Danger of persistently refusing God's offer of salvation (Hebrews 2:1-4)

 A friend pointed out to me the truths from Hebrews 2:1-4 that was in the new believers bible.

Summary: The danger is not merely committing isolated sins but persistently refusing God's offer of salvation.

The Big Idea

Hebrews 2:1-4 calls every reader to a decisive response:

• Listen carefully to God's Word.
• Do not drift into spiritual neglect.
• Receive the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
• Trust the gospel God confirmed through Christ, the apostles, miracles, and the Holy Spirit.
• Persevere in faith rather than ignoring God's gracious invitation.

The passage presents both God's grace and human responsibility. God has spoken through His Son, provided complete salvation through the cross, confirmed that message with signs and wonders, and continues to call people through the Holy Spirit. The question Hebrews asks every reader is simple: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3). The implied answer is that there is no greater rescue than the one God has already provided in Christ.

Key Theme: Don't Drift. Respond to God's Salvation.
Primary text: Hebrews 2:1-4

The warning in Hebrews is not primarily against ignorance, but against neglect. Spiritual drift is usually gradual. The writer urges believers to pay close attention to Christ because the salvation He offers is greater than anything that came before.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Hebrews 3:12-15: Guard your heart against unbelief that slowly pulls you away from God.
• James 1:22: Be doers of the Word, not merely hearers.
• John 5:24: Whoever hears Christ and believes has eternal life.
• Romans 10:9-13: Salvation is received by believing and calling on Christ.

Summary: God has spoken clearly through His Son. The proper response is faith, obedience, and perseverance.

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Key Theme: God Desires Everyone to Be Saved

God's heart is consistently revealed as one of mercy and invitation rather than condemnation.

Supporting Scriptures:

• 2 Peter 3:9: God is patient, not wishing that any should perish.
• 1 Timothy 2:3-4: God desires all people to be saved.
• Ezekiel 33:11: God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires repentance.
• John 3:16-17: Christ came to save the world, not condemn it.

Summary: God's desire is universal salvation, but His invitation must be personally received.

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Key Theme: God's Invitation Requires a Human Response

Salvation is God's work, yet Scripture consistently calls people to respond.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Matthew 11:28-30: Jesus invites the weary to come.
• Revelation 22:17: Whoever is thirsty may freely receive the water of life.
• Acts 2:38: Repent and be baptized.
• Acts 17:30: God commands all people everywhere to repent.
• Isaiah 55:6-7: Seek the Lord while He may be found.

Summary: Grace is freely offered, but faith and repentance are genuine responses that God calls every person to make.

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Key Theme: Salvation Is Entirely God's Work

People cannot save themselves. Forgiveness, justification, and new life come only through Christ.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Ephesians 2:8-9: Salvation is by grace through faith, not works.
• Titus 3:5: God saved us because of His mercy.
• Romans 3:23-24: We are justified freely through Christ's redemption.
• John 14:6: Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Summary: Salvation is accomplished by Christ alone and received through faith.

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Key Theme: Human Responsibility Is Real

God does not coerce belief. Scripture repeatedly presents people with a genuine choice to accept or reject Him.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Joshua 24:15: Choose this day whom you will serve.
• Deuteronomy 30:19-20: Choose life.
• John 1:11-13: Some rejected Christ, while others received Him.
• Romans 1:18-21: Humanity is accountable because God has made Himself known.

Summary: God's sovereignty does not eliminate human responsibility. Every person is accountable for how they respond to Christ.

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Key Theme: God Confirmed the Gospel Through Signs and Wonders

Hebrews emphasizes that the gospel was not based on human opinion. God authenticated it through miraculous works.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Mark 16:20: The Lord confirmed the message with accompanying signs.
• Acts 2:22: Jesus was accredited by miracles, wonders, and signs.
• Acts 5:12: Many signs and wonders occurred through the apostles.
• 2 Corinthians 12:12: Apostolic ministry was authenticated by signs and miracles.
• John 20:30-31: Jesus' signs were recorded so people would believe.

Summary: Miracles did not replace faith, but they confirmed God's revelation concerning Jesus Christ.

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Key Theme: Ignoring the Gospel Has Eternal Consequences

Hebrews presents one of the New Testament's strongest warnings against neglecting salvation.

