Jesus Walks on Water

Jesus Walks on Water

 ⁴⁵ Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. ⁴⁶ After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. ⁴⁷ Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. ⁴⁸ He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning^[b] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, ⁴⁹ but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. ⁵⁰ They were all terrified when they saw him.
   But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!^[c]” ⁵¹ Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, ⁵² for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
 ⁵³ After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore ⁵⁴ and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, ⁵⁵ and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

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Jesus, thank you for showing me that in the midst of the storms of my life you are with me.  You climb into the boat with me and you calm the storm.  I give you a spot on my boat of life. 

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

Mark 6:30-56

View commentary related to this passage

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

 ³⁰ The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. ³² So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. ³³ But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
 ³⁵ Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. ³⁶ Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”
 ³⁷ But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
   “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money^[a] to buy food for all these people!”
 ³⁸ “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
   They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
 ³⁹ Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
 ⁴¹ Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. ⁴² They all ate as much as they wanted, ⁴³ and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. ⁴⁴ A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves!

Out of Barrenness, God Delivers His Promises

• Abraham and Sarah - Barren
• Had the Promise Isaac

• Promised Son Isaac married Rebekah - Barren
• Had twins, Esau and Jacob

• Jacob married Leah (arranged marriage) and Rachel - barren (whom he loved)
• Rachel's womb was closed and Leah had six sons and one daughter
• Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin

• Samson's Mother (name unknown) was barren until angel appeared to wife of Manoah promising a Nazarite (Judge 13)

• Elkanah had two wives, Hannah- barren (His Favorite) and Peninah (who taunted Hannah)
• Hannah had Samuel (Greatest Judge of Israel)

• Shunemite Woman - Barren (2 King 4:8-17)

• King David married Michal - barren (2 Sam 6:23) - never bore children.

• Mary's cousin, Elizabeth - barren (an angel appears to Zachariah promising a son)
• Elizabeth bore John The Baptist - The greatest forerunner and greatest prophet who prepared the way of Jesus.

Except for Michal, God opened all the wombs of these previously barren women.  In two instances the women were clearly beyond child-bearing years, yet they bore the sons of promise.

Psalm 113:9 - He makes the barren woman to keep house and t o be a joyful mother of children.

• Do our frustrations turn us towards God?  
• Once we have a promise from God, do we deal with our downcast spirit and put on a purposeful smile?  (1 Sam 1:18)

• Hannah's story (1 Sam 1) shows that from bitter pain may come great promise, if that pain leads you to God.  

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Thank you Lord that in barren places of my life, you have the chance to grow faith in me and bring forth that which is promised.  You truly do deliver.   I ask that my bitter pain would always lead me to you and to growing with you.
I think there is a key here, a secret underlying key to barrenness, what it is Lord?  Why do you work great things out of barrenness/impossible?  Is it because, out of our nothing that you can do something beyond ourselves?  Which then points right back to you 


Romans 4:17

¹⁷ That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”^[a] This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

Feb 18, 2011

Lord, I come to you this morning thanking you for your grace and mercy that never end.  Thank you for the gift of today; help me to run with you and all that you want to do in and through me this day.  I thank you that you go before me and that you lead my steps, even if some of the steps are lead on rabbit trails.  You are such a good God.
Father, I ask that I as  dive into your word and this Bible study, that you would give me revelation about what I am reading, let the Word transform my thinking and how I see things, including You, my world around me and how you see me.

Thank you for your blessings and the friendships you are developing and the relationships you are continuing to grow on.  Help me be a light and shine, shine, shine to the world.  I ask that you would continue to lead and direct my steps and my words as I continue to encounter these friends in many manners.  Help me to be more focused on blessing them, then receiving blessings.  Give me a heart for my neighbors and city and those that you have in my life.  I want to be the hands and feet of God.

Give me strength today to raise my kids this day, not tomorrow, but today.  I ask for a supernatural increase in Josh and Saray's appetite, especially Joshua, that he would grow and gain at least a lb by March, if not more.    I surrender my kids to you, and all I wish I had control over, cause ultimately you have the control and you know my kids better than I will ever know them.  Give me your love for them. Help me to focus on what they need to grow in all areas.  I pray this in your name. 

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Gal 6:8

⁶ Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
 ⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. ⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

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Lord,


Thank you for the opportunities to bless those in the Family of God.  Help me to constantly have my eyes open to bless.  For it truly is better to be a blessing than to be blessed.  Thank you for helping my heart's eyes to be open to the opportunities to bless.  Help me to be sensitive to the leading and not argue the gentle whispers that you speak to my heart.  
Also, help me to reach out to the lost, like Jesse (girl) at Little Me Boutique and Jesse (girl) across the street.  I believe that the seed can be sown.  I claim both Jesses for the kingdom of God.


