9000 and counting.....

I was reading the Gospel of Mark recently, and found myself confronted with a question that had never crossed my mind before.  I'd just finished reading about two situations in which Jesus miraculously fed people from very little provision.  Combining the numbers from both occasions, within a short time span, Jesus took a few fishes and several loaves of bread and fed over 9000 people, the Gospel reveals to us.  A very short time later, a great many of the Jews are gathering in Jerusalem for the Passover and it is at this time that Jesus is arrested in the garden at Gethsemane.  Pilot, taking the advice of his wife who experienced a prophetic dream attempts to free Jesus, as he has a custom of freeing a prisoner each Passover, at the request of the Jewish people.

I found myself wondering, how many of the 9000 He had miraculously fed were among those crowds at that time?  And of those in attendance, how many willingly followed the instruction of the misguided religious leaders and called for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus?  How many were easily led to believe what was told them about Jesus by those they thought were "in the know" rather than what they had actually experienced of Him themselves?  Which naturally led me to this next question.  How many of us STILL do that today?

Specifically, as we travel and share the Gospel, we run into so many people (enough that it seems a trend!) who have been led to believe that the "christian life" is supposed to be one of ease, abundance of "stuff" such as MONEY, and attaining every (selfish) desire of our own hearts!  Far too many appear to be of the opinion that "choosing" Christ means all they have to do is attend church once in a while, be respectful toward those who are "leaders" in the church and that God, because He loves them, expects nothing more of them. 

Yet the truth is so different from that picture.  Jesus made it so plain that in this life, we would experience trials and tribulations, and even that "the world" would HATE us for His names sake!  We've been falsely led to believe that if we don't get quick easy answers that suit our idea of "deliverance" in any given situation, it must be "the devil" coming against us or some "hidden" sin we've failed to confess.  Lip service is given to the idea of trials and tribulation and suffering trouble, but in reality, we are so unprepared for actual trials and so wrongly expecting fast easy answers!



                      ??!?! WHY ??!?!   

We aren't being properly instructed concerning the POWER to overcome!  Jesus finished the statement about trials and tribulations and being hated by encouraging us - that HE has overcome the world!  Through Him, we can also overcome!  When trials come, we are NOT being punished, we are being lovingly provided opportunity for GROWTH AND STRENGTHENING in the Spirit!  If we never go "through" we will also never GROW UP IN HIM as Paul talks about in his letters to the churches.  The power to overcome is in exercising our FAITH.  Faith is not a verb until it is put into action!  And overcoming faith is the kind that operates with wisdom and knowledge. 

Like any muscle, our "faith muscle" has no strength if it isn't exercised regularly!  When you first go to the gym, you usually aren't going to lift 350 pounds and do 500 sit ups if you haven't been doing anything previously.  It takes time to build muscle.  And it only happens as you exercise REGULARLY!  None of this happens on a "hit or miss" work out once a week, once a month or once a year!  Faith works on the same principle.  As you regularly "work out" your faith by:

                        

        * reading Gods written word on a daily basis
        * praying and worshipping God 
        * spending time in fellowship with other likeminded believers 
You will find yourself growing in every area of the Christian life.  That is exactly as God intends for each of us.  We are to actively engage in the "work of the ministry".  (See Ephesians - read the whole book, it'll be good for you!) The work of the ministry isn't for Ordained Clergy only, its for every single person who confesses Christ as Savior!  We are all to lead others to a saving knowledge of Christ.  We are all told to equip other saints of God for this work of ministry.  We are all told we are to build up the Body of Christ in LOVE!   Trust me, LOVE takes some real "work outs" to fully develop!  It just doesn't come naturally to our flesh to put others above ourselves.

I often hear people quote Psalm 37:4 as proof God will give them whatever THEY want! 

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will
give you the desires of your heart! 

Do you truly understand what idea is being conveyed here?  This doesn't mean that God will give you whatever YOUR FLESH desires!  He knows better!  He knows our hearts are 'continually wicked'!  What this scripture is conveying to us is that "as we DELIGHT in the LORD"- HE WILL GIVE OR CAUSE OUR HEARTS TO DESIRE RIGHTEOUS THINGS!  Then, as our hearts desire those righteous things, He will bring them to pass!  Or as I like to put it:

God gives you what your heart should be desiring and THEN God gives you those desires!

As we do the exercising, He brings the POWER to bear on our behalf.  You might ask, WHY is it important our faith muscles be strong?   Next time my friends, let's talk SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

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