Miracle of the bread

On January 5, 2018 the Verse of the Day according Logos Bible Software comes from John 6:11 rendered here in the Amplified Bible:

Then Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; the same also with the fish, as much as they wanted.

In John 6, we encounter the followers of Jesus Christ, who witness a series of miracles whereby he feeds multitudes with a few fish and a small amount of bread. Later when they find the Lord on the other side of the Sea of Galilee after they had looked for him in the last place where he had been seen, they ask how they could perform similar miraculous works that they had seen him do:

John 6:26-29 (Amplified Bible):

²⁶ Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you have been searching for me, not because you saw the signs (attesting miracles), but because you ate the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.” ²⁸ Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”

A previous blog post which is excerpted below takes a closer look at this passage and examines the circumstances leading up to the statement that Jesus Christ makes regarding the “works of God”

This discussion brings to mind a teaching by Apostle John Tetsola who talked about the power of consistency in overcoming adverse situations where there is overwhelming lack of provision during seasons of difficulty, in the midst of the storms of life. He covered a number of accounts whereby Jesus performed mighty works in word and in deed. He spoke of some of the miracles of feeding the multitude with the fishes and the loaves, having an abundance of “leftovers” afterwards. That life changing ministry of the Word inspired this poem which is also the title of his teaching:

The Miracle of the Bread

 For every single problem that you have, 

the answer lies in the miracle of the bread.

Apostle John Tetsola

 

We will trust in the Lord and will not be afraid.

When the storms of life arise and seem to prevail,

When our strength is gone, and we seem destined to fail,

In these tough times we recall words that Jesus said:

“O you of little faith, tell me, why did you doubt?”

No matter how midnight-black our nights seem to be,

We still access the power of consistency.

Although the world says no way, God will bring us out.

We learn never to elevate facts over truth

But recall past victories and bring them to our mind

When thousands were fed and abundance left behind

From two fishes and five loaves given by a youth.

In times of lack, we will not doubt but have faith instead

And always remember the miracle of the bread.

Corrine May closes with “Five Loaves and Two Fishes,” a wonderful musical illustration and application of the account from John 6:

Works of God and greater

Although the Verse of the Day comes from John 6:29 in the Amplified Bible, we need to examine the circumstances leading up to the statement that Jesus Christ makes regarding the “works of God”

In John 6, we encounter the followers of Jesus Christ, those who had witnessed the series of miracles whereby he fed multitudes with a few fish and a small amount of bread. When they found the Lord on the other side of the Sea of Galilee after they had looked for him in the last place where he had been seen, they asked how they could perform similar miraculous works that they had seen him do:

John 6:26-29 (Amplified Bible):

²⁶ Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you have been searching for me, not because you saw the signs (attesting miracles), but because you ate the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.” ²⁸ Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”

Throughout the Scriptures we find references to the works of God.

Job 37:14 is this statement:

Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

The Psalmist declares, “Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!” in verse 8 and throughout Psalm 107.

Psalm 40:5 makes known this truth:

Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

The hymn “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” comes to mind when thinking of the wondrous works of God.

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

We are reminded that as we read the Word of God we should not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments while Psalm 77:11:

I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

As Acts 15:18 reveals:

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

This discussion brings to mind a teaching by Apostle John Tetsola who talked about the power of consistency in overcoming adverse situations where there is overwhelming lack of provision during seasons of difficulty, in the midst of the storms of life. He covered a number of accounts whereby Jesus performed mighty works in word and in deed. He spoke of some of the miracles of feeding the multitude with the fishes and the loaves, having an abundance of “leftovers” afterwards. That life changing ministry of the Word inspired this poem which is also the title of his teaching:

The Miracle of the Bread

 For every single problem that you have, 

the answer lies in the miracle of the bread.

Apostle John Tetsola

 

We will trust in the Lord and will not be afraid.

When the storms of life arise and seem to prevail,

When our strength is gone, and we seem destined to fail,

In these tough times we recall words that Jesus said:

“O you of little faith, tell me, why did you doubt?”

No matter how midnight-black our nights seem to be,

We still access the power of consistency.

Although the world says no way, God will bring us out.

We learn never to elevate facts over truth

But recall past victories and bring them to our mind

When thousands were fed and abundance left behind

From two fishes and five loaves given by a youth.

In times of lack, we will not doubt but have faith instead

And always remember the miracle of the bread.

We must also remember what Jesus Christ declared in John 14:10-12 (Amplified Bible) regarding the works of God that he performed:

¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power).

¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very] works themselves. [If you cannot trust Me, at least let these works that I do in My Father’s name convince you.]

¹² I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.

Knowing that the Word of God never returns void but that it accomplishes what God desires and prospers where He sends it, we walk forth on those promises which have already come to pass.

Bryan Moyer Suderman closes with “Greater Works Than These.”: