I
have compassion for these people.
2.
They
have already been with me three days.
3. They
have nothing to eat.
4. If
I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way.
5. They
have come a long distance.
I
decided to look at statement 3 today:
Interpretations:
I asked myself the significance of Jesus saying
'They have nothing to eat!'?
Jesus knew what was happening in His surroundings whatever it
maybe because Jesus was observant. Jesus did not just involve Himself in
the spiritual dimension but also the physical dimension as evidenced by
the fact that Jesus said to His disciples 'They
have nothing to eat!'
Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. It is exciting to know if
Jesus knew about the crowds and what they were facing in their
surroundings, I can be confident that Jesus knows about my surroundings
too. Knowing that Jesus knows about my surroundings can give me
confidence. He will take care of me no matter what, just as Jesus
intervened to take care of all the crowd.
Testimony related to
Surroundings:
Yesterday, the afternoon of May 03, 2009, in my surroundings I
found out, a person threw away all my booklets, not knowing they were
mine, but nonetheless 100+ InterVarsity Press (IVP) booklets were thrown
away. I don't think the person knew much about InterVarsity Press (IVP)
and the kind of Biblically based booklets they put out, otherwise that
person may not have thrown them away but it happened. I knew only the
Lord Jesus can give me back those booklets back and He knows the
surroundings I was in. I prayed about it and asked Jesus for help in my
surroundings. I was surrounded by a huge dumpster and many huge hefty
garbage bags. Why let the garbage have something that can be used to
impact people for the Kingdom of God such as these booklets that I have
used hundreds of times to reach students with the love of Christ. Anyway
through the physical pain of a sprained ankle, I searched on the surface
of the dumpster to no avail. But, I knew Jesus already knew where they
were. I got an idea to search particular bags first before going through
everything. BOTTOM LINE: Those booklets were found and in good shape
because they were separately thrown in one bag. That was awesome to
know! Jesus helped me find them!
Lest, there is a misunderstanding, I want you to know not every
surroundings we are in will work out the way we want it too but will
work out God's way in His timing. I misplaced my battery for my
camcorder somewhere at home. I don't remember where I put it but I know
Jesus knows my surroundings and will give it to me in His timing. He
will bring it to remembrance or make me clean the place so I can find
it. In other words, it is possible to motivate me to clean the room, the
battery's whereabouts has not come to my memory. Praise the Lord.
Through these incidents the Lord Jesus revealed different things
to me:
1. Jesus knows about my surroundings no matter how frustrated I am and
that He can intervene as He did.
2. He can use our surroundings to help someone else in need too. Because
I was searching for the books, I came across a 10-year old boy that had
gone hiking with me 2 years ago. He gave me company while I was
searching and I was able to teach him things he wanted to know. More
than that, it was a relief to his mom because she knew there was someone
she could trust that could baby sit him until 5:00 p.m. yesterday. I had
not expected to baby sit but I did because I wanted the mom to be free
to do what she has to do instead of worrying about her son. He
asked me after I find the booklets then what? I told him that he could
use my laptop to play games while I do my work. He had so much fun and
the mom was free too. I was able to get my work done too while he was
playing games.
3. I praise the Lord for Jesus knowing my surroundings and
intervening to help me just as He helped a mother because I happened to
be there in search of the booklets. If the booklets were not thrown
away, then I would not have been there. If I was not there, then the boy
would not have had a babysitter. Jesus orchestrates even things that
don't go our way for His purposes and in His timing sets things
straight! In the same way, I am motivated to clean my room so I can find
my battery. God can use our surroundings to motivate us! Praise
the Lord!
I ask you now dear friend, what does not
Jesus know about your surroundings in life?
Dear friend, there is nothing Jesus does not know about your
surroundings in life. For He who created you and put you on this earth
already knew the surroundings you would be placed in. For some of you,
your surroundings have always been difficult to live in and for
others it has seemed easy. Regardless of what your surroundings are, if
you belong to Jesus Christ and spend time with Him, you need not worry
about your surroundings.
The crowd was there with Jesus for 3 days and Jesus took care of
their spiritual needs and now was in the process of addressing their
physical needs too in their surroundings such as eating.
Jesus can do that for you too friend no matter what surroundings
you are facing.