I also contend for a soft heart and open ear to hear your voice, not just for me, but for Jer, Saray, Josh and Grayson.  That we would be a family that moves when we hear the voice speak, and that in that we would all know your heart and your gentle whispering voice.  
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The other night I had a great opportunity to bless Laurie and Jay Kruse.  After chatting with Laurie at the Superbowl game party, I felt the Lord saying "Make dinner and take it over to them in next week."  So, learning to be more sensitive to his leading, I said, "yes."  I made Wild Rice Soup, fresh dinner rolls and rice krispies (one of Laurie's favorites) and I took it over on Tuesday night.  Laurie was so blessed.  Why extend the love of God to believers?  Because even believers need to be reminded that they are loved and they were on the heart of the Father God.  
Lord,  I have no idea what that did in the spiritual realm, but I contend for the sealing of it in their hearts, and mine.  That you would continue to do a good work in them and through them as they continue to serve and love you.  Use these times, to remind them down the road, that you care for the smallest of their needs, even if it is them having a night off from cooking.


Also, an other opportunity to bless:  Marcy Horak (Group Life Leader) was showing us her scrapbooking book for her son Cayel.  During the time she mentioned that she was hoping to eventually by a new bigger camera, as all she had was a point and shoot pocket camera.  During that time, I was selling my Canon Rebel XTi, a lens, batteries, special book, CF cards, etc.  I had it listed on Craigslist for $575, but didnt want to any lower than 500 dollars.  So as Marcy was speaking, the words that came out of my mouth were for sure from the Lord, "I'd sell you my camera for $300."  What!  But after saying that I knew it was the Lord.  
I was able to talk with Marcy a few different times during those next few weeks before she bought the camera, and I was able to pray with her and minister to her.  I even let her borrow one of my lens and my camera bag.   I am blessed to be a blessing!    Out of that, God has open a door to a new friendship.  One that I pray God would be used for his Glory.







Word for Pastor Lael - 2-13-2011
Last night as I was praying for you I just saw the Father pouring oil over
you, it started at your head and ran down.  Then He proceeded to massage
every part of you; the strength of your back, your hands that reach, your
feet that deliver His Word, and your head - your mind of Christ.  The oil
was one that he has used before, and therefore it brought back great
memories, sweet memories.  An anointing & a healing balm type of oil.
"Time of Refreshing", he was speaking over you during this massage.

I pray that you would just lay back in this time and Let Him massage all
that he wants to do into you.  It's not just a time for you to pour out to
Him but he wants to pour into you.  Rest, stay confident in Him, that he
will restore and fill.  This is your time to be refreshed and renewed, rest
in that.

Romans 3:22 - We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.
Rom 3:27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God?  No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deed.  It is based on our faith.  So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 
Romans 3:31b - In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Romans 4:17 This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn't exist before.

Romans 5

 ¹THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (^[a]acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to ^[b]enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).    ²Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
    ³Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
    ⁴And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of ^[c]character (approved faith and ^[d]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] ^[e]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

Romans 7:6 - But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power.  Now we can really serve God, not in the old ways by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.

Romans 8

Life in the Spirit

 ¹ So now there is no condemnation (Condemn:

1. to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicate strong disapproval of; censure.

2.

to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment: to condemn a murderer to life imprisonment.

3.

to give grounds or reason for convicting or censuring: His acts condemn him.

4.

to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service: to condemn an old building.) [I am favorable, and approved of.  I am NOT guilty, and I am not sentenced to a life of punishment.  I am fit to be used by God and am worthy to be a service to Him.  Thanks to the power of the life-giving blood of Jesus.]

 

for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power^[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you^[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.^[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 12:6 - God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.  So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.  If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.  If you are a teacher, do a good job teaching.  If your gift is to encourage others, do it!  If you have money, share it generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.  And if you have a fit for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Romans 12:12 Be glad for all GOD is planning for you.  Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.  When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out.  And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

Gal 3:6-14

"THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                  The Heirs Of Abraham (3:16-14,26-29)

INTRODUCTION

1. Abraham is a key figure in three of the world's great religions...
   a. He is the ancestor of the Jews (Hebrews) through his son Isaac
   b. Muslims regard him (Ibrahim) as the ancestor of the Arabs through
      Ishmael
   c. Christians regard him as their spiritual father through Christ
      - cf. Ga 3:29
   -- Such is truly consistent with the meaning of his name, "father of
      many" - Gen 17:5

2. Central to the importance of Abraham are the promises God made to
   him...
   a. The land promise - Gen 12:1,7; 13:15-17
   b. The nation promise - Gen 12:2; 13:16; 17:6; 18:18
   c. The seed promise - Gen 12:3; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14
   -- The fulfillment of these promises to Abraham is the theme of the
      Bible

3. The Bible reveals that God fulfilled these promises...
   a. The nation promise - via the descendants of Israel - Gen 46:3; Exo
      1:7; Deut 26:5
   b. The land promise - in the days of Joshua, and in the days of
      Solomon - Josh 21:43-45; 23:14-15; 1Ki 8:56; 2Ch 9:26
   c. The seed promise - with the coming of Christ - Ac 3:25-26

4. In the early church, there were evidently some who sought to limit
   the seed promise...
   a. To those who were physical descendants of Abraham
   b. Or Gentile Christians who were circumcised and kept the Law - cf.
      Ac 15:1,5

[In his epistle to the Galatians, Paul dealt with this issue.  As we now
turn to our text (Ga 3:6-14,26-29), we note that the true heirs of
Abraham are...]

