Archive for Miracles

Nov
20

The Five Ingredients of Faith – Luke 5

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THE FIVE INGREDIENTS OF FAITH
by Eddie Lawrence

INTRODUCTION- We often talk about taking a step of faith, but actually a step of faith involves several "steps" in order to truly be faith.

TEXT- Luke 5: 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. (NKJV)

NOTICE THE FIVE INGREDIENTS OF FAITH IN THE ABOVE PASSAGE:

1. KNOWLEDGE

(V5)..nevertheless at Your word…
Simon (Peter) first had to know what Jesus wanted him to do before he did it. He heard Jesus Word.

The first ingredient is knowledge. In order to act upon something, you first have to know about it.

For example, if the local restaurant had a two-for-one special on their Ribeye Steak Dinners, in order for me to get in on it and experience it, and eat one of those dinners, I would first have to know about the offer.

Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) the Word of God. How can people be saved if they do not hear? This is the question Paul asked the Romans. In other words, people first have to know what God is saying.

 

2. BELIEF

(V5) But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

Notice Peter’s objection at first, we have already done this and caught nothing. In other words, it is hard to believe that there is any reason in the natural to act on what you are saying.

Yet, Peter made the decision to believe what Jesus said. Had he not chosen to place faith in what Jesus said, he would never have let down the nets.

Once a person knows then they must choose whether or not they believe that knowledge is correct. Is it true?

To continue the restaurant illustration, you would not go for a special offer at a restaurant if you did not believe they were having the special offer. You would assume it would be a waste of time. This was Peter’s first thought, but he moved through it and make the choice to believe Jesus word.

3. COMMITMENT

(v5) …nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

Notice Peter says, "I will" let down the net. These is an act of his will. He is commiting himself to doing what Jesus said even before he does it.

If a person has decided that they have heard and know about is true, then the next step is whether or not, they will commit to that truth. A person can believe that it is true that the restaurant is offering a two-for-one special on their ribeye steaks, but may not commit to actually taking the step to utilize the offer. They may hear of others who have gone and eaten one of the steak dinners and who share that is wonderfully delicious and a great deal, and still not get one for themselves. In order to fully experience the truth of what they have heard about and believe to be true, they have to commit to it for themselves. In other words, they head toward the restaurant with the full intent of buying.

4. ACTION

(v6) And when they had done this…

Peter actually followed through on his commitment and did it. This is the action part.

This is the step of acted upon a commitment made. To continue the illustration. This is the step of entering the restaurant, ordering and eating the steak.

5. RESULTS

(v6) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

The results of Peter’s step of faith is that he saw in the natural what he had already heard, believed, committed to and acted upon in his spirit and life. He experienced a bunch of benefits:

-A boat load of fish "a great number of fish"
-Enough to share with others "signaled to their partners"
-A deeper revelation of Who Jesus was "fell down at Jesus’ knees" An act of worship.
-A deeper revelation of Who he was "sinful man"
-A powerful public witness "all were astonished"
-A realization of purpose for his life "from now on you will catch men"

This last ingredient is really more of a benefit of faith. The result one receives because he has heard and known, believed, committed to and acted upon what he has heard, and experienced it for himself. This is standing up at the table at the restaurant, rubbing your belly, and being fully satisfied and full because you ordered and ate the two-for-one special. You then walk out and become a witness to what you have experienced to others whom you think would enjoy a ribeye steak dinner at a great price.

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Oct
22

Scarcity vs Abundance – sermon

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The following sermon was written and contributed by Diane Harrington who resides in South Carolina. It is obvious that the Lord has blessed Diane with a writing and teaching gift. Thanks to her for this message.

 

 

THE ECONOMY OF SCARCITY
VS
THE ECONOMY OF ABUNDANCE
 
 
 

Introduction:

 
Fred Craddock, author of Preaching Through the Christian Year, tells about a Benedictine monk who was spending the weekend at the Trappist Monastery in Conyers, Georgia. At mealtime they were served the most delicious bread…..and there was plenty of it. All were enjoying it, and no one was saying a word. Everyone was caught up in the moment of eating this delicious bread, and the Monk said to the brother seated next to him, ‘Did we make this or did someone give it to us?’ And the brother answered, ‘Yes.’” (repeat question/answer) The brother was saying “Yes, we made it!” and “Yes, God gave it to us.” [1]
“YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.” We’re not sure just how Jesus said those words. It could have been in a still, quiet, voice: “You give them something to eat.” Or a pleading, urging voice: “You give them something to eat.” Or a commanding voice: “You give them something to eat.” While, it may have been all of the above, the word “YOU” in Greek is emphatic, [2] giving the sense of a command.  The food did not come as manna from heaven, from a flock of quail, from water changed into wine, or oil and meal that mysteriously replenished itself. The bread and fish not only came from God, but was also administered through the work and kindness of human hands. Christ takes our contribution, no matter how modest, and makes it enough. [3] “YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”
 
