Breaking the Chains

So often we find our selves in the Spiritual life struggling against sin or the pulls of the flesh, or the pressures from the world. Many attempts to over come their habits and will find themselves falling back into the pattern of behavior  which are not good. They feel bound in chains and unable to move forward.

Often new believers will lunch into the spiritual life and initially make many changes and strides in the Christian life, and may have some success at the new life for a time only to find themselves defaulting to patterns of behavior that they lived prior to coming to faith in Christ.

These patterns of thought and behavior shackle so many believers and imprison them . These believers, in their desire to be rid of these issues,  may exert more effort or attempt to show more will power  only to find success elusive.

Doing More Good

Some will reason that they need to “do more good” and  they attempt to handle this situation by following a code of "good works" thinking that doing good is the answer.

 Some will  Look to the Ten Commandments as the patter or guide for our lives only to fall short , and in fact, we find that the more effort we expend and will power we put forth, we only to fail again,  feeling even more frustrated and chained to our problems and patterns of behavior.

Attempts are made to adopt a life style which will help us control the pulls which hound us to control the" flesh" do not work even though they seem good but in the end we do not solve the problem nor break the chains which we are bound in.

"Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence"Cols:2:20-23.

Crucify the Flesh

Many see the need to crucify the evil works of the flesh ,but some do not see the need to crucify the "good" works of the flesh.

Even the "good" works  of the flesh needs to be crucified, as "good" as these works might be , if the originate out of the "flesh" than these works are just are not "good" enough.

Remember that at the beginning our first parents chose the Tree of  the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  This is the way of  relying on the "flesh" not on  God for every provision of salvation and life to be given by and through his grace.

The Tree of Good and Evil produces "good and evil" and what is more "good" is listed first, so this tells us that the "flesh" can produce a "flesh" originated "good",  but this "good" falls short . The Tree of Life was literally to chose grace and dependence on God. Gen:3

Many attempt to keep the Law supposing that keeping the Ten Commandments or some form of code will result in the level of freedom that we want, only to find themselves failing . But why is this so?

When we look to the Law or any performance based "religion" we can fall into "Legalism".

A Legalist can have only one of two reactions. A legalist will ether over estimate their performance which will then manifest in self righteousness or they will underestimate their performance which then manifest as self condemnation. A legalist can never be at rest, there is always something the need to do, or to do better.

Problems Gain Strength

It seems the more that we try to do "good" the harder it becomes, we cry out for divine help. We know that we believe in Jesus, we know that we have been forgiven of all our sins, yet we struggle  against the chains that bind us seemly to no avail .
Sincere Christians struggle with  the "fruit of the flesh" being manifested in our lives. At times we can feel overwhelmed and held captive. We can be frustrated and riddled with guilt at our failures.

It seems the more that we attempt to break the chains of the flesh the greater the pull that the flesh has over us we find our lives producing the fruit of the flesh. Gal: 5:19-23

St. Paul gives our very state a voice in his Epistle to Christians at Rome two thousand years ago, and to we believers throughout the ages as we have dealt with the issue of try to do good only to fail.

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." Rm:7:14-20

St. Paul shared all of our struggle with attempting to deal with sin through the Law. He found that he was unable to keep the Law, knowing that it is "good" yet still falling short, as do we all.

Sin is Empowered

What is it that we all fall short and fail when we attempt to break the chains of sin that can bind us through keeping the Law, or any humanly devised code, or performance based "religion"? It seems that the greater we struggle  and try to keep the Law the worse our state becomes, it is as if , the worse it gets, the worse it gets.
Where does sin's power come from? St. Paul tells us in his Epistle to the Christians in Corinth.

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law"."1Crth:15:56

St. Paul is telling us  that very the power of sin is the Law itself. At first ,this seems a contradiction, the Holy Law of God which in Romans St. Paul tells us is good , he now tells us is the very power of the chains which hold us. This means what it says that the Law gives sin power.

That where the Law is present, or any performance based "religion",  sin has power. The more Law the more power to your sin.

Where performance and a preoccupation with rules and works are found you will find Christians struggling for the freedom that the Bible speaks of.

Law Brings Failure

We can feel that  can not move forward because we are in chains in which we are bound , these and will stifle the Spiritual life.

As glorious as the Law, was and is,  St. Paul however calls the whole Covenant,  which the Ten Commandments were the center piece of,  the "Ministry of Death" written of Stone Tablets . 2Crth:3:7-9

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,"(7)

The Covenant with its'  Law was called the "Ministry of Death " because , that is what is the result of attempting to keep it, we can not do keep it,  we all fall short,  we have no power in our own selves to keep it.

When the Law was given and the Covenant ratified  it was marked by death as if to emphasize what would result. On that day, which was the Feast of First Fruits, under the Old Covenant three thousand died .Ex:32:27-28

"He said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.'" So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day".Ex:32:27-28

When we are under a performance based "religion" then death will result, that was what the Old Covenant was.

Old Covenant was not just a set of Law and Sacraments , but rather was and is  a  Mind set . The belief that the way to God is performance.  Whatever Law that is resorted to, if we take hold of any "code"  then we are under this Old Covenant  mind set,  and we will find failure.

 St. Paul confronted this is his own life and ministry, and with a view of the experience the people of Israel, and all humanity by extension. St. Paul cries out the question which we all ask.

"So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me." Rm:7:22-23

The Solution

St. Paul ask for us what the solution is for  all,  for we all share this same condition none of us is "good" enough, the flesh can not produce any fruit which is "good" enough to save us.

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" (24)

The Apostle then answer the great question for us.

"Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (25)

St. Paul  again, provides the same solution for us and the admonition that our Christian lives is not futile all because of Jesus.

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."1Crth:15:57-58

Jesus and his work upon the cross and his glorious resurrection is the answer to
his is why Christians anguish under the bondage never being able to fully experience freedom and maturity in the their spiritual life  when they are under a law or performance based "religiosity" .

Where performance and a preoccupation with rules and works are found you will find Christians struggling for the freedom that the Bible speaks of.

The Cross

At the cross God, through his Holy Son Jesus,  brought the means to know true freedom . At the cross we find God providing everything needed for the salvation of humanity and freedom upon faith in the work of Jesus Christ.

When this message about Jesus and his death upon the cross was preached on the Day of Pentecost centuries  after the Law was given,  what God has done through Jesus,  and the New Covenant was then inaugurated then three thousand then came to believe.Acts:2:38-41

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."Acts:2:41

At the cross God himself and  took away the sin and the instrument of the Law that empowered sin in the lives of humanity. The veil  of the Temple was rent and out poured the rivers of God's grace upon us.

Do Not Forget

 St.Peter wrote that when we Christians forget that we are forgiven, it hinders our Spiritual maturity. 2Ptr:1:59

At the cross God, through Jesus Christ, has simultaneously forgiven our sin, and not just forgiving what we have done or thought, but has forgiven us of who and what we are, that is , God has forgiven that we are flesh and the nature which we all possess and God  dismantled the Law that condemns of us.

 St.Paul the tells us that Law is abolished. Eph:2:23-16

•  St.Paul tells us that we are dead to the Law,  that it is no power over us.Rm:7:4

•  We are under Grace so sin will not Rule us.Rm:6:14

•  God has qualified us  not we ourselves. Col:1:12

In His Flesh

Jesus, by coming in the incarnation as one of us, that is, sharing our flesh and dieing in the flesh, by doing this,  even the flesh , and all that it produces, the terrible sin and the inadequacy of the  "good", both of which are a barrier between humanity and our God, are then dealt with and  and forgiven. The way to God is opened and God's loving grace pours out without limit to us.

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;"1Ptr:3:18

And again in Hebrews.

"Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh"Heb:10:19

The Righteousness of Grace

There has been, for two thousand years, a tension within the Church between grace and law. Some Christians fear that grace is permission to sin. St.Paul addressed this very concern.

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"Rm:6:1-2

St.Paul also in his pastoral Epistle to St. Titus tells us that God' grace rather leads us to live according to the righteousness which our Father desires.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,"Titus:2:12

Far condoning and granting leave to sin, God's grace leads us to live godly lives.
Yet many Christian’s struggle to perform that is adhere to a standard that they can not keep, therefore failure becomes their experience as the struggle to break the chains that are made even stronger by a performance based "religiosity" 'the can only hope to fail under this approach to God.

Yet God has done all that is needed through Jesus, we can experience this   when we accept that God has considered us crucified with Christ. Rm: 6:6

And Not Just the “bad” of the Self but the “good” as well, remember the flesh can do good,  so if we attempt to crucify the bad but allow the good to live then it will be only a matter of time for the bad to arise again,  and we are in bondage again .

The whole self must die, both the good and the bad, and Christ alone must live.

This is all through faith in Jesus; it is the righteousness of faith.
It must come by and through Jesus Christ and the Cross that frees us and breaks every Chain which binds us to slavery, all through our Lord Jesus and his death and resurrection, that our chains are broken and we are made forever  free.

Benediction: May we each and all have through our Lord Jesus every chain were with we are bound broken all through the power of his cross, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

Dear Friend

"I call you friends" Jhn:15:15

The writer of the Book of 1Chronicles record that there was within the administration of King David of Israel  a unique position among the varies ministers of state called The King's Friend.

 List of Personnel in David’s Administration. Those whom formed his government overseers and helped administer the Kingdom.1Chrnls:27:25-34

 The King's Friend

Among these officials there is a man named  Hushai, he is called in these verse, as the King's Friend or confidant.

"Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend".(33b)

The King's Friend was Hushai official designation that is why he is list among the other government officials this was his capacity with in David's administration.

