By TIMOTHY L. MELTON, PASTOR
(Transcribed by Myra D. Colgate)
Cherokee Pentecostal Holiness Church
(Continuation from last week…)
Read St. John 6:1-55
The day after the feeding of the crowd, the Bible tells us, Jesus took a stroll walking on the sea. When those who were still looking for Him, finally could gather around Him, after they discovered Him on the other side of the Sea, asked “Rabbi, when came to us hither? (Verse 25) He begins to teach them. “You seek Me not because you saw the miracles, but because you did eat the loaves and were filled. You came for lunch.” (Verse 27). He told them to eat the “meat” which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give unto you. For to Him hath God the Father given the Seal of His Approval.
In Verse 28, the crowd begins to ask Jesus, “What shall we do that we might do the works of God?” That question is just as valid today. I don’t know if all know the answer to that now, but I do, and so will all of us. The work of God is each one believing who Jesus really is. The problem is, when Jesus told them what they must do, they didn’t really want the answer He gave them. They seemed to want to do the works, but they didn’t want to really do the work it takes.
It’s not easy to set time aside to pray. It’s not easy to make Jesus a priority in one’s home. It’s not easy to be sure devotions with one’s kids are being done daily.
“I don’t understand any of that nonsense they’re coming out with now. How many know the reason? We already have young people possessed because we have nobody who will rise and stand for them and declare, “There is Jesus, Who is real.” Well, as a Christian, the Holy Ghost is in me. I must ask, where are they? The Bible says, when He moved in, a person becomes the One Spirit (in Him.)—Not a few, just one.
They answered, “We have watched You walk on the water, one even tried to follow You. If You keep giving to me, I’ll keep taking.”
“No, no, no, no. It’s not about what I can do for any person. It’s what one can do for Me, and what any person can each do for one another. They began to complain. (Verse 41) When Jesus said, “I Am the Bread which came down from Heaven.” (Jesus must have seemed put out with their attitude because He had told them He came that they might have Life.” (John 10.) Instead, they seem to prefer to live lives of desperation—life without Peace, without Joy, without Power—life without answers. “Yes, and yet, He is all of that. Amen.”
Holy Communion, as He said, “I Am the Bread of Life.” Nobody can come to Me except one is drawn through and by the Father Who has sent Me. This was the lesson He wanted to show and teach them—but, not just for what He can hand a person. He wants each person’s Love. (Verse 50.)
God always has a purpose for all He does. John begins to share with us what is the meaning of the Ordinance of Communion in the Christian faith, and why it is so important to all believers. (We, who are believers will observe it, Resurrection Day, as well.) Please note that God never wastes anything and that’s why all the “blessed and multiplied” fragments were, afterwards, collected, enough for a basket for each of the Twelve. God always has a purpose for each believer, too, if only to understand the Truth of what has been shown them, and likewise then minister unto others, and thereby, unto Him.
“I thank You, Lord, that You won this Great Victory for every believer. You first exclaimed it from the cross as You paid the Blood Price for all sin, and dismissed Your Spirit, and died with, “It is finished.” I thank You, Lord.
“You then returned on the third day from hell and the grave with the keys, even its’ unknowable degree of having suffered undeserved punishment, the unthinkable horror of beatings, the cross and the unspeakable punishment of demons. You have given back to us who are Your Church, Your Supreme Victory!
“To us, as Your Church and Your Bride, and to all of humanity who have chosen to receive You as their sacrificial Lamb—the One who is now alive, and for those who are yet to become believers. Forevermore, You are Chosen as our High Priest, Redeemer, Savior, Lord and King!
(In Holy Communion, Jesus said, unless one partakes of Me in such a way that I become a part of each person, then there is no real Life. In Faith, The Blood going through one’s body is My Blood, and is the energy and the strength coming through one’s spirit and is My Flesh. When one partakes of Who He is and lets Him become such an intimate part of each person, He promises to raise each of them up at the last day! It is Real!)
“Yes, Lord, so, Father, we thank You for Thy Son, Jesus, for His Life, His Blood, (for our salvation) and His Body’s (for our complete healing/s’) sacrifice. Yes, we give You our most grateful Praise, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
