“He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.” (Mark 8:6-7, NIV)

Observations/Interpretations:
After Jesus told the crowd to sit down, what did Jesus do?

Jesus took the seven loaves from the disciples. (Mark 8:5)
Jesus gave thanks to the Father for the seven loaves of bread.
Jesus broke the loaves of bread.
Jesus gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
Jesus gave thanks to the Father for the small fish as well.
Jesus told the disciples to distribute them.

Previously, shared with you what stuck out to me was the ‘Giving of thanks’. Jesus not only gave thanks for the seven loaves of bread but gave thanks for the small fish too. ‘He gave thanks for them also’ is emphasized.

What stuck out to me today was Jesus giving the bread to the disciples to set before the people and telling the disciples to distribute the fish too!

Interpretation:
Why is it significant what Jesus did?
It is so significant to me what Jesus did because Jesus could have miraculously made sure all the people there were fed. Jesus could have had manna rain down from Heaven and have the crowd pick it up and eat. Jesus could have had quail rain down from Heaven and have the crowd pick it up and eat. However, Jesus did not do that. The crowds, many of them, who were Jewish would have been familiar with Jehovah’s miracles during the exodus out of Egypt. Instead, Jesus relied on the disciples to help feed the crowd. Jesus was taking help to feed the crowd after He first relied on Father God to bless the food.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. Jesus who took the help of the Father and then the disciples to feed the large crowd set an example for me to follow. Jesus could have done it by Himself if He chose but was setting an example for us to follow. Jesus wants us to take the help of others in what we do to reach the masses after we first rely on Father God! I need to rely on Father God and others to help me without being so individualistic especially when help is available from others. Help is always available from the Lord though so I should always take the help of the Lord.

I ask you now dear friend, who is helping you?
Dear friend, in today’s society taking the help of others is frowned upon by many people. It is an individualistic society that emphasizes self-help, self-rule, etc but that was not the way of Jesus in reaching others whether it was with the Gospel or through other means. Whether Jesus fed them spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc Jesus took the help of Father God foremost and then others, so should we. Especially the Christian life emphasizes the importance of our reliance on the Lord Jesus and the community of believers.

A lot of problems occur in our lives because we think we can help ourselves and do not need the help of others. Jesus who created us knows that most of all we need Him as our Helper. He also wants us to be part of a community of believers to take their help. We should not be shy in asking for help. A lot of times people love to help others in need.

It is also important to know whose helping you are taking! Not everyone who you ask for help could be the right person to help. If a person who does not have the qualities the Lord emphasizes for servant leaders and servant helpers, then those that are helping you could actually harm you in the long run.

If the Lord is helping you as you take His help, you know you will be provided with the right wisdom. Depend on the Lord to help you and guide you! If Satan is helping you, you will be in danger of messing up badly. Make no mistake about it, Satan who hates the Lord, loves to help you just to put a wedge between you and the Lord. He will do that, make no mistake about it if you are not careful. That is why a community of believers who believe that the Bible is the Word of God and we do not pick and choose what to follow in the Bible are the community of believers you should be part of.

If those that are helping you whether they are pastors, priests, laypersons, etc believe homosexuality is ok, same sex unions are ok, abortion is ok, living under the same roof without marriage is ok, etc, you are not receiving the right help.

Won’t you take the help of Jesus my friend?

Jesus wants to be your helper and guide you in all areas of your life. He provides guidance in different ways for our benefit. That is so exciting to know friend. Yes, it is friend! When you rely on Him, He will take care of the rest!

May you know helping everyone Almighty Lord provides immense nurture generously!

“Helping Everyone, Lord Provides Immense Nurture Generously!” (H.E.L.P.I.N.G)/”Who is helping you?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for loving us and dying for our sin. Thank you for coming back to life to save us. Oh Lord, thank you so much for using the help of the disciples to feed the crowd as you first relied upon God to provide the food for the crowds. Help us to always rely on you first and foremost and also take the help of others you provide. Forgive us Oh Lord when we go our own way and do our own thing. We are so sorry and need you Jesus. Thank you so much for your help, hope, and healing in our lives. We trust in you Jesus and pray right now for the one who needs your help so much. Even when they are denying it, come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their lives for your honor and glory! Protect them from the enemy Oh Lord! Thank you Jesus! Touch each one mightily Oh Lord. Thank you for your help! Thank you for hearing our prayer and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus, you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual, financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

SEPTEMBER 2005

MARK: CHAPTER 1

How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophecy? (Sept 01, 05)

Who do you P.O.I.N.T to? (Sept 02, 05)

"Will you take a S.T.A.N.D?" (Sept 03, 05)

How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E? (Sept 06, 05)

"How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Sept 07, 05)

"Who controls your T.I.M.E?" (Sept 08, 05)

"What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Sept 09, 05)

"Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to?" (Sept 12, 05)