Supporting Scriptures:

• John 3:18: Whoever does not believe stands condemned already.
• John 3:36: Whoever rejects the Son remains under God's wrath.
• Matthew 25:46: Jesus describes eternal life and eternal punishment.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9: Judgment comes upon those who reject the gospel.
• Hebrews 10:26-31: Deliberately rejecting God's provision leaves no other sacrifice for sins.

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Life's work: Abijah to Zechariah to John the Baptist (Nehemiah 12:1-7)

The Bible is full of genealogies because people matter to God. Our lives impact other lives and way we live matters and brings fulfillment to the promises of God. Better than a short video in a doom scroll is the span of generations working together for God's glory. People in the world today are sick from a lack of focus, shows up in anxiety (fomo), gluttony, debauchery, and other spiritual afflictions. 

• Gluttony is the overindulgence, habitual greed, or excessive consumption of food, drink, or worldly goods, traditionally regarded as one of the seven deadly sins. Historically originating from early Christian monastics, it signifies a lack of self-control, prioritizing physical pleasure over spiritual or rational restraint.
• Debauchery is the excessive, habitual indulgence in sensual pleasures, such as alcohol, drugs, or sexual immorality, often characterized by wild, uninhibited behavior. It reflects a decay of moral integrity and self-control, leading to addiction, health issues, broken relationships, and social dysfunction. Synonyms include debauch, riot, and licentiousness, while antonyms include sobriety and moderation
• Righteousness, knowing we're wrong and believing in God's promises (Romans 3)
  

Spiritual affliction is an outgrowth of anxiety, gluttony and debauchery and usually shows up in five consistent patterns:

1. Torment or oppression (Saul tormented by an evil spirit, 1 Samuel 16:14–23; woman bound by Satan, Luke 13:16) Jesus teaches about sin, its character and universality (Matthew 15:4,10-11, 16-20)
2. Temptation and accusation (Jesus tempted in the wilderness, Matthew 4:1–11; Satan accusing Joshua, Zechariah 3:1–4; Satan sifting Peter, Luke 22:31–32) God’s Purposes in Life’s Hardships The Doctrine of Suffering
3. Inner anguish or heaviness of soul (David’s conviction and distress, Psalm 32:3–4; Hannah’s bitterness of soul, 1 Samuel 1:10–15; cast-down soul, Psalm 42:5) God hears the prisoner and brings freedom on the inside (Psalm 68:5-6)
4. Discipline or humbling (God’s loving discipline, Hebrews 12:5–11; Paul’s thorn in the flesh, 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; wilderness testing, Deuteronomy 8:2–3) "I tell you the truth" is a repeated theme of Jesus - Holy Love of God.
5. Persecution because of righteousness (early church persecution, Acts 5:40–41; suffering for Christ, 1 Peter 4:12–16; blessing in persecution, Matthew 5:10–12). Every child of God defeats this evil world through faith - 1 John 5:4-5, 2 Cor 10:3-5

What's your life's work leading to? How would an honest person following after you perceive your life? Where is God revealing that change is needed? When will you make an appointment for surgery under God's knife to cut out the disease (Heb 4:12) and get right with God (2 Cor 6:2, Isa 49:8, Heb 3:7-8, 3:15, 4:7)?

Nehemiah 12:1-7, priest and Levites returned, documented a third time, emphasizing importance

• 22 names is triple documentation: most appear in the original return lists (Ezra 2), reappear as covenant signers (Neh 10), and then surface again in the wall dedication (Neh 12:27-43). 
• Nehemiah is making a theological argument through genealogy: the community standing at the dedicated walls is the same community that came home from exile, made covenant with God, and organized around legitimate Davidic-era worship structures.
• Abijah (Nehemiah 12:4) to-Zechariah-to-John the Baptist 

• 1 Chronicles 24:1-19 — David and Zadok organize the priests into 24 rotating divisions for temple service. Verse 10 names Abijah as the eighth division.

  This is the institutional origin. Every priest born into this family line would serve in the temple rotation under the name "the division of Abijah" — for centuries.

• Nehemiah 12:4 — Abijah is listed among the priests who returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua from Babylon.

  Nehemiah 12:17 — The family is still represented one generation later in the days of Joiakim.

