Things In God’s Hands
By John Yingling
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
—Mark 6:41
We often associate being in God’s hands with physical protection and comfort. God does protect and comfort us; however, this point of view generally comes from an earthly perspective rather than a heavenly one. What does it mean to be in God’s hands from His perspective and for His purpose? I believe that this is illustrated simply, yet succinctly in our text.
Missionary Highlight
Shawn and Leslie Beliveau
Shawn and Leslie Beliveau
Please pray for Shawn and Leslie Beliveau. They minister in the very secular city of Vancouver, British Columbia. It is reported that Vancouver has the highest percentage of non-religious residents than any other Canadian city, including Toronto and Montreal.Ironically God is bringing people from around the world to Vancouver. On any given Sunday the Beliveau family through Urban Community Baptist Church will minister to folks from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They are a light to many peoples of the world in this very dark place.
Please pray especially for the church’s special Christmas outreach during the annual community parade.
Missionary Quote
“I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls to Christ.”
—David Brainerd
There in the wilderness God met the need of the hour with five loaves and two fishes. Seven in all, which emphasizes the fact that anything in God’s hands is the perfect tool for Him to meet any challenge. Let’s notice what the Lord Jesus did with the loaves and fishes in His hands.
First, Jesus took them. Some minimize the call of God. I believe, however, that our sovereign God has a specific work for every believer to accomplish through Him. Ephesians 2:10 is clear, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Every follower of Christ should possess a firm conviction regarding their gifts and calling.
Secondly, though not in the exact order of our text, Jesus broke them. A.W. Tozer said this, “Whom God would use greatly He will hurt deeply.” God MUST break us. Until we are broken, until we are dead we cannot be used of God. In John 12:24 the beloved Apostle recorded these words of Christ, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” If God is hurting you or has hurt you in the past it is because He has taken you for the high and holy privilege of being used by Him to meet a definite need in a specific, supernatural way. Dr. Robert Bakss said this, “When kids break things they break them because they are careless. When God breaks things it is because He is careful.”
Thirdly, Jesus blessed them. The only way to be effective in the ministry is to have the blessing of God upon our life. The last thing that our Savior did before ascending into Heaven was bless His disciples. Dr. Luke in Luke 24:50-51 reveals this to us, “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” After God breaks us He blesses us by filling us with the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you ministering in the fullness of the Spirit? In Luke 11:13 it says this, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” James 4:2b, “…ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
Finally, Jesus gave them. You and I in God’s hands are the answer for this world in its hour of need. This wicked world needs Christ! Since the Church is the very Body of Christ, and since you and I are part of the Church then you and I, in God’s hands, are the present gift of God for this world. ANY crisis and ANY challenge can and should be met by the Body of Christ to the glory of God.
