John 6:1-14 Seed faith

Jesus fed the 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish.

1. What do you think, what if he has 10,000 people before him, does he need 10 loaves and 4 fishes to feed them or is he able to feed 10,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes?

2. What if that boy brought only 2 loaves and 1 fish. Was Jesus able to feed those 5000 people?

My answer to those two questions is YES. Its not about number and its not mathematics. Do not worry about how much you have with you to sow. Its about his love and compassion. God's compassion multiplies what we have. 

Matthew 19:3-8 A converted law

A man is declared righteous or unrighteous by the help of a law. Noah was declared righteous man when there was no law of Moses. How can it be? There should be some kind of law according to which a person can be judged as righteous or unrighteous. At the time of Noah, the law applied was the law of God.

The Law of God is bigger than the law of Moses or any other law. Law of Moses is a particle of biggest law of the Lord. Law of Moses is a converted law according to the people.

One day Pharisees came and asked the Lord,

"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" 

"..Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Jesus replied.

"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" 

Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. Matt. 19:3-8

The Law of God is converted because of the hardness of the people. When Jesus came he gave real law. It is not about how bad it is that women preach in the church. It is not about how bad it is to eat pork. We need to see the heart of God. Israelites were asked to offer sacrifices but actual thing is that God doesn't want sacrifice but mercy (Matt. 9:13)

Exodus 26:15

We have roof for the church. This roof stood on 6 pillars. One night there was a big storm. I found that some part of it has fallen down. I went near to see it. The north-east corner pillar was broken in the middle and north side middle pillar did not broke but bent down.The broken pillar lost its intensity and bent pillar lost its stability.

The plates that were made stand upright for the tabernacle were overlaid with gold around them and supported by the two silver bases on the ground for each plate. Gold and the silver are used metaphorically as the word of God. David said that the word of God is more better than gold and he also said that the words of God are more clean than the silver that was proved 7 times.

Overlaid word of God gives us intensity and the the word based life stays with stability.

A fool built his house on sand while wise man built it upon the rock. Then what about the tabernacle in the sand? The passers might have thought that the Israelites are fools. But they dont know who the actual engineer was. Its not about where you built. Even if you build it upon a sand but according to the word of God, your plates will never be broken or fall down. The word of God gives both intensity and the stability.

Ex. 30:1-5, 7 Altar of Incense

Practical prayer

Verse 1 "make"

Prayer is like composing something. It is composed of:

• Action

God is looking for the makers of altar of incense. In 2004 me and my director went into our church. There was an old man of about 55 years. We asked him who is he. He said he is from a nearest village. Came to give the Lord some offering. He is from high caste who doesnt believe in the Lord. But this made us wonder because he not only believed in the Lord but also came from a distance to give the Lord a gift. We said, ok. He said, "first i want to dance and then i will give the gift." We are a bit wondered but said yes. He danced while singing himself and he also cried. I could see his heart. Now dance is an action. When he came he did not go to internet and searched for "how to dance". This action came out of gratitude. 

• Form

After he finishes his dance came to us with something. It was folded in a cloth. I dont know what it is. When he gave he put two hands together and gave us like as if he is lifting something. The way he gave is like his hand was downward. Usually people who take put hands under and the people who give will have their hand on top. But this man put his hands folded and lifted as an offering. This form came out of attitude. 

I. Purpose

Purpose of this golden altar is to remind what was offered on the brazen altar. We suffer like people who never paid, if we do not remind the Lord that we were paid. The Lord Jesus is now at this altar and has been interceding for us. 

Smith Wigglesworth healed many people and raised people from the dead. But his wife and son died. His daughter suffered deafness for life long. He had kidney problem and sciatica. I believe that he was fully paid but he was giving to people. So he was losing something. It was like you gave your food for someone and then you need to pay for your food again or take (claim) from the food which was already paid. cook for yourself now. 

There are some people raising dead in Mozambique, in the Heidi's ministry. I heard that someone raised three people from dead and he lost three people in the family. It was about seven years back and i am not sure if i put here it right. Anyway i want to share some thing and this is just my thought that the altar of incense will help. We need to know that we need to pay again if we lose something for others. What do i mean to pay. Its like claim from what was already paid. The purpose of the altar which was inside is to remind what was paid on the altar which was outside. 

Jesus fasted forty days but he still needed to go to the altar of incense every morning because he has been giving away. He said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Lk. 8:46. Since he paid his power for someone he needs to go back again and refill it. He did go and refilled it every day. 

