Our Impossibilities become His Possibilities
Story: I have to tell you that, in continental Europe, the reputation of the Swiss is such that the Scots seem generous.
At the turn of the 19th Century, the roof of the a little Swiss church hall was in serious need of repair.
So the congregation held regular prayer meeting in the church hall after the service - to pray for funds to repair the roof .
An old man, well know for being “tight fisted” even by Swiss standards - used to regularly come to the prayer meeting.
But he’s always come in early so he could sit at the back of the prayer meeting
Then he would sneak out just before the collection plate came round.
One Sunday, however he was held up by the vicar after the service and consequently could only find a seat at the front of the church hall.
During the prayer meeting a piece of the roof fell and hit him on the head.
Feeling spoke to by the Lord, he stood up and said "Lord, I’ll give 1000 Swiss francs"
And a voice at the back of the church was heard to say “Hit him again, Lord"!
This is one of those “Hit him again, Lord” stories
The feeding of the Five thousand
What amazes me is that after seeing Jesus do all his healing miracles, why did the disciples decide they needed to tell Jesus what to do!
Have you ever thought about that.
They don’t ask: “What shall we do with 5000 people as it is getting late.”
Rather they tell Jesus what to do. “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
So, Jesus re-focussed their question – and tells them what HE WANTS THEM TO DO
“They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
They reply: “But we only have five loaves and two fishes.”
So he has to “Hit them again”
You’re not listening guys “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass"
Now that needed faith on the part of those who sat down AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT AND EXPECTED TO GET FED.
The more worldly wise had probably peeled off earlier to go and get food
But those who trusted Jesus, did what He said
Is there a lesson for us in that?
Why did he decide to feed the 5000?
I think there are three reasons
1. The first reason is I think that Jesus doesn’t send anyone away who seeks his help.
For me, they showed they wanted his help by sitting down when He told them too
2,. The second reason is that God can use us in the most unlikely situations, if we will let Him.
Our impossibilities become His Possibilities.
When our resources run out – that’s when we turn to God for help isn’t it – if we are honest.
3. If you experience a miracle it has far more effect than if you just hear about it
Maddy and I went to the FGB European Conference in Grenoble in the 1990s and we saw God use Rheinhard Boenkke to heal a man with a broken back. The man stepped out of his wheelchair
But what was more moving for us was when Maddy was healed of her nut allergy in Toronto. An American Evangelist living in Austria met up with us and God used him to heal her of the nut allergy. That had far more of an effect on us - as we knew that she had had the allergy and been healed.
That night just before she got on the plane out of Toronto, Maddy had a picture of her being offered two rounds of nuts by the air stewardess and eating them. And that’s actually what happened - and she ate the nuts and has never had her nut allergy again
Eating and drinking
Have you noticed that Jesus did a lot of his teaching around the dining room table
He spent time with people while he was eating and drinking
Much of his teaching is given when he is eating and drinking - so much so that the Pharisees refer to him as a glutton and a drunkard in Mt 11:19.
But to me Jesus emphasis on eating and drinking earths our faith.
Our faith is not some sort of esoteric religion - but a faith that is practical.
Why – you might ask - does Jesus focus on providing food so much?
I can think of three reasons
1. The first reason is that God is our provider – Jehovah Jireh
In the Old Testament, one of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh – God is my provider
Perhaps it is a reminder that our faith is not about us doing things FOR God but rather allowing God himself to do things FOR us.
That is hard for many of us alpha males to take on board.
We are used to putting the food on the table
To the first century Jew – this miracle of feeding of the 5000 may well have reminded him of God’s miraculous provision.
How God, having led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, fed them in the desert with manna – bread from heaven.
Jesus takes it to a deeper level when he says
“I am the Bread of Life” John 6:35
One of the key Anglican Church services is a meal – though it is sometimes hard to recognise it as such in some of our churches
The Communion service with its bread and wine – a staple diet in the Middle East in Jesus’ time – reminds us that food figured prominently in the Life and Death of Jesus
2. The second reason Receptibility to the Gospel
People are often most relaxed around a table full of food. Eating together is often a sign of friendship
People are more receptive to the Gospel - when they are eating. That is partly why Alpha is successful – as it starts with a meal
3. The third Reason is to change our view of God
Jesus likened the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a Banquet – a wedding Banquet.
That tends to blow our usual picture of a stern God, not wanting us to have fun.
Fun – not in church – thank you very much
One thing I liked about the book “The Shack” by Paul Young is that it portrays life with the Trinity as being fun.
Do you think God is fun to be round?
May I leave you with a thought
If we call Jesus Lord, isn’t it a contradiction to then tell him what to do?
Or put another way, the Capital "I" in Martin has to take a lower place!
