Participate

Happy Sunday! Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "You Have To Participate!" He used John 6:1-13 as his reference scriptures. This is the familiar story of the feeding of the 5000 men, and an unnumbered group of women and children. Jesus asked Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” The Message translation says, "He said this to stretch Philip’s faith. He already knew what he was going to do." I imagine Philip probably felt like you or I would when pressed with a perplexing question...Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.” (Message) Thank goodness Andrew came to Philip's rescue..."One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.” (Message) You know the story. Jesus instructed the disciples to have the people sit down in orderly groups. Then He gave thanks and broke the bread. The Message translations says, "All ate as much as they wanted." You have to participate! When Moses and the Children of Israel were surrounded by mountains and the Red Sea with the Egyptians approaching quickly. Exodus 14:15-16 says, "God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground." (Message) God commanded Moses to use what he had! He had to participate! John 11:43 says, "Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” (Message) The people had to participate! Lazy Faith is no faith at all! James 2:20 says, "that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless." (Amplified Version) We have to be willing to do our part! In Mark 11:22-26 Jesus said, "Trust in God. If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If you don’t doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen. So listen to what I’m saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will. When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you. If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect God’s forgiveness." (Voice) Did you get that? You have to participate! You have to speak to your problems! You have to pray! You have to believe! You have to forgive! Many times we say that we are waiting on God...I believe that God is waiting on us! The Bible says that Jesus is seated at the right-hand of the Father in Heaven. In God's system, you can't sit down until your work is done! Jesus did what he was supposed to do! Because of his sacrifice we can be SAVED in every area of our lives! Salvation means wholeness, healing, and deliverance. Let's participate! Love and prayers, Cynthia