  This is the critical continuity link. The division didn't die in Babylon. It came home, reregistered, and resumed rotating temple service in the Second Temple — which is exactly what makes Luke 1 historically credible.

• Luke 1:5-10

  "In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron."

  Luke 1:11-20 — The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah while he is burning incense at the altar. He announces that Elizabeth will bear a son, to be named John, who will go before the Lord "in the spirit and power of Elijah" (v.17).

  Luke 1:57-63 — John is born. Zechariah confirms the name in writing: "His name is John."

The Full Thread at a Glance

Reference	Event
1 Chr 24:10	David creates the division of Abijah — 8th of 24
Neh 12:4	Abijah's priests return from Babylon with Zerubbabel
Neh 12:17	Division continues into the next generation
Luke 1:5	Zechariah identified as a priest of Abijah's division
Luke 1:9-11	Zechariah serves in the temple; Gabriel appears
Luke 1:13-17	John's birth and mission announced
Luke 1:76-79	Zechariah prophesies John as the forerunner
Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1; 4:5	OT prophecies John fulfills
Matt 3:1-3; John 1:23	John's ministry as the voice in the wilderness
Matt 11:13-14	Jesus confirms: John is the promised Elijah-forerunner

The thread spans roughly 1,000 years — from David's organization of temple worship (ca. 960 BC), through the exile, through Nehemiah's restoration (ca. 445 BC), to Zechariah's temple service under Herod (ca. 6-5 BC). Luke's single phrase "division of Abijah" is a quietly powerful claim: the God who organized Israel's worship under David, preserved it through Babylon, rebuilt it under Nehemiah, is the same God who sent his messenger through that same unbroken institutional line. Providence working through priestly bureaucracy. 

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"I Asked God" shows us how to listen to God

Poems are great when you understand the person who wrote them. "I Asked God" by Claudia Minden Weisz is often shared on social media and has a stoic voice around what God gives and the desired response. He gives us a desire to pray for and wisdom to see how it's accomplished. This is akin to the still small voice of God. The phrase "still small voice" is a biblical reference that appears in 1 Kings 19:12: In the story of Elijah, God speaks to him in a still small voice after sending a wind, earthquake, and fire. The phrase is used to illustrate that God's work doesn't always need to be accompanied by dramatic manifestations.

• To give up prideful habits, rather God taking it away. (Romans 12:1-4)
• To see the spiritual reality in people, rather than the physical (2 Corinthians 4:16)
• To have patience is to go through tribulation with God (Psalm 46:10, Psalm 1:1-6)
• To have joyful happiness is receiving blessings of God (James 1:17)
• To separate from the world is painful but joy is in relationship with God (Hebrews 11)
• To grow spiritually we must receive nourishment, light, and pruning (John 15)
• To know God's love is to know and follow Jesus (Hebrews 12)
• To love others is God's desire for us (John 12:23-13:20)

We're starting the Prayer Course at MNTC next week. Christian prayer is a way for Christians to communicate with God and develop a personal relationship with him. It can be a form of worship, praise, or conversation. Christians pray for many reasons, including: 

• Expressing gratitude: Thanking God for blessings
• Asking for help: Requesting guidance, healing, or clarity
• Confessing sins: Asking for forgiveness
• Praying for others: Interceding on behalf of others
• Expressing thoughts and feelings: Sharing love, fears, and desires with God

Prayer is a central part of the Christian life, and Christians are encouraged to pray "continually". Some ways that Christians pray include: 

• Vocal prayer: Following the example of Christ, who taught the Our Father to his disciples 
• Meditation: A prayerful practice that involves thought, emotion, imagination, and desire 
• Contemplative prayer: A practice that involves the Holy Spirit and is compared to a kiss from God 
• Formal prayers: Pre-written prayers like The Lord's Prayer, which are often used in special ceremonies 
• Informal prayers: "Chatty" prayers that Christians often use 
• Arrow prayers: Quick prayers for specific situations 

"I Asked God" by Claudia Minden Weisz

I asked God to take away my pride (habit), And God said, “No.”

He said it was not for Him to take it away, But for me to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, And God said, “No.”

He said her spirit already is, While her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience, And God said, “No.”

He said patience is a by-product of tribulation; It isn’t granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, And God said, “No.”

He said “I give blessings; Happiness is up to you.”

I asked God to spare me pain, And God said, “No.”