Hushai has no administrative function such as legation or judicial proceedings or taxation but  rather Hoshai's role was to be the Friend of the King. To just be with David, to do things together, to fellowship. To talk to and to  know the mind and  heart of the King. To spend time with him, to share David's life.

This Unique role of Friend of the King  gave Hushai not just access to the throne, but to the very man who sat upon the throne.

When Need Most

Hushai's role of being the King's friend played an important role during a time when  King David's son Absalom, who lusted after power,  lunched an insurrection against the government of David and attempted to overthrow his father and place himself upon the Throne of Israel. 2Sam:15:1-12

During this insurrection incited Absalom, David sent  Hushai was sent back to Jerusalem  under the pretense of serving Absalom's administration and  to be a counter to the advisers of Absalom so that opportunity might be found for David's return to power. 2Sam:15:32-37

"So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city."(32)

During David's exile from Jursalem Hushai stood in the court of Absalom , here Hushai  operates covertly working on David's behalf, countering the input of Ahithopel who was the architect of Absalom's challenge to claim the throne. Hushai was willing to risk his very life on behalf of his friend David the true King of Israel.2Sam:16: &  2Sam:17-

Hushai was willing to lie down his life for David , that is the close bound of friendship which Hushai  had and showed toward David, Hushai recognized that David was anointed by God to sit as King over Israel.

Unique Position

As Hushai position was unique in the Government of Israel, so Christians  have a unique position with God's true anointed King , not just over Israel, but over all nations, his very own Son Jesus Christ the King of Kings who , like David,  is not visibly upon the throne.

Christians are like Hushai was, walking in the courts of a would-be claimant to the throne of the nations, being as Hushai was,  a counter to the evil influences of the world system, working for the rightful Anointed one of God until that time arrives when the Heavens will part the trumpet of God will sound and Jesus will descend from the Heaven in great power and glory.

"And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come".Lk:19:13

Christians are to conduct their live in such away as to do the will of  their King in the world, to occupy as an advanced installment of the Kingdom of God even in the courts of this world.

Hushai the King's friend was willing to lay down his life for his friend David, for Hushai knew the mind of David and spent time hearing what was upon David's heart.Hushai knew that David was a man after God' own heart and loved him for it.

"After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'"Acts:13:22

 Even as our Lord Jesus was willing to do for each and all of us. Jesus has disclosed to us what is in his heart, proclaiming the very love of God for us all.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."Jhn:15:13-15

Jesus has opened his heart to us, his friends about his Father's undying and unconditional love.

Access to The Throne

Hushai had access to the throne of David, and not just casually but in the official

capacity as his Friend. Spending time with him, hearing what is on his mind,

we have the same position and privilege, but not with a human King but with Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully human.

We like Hushai, have access not just to the throne, but to Jesus who sits upon it.

Jesus The King of Kings, we are to spend time with him, we are to know his heart and mind. We discover the thoughts of our Lord thru reading his word, hearing it expounded, worship, prayer and fellowship. Jesus looks upon us as not just casual acquaintances but has a close bound with us as his own dear friends. Jesus chose us before we ever chose him.

We are ever able to come to Jesus at any and all times to have prayerful conversations with him about life anything we have on our hearts.Jesus  is always to ready and willing to spend time with us.

Dear to Christ

As his friends Jesus is addressing us, so that we might understand his mind. The Holy Spirit is speaking to believers from the pages of Scriptures as dear friends.

St, Peter in his Epistle calls  all believers as "Dear Friends" , but this is not just St.Peter's feelings toward Christians, it is the Holy Spirit who is giving voice of Jesus' friendship with us all then speaks of the revelation of the heart of Jesus fro us all.

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.2Petr:3:1

Again St.Peter expresses this feeling  "dear friends"  (8)  He intones to us again as "dear friends" (14) "dear friends" (17)

This generous  uses of the phrase "dear friends" speaks of the endearment which our Lord Jesus shows for and toward us collectively and individually.

St.John tells us that the whole purpose of the very Gospel is so that others too can be made aware of the fellowship that  is available for them with God thru his holy Son. that they might join in with that you are the friends of God

  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete".1Jhn:1:1-4

You are a "dear friend" of the true King our Lord Jesus Christ even as Hushai was to David, the true King of Israel.

Benediction: May we each and all ever serve our Lord Jesus in the midst of the courts of this world  , our friend and  true King, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

 

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

Jesus' Humanity

"and the Word became flesh"Jhn:1:14

Many Theologians and Biblical Scholars of varies denominations and traditions  are  growing in their  understanding of the importance of the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have  seen  the important of our Lord's deity yet we can miss the importance of his humanity.

Yet Jesus’ humanity is of equally importance as his deity, for they are both his . Jesus is equally both, deity and humanity, but at times his humanity,   for each and all  of us,  on a daily bases maybe over looked, or what it means for us can be misunderstood or not truly appreciated  or understood.