II. Patience and Perseverance

"acacia wood"

The altar of incense is made of acacia wood. Acacia wood is named for its "durability and incorruptibility". Prayer needs to have durability (patience) and incorruptibility (perseverance). Have you ever stand in a long Que? Need patience right? Did some one stamp on your leg while you are patiently waiting in Que? Need perseverance right? These two qualities are essential in a practical prayer.

Verse 2. "square"

A ransom is always equal to anyone, either poor or rich. They got pay equal. 

III. Power

Verse 3. "Horns"
Horns are symbolic for power or authority (Dan. 8:8). Prayer gives us authority or power. When disciples could not cast out a demon, Jesus told them that they need to be in prayer (Mk. 9:29).

IV. Peace

"pure gold"
In tabernacle I have seen most of the time, wherever the gold is used, it was used to hold something. Holding together or holding that it may not fall, or holding two things together that they might not divide. Holding something within etc. So it sounds me Peace. 

V. Prolonged

Verse 4. "rings"
Rings have no ends. When a prayer is prolonged the power is more. Guess who gets more power: the guy who fasted 40 days in a row or the guy who fasted 52 days in a year? The guy who fasted 52 days has fasted a day in a week.

VI. Place

"Poles"
Prayer needs to be carried. The Altar of incense was placed in a particular place. Its not because that place was holy but place is sanctified because it needs to be placed. That particular place is holy because of the things that are placed there.

VII. Peace

Verse 5 "gold"

Every time that gold is used in the tabernacle, it was used to hold something. This is peace in prayer. 

Verse 7. "Sweet incense"
Prayer is also composed of words. David said that he prepares his prayer for the morning. (Ps. 5:3). When Zechariah was giving incense people were praying outside. Luke 1:9-10 (also see Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8; 8:1-4). Incense is symbolic for prayer. Sweet incense is a sweet prayer. When you are his friend, he takes your “words” sweet. Pro. 27:9, If you are a man who speak kind words to people, he takes your “words” holy. Pro. 15:26. 

Laying hands

Laying hands not only help us to transfer gifts to the people, they also help us to know what they are. It helps us to know where they are in their spiritual journey. When Ribca inspired Jacob to deceive his dad Isaac, then Jacob said "my father will know me if he touches me." It's because Jacob did not have haired skin like his brother Esau. Yet Jacob managed and Isaac was deceived because he was very old and that he could not see. Knowing this Jacob developed that he would be able to know without actually seeing someone.

Later in Egypt when Joseph brought  his sons, Jacob cunningly put his right hand on Ephraim who stood at his left hand -to bless him. Though he could not see physically it's difficult to deceive him. He knew who is standing where.

Some say that they don't want to know about laying hands. After all laying hands is a help and not a bad thing. We have a thousand rupee bill here in India. It has some touch features. If you don't want to learn those features you may end up with a counterfeit bill. We are struggling with them recently. God's ways never harm us.

It also helps to heal people both physically and emotionally. It's like a balm. Sometimes God likes to touch people through our hands. Let him use your hands. Will you give your hands to him for a right cause?

Sufferings and Solution

Sufferings come from three areas

1. From human beings.
Solution: Show another cheek and pray for them. (Matt. 5:39)

2. From devil
Solution: Resist him and pray (James 4:7)

3. From God
Solution: Repent and pray (2 Chr. 7:14)

A medicine for leg pain will not help cold.  Do not use first suffering's solution to the second type suffering. Same thing with the third one. For example resisting is the solution for the sufferings from devil and it cannot be used for the sufferings that comes from human beings. Matthew 5:39 NIV "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."

You cannot resist the evil person but you can actually ask why he is doing this to you. When Jesus was beaten he asked them why they are doing this when he didn't speak wrong. John 18:22-23 NIV "When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.  “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Injustice can be confronted. Its not wrong. 

In three types of sufferings, prayer is common and a must.

James 5:13 NIV
"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray..."

With all your heart and with all your time

A man had two sons. When he was about to die, he called them and made them promise him that they would pray daily one hour. He died. From that day each son would go into the church and pray one hour.

Few days later older brother found that his younger brother was praying only 20 minutes and yet getting quick results than he does. So he decided to go and ask and find out the secret. One morning he went to his younger brother's house. Asked him the question. Then the younger brother answered, "when you pray, you are praying one hour but you are conscious of time. You  are not putting your heart there. When I pray, though I pray twenty minutes, I pray with all my heart. That is the secret."