He said, “Suffering draws you apart from Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow, And God said, “No.”

He said I must grow on my own, But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me, And God said, “Yes.”

He gave me His only Son, who died for me. And I will be in heaven someday.

I asked God to help me love others As much as He loves me,

And God said, “Ah, finally, you have the idea.”

• Lord help me give up Pride: (Psalm 10:4 (NLT) — The wicked are too proud to seek God. Psalm 75:4-7 (NLT) — 4 I warned the proud, 'Stop your boasting! Proverbs 11:2 (NLT) — Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 13:10 (NLT) — Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

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Stephen's life demonstrates Christian living (Acts 6-7)

Yesterday President Trump was downtown Minneapolis and many went to protest and support. I've never had faith in politics but rather focus on what I can do, supporting people around me. I believe that sharing the good news about Jesus is the second best thing I can do for people, the first being to pray for them. In Acts 6-7 we see the faith of the early church playing out. They show us the criteria for leadership and tangible results from being full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew, the twelve were Hebraic Jews. (Acts 6:1,3)
 - Stephen a foreigner, includes himself in Israel's history "our ancestors" (Acts 7:39)
Stephen did miracles and signs, but not an "apostle" or is an apostle simply a "messenger"
Stephen was a leader/teacher - agrees to the call to serve the widows daily distribution of food
Stephen declared the good news, fully showing knowledge and understanding - demonstrated wisdom
 - Stephen's life impacted Saul (later Paul) Acts 7:58

He demonstrated courage to face opposition (Acts 6:8-15), witness boldly (Acts 7:1-53 and pray for your enemies (Acts 7:54-60)

1-4) growing, the ethnically-diverse church needs help serving food
 - twelve with ALL disciples together
 - not right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God
 - "choose seven men from among you"
Criteria: full of the Spirit and wisdom

5-6) They chose Stephen, full of faith and Holy Spirit, grace and power, wonders and signs (Acts 6:8)
 - Stephen answered the call
 - Philip (Acts 8:5-13,26-40, 21:8 evangelist), Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
 - and Nicolas from Antioch (Acts 11:19, Rev 2:6,15), a convert to Judaism (Matthew 23:15).

7-10) God's word spread, rapid, obedient to the faith, Stephen full of God's grace/power, spoke wisdom
 - 11) Opposition, Synagogue of the Freedmen, secretly persuaded some to say "he spoke blasphemously"
 - 12-15) stirred up people, elders, teachers - produced false witnesses, against holy place, law, Moses

7:1-53) Stephen was recounting God's word given to Abraham - Moses - Joshua - David - Solomon, about Jesus. Warning people:
You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Acts 7:51
Take off your sandals and put on the Gospel of Peace

54-60) They killed Stephen, yet Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit...do not hold this sin against them."

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Laying sunbeams in a row

Warren Wiersbe "I felt like a man trying to lay sunbeams in a row while evening was marching inexorably in"

Work can feel impossible, with God all things are possible (Christ, listening, receptive to wisdom)

• Simple, pure devotion to Christ is all that's needed (2 Cor 11:3)
• Regret: A life lived well comes from listening to instruction and reproof (Proverbs 5:11-14)
• If we're receptive to wisdom and ask for it, Lord reveals it to us (Proverbs 2:1-10

I'm again reminded that Christians united, single-minded according to scripture (1 Peter 3:8-4:19) make the difference:

1 Peter 4:13-14) be eager to do good, you'll be safe, if mistreated for righteousness - still blessed by God

15-16) In heart set Christ apart as Lord, ready to give a logical defense of hope and confident assurance elicited by faith I have with gentleness and respect, let them see my good life because I belong to Christ

17) it's better to suffer for good than wrong

Lord bless the people I work for today, that they would see you. Bless the final class of Alpha, that each man would have a miraculous testimony to share - that they would be eager to find out. In Jesus name, amen. 

God can "lay the sunbeams in a row" - amen

Philippians 2:2 "Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."

1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

From Practical ways to depend on God alone

Prayer is, among other things, an acknowledgment of God’s power, promises, and provision. When you pray, you show our dependence on God. The biblical command is to “present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

later this morning, at just the right time of year, where the sun reflects on the edges of a curved building - the lord shows me this:

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Birds to carry away evil spirits and other miracles

I had a vision yesterday morning about all the birds that were flocking around my brother in his battle with mental illness. I thought, was this a gift from God, that a minister would deliver him from demons, by casting the spirits into these birds. These birds hung around him for weeks. I thought, should we have prayed to cast the spirits of illness into those birds like Jesus did with pigs?