There is only one Jesus, who is both divine and human fully, not half or one or the other, fully both. Jesus knew and knows who he is. Jesus shares our humanity he is one of us.

St.Paul calls Jesus , the second or last Adam.

"So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."1Crth:15:45

St.Paul explains  details of Jesus' introduction into the History of Salvation for us results of Jesus introduction into the History of Salvation and how thru Jesus God has given humanity an all new life. Rom:5:1-20

Recapitulation

Thru Jesus coming in the incarnation, that is deity taking on our very humanity,   Jesus has become the head of human race. As Adam had been the Federal Head of all humanity , binding each and all of us to his choice,  passing it onto the whole race. Jesus in the same way has become , thru his humanity, the new Federal Head of the whole of the human race.  this is what the ancient church called  "Recapitulation”.

“Recapitulation” ,  means, to be  given a new head, this could be because accomplished  because Jesus is fully God, yet fully humanity

Perfect Deity and sinless humanity,  in one person accomplished through Jesus' incarnation.

Humanity has a new head in Christ,  yet not all know this or experience it.

Jesus'  Humanity

Understanding Jesus’ humanity is as important as his deity.  This  is the way we understand how Jesus is all that he is to us and for us, “the way, the truth, the life”.

“Son of Man” 

St. John wrote in his Gospel account that  "Word became flesh". The very eternal Word of God became  "the Son of Man”.

The "Son of Man"  is Jesus’ most often used title for himself-this shows that Jesus  identifies with us, understand us, that this is not just a theoretical tile which Jesus has assumed for the sake of power and position, but it is his sharing of the human experience, that he did not isolate himself from the suffering  of humanity.  Jesus is truly  is one of us , a human being.

Jesus  is approachable. This is not just out of convenience, or necessity, or a strategy of some sort,  but is out of love for us, out of our God's desire to have a relationship with us.

Jesus' humanity makes an intimate love relationship with God possible. God  is not distant far off and aloof, but subjective  and personal, relational  .

Our High Priest

 Jesus understands our frailties , and knows and understands us for he is one of us and can help us as our High Priest.

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."Heb:4:14-16

Jesus is has first hand experience of all the frailties of us all or he has witness the frailties of others for himself. Having this experience among as one of us he is able  even now to help us all with understanding and compassion.Jesus is gentle with us.

"Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness."

"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek". Heb:5:1-2, 7-10

Brings Us into Worship

 In Jesus’ humanity we are made one in his worship of the Father. It is in truth, Jesus who brings to pass and oversees all the worship of the Great God , both thru the word being proclaimed and thru the hymns of praise.

"In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”And again, “I will put my trust in him. And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity"Heb:2:1-14a

 Jesus is means through which God understands us as well,  not as one who looks down on life from the vantage point in eternity but our God thru Jesus has first hand experience of this life and brings us into union with himself

Humanity that Died and Arose

At the glorious resurrection of Jesus, our Lord  did not leave his humanity in the grave forever captive within the bounds of death . It is Jesus' humanity that rose and ascended into the Heavens.

In Jesus , all humanity has ,thru Jesus' humanity,  joined him in death and has died with Jesus, so that,  as all died, in the same way thru his bodily resurrection have been  all raised. This has all been accomplished by and in Jesus' humanity.

St. Paul give us the explanation, which thru prayer and discussion, they had arrived at ,  in a very theologically weighty statement about just what occurred for us all in Jesus' death and resurrection.

"For Christ’s love compels us, for we have considered  that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."2Crth:5:14-15

St. Paul speaks again ,that in Jesus  we all have died and have been raised, therefore in his resurrected life, we live as well, and that eternal life is now ours by Jesus.Rm:6:4-11

This life which we live is experienced  over a life  time,  but what if we fall short and  “sin”?

 We can approach our God thru Jesus and cite or , acknowledge our "sin", this  is to ever and always remind us of our need for him and all that Jesus has accomplished for us. This shows us again,  his never faltering Grace for us and our eternal  dependence on Jesus  for this transformation. This is what the Ancient Church called "deification" , becoming Christ-like.

"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. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."1Jhn:1:8-10

His Life Not Ours

Often Christian’s may think of this life as Christ living “thru” them, yet the truth is that we live out of union with Jesus. The Christian life is not just conforming to “morals or ethics” it is a living way of life which comes from Jesus. We then participate in Jesus' life , we are not just following his example. We are in Union with who and  what Jesus  is doing. It is we have a sharing in all that is  except his deity this is Jesus' alone.

St.Paul tells us:   “The life I live by faith of the Son of God”  Gal:2:20
This life which St.Paul speaks  of ,is  Jesus' not ours,  understanding this lifts the burden off our us. 

It means that Jesus has the faith to save us , all of us- He has the faith to sustain us in our hard times – we do not have to rely on our selves.