Maybe, the surroundings you are in are so
bad that you just want to give up and not have to deal with
circumstances anymore?
But, don't give up because I know wherever you are and whatever
you are going through, you do not have to face it alone. Though the tide
of battles comes in like a rushing wave to cover you, you will not drown
when you are watched over by the Master Himself.
Jesus loves you so much that Jesus shows that love for you by
His care too. Jesus wants to watch over you as He has in my own life.
Jesus knows your surroundings and what you are going through. Wait on
the Lord and let Him deal with the surroundings of your life. Reflect on
them and share them with others because sometimes the Lord Jesus uses
others to influence your surroundings for your good.
Now there is a surrounding we all face in humanity. It is being
surrounded by a deadly virus. There is humanly no way out to escape this
deadly virus. The swine-flu has nothing over this deadly virus. People
are afraid that the swine flu will become such a pandemic that it will
kill thousands of people. That itself is sad but there is a universal
pandemic in our surroundings we all need to be aware of. No outside mask
will protect us from this pandemic. People are dying across the world
because of being surrounded by this pandemic and deadly virus. Lives are
being shattered and becoming destructive.
The sad thing is that there is an antidote available to fight
this deadly virus but humanity thinks they can handle it on their own so
they go their own way.
How about you?
You want to handle this virus on your own?
We all have this deadly virus in us and it will kill. I
don't want to be killed by this virus and I hope you don't to.
It does not matter who we are or how great of a human being
others say we are. This deadly virus does not care about our
accomplishments or our rewards. All it wants to do is KILL, KILL, KILL.
But there is a way out for you and I to take. It is the ANTIDOTE
that is provided to overcome this deadly virus in our surroundings. You
need to FILL, FILL, FILL your body, heart, mind, and soul with it.
Those who take the ANTIDOTE will forever be cleansed of this
deadly virus through a process called JUSTIFICATION.
Yes, friend the JUSTIFICATION, I am talking about is the
JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE.
You see friend, you or I no matter what good we do, it is not
actually good in the eyes of the Lord because everything is seen through
this deadly virus that pollutes and contaminates. But God in His love
for us gave us a way out with the REDDEST ANTIDOTE to overcome this
deadly virus.
The antidote: Christ's cleansing blood
The deadly virus: Sin
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died
for our sins"
Christ died for our sins so that we can be justified by His
grace through the redemption offered through His blood. Jesus provided
the antidote for us in our surroundings.
Friend, it is His blood that washes away all our sin. Yet, Jesus
won't force His antidote upon us but by His grace offers it freely to
all who will receive it. It is a gift of the Father who created this
Universe and wants to restore His creation to Himself.
Jesus wants you restored to the Father and has a provided a way
for you to be restored. Take the blood Jesus offers and give your life
over to Him so He can begin a new transformation by His grace. This is a
process called SANCTIFICATION.
Now as we live our lives JUSTIFIED BY FAITH THROUGH HIS GRACE,
we are also BEING SANCTIFIED BY FAITH THROUGH HIS GRACE so we can
experience being GLORIFIED with Christ in the end! Praise the Lord.
Jesus alone has the antidote for our sin and we need to give
ourselves completely to Jesus. All that we are, all that we do,
everything needs to go at the feet of Jesus. Jesus will take care of the
rest.
Won't you do that friend?
Won't you come as you are to Jesus and allow Him to be the
Master of your Life. He loves you so much and will take care of you!
Praise the Lord!
All of us face the surroundings of sin but thanks be to the Lord
as the song goes, "What can wash my sins away, nothing but the BLOOD OF
JESUS. What can make me pure again, nothing but the BLOOD OF JESUS"
Jesus went to the Cross so we need NOT pay for the deadly virus that
only gives Eternal destruction. We are covered by the blood of the Lamb.
Jesus came to save us from all our sin when we turn to Him and yield our
lives over to Him. Praise the Lord!
There is no one that can know about all your surroundings except
the Creator of the Universe. God knows what happens in His universe. He
allows things to happen for His purposes no matter how painful they
maybe.
So friend, you can be assured when you are His child, He will
take care of you and your interests even before you ask Him just like He
took care of the crowds and EVEN MY WANTS of finding the BOOKLETS. That
is wonderful to know that we have received what we need even before we
can ask of Jesus. Praise the Lord. Sometimes He lets us have our wants
to! Praise the Lord!
