St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 25 - 26, The Test of Heart: The Demonstration of Power.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus walks on the water) Part 3.

And the disciples were on the sea and Christ was on the land.  And let us test them that they may believe.  Let us show them the awesome power of God that they may know that Christ was sent by the father to do the father's will.  For they saw the multiplication of the loaves.  They saw the healing of the sick.  They saw the lame walk.  They saw the eyes of the blind opened but they did not believe.  They did not trust that they could feed the people, Christ told them to feed the people themselves.  They did not know who they were.  They did not know, yet, who they were becoming.  They did not have the faith in Christ through whom all things are.

They were on the sea and Christ was on the land.  And the boat was being buffeted by the waves and they were in fear of loosing their lives.  They were afraid of drowning.  There was no place to hide.  There was no place to run.  There was no place to seek shelter from the impending waves.  But they were the disciples of Christ.  They were his pupils and he was their teacher.  Yet they were on the sea and he was on the land.   But in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking upon the sea.

They did not believe, even with all the miracles that he performed.  They did not know, even with all that they had seen.  They did not trust even with all they had heard.  And they did not know how to feed the people, for Christ had told them to feed the people.  But the disciples wanted to send the people away that they may find food for themselves.  The disciples wanted to put them back into the world after being with Christ.  The disciples did not know who they were becoming.  They did not believe.  They did not trust.  So, a demonstration of power had to be made.  An irrefutable image had to be placed in their  minds that they would know the true Christ.  For no one had seen or heard of a man walking on water.  But Christ was not mere man. 

But, they were in fear.  They were in chaos and the evil one was knocking at their door telling them that all they had sacrificed had come to this.  They had dreams of power.  They had visions of honor.  They had desires of leadership and all the perks that comes with being a ruler. But all  that flashed before their eyes and through their minds as they struggled with the wind and the waves that threatened to destroy them.  And Satan was there reminding them that they had failed. And Satan was there reminding them that all had come to naught.  For they did not believe.  They did not know.  They did not have the faith in Christ that brings forth complete trust. 

And when Christ came to them walking on the water their fear was confirmed.  They believed that they were seeing a ghost.  They believed that they were near death.  They were on the verge of canceling out their belief.  They were about to step over the line between belief in Christ and 
belief that Christ had failed them.  They believed that they were dying.  They opened the door to Satan and believed in the lies that he was giving them.    And they, seeing him walking upon the sea, were greatly alarmed, and exclaimed, "It is a ghost!" they cried out for fear.

Are you on  the sea in a boat that is sinking?  Are you being tossed about by the waves of the world?  Will you believe in Christ?  Will you believe that Christ can calm the sea, speak to the wind and dispel fear?  Be not be like the disciples in the test.  You have seen miracles and attributed them to the world.  You have seen the wonders of his power and accepted them as your own praise and glory. 

You have witnessed the awesomeness of his majesty and do not know that Christ is with you.  He has made himself known to you in many ways, yet you do not know.  The world will deceive you.  The world will lead you down the wide path of destruction taking you away from life in Christ into death with the evil one.  The world will blind you.  The world will block your hearing.  The world will steel your heart that you may not know the truth of its longing for God.  Wake up!!  Know that you are a child of God and know that you are much more than the world offers.  Know and believe that Christ in you will bring forth the fruits of the kingdom of heaven and transform you into the truth of who you are in Christ.  The disciples were transformed.  Are you ready for the change?  The test is here!

St Matthew, Chapter14, verse: 24, The Test of Heart: The Test begins.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus walks on the water) Part 2.  

Christ was on the land.  The disciples were on the water in the boat and they were without Christ.  He had sent them away.  He put them on a boat and sent them to the other side of the sea, alone.  For he was to come later after dismissing the crowds and going up to the mountain to pray.  But the disciples did not know that this was their test.  They did not understand the training they were receiving through Christ.  Time was short.  The sacrifice had to be made.  And the disciples must be prepared to take their places here on earth for the coming battle for the souls of men.  So they had to be tested to make sure that they understood.

They witnessed the miracle of the multiplication.  They had witnessed many miracles, the lame walked, the blind saw, and evil was cast out.  They saw these things take place before their eyes.  They heard Christ say to them, feed the people yourselves.  But they did not understand.  They did not know.  They did not believe what was happening before their very eyes, into their very ears and filling their very hearts with the glory of Christ to come.  They would become the leaders.  They would become the preachers.  They would become the shepherds of the people leading them to Christ, leading them to life.  So they had to understand, they had to know, they had to believe what was happening to them, with them, and in them.  They were being transformed.   But the boat was in the midst of the sea, buffeted by the waves, for the wind was against them. 