The Christian life shows us what is all ready true for each and all who will but freely receive it . Scripture calls us “complete”  and "righteous” in Jesus .
This is accomplished by and trough Jesus'  shared humanity with us,  and the deity he shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Therefore our works are works of salvation ,not works for salvation.They are salvation being given expression thru us.

Jesus is God with us and us with God.

 From the eternal vantage point of God we are even now with him not just someday but this  present tenses,  Jesus there and we in him.

This new life of Christ which we live out only shows us what is already true and what will be in  eternity  made manifest .

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."Eph:2:4-10

One in Jesus

 Jesus prayer that we might be “one” as he and the Father are “one”.  The same "oneness" which Jesus shares with his Father, he wants us to experience with  himself.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."Jhn:17:20-23

Jesus does not see his Father ,or the Holy Spirit,  as “different persons” from himself as we understand it.  That is, Jesus wants us to see each another in him in the same way , this can be  by seeing we are in Jesus. We should not see Jesus as a separate person from ourselves .

We are  "one in Jesus" . There are no words and in any language of here upon the Earth which adequately can describe this reality which has been accomplished for us thru Jesus.  but it is  true in for all thru the humanly of Christ which  makes it all possible for us.

Benediction: May we each and all thank our Lord Jesus for the humanity which he share with each and all of us, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org
The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

 

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

The Field of Our Lives

"Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the tares also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the tares come from?’ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the tares and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn."Matt:13:24:30

Jesus’ Parable of the Wheat and Tares

Often we read this as a description of what will occur at the end of human civilization, when the trumpet of the Lord will sound and Jesus will return in glory, that in the end,  God will separate Christians from those who refuse to accept God’s free offer of salvation ,  which is by grace alone.

Jesus even gives as his overarching explanation that in the end  of the age (when ever that might be) there will be a dealing with the spiritual and the carnal at the culmination of human history.

Not Just For the End

But,  as with all scripture there are many depths to the meanings which can give us insight into our lives each and every day.

The tares mimic the wheat,  and if not examined closely  these tares can ,at first glance, appear to be the real thing and  can look just like wheat.
Jesus is not just laying out the judgment at the end but rather Jesus is calling on his people to be aware of what is growing in the field(s) of our lives.

Of the Spirit or the Flesh

Our flesh,  or carnal nature,  can and  does deceive us into believing that some of what arises out of the flesh is from God. We can mistake the voice of the flesh for the voice of God, especially if what we hear matches our own personal desires.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?" Jer:17:9

Our heart can convince us that those things which have sprung up in our thinking and consequently in our lives,  are a product of the working of God, as the tares in the parable,  when in truth they come from our own heart.

The sower has given us the word of God , and there can real growth  in us spiritually  and the fruit of the Holy Spirit, but there can also be ,growing right along side the fruit, tares which are  the fruit of the flesh masquerading as piety and righteousness.

This fruit of the tares  can say the right things and do the right things yet they have its origins in the flesh, that is the soil which represent that which is "earthy", or carnal.

Scripture tells us that there is a kind of wisdom to this world , and at times it can look good have all the appearance of godliness.

This worldly wisdom , or cleverness , is even mentioned by our Lord Jesus in the Parable of the unjust Steward. Lk:16:8

The whole Epistle to the Galatians Church was written to encourage Christians not to look to the flesh, not trust in works or performance based religiosity, no matter how rightness those works might appear.

In the city of Colossi some were introducing ascetic practice into the church, and some of the Christians were embracing these practices, mistaking this asceticism for spirituality.   These things are not of the Spirit, though they can have the appearance of piety. Cols: 2:16-23

Tares Resemble Wheat

At first glance, tares which might arise in the field of our lives,  resemble the wheat and when examined at face value can convince us that they have grown out of our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ .

We Christians  need  to ask for the guidance of our God with open and  honest self examination , for our Lord will graciously and mercifully help us to see our selves and the field of own lives for he sees the heart.

 "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1Sam:16:7

God can Discern the Difference

St. Paul wrote to Christians that we should examine our selves.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?",2 Cor. 13:5

Our Lord calls on us to honestly and prayerfully examine our lives and see if what is growing in the fields  are those things that which are of the Spirit or the flesh, no matter how good they appear,  we need to ask "are they coming from the Spirit?" are they wheat or tares?

In The End

But here is the good news, even if we go through life, thinking some of what has been in our lives has come from the Holy Spirit, but is not. In spite  of tares in the fields of our lives , our Lord is a merciful and gracious Judge who will "judge" our lives based upon who we are in him, rather than the limitations which we all share in our flesh. 1Crth:3:5-23

Recall that in the parable the tares were bound up and separated from the wheat and burned, gone forever.

This hints at what will occur with of us when, we come before our Lord, when our Lord Jesus looks upon the filed of all of our lives. Jesus will discern what has grown out of the carnal "soil" ,that is the flesh, "the tares",  and that which was born of the spirit "the wheat",  as St. Paul wrote "tried by fire" that is the by  Holy Spirit.

