GOD Morning! February 28 / I Have a Dream!

GOD Morning! February 27

I Have a Dream!

Mark 6:30-56

³⁰ The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught.

³¹ And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while—for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.

³² And they went away in a boat to a solitary place by themselves.

³³ Now many [people] saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead [of those in the boat].

³⁴ As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

³⁵ And when the day was already far gone, His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desolate and isolated place, and the hour is now late.

³⁶ Send the crowds away to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.

³⁷ But He replied to them, Give them something to eat yourselves. And they said to Him, Shall we go and buy 200 denarii [about forty dollars] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?

³⁸ And He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they [had looked and] knew, they said, Five [loaves] and two fish.

³⁹ Then He commanded the people all to recline on the green grass by companies.

⁴⁰ So they threw themselves down in ranks of hundreds and fifties [with the regularity of an arrangement of beds of herbs, looking like so many garden plots].

⁴¹ And taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and, praising God, gave thanks and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples to set before the people; and He [also] divided the two fish among [them] all.

⁴² And they all ate and were satisfied.

⁴³ And they took up twelve [small hand] baskets full of broken pieces [from the loaves] and of the fish.

⁴⁴ And those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.

I have a dream. I have a dream of going into desperate communities and drawing people to Christ through serving hot meals.

We are currently having services and Bible Studies in a community that is filled with crime and violence.

I’m not exaggerating when I state that most everyone who lives here doesn’t want to be here.

These precious folks have been beaten up by life. I have personally spoken with person after person who has been literally used and abused for their entire life. Their earliest memories were of abuse. And it has never stopped.

I have fallen in love with these people. They have become my friends. These folks are deeply loved by God. They are sinking in a sea of despair and I am trying my hardest to throw them the Lifeline of Hope. Jesus Christ.

I have a dream of a big Sunday dinner each week after service. We can actually sit down with these dear folks and get to know them. Listen to them as they speak of their heartaches and challenges.  And one by one, lead them to Hope. The Only Hope, Jesus Christ.

Ever heard the saying, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Here’s an interesting survey.

New York, NY (Oct. 4, 2013): The verdict is in regarding the "300 sandwiches for an engagement ring" debate, thanks to a new survey by YourTango.com — the leader in love and relationships.

The survey explores the role that food plays in love.

 "We were thrilled to discover that almost 80 percent of people felt preparing a meal for someone is a significant act of love!" says Andrea Miller, YourTango CEO.

So many people are religioned out. They have been to so many churches. Religion is a foul taste in their mouth. Church in no way sounds even slightly appealing to them. But a hot meal always sounds (and smells) wonderful.

I have a dream. To draw hungry souls to Jesus through their empty stomach. While actually demonstrating His love through acts of kindness.

⁴⁵ And at once He insisted that the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He was sending the throng away.

⁴⁶ And after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray.

⁴⁷ Now when evening had come, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, and He was by Himself on the land.

⁴⁸ And having seen that they were troubled and tormented in [their] rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night [between 3:00-6:00 a.m.] He came to them, walking [directly] on the sea. And He acted as if He meant to pass by them,

⁴⁹ But when they saw Him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and raised a [deep, throaty] shriek of terror.

⁵⁰ For they all saw Him and were agitated (troubled and filled with fear and dread). But immediately He talked with them and said, Take heart! I Am! Stop being alarmed and afraid.

⁵¹ And He went up into the boat with them, and the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its own beating). And they were astonished exceedingly [beyond measure],

⁵² For they failed to consider or understand [the teaching and meaning of the miracle of] the loaves; [in fact] their hearts had grown callous [had become dull and had lost the power of understanding].

Here’s what the miracle of the loaves is saying to me today.

Maybe we have reached out to people. Maybe we have door knocked. Maybe we have poured out and poured out until we are exhausted. Maybe we are tired of trying to share the gospel with seemingly limited results. Maybe our hearts are a little calloused.

Maybe it’s time to try a different approach!

If we take what we have, even though it’s insignificant to some, and share it with others who don’t know Jesus, He will multiply our efforts beyond belief.

Maybe we have always done things a certain way. And it has produced some results. That’s great. But I have a dream of going all out! Doing something crazy like going into a community that is STARVING for REAL LOVE and serving Sunday dinner every week! Like a mission! To draw people to salvation. Why not? The time is short! We need to reach as many people as quickly as possible!

I am told that there’s no shortage of food at food pantries. The most pressing need is to have volunteers to cook and serve the food. BAM! There you go. There’s our open door.

⁵³ And when they had crossed over, they reached the land of Gennesaret and came to [anchor at] the shore.

⁵⁴ As soon as they got out of the boat, [the people] recognized Him,

⁵⁵ And they ran about the whole countryside, and began to carry around sick people on their sleeping pads or mats to any place where they heard that He was.

⁵⁶ And wherever He came into villages or cities or the country, they would lay the sick in the marketplaces and beg Him that they might touch even the fringe of His outer garment, and as many as touched Him were restored to health.

Here’s more FOOD (get it?) for thought.

Jesus Loved the Outcasts

Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Acts 10:38 - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Luke 6:20-21 - And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.  
Mark 10:21 - Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mark 10:13-16 - And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and [his] disciples rebuked those that brought [them].  
Matthew 25:40 - And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
Matthew 9:36 - But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Jesus Fed Hungry People

Matthew 25:37-40 ESV

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Isaiah 58:10 ESV

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

James 2:14-18 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Proverbs 28:27 ESV

Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

Luke 3:11 ESV / 185 helpful votes

And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

1 John 3:17-18 ESV

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Proverbs 14:31 ESV

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 31:20 ESV

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 22:9 ESV

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

Matthew 14:15-21 ESV

Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ...

Romans 12:20 

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Luke 14:13Amplified Bible (AMP)

But when you give a banquet or a reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind.

“Dear Jesus, open my blind eyes! Soften my calloused heart to believe that if I do something crazy and unconventional, You will show up and show off Your mighty power! I want to be Your hands and feet, Jesus. And You want to heal and deliver EVERYONE! I’m so excited at the thought of what You can do with my little loaves and fishes! Wow! I want to dance and shout right now, Jesus! Thank You for Your amazing revelation to me through Your amazing Word. Praise You, Jesus!!! AMEN.”