The wind was against them and they were being tested.  For they had not seen such wind before.  They had not known such peril before.  They had not believed that they would survive before because the boat was being buffeted by the waves.  The boat was being tossed about by the sea.  The boat was being pushed from side to side to capsize and they were with fear.  They were the 
disciples of Christ.  They had given up their all to follow him.  They were being taught the principles of the kingdom of heaven that they may carry the message to others.  But now they were alone.  Now they were without Christ.  Now they were with fear.  For they were told to feed the people themselves and they did not know how.  They were told to give them something to eat but they believed that they could not.  They wanted to dismiss the people and send them back into the world.

Would they believe?  Would they know?  Would they understand the transformation that was taking place within them?  They were without Christ and the test came.  The test of belief came upon them that they would believe in the transformation taking place within them.  Would they fear for their lives.  Would they run away in shame?  Or would they pass the test and believe.  Christ was not with them and the boat was being tossed by the waves.  Fear was coming upon them and they would not believe.  Would it become life or death?  In this moment of testing would they forsake all that they had seen and heard and believed, to turn away from Christ.  Or would they pass the test and take courage, strengthening their faith in Christ completing the transformation.

Christ was not with them and they were in the sea being buffeted by the waves.  Would you believe?  Would you hold to your faith?  Would you glorify God in your last hour?  The disciples faced the test on the open waters.  There was no place to go.  There was no place to hide.  There was no place that would protect them.  There was only the fear of death and drowning.  They were without Christ and believed that they would perish.  The miracle of the multiplication did not make them believe.  Perhaps a stronger demonstration of the power and the glory of God was needed that they may know the truth of their belief and the solidity of their faith in Christ.  Do you believe?  Do you see?  Do you know the truth of your faith.  Do you believe in Christ?  Or, do you have faith built upon sand, faith that crumbles in times of sorrow and pain and trials and tribulations.  There is but one God.  There is but one truth.  There is but one belief that gives life.  Will you pass the test?

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 22 - 23, The Test of Heart: The Disciples sent alone.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus walks on the water) Part 1.  

All were filled and the baskets of leftovers were collected.  And there were twelve basketfulls left when the fragments were collected.  The miracle took place before their eyes.  Only now did they realize.  The people were in need.  The disciples did not know how to satisfy their needs so they wanted to send them away.  But Christ told his disciples to feed the people themselves.  They only had five loaves of bread and two fishes to feed multitudes, thousands of people.  But the disciples did not know who they were becoming.  They did not know the truth of the nature of Christ.  And they did not know what he was training them to do.  So they wanted to send the people away.

Christ told them to feed the people themselves but they did not know how.  After the miracle had taken place and all were filled, Christ made his disciples leave.   And immediately afterwards he made his disciples get into the boat and cross the sea ahead of him, while he dismissed the crowd.

And now they are to be tested.  For they were sent away and Christ remained with the people.   The disciple did not know what to do.  They did not know what to think, for the first time they were alone without Christ.  He was on the land and they were in the boat.  He was the Christ and they were his disciples.  He was their coach, their teacher, their mentor, and they were his pupils.  But Christ was not with them and they did not know what to do.  They did not know where to go or what would happen next.  And confusion came to them and remained.   And when he had dismissed the crowd, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.  And when it was late, he was there alone.

So the disciples wanted to send the people away instead of tend to their needs, but Christ sent the disciples away.  He made them get into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake ahead of him for he was to catch another boat, this is what the disciples thought.  They were to wait for him on the other side.  They were to be without him during the travel to the other side.  They were to be tested without Christ at their side.

Are you ready for the test?  Are you ready to be sent forth into the world and wait for Christ?  We live in the world today, without the knowledge and the truth of Christ.  Many carry the word within them but yet do not know the truth of who they are.  Therefore, when the test comes we have no strength to draw from since we do not know who we are and from whom our strength comes.  We call on the Lord in times of need.  We beseech his help in times of trouble.  We seek his assistance when all else fails, but we do not know the truth of who we are in Christ and the strength that he has placed at our disposal.  