Those things of the flesh will be burned away leaving only that which is of the Spirit.

The tares will be bound up and cast away our of the field of our lives, burned and gone forever,  leaving only the good wheat of the Spirit to be placed in the Lord's barn, that is the Kingdom of God, we will be saved and live eternally with our Lord  untroubled by the tares which grow within the field of our lives  .

Our Lord Jesus will bless us and gather us together free for all eternity free of the tares  which grew in the field of our lives.

Benediction: May we each and all  produce only the wheat of the Spirit in the field of our lives, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

A Blameless Priesthood

"At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”Matt:12:1-2

Jesus and his Disciples were walking in the gain fields, on  the “Sabbath” day , it is here that Jesus has a confrontation with the religious leaders , over their perception that Jesus' disciples were "violating" the "Sabbath" command.

 This , exchange in the grain fields  , between Jesus and the Pharisees in particular was one of the many ongoing exchanges that occurred throughout Jesus'  ministry for 3 1/2 years

 The Pharisees are upset  that the disciples of Jesus were “working” on the "Sabbath"day, they considered the Disciples picking grain and eating it as the "work of harvesting" the Pharisees deemed this as "unlawful".

"At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”Matt:12:1-2

The Pharisees  had held the Sabbath as a test commandment of obedience and faithfulness to the Covenant established by God with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.

The Pharisees read the command in the Book of Exodus written by the Great Prophet of the Lord God Moses,  stating that the Sabbath(s) was a sign between God and Israel, that the Lord was their God and Israel was his people.

"The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people" Ex:12-14

Over the years the religious leaders had built a hedge of their own ideas around the Sabbath in order to "protect" the Sabbath's sanctity so that it would not be "profaned" ,  and  that any who did not embrace their view was , in their minds, disobeying God.

The keeping of the Sabbath  was their hallmark of obedience, and  it was their own  imposed “litmus test” and upon others as how they measured obedience to the Covenant .

But Jesus and his disciples were, in the minds of the Pharisees,  violating this “test” ,   and the Pharisees  reacted badly,  and they accused Jesus and the Disciples of braking the Sabbath. The Sabbath was in the Pharisees' view the focus of the Covenant that God made with Israel.

Changing Covenants

For us to truly  understand this encounter in the grainfileds we need to go back to the calling of the Disciples .That is Jesus called his  Disciples  and sent them forth into the work of preaching that the Kingdom of God, that God's Kingdom  had arrived that a whole relationship was opened for humanity with God we can read about this in Matthew10:1-20

In Matthew 11:12 Jesus issues his great invitation for any and all who will freely receive it to "Come to me and I will give you rest" . Jesus tells us, that in him  is the true rest of which the Old Covenant Sabbath was only a shadow of, Jesus is the realty of that rest.

" Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ"Colss:2:16-17

The very point that the Pharisees confront Jesus on, the “Sabbath”  is what the Pharisees  looked to as their evidence  of piety  as the very which they measured righteousness. That means these Pharisees   "rested" in the Sabbath, looked to the Sabbath, trusted and relied on the Sabbath,  drew their identity from the Sabbath and saw it's keeping  and as the justification of  and their validation and  as the expression of the Law and all other attachments of the Old Covenant.

The “Sabbath” is anything that gives you “rest” in place of Jesus –Any “litmus test” other then Jesus – The Apostles were sent for to tell others about Jesus- where the true rest is found- nothing else- but Christ  It is the changing of a Covenant-they drew their identities from it they trusted in it and they "rested in it".

Blameless

Jesus immediately recognized  the true issue that the Pharisees have with his Disciples, and directs the Pharisees to the word of God in response to the Pharisees accusation.

"Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are blameless? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”Matt:12:3-8

David and his men had come to the town of Nob, where the Tabernacle was erected and asked for bread from the Ahimelek the Priest for he and his men.  There was no bread  on hand except,  the Shewbread which was in the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle.

 The Shewbread which  David and his men  took from the Sanctuary  of Tabernacle and then ate was concentrated for only for the Priest only to eat, yet Jesus declared David and his men "blameless".

Jesus then address  arduous work of  Temple Priest in the continuous offering of sacrifices. The animals had to be bound, slaughtered, dressed and even lifted to the Alter of God . All of this entailed "work" on the Sabbath Day, yet Jesus declared  that  the Priest on " Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are blameless?"  before the Lord.

A New Priesthood for a New Covenant

Why did Jesus bring up the example of David doing what was "unlawful" and the Temple Priest "desecrating" the Sabbath, and then Jesus declared both as being "blameless" ? What was Jesus telling the Pharisees in response to their charges that Jesus' Disciples were "doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath "

Jesus then faults the understanding of the Pharisees, that they have misunderstood the true intent of the word of Scriptures.