 

Economy of Scarcity:

Our world economy operates under the principle of scarcity or supply and demand. Markets are supposed to regulate scarcity by gathering information about our wants and needs, and harmonizing supply and demand through the price mechanism. Money is a unit of information, a conveyer of price signals, a store of the world’s value, and a means of exchange. When supply is plentiful, prices are low. When supply is scarce, prices are high.
Man has seemingly infinite wants but finite resources. Mismatches in supply and demand occur when we fail to efficiently allocate these resources to their optimum level. Economics is the study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and distribute them among different people. This classical concept of scarcity – unlimited wants vs limited resources – is flawed because of man’s fear of not having enough. [4]  We fear scarcity for many reasons. It’s the “What if” dilemma – what if we lose our job, what if natural disasters like Tsunamis, famine, hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes, etc. destroy our homes and take the lives of our loved ones, especially the breadwinners. What if terrorists attack us, dictators control us, or thieves steal our identities. This fear leads to hoarding, gathering more and more, trying to fill the void that fear leaves in us. How many times have we heard the comment, “You have to take care of yourself, because no one else is going to.” We forget that God sent manna each day, and instructed the Israelites to eat their fill, but not to save what was left over. God faithfully provided what they needed.
I am reminded of the story of a minister who had just begun to preach his sermon when a mighty thunderstorm struck. The congregation was obviously distracted by the loud thunder and sheets of rain hitting the windows. The minister stopped for a moment, and then said “Isn’t the Lord wonderful? Here we are, comfortable and dry, and the Lord has arranged for the storm to wash our cars while we worship.” [5]
Another negative offshoot of the world’s economy of scarcity is the tendency to look for weaknesses in others. While intellectual capacity, knowledge, and technology have become valuable resources in our society, the tendency has grown to not only look for weaknesses in others, but to use them to our advantage – either you win or I do. Though God does call us to use our gifts and talents to fullest advantage for his glory, we often use them for our own glory. We strive to be the best, to make more money, to buy more things because deep down, we’re scared to death of losing it all. We buy into the world’s “economy of scarcity” principles instead of God’s “economy of abundance” principles. As Paul Harvey would have said after hearing today’s sermon title, and now let’s hear the rest of the story, the story about God’s Economy of Abundance. Our needs are met in direct proportion to our level of trust in God. A man by the name of Henry Ward Beecher said that “Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” Jesus chose the handle of faith, giving God’s principle of multiplication room to not only feed the masses, but to give glory to God. Jesus also taught, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all the rest will be added unto you.” 
Today’s scripture lesson starts with Jesus withdrawing after hearing of John’s death. Most commentaries speculate that Jesus was tired and terribly grieved, but that when he saw the hoards of people that were waiting on the seashore, he had compassion for them. They looked like sheep without a shepherd. The Greek word for compassion comes from the common word for the spleen or intestines. We might say “he felt it in his gut.”  [6]
At the end of the day, the Disciples suggested to Jesus that they should send the people to nearby towns to buy food. They were thinking practically. We only have 5 loaves and 2 fish and that’s not enough. What if the crowd gets unruly? Of course, the Disciples were feeling compassion for the people and probably wanted to give Jesus some time to rest. Just like the Disciples, we add 2 + 5 to get 7, instead of doing math God’s way: 2 + 5+ Jesus = 8. When faced with overwhelming need, we should learn to count to 8. [7] In God’s math, one person plus God is a majority.
Jesus’s command “You give them something to eat” challenges Christians today. We live in a world where people are hungry for food, clothes, love, a safe place to live, escape from many different life conditions. We pray that Jesus will do something, but he responds “You give them something to eat.” The church has risen to the occasion many times with food, clothing, shelter, and medical care, but we often see problems instead of possibilities. There is a guy in my company that when a problem crops up, always says “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an opportunity.” We are tempted to believe that we have nothing to offer, or even if we do, we feel that our effort is insignificant – not enough to solve the problem so what’s the use in trying. Do we really believe that God can and will intervene in our world? What are the impossibilities in your life? What crowds or battles do you have to face? We can face them hand in hand with the one who makes things possible. We can read the Word, kneel before God in prayer, and then work in God’s strength. You, plus God, adds up to whatever God wants. 
Dr. Jerry Fuller in his sermon “Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes” tells the story of Rob and Jackay, who opened their own restaurant. As opening day neared, all that needed to be done was the health inspection and the issuing of their business permit. Both were to be done early morning and then “Our Place,” as they called it, would be in business. But that morning, Hurricane Hugo hit unexpectedly, making its way 200 miles inland to their North Carolina town. Sound familiar? Trees were uprooted, power lines were down, homes and stores destroyed. Rob and Jackay hurried to the restaurant, but everything was intact. A deputy sheriff pulled up and told them that their restaurant, the fire station next door, and a service station down the road were the only businesses with electricity. Rob and Jackay called the health inspector to come immediately, so they could open, but he couldn’t get to his office to issue the permit. No permit, no business opening. With a refrigerator stocked with 300 pounds of bacon and beef, plus bushels of tomatoes, lettuce, and bread, there was only thing they could do – give the food away. So, they told the deputy to call his coworkers and other emergency personnel that the Restaurant would have free BLT’s and coffee for anyone who came by. Soon, firemen, policemen, linemen, and other workers filled “Our Place.” When Rob and Jackay heard that another restaurant was scalping people by charging $10 for 2 eggs, toast, and bacon, they put a sign in their window: “Free BLT’s – FREE COFFEE. Families, travelers, and street people were welcomed. Then, something began to happen. People started to clean counters and sweep floors. Volunteers took over the dish washing from Jackay and helped Rob at the grill. Hearing about what was happening at Our Place from the local radio station, people from a neighboring town that didn’t have much damage from the storm, brought food from their freezers. Stores and dairies sent chicken, milk, and foodstuffs of all kinds. Those first cups of coffee and BLT’s somehow stretched to 16,000 meals. The restaurant’s small stock increased by 500 loaves of bread, cases of mayonnaise, 350 pots of coffee, and bushels of produce. [8]
Five loaves and two fish, which Pastor David DeWitt calls “One Little Lunch” – fed the masses of people in body and spirit. What should we draw from God’s economy of abundance? 
(1) Never underestimate God;
(2) Never doubt God’s ability to provide in BIG ways; and
(3) Jesus can turn the broken pieces of your life into blessings for yourself and for others. 