I. THOSE WHO ARE OF FAITH

   A. THEY ARE THE SONS OF ABRAHAM...
      1. Just as Abraham believed God - Ga 3:6
         a. Without faith, it is impossible to please God - He 11:6
         b. Abraham's faith was accounted to him for righteousness - Gen
            15:6
      2. Indeed, only those of faith are sons of Abraham - Ga 3:7
         a. This is what the seed promise had reference to - Ga 3:8
         b. It is those of faith who are blessed with believing Abraham
            - Ga 3:9
      3. Those who have the same kind of faith as Abraham
         a. To do the works of Abraham - cf. Jn 8:39
         b. Willing to "walk in the steps of the faith" which Abraham
            had - cf. Ro 4:11-12
         c. I.e., to have an obedient faith like he did - cf. He 11:8-10

   B. NOT THOSE WHO ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW...
      1. That is, those who seek to be justified by the Law of Moses
         a. As many in Israel were seeking to do - cf. Ro 9:31-32
         b. They sought to establish their own righteousness - cf. Ro
            10:1-13
      2. For they are under the curse of the Law - Ga 3:10
         a. The Law cursed those who did not confirm (keep) it - cf. Deu
            27:26
         b. The Law also proclaimed all men to be sinners - cf. Ro 3:
            10-20
      3. They are not justified by the works of the Law - Ga 3:11-12
         a. As the Law itself foretold - Hab 2:4
         b. The Law required perfect obedience, which none could offer
            - cf. Lev 18:5

[It is through faith like Abraham's that one becomes an heir of Abraham.
Those who seek salvation through the works of the Law are not his true
descendants.  But it is more than simply faith, it is faith in the right
Person.  Thus the true heirs of Abraham are...]

II. THOSE WHOM CHRIST HAS REDEEMED

   A. THEY ARE REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW...
      1. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law
         a. He became a curse for us by dying on the tree - Ga 3:13
         b. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree - 1Pe 2:24
      2. Thus He offers redemption
         a. From every lawless deed - Tit 2:14
         b. Through His blood, providing the forgiveness of sins - Ep
            1:7

   B. THEY ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM...
      1. Even Gentiles, in Christ Jesus - Ga 3:14
         a. As indicated in the promise to Abraham ("all the families of
            the earth") - Gen 12:3
         b. As indicated in the promise to Abraham ("in your seed")
            - Gen 22:16; cf. Ga 3:16
      2. They have received the promise of the Spirit - Ga 3:14
         a. The Spirit Jesus promised to those who believe- cf. Jn 7:
            37-39
         b. Which Paul reminded the Galatians they had received through
            faith - cf. Ga 3:2
         c. "... that promise which agreed to give the Spirit to all who
            rendered the obedience of faith - Ac 2:38-39." - McGarvey
            (commenting on Ga 3:14)

[The heirs of Abraham are those who have been redeemed by Christ and
made recipients of the blessing promised to Abraham (which included
receiving the Spirit).  Closely connected to this is Paul's point at the
end of the chapter (Ga 3:26-29), that the true heirs of Abraham are...]

III. THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME SONS OF GOD

   A. THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS...
      1. We become sons of God through faith in Christ - Ga 3:26
         a. Faith in Jesus as the Messiah - Jn 8:24; 6:69
         b. Believing that He died for our sins - 1Co 15:1-2
         c. Faith in His resurrection from the dead - Ro 10:9
      2. A privilege offered to those who believe in Jesus - cf. Jn 1:12
         a. Those who believe are given the right to become children of
            God
         b. How their faith leads them to become children of God is
            explained in Ga 3:27

   B. THROUGH BAPTISM INTO CHRIST...
      1. We become sons of God through faith, through our baptism into
         Christ - Ga 3:27
         a. Note carefully the conjunction "for"
         b. Paul explains how they became children of God by faith in
            Christ
         c. It was when they put Christ on in baptism
      2. For in baptism one is buried with Christ, crucified with
         Christ, and raised to live with Him - cf. Ro 6:3-8
         a. In baptism we are united with Christ
         b. In baptism we are thus "clothed" with Christ (put Him on)

CONCLUSION

1. Who, then, are the heirs of Abraham, heirs of the promise made
   regarding his seed...?
   a. Those who are of faith, walking in the steps of faith like Abraham
      did
   b. Those whom Christ has redeemed, recipients of the promise of the
      Spirit
   c. Those who have become sons of God through faith in Christ, having
      clothed themselves with Christ in baptism

2. The heirs of Abraham regarding the seed promise are not those...
   a. Who claim to be so because of their lineage through Isaac or
      Ishmael
   b. Who seek salvation through keeping the Law of Moses

Rather, as aptly summarized in the words of Paul himself:

   "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
   free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one
   in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are
   Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
                                                   - Ga 3:28-29

Are you in Christ, having been baptized into Christ and in so doing "put
on Christ"?  If so, then you are blessed to be a true heir of Abraham
according to the promise...!