Are you ready for the test?  Do you seek to know the truth of your true nature or do you just seek to know what is given to you?  We go to church.  We go to religious studies.  We go to conferences, but do we go to Christ.  For he is our source and our strength and our comforter in times of need, always.  Yet we seek him not.  Instead we seek the temporary fix of church.  We seek the temporary good feeling that church service has to offer and we return to the world for our fix.  Turn to Christ and receive the truth!  Turn to Christ and receive the power!  Turn to Christ and receive the knowledge of who you are in Christ!  He has redeemed us.  He has saved us from eternal damnation.  He has justified and sanctified us before our Father that we may become holy in his eyes.  Hear the good news!  Seek the gospel truth for yourself and he will come to you.  The truth is not in the sanctuary.  The truth is not in the Sunday service.  The truth is not in the religious teachings, religious books, music, shows, conferences.  The truth is within you.  Read the gospel,  read the good news, read the new testament and find it for yourself.  Are you ready for the test? 

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 20b - 21, The Needs of the People: All are Satisfied and the Leftovers

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 4.  

All ate and were satisfied.  The people were in need.  They needed food.  They needed guidance.  They needed leadership.  They needed hope.  All were in need.  John the Baptist was their voice in the wilderness.  John preached repentance.  John showed the people the way to salvation and told them that the Messiah was coming.  John gave the people hope.  And then John was no more.  And chaos came.  And doubt came.  And fear came and the people did not know what to do.  But Christ came and saw their hopelessness.  Christ came and saw their needs.  Christ came and had compassion and all were satisfied.  For he healed the sick, cured the lame, opened the eyes of the blind and fed the multitudes.

The disciples did not understand.  The disciples did not see.  The disciples did not know who they were and who they were becoming in Christ.  For he told them to feed the people themselves.  But they wanted to send them away for they were fearful of the needs of the people.  But Christ satisfied their needs.  Christ fulfilled the needs of the people and showed his disciples what they were to do.  Do not send the people away because you do not understand!  Feed the people.  Christ told his disciples, bring them here to him and he would satisfy their needs.  And so he demonstrated to the disciples what they were to do when they are faced with the needs of the people.  Bring them here to Christ and he will satisfy their every need.

And they all eat and were satisfied.  For Christ blessed the five loaves and the two fishes, broke them and gave them to is disciples to give to the people.  And the baskets were passed around to the people.  The people took their fill from the baskets and the baskets replenished themselves.  The baskets did not empty.  The baskets did not overflow.  The baskets continued to fill the needs of the people and the miracle took place before their very eyes.  And when every one had taken of the baskets and no one was left to take from the baskets, the baskets stopped replenishing itself.  And as the people broke the bread and the fish and ate, the bread and fish replenished itself and all were filled.

And when the people stopped breaking the bread and the fishes, the bread and the fish stopped replenishing itself and there were leftovers.    And they gathered up what was left over, twelve baskets full of fragments.   Now the number of those who had eaten was five thousand men, without counting women and children.

Five thousand men were fed.  Many women and children were fed.  All were satisfied.  All ate till they were filled.  And the baskets stopped replenishing and the bread and the fish stopped replenishing when all were filled.  And there was no one left to take from the baskets or no one left to break the bread and the fish.  But twelve baskets were left from the five loaves and the two fishes.  The miracle took place before their eyes and all were amazed that had eaten.  For Christ had satisfied their needs and no one was sent away.

Why do we not have miracles today like this one?  Why do our disciples of today not feed the people?  Why do our disciples of today send the people away?  Each Sunday and everyday of the week the people come to places of worship in need.  They come seeking faith.  They come seeking hope.  They come seeking to have their needs met and are sent away with crumbs without being filled.  And they return again to receive the crumbs and are sent away without being filled.  Christ said bring them to me.  And yet the people are not being brought to him.  Can we go to Christ and be filled?  Can we go to Christ and not thirst again?  Can we go to Christ and see  the miracle take place before our eyes? 

How do we go to Christ?  How do our disciples, our pastors, our ministers, lead us to Christ?  Do they know how to lead us to him?  What is the path to Christ?  Have they been lead to Christ themselves?  Will we have to come back again and again to only receive crumbs or will we be filled, no longer needing temporary satisfaction?  Christ said, bring them to me.  He will satisfy their needs.  How do we know when we are with Christ?  Can we tell when we are with Christ?  What sign do we have to know that Christ is with us?  How can we know? 

