John 6 - 3.13.26

SCRIPTURE: John 6:9 - Jesus Feeds the five Thousand

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

Observation

This boy did not have very much, but it feed many. He willingly gave it away.

John 6:11 - “As Jesus took the bread gave thanks he then distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”  Jesus gave thanks for the provisions, and he multiplied them.  If we gave Jesus thanks for everything, do you believe he could multiply them?  

The miracle of feeding the five thousand is the only miracle that Jesus performed that is mentioned in all four Gospels: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15. There is great significance to be the only mircle Jesus performed to be in all the Gospels.

Application

Jesus uses the little things to Glorify his name. He used a boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to feed many, David used a stone to defeat Goliath. Jesus can use a church of our size to affect a community. How can Jesus use you to affect the people around you? We are closing in on Easter. Have you done the “Pray 10 Win 10” to invite people to Church? There’s still time!

I keep thinking of tithing in Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Just like how Jesus was able to use the little boy’s bread and fish to feed the five thousand, God can do mighty works with your tithe. Consider today how your tithe can fill the storehouse so God can pour out a blessing to you.

Prayer

Jesus you are mighty in Grace and full of Mercy and worthy of Praise. Throughout your Holy scriptures, you have shown how you can use small things in great ways.  A small pebble taking down a giant. A staff taking down an empire. A small boy with a few loaves and a couple fish feeding many. You used 12 disciples to spread the Gospel throughout the world. It’s all because of you Jesus and your great Love for us. Open our eyes and heart that what we see as little, you can make great and mighty.  Thank you in Jesus’ name Amen.

- Robert Oberg

John 5 - 3.12.26

‍SCRIPTURE: John 5:8-9 - The man replies and Jesus heals him.

‍ ‍

“The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”

‍ ‍

OBSERVATION

‍ ‍

Here’s a summary of John 5 from this link: https://christianityiq.com/john-5-summary/

“John 5, the narrative unfolds around a miraculous healing at the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus encounters a man who has been invalid for 38 years. ‍ This interaction not only highlights Jesus’ compassion but also raises profound questions about belief and healing. ‍The man’s hesitancy to seek help from Jesus underscores a broader human struggle with faith and despair. ‍The very act of Jesus asking, “Do you want to be made well?” invites readers to reflect on their own desires for change — are we truly ready to embrace the transformation ‍that comes with divine intervention?”

‍ ‍

The following shows us how the New Testament describes many different ways people may be healed

‍ ‍

· The elders of the church may anoint someone with oil and pray for them, and they may be healed (James 5:14-16).‍ ‍

· God’s people can lay hands on each other in prayer, ask God for healing, and people may be healed (Mark 16:17-18).‍ ‍

· God may grant someone a gift of healing – either that they are directly healed, or have the power to bring healing to another (1 Corinthians 12:9).‍ ‍

· God may grant healing in response to the faith of the person who desires to be healed (Matthew 9:22).‍ ‍

· God may grant healing in response to the faith of another on behalf of the person who is healed (Mark 2:4-5, Matthew 8:13).‍ ‍

· God may heal through medical treatment (1 Timothy 5:23, James 5:14 with Luke 10:34).

‍ ‍

APPLICATION

‍ ‍

When I read John 5: 1-9 above, I was reminded of when we began the, Be Refreshed Sermon Series, and Pastor Levi referred to John 7:37-39

‍ ‍

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.”

‍ ‍

And the pool of Bethesda is an example of water flowing into a pool and likened to the holy spirit flowing in us when we repent and we are refreshed in HIM and IN HIS WORD through FAITH.  AND each of us have faith when we pray and ask HIM to heal us or our family, our friends. AND when we ask others to pray for our needs.

‍ ‍

There are two parts to these scriptures in John 5: 1-9.

‍ ‍

1.     BE refreshed in HIM when we believe in him and RECEIVE the Holy Spirit.

‍ ‍

2.     PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER with FAITH in the HOLY SPIRIT that HE WILL bring healing and He WILL answer our prayers.

‍ ‍

But how do you get the gift of healing? 

‍ ‍

The Bible commissions all believers to be involved in the healing and deliverance ministry, but there are special gifts of healing given to some believers by the Holy Spirit. To receive the gifts of healings, one must receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, grow in their knowledge of God, and step out in faith believing that when they pray for the sick, they will be healed. ‍

‍ ‍

PRAYER

‍ ‍

LORD GOD, I humbly come to you in FAITH that each day I AM refreshed in the newness of your word and that you WILL HEAL those I pray for. AND for those my family prays for and my church family prays for. 

‍ ‍

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

‍ ‍

Thank YOU for this blessed assurance.  ALWAYS IN YOUR NAME WITH FAITH!  Amen.

- Charleen Zakarian ‍

John 4 - 3.11.26

Scripture: John 4:9-10

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Observation

As I was reading John 4, this conversation caught my attention. The woman is talking about a drink of physical water and Jesus points out that if she knew him, she could ask for and receive so much more. And it made me wonder, how many times do we ask for small things when we serve a big God who has so much more in store for us? Then she continues to focus on the minutia - you don’t have anything to draw the water with, I want this (physical) water you speak of so I won’t have to return to the well everyday, we believe we should worship on this mountain instead of the one the Jews tell us to. Eventually Jesus makes her understand that he has more than water from the well to offer her - he will change her entire life. And then, because she believed, many more came to believe in Him.

Application

Sometimes we get so focused on the physical and the immediate that we forget that God wants so much more for us. We get caught up in the worries of today and we forget to ask God about His plan: What is He teaching us in this moment? What area does He want to grow us in? Where does He want to use us? What does He have in store for our future? We need to ask God to reveal Himself to us. We need to ask Him to use us for His plans and purposes. We serve a big God and we need to trust Him for big things.

Prayer

God, help me to become dissatisfied with a complacent life. I need more than a drink of water today - I need to be filled to overflowing with the living water so that it pours out on those around me. Thank You for the repeated reminders to put my focus on You instead of circumstances around me. Help me not to miss out on Your plans.

- Debbie Dunn