Tuesday, 03 June 2008

• Are you responding like an athetist?

  We were blessed with Terry Mize as our guest speaker in our church yesterday. 3 points in the message that got me thinking.  Terry Mize was preaching on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. 
  
  Matthew 16:13-17
  
  When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"  

  (God isn't interested about who other people say He is.  He is more interested in how we see Him. Because His power in our lives rest on how we see Him.  If we see Him as our healer, He is our healer.  When we see Him as provider, El-Shaddai, the all abundant One,  He is able to the abundant blessings in our lives.  When we see Him as our righteousness,then He is that to us.  Our perception of God determines our response and the manifestation of His power in our lives.)
  

   Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

  Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

  
  John 6:5-9
  
  When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, hesaid 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.
  
  Jesus has been telling people about God, about Himself, the Son of God.  And He asked Philip this question and Philip's response was a very natural one - he checked the money bag. 
  
  When God asks you to do something, do you check your bag or do you look to God?
  

  Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

  Terry Mize made an interesting and (tome), a painful observation.  He said that if Jesus had asked anathetist, how should we feed these people?  Well, the athetist would reasonably reply, "it depends on how much you've got to pay for the food." 

  It is reasonable response from an athetist.  But for a disciple of Jesus to respond the same way...
  

  Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

  
  1.  Don't look into the bag!
  
  Encouraging for me.  My pastors included a stutterer, a bankrupt and analmost school dropout.  I ran away from the calling on my life 'cos I thought I sucked at what I did.  The thing about God is He wants us to take that step of faith and believe Him rather than our own eyes.  Rely on Him rather than our own talents.  Depend on Him rather than on wha twe have.
  
  2.  Who do you say I am?
  
  I've seen God as Abba, Jesus as my friend and Beloved.  I've confessed that He is my righteousness.  I've taken the Holy Communion and remembered the finished work on the cross; that He is my healer.
  
  But He is EVERYTHING isn't He?  (To live IS Christ!) God introduced Himself to Moses as I AM.  Basically, that's like a blank cheque. I AM your Healer, Provider, Teacher, Friend, Father, Spouse, Righteousness, Wisdom, Redemption, Sanctification, Sacrifice.. Reminds me of Ephesians 3:20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us
  
  3.  Are you responding like an athetist?
  
  Man, that was THE question to ask.  To me, it struck a chord.  What'sthe main difference between a believer and an athetist?  It's that Ihave accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.  So am I behaving like I am orphaned?
  
  I recall the song "We exult thee We exult thee We exult thee O Lord"and Pastor telling us, "We don't have to make God big, He's very big already.  It is about us making Him big in our lives."  So this song to me, is an invitation, a plea...Lord I exult You in my life.  Be lifted in my life.  I see You in my Life.  You are in my life.  O Lord, be magnified in my life.
  
  We are children of the most High, beloved of the Lord, whom God has chosen... He has created us, fearfully and wonderfully and when He wentto the cross, He saw me and counted it as joy.. my name is inscribed inthe palm of His hands...
  
  When Terry Mize posed that question, in light of all I know about whatJesus has done for me, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.  It was as if I've slapped the hand that stoop to help me and behaved like a beggar child throwing a pity party when God gave everything for me.
  
  But you know what, even when I blame myself and my 'weakness', myFather does not respond like me.  When I am faithless, He remains faithful.  He comes down to my level and comfort me.  Like a wailing child that cannot see reason, He may be exasperated but is infinitely patient with me.  Love's like that.  Takes your nonsense and still remains.
  
  Love you Jesus. :)
  
  

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