Jesus saw our surroundings and died on the cross for us to
redeem us by His blood and came back to life to save us so He is able to
give all Salvation when they are surrounded by Him. Praise the Lord!
May you know that your surroundings are looked over by Jesus
because we are surrounded under Redeemer's redemption and our
understanding Nurturer's death is now giving Salvation!
"Surrounded Under Redeemer's Redemption,
Our Understanding Nurturer's Death Is Now Giving Salvation!" (S.U.R.R.O.U.N.D.I.N.G.S)/"What
does Jesus not know about your S.U.R.R.O.U.N.D.I.N.G.S. in life?"
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for knowing the surroundings of where
the crowd was. You were very observantly aware of the surroundings to
the point you knew that they had nothing to eat. That puts an excitement
in me to know that you know my surroundings and what I need even before
I ask. You do it in your timings and your timings are the best. I love
you Lord and need you. I pray right now for those in bad surroundings
who are looking for a way out. You are their way out Oh Lord Jesus.
You know the earth is surrounded by sin and Only your intervention can
change that. I thank you that you already paid the price for all
humanity to come to you. Your spirit initiated it. Thanks so much for I
know I need you always and so many others need you even those who think
they don't need you need you. Lord, sin causes so much damage but we
look to the One who already damaged sin on the cross by your precious
blood. Please cover us in your blood. Thank you so much Jesus. Thanks
for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
May
you experience the POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION this day, and give Him
the LOCKED areas of your life too so you can experience His PEACE as you
become an ACTOR in the film called LIFE being directed by your DIRECTOR,
JESUS CHRIST who comes to give JOY and PEACE.
You
don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and
give you peace to live out your actions.
How
do you look at GODISNOWHERE?
One
of my pastors, Pastor Hugo shared this example this past Sunday at the
RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh
Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:
If
you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin
and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no
peace.
But
as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to
tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.
Yes,
friend God is alive and wants to bring a transformation in your life
through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on
the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and live
with us.
Yes,
friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE
& LIVING GRACE.
When
we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive
us and restore us to Him and we will find peace in Him.
"Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the
world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he
has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore
Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him
who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God." (Colossians 5:17-21, NIV)
"For the wages
of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his
Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)
Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our
sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge
so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the
finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.
"For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not
by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)
May
you come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior becoming
His offspring so you can spend Eternity with Him. He is waiting for you.
Come as you are. Please do not reject the gift of God.
If
you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a
daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be
alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them
come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to
wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as
you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart and finding your new
identity in Christ Jesus.
Make this your prayer. Don’t let
the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before
coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the
answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly.
Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!
Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking
you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you
though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to
Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer
will! Amen!
Prayer:
Jesus, I thank you for being the Bread of Life. You are the Living Bread
of my life. Thank you for coming from Heaven and giving your life for
the life of the world. You sacrificed yourself for humanity. Thank you
Lord when we eat of you symbolically making you part of our life,
digesting what you teach us by following you, we can be living
Eternally, and the fruit that comes will reflect and resemble your life.
I want that Father God. I want that Lord Jesus! I want that Holy Spirit!
I know of a lot of people who partake of Holy Communion where the bread
represents your body broken for their sin and the juice represents your
blood shed for their sin. When we partake of Holy Communion, we are
reminded that we are remembering you. I want to remember you always Lord
Jesus. But for me to remember you always, I need to know you and
acknowledge everything you said you are. So right now I acknowledge that
you are my Lord and Personal Savior who died and rose again to give me
life from sin. So right now, I come to you and say how sorry I am for my
sin and living a life on my own. I repent of my sin and ask you to
forgive me of my sin with your cleansing blood which I accept. Wash me
and I will be clean from this infection of sin. Come Lord Jesus and
please become part of my life as you live in me and I will live for you.
I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your
home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve
you the rest of the days of my life. I do need your Spirit to reside in
me and work in me and through me so I surrender all that I am and will
be to you. Whatever your will is for me, please give me the strength and
willingness to bear it and rejoice in you. Thank you so much Jesus. I
thank you Jesus for becoming my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you
Jesus you have heard my prayer and have answered me. I thank you that I
am your child Oh God. I thank you for becoming my only Way to Eternal
Life. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