"If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matt:12:7-8

Jesus not only does address the Pharisees' lack of understanding of the Scriptures  , but Jesus then pronounces that his Disciples are "blameless" as well.
Jesus tells the angry Pharisees that if they, truly understood the word of God they "would not have condemned the blameless", meaning that his very Disciples are "blameless".

What is Jesus telling the Pharisees about his Disciples who were with him in the grainfileds, and throughout  the ages?

Jesus is stating that his Disciples are "blameless" as was David who ate the Shewbread which  belong only  to the Priest, and the Priest  in their service at the Temple , who Jesus said was "blameless" even as they  "desecrated the Sabbath" .

By Jesus declaring his Disciples "blameless" Jesus  is declaring his Disciples  Priest.

But Jesus' Disciples are not a Priesthood of the Covenant of Sacrifice made with Israel at Mount Sinai , of which the Sabbath was the sign of that Covenant but rather Jesus' Disciples are a Priesthood of a New Covenant of Mercy which had and is God's intent all along.

"If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice," (8)

Mercy Not Sacrifice

The Old Covenant would have those who broke the Sabbath  to die for "desecrating" the Sabbath as we read in the Sabbath command in Exodus:12.

But this is not what God's intent ever was. God's desire is for mercy, not sacrifice. This means that forgiveness is extended to us, we are "blameless", as was David and the Temple Priest, there are no more sacrifices to be offered as we read in the Epistle to the Hebrew Christians. 

"AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin." Heb:10:17-18

Disciples Are Priest

Jesus is declaring that those called to himself , his Disciples , those who find rest only in Jesus,  and are sent them into the harvest ,  are a New Priesthood of a New Covenant of Mercy  which supersedes the Old Covenant of Sacrifice.

The Pharisees understood what  Jesus was telling them,  that the Priesthood and Covenant which they served was passing away.  All that the Pharisees  "rested"  in  was passing away and  with it the very Sabbath and their position of power and prominence.

St. Paul takes up the theme of non-condemnation, that is "blameless"  in his Epistle to the Roman Christians.

"there is now no more condemnation to those who are in Christ." Rm:8:1

In the eyes of God, we Jesus' Disciples  are "blameless", therefore we are Priest.
St. Paul uses the description  of a "priestly duty"  as applying to himself in his ministry of proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles which brings people to enter and  experience that New Covenant of Mercy.

"Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." Rm:15:15-16

St.Peter declares all Disciples as being a Priesthood,  1Peter:2:5-9.

Jesus :Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus then  angers the Pharisees even more ,when he declarers himself  "the Lord of the Sabbath".

Jesus by using the title Lord, he is equating himself and identifying himself as the very Lord who made the Covenant with Israel. Jesus is reveling his deity to the Pharisees, showing that he has authority to pronounce the Disciples as "blameless" 

Our Rest Only in Jesus.

If anything else gives us "rest" , aside from Jesus , as the Sabbath did the Pharisees  then we are creating a test commandment that will be  uses to measure by, and if we do this , we like the Pharisees will  build a hedge around that self created Sabbath which will then   impose requirement and bring unnecessary condemnation upon others and ourselves.

Only Jesus is our "rest" our "Sabbath" ,  that we might walk in the grain fields of this world as a Priesthood of the New Covenant of Mercy.

Benediction: May we each and all, be that "blameless" Priesthood of a Covenant of Mercy sent forth with the Gospel message  in the grainfileds of this world, today, tomorrow and forevermore.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

Loaves & Fishes

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”John:6:9a

Many,  in Christian Circles are looking out at the world  and the times in which we are living , and they are coming to feel that our only option as Christians is, is for us to “hang on” until the end. Some believers   have defaulted to an almost "siege mentality" , some are  saying "there is nothing we can do darkness is coming down around us, and we do not have the resources s to reach the world the multitudes around us".

the Multitude Comes.

This miracle of the Loaves and Fishes  is recorded in all four of the Gospel accounts  ,but only St.John highlights the involvement of the “young boy” who was present who had in his possession five small loaves of barley and two fishes.


A great multitude was following Jesus even as he crossed to the far shore of  that is, the Sea of Galilee or also called  the Sea of Tiberias.  The people saw  the healings which  Jesus preformed,  they saw that there was  power to what he was doing and they wanted that power to come into their lives.

"Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick."Jhn:6:1-2

Jesus, here in this rural  place,  climes to a mountainside and  sits with his disciples and  he looks out and see the crowd approaching him.

"Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.The Jewish Passover Festival was near."(3-5)

Jesus , seeing the people,  had already decerned their need . Jesus would use the collective need of the approaching crowd to give a greater revelation about himself as the very Lord and Savior that they each had long sought,  and all his Disciples participation with Jesus in the ministry of  his Kingdom.

"Jesus said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do."(5b-6)
St.Philip, looks out at the crowd which was converging upon them and  is apparently in doubt as how they will deal with the problem of providing enough food for such large gathering of people and expresses this to Jesus.

"Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”(7)

 St.Philip is "saying we do not have the means  to feed them", St.Philip  saw it as a matter of not enough resources or  money. St.Philip looked  at what they lacked,  he should have seen what, or better,  who they had.  St.Philips should have , after his time with Jesus, known that with Jesus there would be a solution and answer to the problem .

Here is a Boy

At the juncture , St. Andrew , who has been looking on and hearing the conversation between Jesus and St.Philip , points out that present with group is  is a boy  who has five  loaves and two fishes.

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish"(8-9a)

St.Andrew , St.Peter's brother,  at least pointed out that there was one among them  who had something to offer,  yet,  St.Andrew  still looked upon the size of the offering.

 "but how far will they go among so many?”(9b)

These five loaves and the two fishes in the hand of a boy,   was not much to offer but it was something and the narrative of the Scripture does not record any objection by the boy to place his meager offering into the hands of Jesus,   and when brought to Jesus , and Jesus was able to uses it mightily to minster to the throng of the hungry multitude of  people.

Jesus Uses Little to do Much

Jesus then has the Disciples to have the people sit in organized groups so that he might minster to them.

"Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there)".(10)

After the crowd is settled Jesus then receives the boy's offering of the loaves and fishes and commits the meager offering  to the glory and his Father thru the giving of thanks.

"Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish."(11)

This giving of thanks is a vital part of the account, we are told in the Psalms that "it is good to give thanks to God",  but thanking God is more than a formality it  is in preparation for us to be the recipients of the very salvation of God and is vital for us to see that salvation come powerfully into each and all of our lives, not only in eternal life, but seeing that salvation in the everyday problem which we all encounter in life.

  "Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God." Ps:50:23

After Jesus' offering of thanks, he has his Disciples  distribute the meal of bread and fish. There is due to the working of our Lord ore than enough for the great crowd of people who had come to Jesus, none went hungry.

What started out as discussion, between Jesus and st.Philip of having very little means to minster to such a great multitude ends up being statement about the power of Jesus  to resolves  problems and to provide abundant resources when and where they should not be and our participation with offering what we might have to our Lord for his uses.

"When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." (12-13)

After the people ate and saw the power of God , they begin to ask if Jesus is the very one long awaited Messiah.  It seems from the narrative , which St.John provides us, that it was somehow known among the people that the bread and fish which was presented to them was provided by divine means which led them to consider who Jesus is, that is "is he the Messiah?"

"After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (14)

 The Boy Held the Answer

Jesus, here used the small amount given by a boy  to do a great thing. This boy was present and he had in his hand the  the five loaves and two fishes, a small solution to a big problem he just needed someone to point this boy out.

Jesus of course was fully aware that this boy was among them having in his hand a small solution just waiting to be brought him.

"for he already had in mind what he was going to do."(6)

Jesus wanted his Disciples to realize that ministry is not just for the "professionals"  that ministry is for all followers of Jesus,  even a "boy".

Yet it was this small offering that ended up making a big difference to allot of people , this young boy had the answer but just didn’t know that he did until it was put in  the hand of Jesus.

Jesus' purpose in this place was accomplished his intended purpose was fulfilled.

"They were all filled" (13)

As result  some wondered  said “this is”- “the Prophet” – they began to believe.

Which Are We?

When we face challenges in ministry are we like St.Philip who looks at the world the multitude, and concludes that we can not  reach them for lack of resources? When we do that it causes us to look inward, and confides the Christian experience to those who already believe.

St.Andrew, at least,  acknowledges something to work with but did not see how much good it would do, he too was looking at "amounts" not Jesus. In the hands of Jesus a little is a lot

Too many in the Church today see the scope of the work at hand but can not see how it can be accomplished. The world around us needs to hear the Gospel about Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

Are we like the young boy with the Loves & Fishes – this boy  had the answer, but didn’t realize it, but someone had to point him out-, he there , he was holding the answer to the situation , but once it was brought to Jesus,  Jesus was able to put that little to use, to make it go further then any of us can possible imagine.

Are One of Us Holding the Answer

Maybe one of us  is holding the answer to what God intends for His work among us. Maybe that little which seems to be of no great use is intended by Jesus to go along way , if it is just brought to Jesus.

We might look at our small congregation(s) or the size of our funds or resources  and see  little, yet in Jesus’ hand it can do more then we imagine.Jesus knows already what he will do with it if we will but bring it to Jesus.

Can you imagine the surprise that young boy had to see Jesus use his offering in this way.

Jesus can take our small amount, that little we have to offer and accomplish His purpose that other might believe ,  we may not think that we have anything Jesus can uses, but what ever little we have Jesus can make go far beyond what we ever thought it could .

We should not hesitate to bring that small offering of our Loves & Fishes to Jesus, and let him use it as he will; Jesus will do great things beyond what we imagine.

Benediction:May we each and all bring our Loaves and Fishes  to Jesus to uses as he will that others can see that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"