Each Sunday we listen to sermons on various subjects from the bible by ministers and preachers.  Can they show us how to come to Christ?  Have they come to Christ that they can show us the path to have Christ with us?  What must we do?  What is the way?  How do we receive Christ within us that we no longer thirst?  For he will satisfy our needs.  He will not send us away.  He will come and abide with us that we may know.  And he will give us a sign that we may know the truth of who we are in him.  For through him, and in him, and with him, we become one with the father.  Come, ministers and preachers, feed the people.  Bring them to Christ!  Show them the way that they may be satisfied eternally!

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses:19 - 20a, The Needs of the People: The Multiplication Miracle.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 3.   

And Christ told his disciples to bring the five loaves and the two fishes to him and he would demonstrate what needed to be done.  The disciples wanted to dismiss the people.  The disciples wanted the people to leave.  The disciples wanted the people to go away, to be on their own, to leave them, so that they could find peace.  But Christ did not want the people to leave.  Christ did not want to dismiss the people.  Christ did not want to send them away because they did not have food to feed the people.  Christ was their food.  Christ was their drink.  Christ was their clothing.  Christ was their all and the disciples did not understand.

The disciples did not know.  The disciples did not totally see Christ.  They did not see who he had made them to become and therefore did not understand.  For Christ wanted the disciples to feed the people.  Christ wanted the disciples to give them drink.  Christ wanted the disciples to clothe the people, to provide shelter, to provide protection, to provide for all their needs.  And they did not understand that they could do these things or, that they would do these things in Christ's name.  So they wanted to send the people away.  They needed to have the people leave.  They needed to separate themselves from the people that they may find rest for their own needs.  But who would provide for the people?  Who would give them food?  Who would teach the ways of the kingdom of heaven if the disciples did not understand who they were and what was their mission?

So Christ had to demonstrate the power that they would be given.  Christ had to show the disciples who they would become.  Christ had to, once again, provide an example for them to follow.   And when he had ordered the crowd to recline on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.   And all ate and were satisfied.

And so Christ gave his disciples an example to follow to do the multiplication miracle.  He showed them what to do.  And they saw with their own eyes how the miracle happened.  Yet it happened before their very eyes.  He gave them the loaves that was broken.  He gave them the fish that was broken into pieces.  And they gave it to the people.  The basket was passed around and each person eat from it.  Each person took their fill.  Each person ate their fill and the basket never emptied.  The basket never stopped multiplying.  The food continued to fill itself until the last person took from it.  And the basket was never empty.  The basket never stopped replenishing itself.  The basket continued to multiply the fish and the pieces of bread to feed the people.  This was the miracle.  This was the multiplication.  This was the work of Christ and the work that the disciples would do, to feed the people. 

We live in a rational world today.  We have science and math and history and believe that all is possible through our own ability to understand and explain our world and how it works.  Our achievements have surpassed all other achievements in the entire history of mankind.  We have achieved space.  We have reached for the stars.  We can see the distant Milky Way and other galaxies.  In our eyes our achievements are endless.  All this is given to us as men of achievement that we may believe in ourselves.  We  must believe that we can achieve.  We must believe that given time we will achieve all things.  We will tame the winds, calm the storms, understand the earthquakes, create rains and make the sun shine to our liking.  All these things we believe that we can do if we only believe in ourselves and throw off the beliefs of the past.

What, would you believe?  Christ tells us that he is the son of the one true God who is the father of all creation.  Christ tells us that the father loves us, will provide for us, will protect us if we only believe in him and heed his commandments.  And to those who do believe, he will provide a counselor to come and abide with him/her that we may know the truth.  Christ performed the miracle of multiplication of the loaves and the fishes before the eyes of his disciples.  The name of Jesus still brings forth miracles today, to the sick, and the lame, and the downtrodden.   But, we live in a world of achievements, a world that turns our beliefs away from God and towards ourselves.  How would you respond to a miracle performed before your eyes?  Do you believe that our achievements will be able to explain how it happened?  Would our science give meaning to the miracle?  Christ performed miracles.  The disciples performed miracles.  When will you realize that you are a miracle in Christ?  Come, feed the people.  Satisfy their needs!  For you are one in Christ and in Christ all things are.

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 17 - 18, The Needs of the People: Christ's Demonstration.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 2.   