One little lunch satisfied many; one little lunch made a difference. It revealed the power of God, changed lives, and strengthened people’s faith. [9]  Jesus commands us, “YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”

Amen.
 

[1] Craddock, Fred B; Hayes, John H.; Holladay, Carl R.; Tucker, Gene M.; Preaching Through the Christian Year, A (Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1992)
[2] Johnson, Sherman E., and Buttrick, George A., The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 7 (Nashville: Abingdon, 1951), page 431.
[3] Ibid. Johnson, Sherman, and Buttrick
[4] Vaknim, Dr. Sam, The Misconception of Scarcity, United Press International, http://samvak.tripod.com/scarcity.html
 
[5] Donovan, Richard Niell www.sermonwriter.com, Copyright, 2005, page 5 of 16.
[6] Fuller, Dr. Jerry, “Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes,” http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-or18-js.php
[7] Ibid, Donovan, Richard Niell, page 13 of 16
[8] Ibid, Fuller, Dr. Jerry, pages 1-2 (ref. “A Grand Opening,” Connections, 18th Sunday of the Year, August 1, 1999.

 

 

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Categories : Christian Living, Encouragement, Finance and Provision, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Pleasing God, Relationships, The Nature of God
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May
15

What Happened at the Jail Last Night? sermon outline

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The is a free sermon by Eddie Lawrence built around the conversion of the Philippian jailor’s encounter with Paul and Silas and yes, Jesus. Enjoy this as well as our other sermon outlines here at Sermon Seedbed.

Did You Hear About What Happened at the Jail Last Night?

Text: Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. (NKJV)

This dramatic event has several elements that make up its fascinating story.

1. Maintain a Faith Filled Attitude Under Pressure
(Paul and Silas were praying and singing instead of griping and complaining)

2. Expect God to Shake Things Up When Crunch Time is On
(Many, many times in the Bible, we see God’s miracles related to timing. There are a lot of earthquakes, but this one happened at just the right time. Some might think this was a miraculous intervention but just a natural occurence. Hmmmm? Why did the shackles release them but the place did not fall in on them and kill them. Doors opening and chains loosening sounds like some Angels were pretty busy.)

3. Look for Redemptive Opportunities in the Midst of the Shaking
(Often we miss the greatest opportunities by being distracted. Paul seized the opportunity to step in and minister to the jailor who assumed everyone had escaped which would have meant his life. I personally believe Paul had a word of knowledge about what the jailor was about to do because there was no light in the place. I think this added to the Jailor’s awareness that the God to whom Paul and Silas had been singing, was doing something extraoridinary.)

4. Learn to Recieve Good from those Who Once Hurt You
(What a beautiful site to see the jailor washing their stripes. No bitterness in either heart. Wow!)

5. Watch the Ripple Effects of Obedience
(Paul and Silas were able to witness a whole family’s conversion because they kept their faith under pressure.)

Conclusion–What jail or you in this morning? In what way is pressure being placed upon you? How have you been handling it? What changes do you need to make?

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Categories : Christian Living, Dealing with Trials, Evangelism, Faith, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Prayer
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