Confronted with Problems by: Pastor Jess Reguero (Full-time Minister)
Life is never without problems. Regardless of social status, whether rich or poor, young or old, no one is exempted. One author said, “Behind the smile and laughter of
city life, is the reality of heartaches and pain”. Even Christians are not exempted. All technological innovations that are intended to bring pleasures and comfort, fail
to eliminate the problems in the life of people. The truth is we can’t really avoid problem no matter what we have and wherever we go in this world.
In Matthew 14:13-21, we find the disciples confronted with a problem. There was a large number of people who followed them to the solitary place - five thousand men,
besides women and children. They traveled more than half a day on foot just to be with Jesus. Some of them were sick and the Lord healed them. When evening approached
(v. 15), that was when the disciples discovered, that they would be in trouble unless drastic measure must be taken. They didn’t have enough food to feed the hungry crowd. All they had, at least in their human perspective, were five loaves of bread and two fish. No fast food around, and even if they had, they didn’t have enough funds to cover such expenses. Big problem indeed!
And so seeing the problem they were facing, the disciples commanded the Lord (v.15) to send the people away so they can find food for themselves and they would be released from the potential trouble. But the Lord turned down the idea, and showed them His way to deal with the existing problem (v.16).
In verse 17, they indirectly argued saying, “we only have five loaves of bread and two fish”. They were looking for a solution from what they have not on “whom” they have. But the Lord’s will always prevail. Jesus told the twelve to bring the bread and fish to Him and have the people seated. He
gave thanks to God, broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples. The disciples in turn, distributed them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. The twelve even had twelve basketful of leftover “as pasalubong to their loved ones”.
I truly know that it’s not easy to be confronted with problems. But I want to encourage you that in every problem that comes our way, we can surely come out victorious in Christ. Actually, our problem is not a problem for God. For the disciples, feeding such a huge crowd is a problem, but for Jesus, it’s not.
Confronted with problem? Remember these:
I. God knows how to solve our problem no matter how big it is.
He is on our side. As one SMS said, “life is never without a problem but never without God on our side”. The problem with the disciple is that all they saw was the problem and what they can possibly do to solve it. Verse 17 says, “all we have were five loaves of bread and two fish”. They failed to recognize that they had God with them – the Jehovah Jireh, the bread of life, the Almighty.
II. Come to Him asking for a solution. Don’t come to God with your own solution. That’s what the disciples were doing when they commanded the Lord to send the people away. There are thousands of ways to respond to a problem. But only one is the best, and that is God’s way. Come to Him, acknowledging that He alone knows what is best for the situation. Acknowledge that you don’t know; only God knows.
III. Wait patiently for God’s solutions.
The disciples’ way to solve the problem would only bring additional problem, not a real solution. Had Jesus embrace the idea, the crowd would go away with empty stomach, exhausted from day’s journey. They would surely faint on their way. The newly-healed one; the hungry children would not possibly make it. But look at the Lord’s solution (v.20); everybody ate and was satisfied. We cannot help but conclude that God’s way is the best. By ourselves, we cannot figure out what God will do to bring about the solution we badly desire. Sometimes, God seems to be procrastinating. Nevertheless the truth prevails. IT PAYS TO WAIT UPON THE LORD. Be sure of this, He is actively doing something in your problem and He is never late. Wait for Him!
IV. Continue to desire to please God by doing what He says in His word. What if the twelve disobeyed the Lord’s command in verse 16, and sent the people away? They would not experience God’s amazing solution to their seemingly hopeless situation.
As I am writing this article, I am in one of my darkest times in my life. I am battling against Hepa C- a virus that would slowly but surely destroy the liver. God initially moved in my behalf, financially providing my daily medication. But the battle goes beyond the financials. I am now struggling physically to handle the side effects of the medicine. There was a time when my vision was affected that I can’t even read the Bible. But the Lord led me to trust in Him; showing me from this passage of scripture that for Him, my problem is not a problem. This time I am waiting for His solution. One writer says, “If God doesn’t save you under heaven, He will save you unto heaven”. Whether God would solve my problem under heaven or will solve this problem by bringing me to heaven, in either case, I know that God is good! Meanwhile, my deepest desire is to honor and please Him in the midst of this battle. By this I ask your support in prayer that whatever happens, God maybe glorified in me. God bless!