And the disciples did not know.  They saw with their eyes, heard with their ears, but they did not perceive with their hearts.  For they had not seen of such before.  They had not heard of such before.  They had not understood of such before by any man.  Yet Christ was before them.  Christ was with them.  Christ was in them and they did not understand.  They were surrounded by masses of people.  They were with hundreds or even thousands of fellow countrymen who were lost.  There were many with needs that they could not fill.  And the disciples were overwhelmed.  And Christ saw their needs and the needs of his disciples.

Christ understood.  Christ knew of their needs.  Christ wanted to fulfill their needs but his time had not yet come, for his sacrifice would fill the needs of all mankind for all eternity.  And the disciples did not know.  For life was in Christ.  Life flowed from Christ and he wanted to give it to the people and his disciples that they would know the truth.  The people were in need.  They needed a leader.  They needed a guide.  They needed love.  They needed.   And Christ was their to fulfill their needs.  But the disciples did not know.  The disciples did not understand.  The disciples did not see the truth of fulfillment within themselves.  So they brought their needs to Christ.

But Christ told them, you, yourselves feed them.  Christ told them, in so many words, they had to power to feed the people.  Christ told them, in so many words, they could feed the people, but they did not understand.  They did not comprehend his words.  They only thought in terms of their earthly being.  They did not see the seed that was growing within them through Christ.  For he had planted the seeds of life within his disciples and growth was taking place.  Christ had watered the seeds of life and they were growing.  Christ had nurtured the seeds of life and they were growing.  Christ had protected the seeds of life within them and the evil one wanted to destroy the seeds.  The disciples did not understand.  Christ told them, you, yourself feed the people.  And they only thought with their human minds and responded with,  "We have here only five loaves and two fishes."

Therefore, Christ had to demonstrate to them what was possible.  Christ had to show them what to do.  Christ had to lead them that they may understand who they were in him.  So he told them  "Bring them here to me."  This is what the disciples had to do, bring all things to him.  Bring all problem, bring all sickness, bring all needs, bring all sorrows, bring all to him, for he would satisfy all needs.  And the disciples did not understand that the seed in them was Christ.

I found myself in a store the other day buying something to eat.  And a man was sitting at the table.  When I approached the condiments table he spoke to me.  His first question was how much was the sandwich I purchased.  I did not know because it was not an issue with me that I should be concerned with the cost of the item.  I knew that the cost was within my means to pay because I picked a place where I could buy something to eat for under $3.00.  Yet his question to me was how much did one sandwich cost.  I told him that I did not know and gave him an approximate amount that I thought it cost.  He continued to talk saying that they reminded him of a sandwich from his home town.  He was from up north.

The conversation was nothing special but what stayed with me was my reaction.  You see, I was afraid of the conversation.  I did not know who I am in Christ.  I feared that he was about to ask me for some money to buy something to eat.  I was afraid and I was only concerned for myself.  It was not about the money, it was about the need in him that I did not see.  I did not understand who I am in Christ and who he is in Christ.  Fear entered me and I was only concerned for myself.  I wanted him to ask me for some money so that I could give it to him and he could buy something to eat.  I am accustomed to giving to beggars and street people but this was up close.  I wanted to help him but I was afraid also.  I wanted him to ask me for some money that I may give it to him and then I could be on my way and not be concerned or committed with his needs.  I was selfish and only concerned with myself.    You see, I was detached and did not want to concern myself with his needs.   For concerning  myself with his needs meant getting involved, it meant getting close, it meant becoming attached.  And I was afraid for myself.

Christ is my provider.  Christ is my protector.  Christ is in me and yet I failed to be in him.  I failed to see the needs of that man.  I failed to listen to his concerns.  I failed to open my heart to his conversation that I might help his needs.  For I feared that it may concern me and I would be involved.  How do you help a person?  How do you love a stranger?  How do you fill the needs of a person that you do not know?  How do you overcome the fear of injury, the fear of harm, the fear of loss?  How do you open yourself up to a stranger?   He started the conversation and spoke out of his need.  I withdrew from the conversation and spoke out of my fear.   

I missed the opportunity to feed the people.  I missed the opportunity to bring him to Christ.  I missed the opportunity to open  my heart up to show the love of Christ in me to another person.  I missed the opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ in me.  Be open to the opportunity!  Realize that Christ is your provider, your protector.  He will provide and protect you no matter where you are or what you are doing, if you carry him with you.  Do you carry the seed within you?  Let him show you the way.  Open your heart to the opportunity and he will lead you to overflowing love and abundant life.  You, yourself, feed the people!