Luke 9 NKJV
1 ¶ Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
It was during this time that Herod beheaded John the Baptist.
10 ¶ And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
Bethsaida is situated on the Northern shore of the Sea of Galilee along the Eastern bank of the Jordan River. The small fishing boats of that day made easy passage down the Jordan River and into the Sea of Galilee, which is but a large fresh water lake, 6 to 7 miles wide and 13 to 14 miles long, and not a salt sea as one might think. Bethsaida was a fishing village in that day and the fisherman often docked their fishing boats or other little boats along the Jordan.
Jesus did more miracles in and around Bethsaida than at any other place during His earthly life and ministry. Bethsaida was the home of at least 5 of the disciples: James, John, Andrew, Peter and Phillip. Although tour groups almost never visit the archeological ruins of Bethsaida, when you go with me … I’ll take you there, and for 45 of you, that trip will be this November.
Luke 9:10, Matthew 14:13 and Mark 6:32 all tell us that after hearing about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus gathered His disciples and went into a deserted place seeking some privacy and rest. Matthew tells us that Jesus went by ship while Luke reveals that the place Jesus chose to go belonged to the city of Bethsaida.
Multitudes saw Jesus depart and followed Him along the banks of the Jordan and found Him in the green grass fields with His disciples. There was a reported 5,000 men besides the women and children to make up a multitude of perhaps 10 to 15,000 people.
Luke 9
11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here."
13 But He said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people."
14 For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of fifty."
Mark adds to the account and shows the order with which Jesus administrated such a large group of people to insure the miracle hit its intended mark and every individual’s needs were met …
Mark 6
39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.
I love the administrative forethought, the planning and the strategy Jesus teaches in this passage. Now back to:
Luke 9
15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.
17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.
The part of the story I want to focus on this morning is not the actual miracle of multiplying the fish and loaves, but rather the administration of that miracle and all the planning and work it takes to manage and conserve the purpose of a miracle.
Every miracle has a purpose.
Every opportunity God gives us has intended results.
Miracle opportunities can be wasted if not properly administrated.
When I read this story and other biblical accounts I am drawn to study and compare them closely in hopes to discover patterns and glean wisdom so that I can know how to manage, administrate, and conserve what God is doing in the earth today. God is always working miracles and the opportunities He gives us have an intended purpose. I don’t want to waste one miracle or one opportunity God gives or, leave one person out.
I am amazed at the multiplying of the fish and loaves and I realize that there is something God is willing to do through each one of us. However, what I am more interested in is how can we take what God is willing to multiply through and divide it up to insure that not one person of the thousands He wants to feed, goes without their portion of the miracle.
How do I make sure you do not go without getting your miracle? Every one of you! How can I make sure you get what God has for you … what God gives me to give to you? Where is the pattern? What is the strategy?
In 538BC God moved on the heart of King Cyrus of Persia to begin repopulating the city of Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple. Approximately 50,000 people left Babylon and made their way to the Land of Israel. However, the Temple was not completed nor was the city walls of Jerusalem rebuilt during the lifetime of King Cyrus.
In about 456BC, Ezra and Nehemiah take it upon themselves to accomplish these tasks. They were successful. When they had completed their work the temple was dedicated with great excitement and celebration. Multitudes came from all around and wept as they offered their praise and thanksgiving to God for this miracle. It had been decades since the Word of God had been heard this way in the Land of Israel. All who heard were excited however, not everyone who heard understood what was said.
Nehemiah 8
1 ¶ Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel.
2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.
3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
It was on the first day of the new year, called Rosh Hashanah, which is the first day of the seventh month according to the Jewish calendar, when all the people gathered together as one man on the broad street which is by the water gate while Ezra stood upon a pulpit made of wood, which they had made for this purpose. From that high place, Ezra read the Word of God like any preacher in his pulpit does to the congregation on a Sunday morning. He read it from morning until midday. (I guess they liked to get out of church at noon too!)
At any rate, Ezra the priest who was the preacher that day, preached the Word to the whole congregation and then other elders, deacons, teachers and leaders, (Levites), broke the congregation down into small groups and expounded unto them the Word of God more distinctly making sure that everyone got to hear and understand what the preacher said more clearly.
Herein is the principle and strategy of small groups, just like Jesus used when He fed all those thousands with the fish and loaves. However, this was not the first time God used this strategy with His people.
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt God instructed Moses to divide the whole congregation into groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens and set leaders over each successively smaller group so that all could be covered, counseled, corrected, and cared for. You can read about that in Exodus 18.
At any rate, it is a time honored and age old proven principle of the Word of God for each one of His children to belong to, benefit from, and participate in a small group, which is part of a larger group, which is part of a larger group, which is part of a larger group still. Group identity and group participation is important.
There are dynamics which we can benefit from and be of benefit to in each one of these groups which we cannot get or give belonging to only one of these several groups. Just being a part of a large crowd does not add to nor does it offer to others the individual contact and care of personal intimate relationships which a smaller group provides.
At the same time, only being part of a small intimate group does not afford the opportunities to participate in the greater purposes of God which can only be accomplished by the strength and multi faceted capacity of a larger group of people. Big churches do big things for God.
Miracle opportunities abound at every level of relationship within the Body of Christ. We are all joined together to make up the whole body and accomplish the full work of the Lord.
So, according to the pattern, the principle, and strategy of God as revealed through Moses, Ezra, and Jesus, consider taking advantage of your miracle opportunities and participate in the many successively smaller groups offered through our church.
We do what we do because we believe it is the God way of doing it. In order for every person to have their individual needs met it will take leaders and followers, everyone participating, in groups of thousands, groups of hundreds, groups of fifties and groups of tens.
Every miracle, every opportunity, has a purpose. What is the purpose, the strategy, the opportunity with various size groups? For Moses the purpose was structure and leadership; For Ezra the purpose to clarify the Word of God; For Jesus the purpose was to insure every person was fed; For us … our purpose is relationship, discipleship, personal growth & souls.
From our Sunday school classes to our Sunday morning worship services, from our monthly small group ministries in the homes to the combined Christian community celebrations, from our men’s skeet shoots and women’s Bible studies, to our Wednesday systematic education classes, whether children, youth, or adults, we are the family of God offering miracle opportunities on purpose for every person who will participate.
What have you been missing in church?
What is it that you would like to see?
Where do you fit?
What are you getting out of church?
What are you giving to the Body of Christ in the place God has set you?
Be blessed and be a blessing as you find your place and participate in God’s plan for the church and for your life. See what a dynamic difference it makes to you and those around you as we share our strengths, reach our communities, and impact the whole world, one soul at a time.
