? This world is run by those who show up. Organizations are run and become effective by those who say, “The buck stops here with me.” At this ministry, the buck stops here with me. I need to be the leader and the one who prepares the word of God. I don’t have much and I am very limited in my abilities, but I can offer what I have, with faith and know that Jesus will bless it. I also must also know that God is blessing what I have offered him already. Sometimes my own goals and expectations cloud the fact that God has been blessing my life and my family and this house church. He is doing things in his way and his time. God is bearing fruit. There is increased spiritual activity at the hospital. Steve and James and Jason and all of my kids are growing spiritually. Last week’s new about Nurse Donna getting baptized along with several of her family members warmed my heart.

I pray to continue to give the people something to eat. I pray for God to raise up people who can answer the call of God to give the people something to eat.

Prayer: Lord, I offer what little I have and my prayers and heart. I believe you can multiply what I offer to take care of those who need you and the kingdom of God.

One Word: You give them something to eat