Yesterday evening I took my dog for a walk and she wouldn't move. She gave me a look like she was unfamiliar with me (have you ever experienced a dog's look like they're trying to say something). It reminds me of Balams donkey.

Anyway, I thought it was because I wore a jacket I don't normally wear. She stopped me three time and finally I turned around to go home. When we got home, she wouldn't come to the door. So I decided to play with her in the snow (which we got a foot of snow in answer to prayer to allow the time needed for my sister and her husband to come live with me from Colorado)... I've been experiencing miraculous events like this for several weeks now...

So we're playing "throw the snow balls, back and forth" when I notice about 100 sea gulls coming towards me from the west. Flying over my house and on both sides. I remembered my vision and began to pray that the spirits of hostility, anger, bitterness, resentment, cruelty, hatred, lust, greed, envy, malice and all attitudes not of God would be banished from my sister, her husband, my life, my wife. That they would be sent to these birds, carried far away... now 50 birds passed by but the others are hovering over my house and the circle out front, swarming together... and about another 100 birds come from the west join them. I keep praying, thanksgiving for Gods faithfulness, provision, healing, grace, mercies and peace. I ask God to replace where that evil was and give his Holy Spirit to us in a new way...Remove the guilt, shame, lies, evil, selfshiness, pride and self-hatred from us Lord. Banish it into these birds and send them away. In Jesus name. Then more birds came from the west and the swarm moved away to the east.

I praised God they didn't land but moved away and believed these spirits were removed from my household as I prayed.

I went inside my home and was preparing for my talk on the meaning of life according to Christian faith when I noticed a book by Nick Vujicic. I opened it up and was drawn to a section were Nick gives his testimony of meeting Joni Erickson Tada for the first time. It was an encouraging story that talk about the 1 Thessalonians 5:18, I sent this very verse to my sister and her husband in the morning. So I showed this to them and explained how this wasn't a coincidence... God often harmonizes the events and people in life to show what I should do.

After they went to bed, I saw my brother in law had been doing a Bible crossword puzzle on Mary Magdalene, who even as a child of Abraham was possessed by seven evil spirits before Christ healed her.

I found the word "forgiveness" and praised God for his everlasting love and great faithfulness.

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Jesus heals the sick, feeds 5,000 and walks on water

John 6:1-21
AIM: God's miraclous grace is abundant, mankinds apathy is abhorant
A) Jesus heals the sick then feeds 5,000 from 5 loaves, 2 fish with 12 leftover baskets
(1-2) Jesus, far shore Sea of Galilee (72 times, Tiberias just here), crowd followed signs, healing sick
(3-4) Jesus mountainside, sat disciples Jewish Passover Festival near
(5-6) Jesus saw crowd, tested Philip “where can we buy bread” – knowing his plan
(7) Philp “1/2 year’s wages for single bite
(8-9) Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother “Here boy, 5 barley loaves 2 small fish, but how far?”
(10-11) Jesus: “people sit down”, took loaves/fish gave thanks, distributed as much as they wanted

• Giving thanks magnify's God (Psalm 69:30)
• "Come Lord Jesus be our guest, bless this food prepared for us Amen" Psalm 50:14 "Pay your vows to the Most High"

(12) All enough to eat, Jesus commands gather left over/nothing wasted
(13) filled 12 baskets with pieces of 5 barley loaves
Application: Jesus Feeds 5,000+ and Promise we will do more. How am I recognizing God's healing by the nature of my body? How much "Left over" does God want me to recognize and use for his glory?

B) People see Jesus as Prophet and try to force him to be king
(14) After, “sign” people said he’s THE Prophet (John 1:21,25;7:40)
(15) Jesus knowing they intended make him king by force withdrew to mountains by himself
Application: What's my motivation for following Christ? What evidence in my life shows God is with me and not retreating from me?