The older brother was happy. He went back home. He started following his younger brother's secret.

Few days later the younger brother found that his older brother is receiving quick answers to his prayers than himself. One day he went to his older brother's house. He asked older brother, "you are following my secret. If you were praying same way I do, how come you are receiving answers more quicker than I do?"

Then the older brother answered, "yes I have been following your secret. I am praying the same way you were praying like putting all your heart while praying. The only difference is that you  pray twenty minutes but I continued one hour. That's it"

Mk. 4:36-5:19 -Pray

Trouble maker and Troubled

Jesus was with the disciples in the boat. There are other boats that traveled along with his boat. Bible says that Jesus' boat was attacked. Disciples might have tried their best. May be they threw out the things to lighten up the boat. May be they also threw out some fishes and the loaves, even the portion of the Lord. When our family was in poverty in 1995 my family spent out even the things that belongs to the Lord. Actually, it made the boat weighed more. When the disciples went to Jesus, not for a help, but to ask him "dont you worry," Jesus first did rebuke the wind and then he told the sea to calm down. The following tells how he removed troubles.

1. Rebuked the wind which was the trouble maker Mark 4:39

2. Told the waters which was troubled Mark 4:39

Sick Faith
People with faith do not worry but they also pray. People with "sick faith" they do not worry, so they also dont pray. 

Jesus did not rebuke the wind until someone come and  meet him. He was quite until they chose to ask the Lord. Even demons asked God to allow them to go into pigs and he allowed them. Are you any bad than a demon? God will surely answer your prayers.

Faith and Two things
Once Paul used two words with Philippians (Phil. 4:6):

1. Anything, 2. Everything

About first one (anything) he said, DO NOT WORRY about anything. 

About second one (everything) he said, PRAY about everything.

If you are doing the first thing and avoiding the second thing you have faith that is called sick faith. A rebuke will heal the sick faith.  ...rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith. Tit. 1:13. That is why Jesus also rebuked disciples after saving them from the trouble.

Bible did not say "do not worry because God is nearby or available." Bible actually said, "​​​​​​​Seek the LORD while he makes himself available; ​​​​​​call to him while he is nearby!" Isa. 55:6

Blessing of Alpha and Omega

God is first and the last. When he blesses, he blesses your work when you start it and when you finish it. It's like a seal. I would like to have his seal for every work I do. When a calamity comes my work will never be destroyed. When he opens a door no one can shut it and when he closes it no one can open. Rev. 3:7

1. When you come in and when you go out. Deut. 28:6. Go with confidence and come with assurance, because your work starts with a blessing and ends with a blessing.

2. He came in the evening and made him speak in the morning. Eze. 33:22

3. His glory comes down before the prayer and after the prayer of Solomon. 2 Chr.  5:14 and 7:1

I know this name. But i want this name to be expressed through out the work of my hand. I would like to see all that i have is labelled Alpha and Omega. Then it can withstand any encounter.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2)

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6)

Walls

We need walls. Every human being need walls around him. They give us a secure feeling. That is where we sleep with no fear.

1. Walls are built by praises. Ps. 8:2
2. Walls are rebuilt by prayer. Nehemiah 1:4
3. Walls' gaps are filled by intercession. Ezekiel 22:30

God told Moses to make an altar of incense. Ex. 30:1. When Zechariah was giving incense people were praying outside.  Incense is symbolic for prayer. Luke 1:9-10. Incense is like a cloud. It was the cloud that stood like a wall between Egyptians and the Israelites when they were coming through the waters. 

Punishment and result

Father said to son, "son, do not go this way. On this road I saw a big pit. This is a dangerous road. I will beat you if you take this road"

Feared to the punishment son replied, "ok, dad I will not go this way."

Yet, son's heart wanted to see the pit there. He wanted to find a chance to go on that road. There came a day that his dad is not around. So the son took his bicycle and went on this dangerous road. Suddenly he fell down into the pit. He broke his leg.

Then he heard a voice, "my son." Son lifted up his head and saw his dad. His father had tears in his eyes. Son said, "sorry dad." His dad came down and saved his son.

Lying on the hospital bed son asked,"are you not going to punish me dad?"

Father replied, "my son, I am not going to punish you. I forgive you. Nevertheless, I want you to know that the punishment for your disobedience has stopped but the result of your disobedience was not stopped. It broke your leg."