Remember
Unknown
The day they went at early dawn;
Their world seemed grey and lone.
They worried, “We won’t have the strength to roll away the stone!”
But when they looked, to their surprise,
The stone was rolled away;
And by the empty tomb they saw
Two men in bright array.
“Remember how He told you,
while still in Galilee…?”
then they began to understand
what He had hoped they’d see.
For you, for me, for each of us
Who have some weighty stone
Of guilt or fear of sorrow
We cannot move alone:
“Remember how He told you…?”
His voice sounds calm and clear,
“Lo! I am with you always…”
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER & FASTING
. . . “Life should be filled with purpose and power”….. ingon ni Bro. Harry, atong speaker sa miaging congregational prayer and fasting. Mikut-lo siya gikan sa Efeso 1:18-20 diin iyang nakita ang 3 ka puntos nga nahimong giya sa iyang kinabuhi. Unang puntos mao ang paglaom diin kita gitawag sa Dios, ikaduha, ang kahupong sa mga panalangin nga gisaad sa Dios alang sa Iyang katawhan. Ikatulo, ang kadako sa gahon sa Dios nga ania kanato nga nagtuo kaniya. Gisaysay ni Bro. Harry kung giunsa siya pagtabang sa Dios samtang siya mikuha ug board exam, ang guidance sa Holy Spirit sa dihang gipangayo niya ang lifetime partner ug gi unsa niya paggawas sa usa ka dakung problema mahitungod sa iyang nasum-okan nga construction project. Dinihogan ang maong testimony ug nakapanalangin sa tanan. Giawhag ang tanan nga motambong sa mga panagtigom matag katapusang Sabado sa kada buwan didto sa Cloud of Glory Prayer Mountain.
MOLAVE OUTREACH
. . . Dalaygon kaayo ang Dios sa tanan Niyang gipangbuhat sa atong Iglesia sa Molave. Matod pa ni Sis. Precy, pastor sa maong iglesia, ang ilang fellowship nga nagsugod lang sa sa Bible Study niadtong Nobyembre 2003, karun usa na ka regular nga Sunday Fellowship. Matinud-anon kaayo ang Dios sa Iyang pagraise up ug worship leaders, ug mga back-up singers. Dugang pa niini aduna usab gi-provide nga mga musical instruments sama sa electric nga gitara, mixer, amplifier ug overhead projector.
. . . Karong umaabot nga Nobyembre 13 mag-saulog sila sa ilang ika-duha nga anibersaryo diin ang guest speaker mao si Bro. Ross Ceniza. Si Sis. Gwin usab mohatag sa iyang testimony. Dako ang ilang pagpasalamat sa Dios sa Iyang pagkamatinud-anon sa paghatag sa tanang nilang panginahanglan ug sa Iyang makanunayong pag-uban sa ilang congregasyon.
YAF ug Youth Love Feast sa
LWCF Mandaue
. . . Nindot kaayo ang gihimong panagtigom sa atong mga kaigso-unan sa atong outreach sa Mandaue tungod kay daghan ang ni respond sa ilang invitation, sa ilang love feast, a joined fellowship sa Youth ug Young Adults. Ubay-ubay ang nanambong dul-an sa 50 ug daghan ang nadasig pagbalik sa ilang paglakaw sa Ginoo. Tungod niini na revive ang ilang mga espirituhanong kinabuhi. Dalaygon ang Dios sa maong panagtigum.
LWCF – MOALBOAL
. . . Nadayon gayud ang pagbukas sa ika 2 nga Bible Study didto sa Moalboal atong Martes sa udto. Kini gihimo sa public market ug gitambongan sa mga consumidor ug tindera. Nahinangop ang mga nakatambong ug nangandoy nga makaangkon ug Bible.