C) Jesus sends disciples to Capernaum and walks on water
(16-17) evening came disciples set across lake for Capernaum
(18-19) strong wind, rough water rowed 4 miles saw Jesus walk water frightened
(20-21) Jesus "don't be afraid", then willing to take him in - immediately boat reached shore
Application: Where am I seeing Jesus show up in "imposible places"

“sea of Chinneroth This inland sea, or rather lake, which drives its several names, the Lake of Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Lake of Gennesaret, from the territory which forms its western and south-western border, is computed to be between seventeen and eighteen mile in length, and from five to six in breadth. The waters of this lake, which are sweet and agreeable, lie in a deep basin, surrounded with lofty hills, except at the north and south, where it is a plain country or level. There is a current through the whole lake even to the shore; and the Jordan through it is discernible by the smoothness of the surface in that part. Its appearance from the north- western extremity is said by Mr. Buckingham to be exceedingly grand; but the barren aspect of the mountains on each side, and the total absence of wood, give a cast of dullness to the picture.” - http://biblehub.com/joshua/12-3.htm

http://biblehub.com/john/6-1.htm
Praying over food

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Jesus Feeds 5,000+ and Promise we will do more

Only two miracles are noted in all four gospels, the resurrection of Jesus and the feeding of the 5,000. We partake in the abundance of God's grace when we ask in faith, in Jesus name - we will experience even greater things (John 14:12-14). The disciples were like many ministry teams, filled with doubt and troubled by the cost of success. They would say, "We don't make money therefore we don't operate in terms of profitability of our programs and processes." Taking a look at the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus promise that we will  do more brings a fresh perspective, enriching our understanding of the reality of God's grace when connected to our child like faith.

Read the accounts:
Matthew 14:17-21; Mark 6:37-44; Luke 9:13-17; John 6:7-13;John 14:12-14

The Problem: Herod killed John the Baptist, knowing that this might cause a riot because people believed he was a prophet (Matthew 14:1-12). Huge crowds of people were following Jesus from many towns convinced Jesus was the Christ (Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:34; 1:49; 11:27; Matthew 27:54; John 10:36; John 11:4; Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41; Mark 3:11; John 20:31) , with compassion Jesus healed their sick. When evening came, disciples said "This is a desolate place, the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves" (Matthew 14:13-15).

Jesus Command: Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16)

Disciples Attitude:

• That's not our job: Mark 6:37 NLT highlights this attitude, as they said "With what?" Luke 9:13-14 shows the disciples meager resources of 5 loaves and 2 fish and the huge task of feeding 5,000 men plus woman and children. Serving people food at the end of an already stressful day was not in their job description. In this ministry I do these things, during normal working hours. This is both overtime and someone else's problem. Their response to Jesus was faithless.

Disciples Plans:
We can but it will take so long that everyone would be dead by the time we completed the task. Here's the highlights of our research;

• We can't, no one can, it's impossible: The disciples calculated it would take 200 days of labor, minus the Sabbath and PTO, sure Jesus we could certainly get it done but by the time we did all this plus shipping and handling, the people would be dead from starvation. So maybe we should do it our way and send them home. What do you think Jesus? Besides, research shows that people like these prefer going into nearby villages and buy their own food.

God's Plan:

Jesus essentially says, "Have faith, bring me your resources, follow my instructions and I'll bring a super natural increase, let start and finish this task today"

• You, take an assessment of what we have (Mark 6:38), bring it to God (Matthew 14:18)
• You take a look at the problem with a fresh perspective, it's not one huge crowd - it's manageable groups of 50s or 100s. 
• You organize them, not in sand but on the green grass (Mark 6:39). This is where harmonizing the gospel accounts get's interesting. While Matthew says Jesus ordered the crowds to sit on the grass (Matthew 16:19), Luke's account clarifies the disciples role in fulfilling the command (Luke 9:14-15)
• God always blesses the resource brought to him, 
• AND 
• You (the disciple) faithfully redistribute for solving problems and fulfilling needs. (Mark 6:41; Luke 9:16; John 6:11; Matthew 14:19). Notice Matthew's passage points out that resource given to Jesus and received from Jesus are given to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. And the John passage points out that everyone had their fill.

God's Promise for his Disciples today:

God's grace is immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, yet he wants us to ask for it.

• Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
• “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (John 14:12-14)

Feeding of the 5,000 and promise that we will do more.
Does Jesus in fact say that He is God’s Son, not just infer it?

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