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  #1  
Old 02-02-2008, 12:45 AM
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TrmptPraise TrmptPraise is offline
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Sit Down and Be Counted

John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

John's version of the feeding of the five thousand takes on a slightly different view than the other three gospels. In fact, in John's account, he tells us not only what Jesus did, but who He is. Some of the most important language in the Christian faith is found there: I am the light of the world, I am the good shepherd, I am the living water, I am the truth and the light, no man comes to the father but by me.

Mark's version tells us that the disciples came to Jesus letting him know that they did not have enough food, that they needed to send the crowd away. Truly, that is the challenge to the church of today. So many hungry people, yet we push them away because we can't see God meeting their need. We say we can't solve everyone's problem, we don't have the answer to everyone's crisis. I am so glad that when I came to Jesus, when I couldn't go it on my own any more, He didn't send me away empty handed.

John says Jesus looked out and saw a hungry crowd. It was He who challenged Philip by asking, "Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?" He wasn't unaware of the situation. He already knew what He was about to do. There is no need that you can come up with that is not known to Him. In fact, He's already working it out.

There is no mention of the number of this gathering until Jesus told them to sit. Mentally, sometimes we think we can't get anything from God unless we are standing on our own two feet. Sitting down means giving up a little control, means we may not be seen, we may not get the attention we think we deserve, we may think that we will get overlooked, perhaps give up some of my uniqueness, my individuality or identity.

But sitting down with Jesus means spending time with the Master. It means allowing Jesus to minister to those hidden places in our spirits, surrendering control to His will. Naturally, we as human beings think that we have to stand, we have to be doing something. In the busyness of being where we need to be, getting where we need to go, we miss out of the miracles God wants to do in the stillness of our lives.

Five thousands lives. Certainly there were more needs than just natural hunger. Five thousand minds, attitudes, histories, understandings and pieces of baggage. After taking what little they had to offer, five loaves and two fishes, he fed them ALL!

Twelve baskets left over! He is more than enough to heal, to restore, to fix and to answer. There is no need to worry about an inadequate supply....if we would just sit down and be counted.
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Old 02-02-2008, 10:46 AM
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Cindy Cindy is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

What a great post TP, Thanks and AMEN!!!!!!!
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
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Old 02-02-2008, 11:09 AM
OP_Carl OP_Carl is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

I can't decide whether your post makes me want to go to church, go fishing, or go to a restaurant!

Good stuff!
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Old 02-02-2008, 12:06 PM
embonpoint embonpoint is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

Quote:
Originally Posted by OP_Carl View Post
I can't decide whether your post makes me want to go to church, go fishing, or go to a restaurant!

Good stuff!
Maybe you could stop by a restaurant on the way to the fishin' hole after church tomorrow.
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Old 02-02-2008, 12:22 PM
OP_Carl OP_Carl is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

Quote:
Originally Posted by embonpoint View Post
Maybe you could stop by a restaurant on the way to the fishin' hole after church tomorrow.
I don't know WHO YOU ARE,




but I like the way you think!
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Engineering solutions for theological problems.

Despite today's rising cost of living, it remains popular.

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." - Sir Winston Churchill

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Sir Winston Churchill

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security." - Benjamin Franklin
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  #6  
Old 02-02-2008, 12:24 PM
embonpoint embonpoint is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

Quote:
Originally Posted by OP_Carl View Post
I don't know WHO YOU ARE,




but I like the way you think!
Some days I don't know who I am

But I do want to know why there are no fishin' smilies???
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  #7  
Old 02-02-2008, 03:36 PM
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TrmptPraise TrmptPraise is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

Quote:
Originally Posted by cneasttx View Post
What a great post TP, Thanks and AMEN!!!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OP_Carl View Post
I can't decide whether your post makes me want to go to church, go fishing, or go to a restaurant!

Good stuff!
Thank you, both. Whats that ole saying, OP? Give a man fish and he'll eat for a day.....Teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry? Something like that?
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Old 02-02-2008, 03:49 PM
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

Well I don't fish, but I eat....
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
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  #9  
Old 02-02-2008, 03:49 PM
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Cindy Cindy is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

But I DON'T eat fish!!
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
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  #10  
Old 02-02-2008, 05:02 PM
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dizzyde dizzyde is offline
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Re: Sit Down and Be Counted

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