Jesus gave the Apostles authority to heal the sick and cure every disease and then he sent them out. They did what they were given authority to do. They went into the villages and healed people everywhere! Yay Apostles!
Then they returned to Jesus. They wanted to have a debriefing retreat but the people came. Jesus taught the people but when it was supper time, the Apostles said, “Send them away to get food.” Jesus said, “Nope, you feed them.” The disciples asked with unbelief, “How?”
The disciples had just experienced miraculous healings at their own hands. Jesus was not physically with them yet they experienced the power of God. I imagine they returned home full of faith, full of confidence in the miraculous power of God. But when confronted with a different need, their faith folded like a cheap suit.
I’m not criticizing the Apostles. I understand perfectly. I can believe God for miraculous healing but then have a financial need and try to resort to my own abilities. I can have faith to turn a storm but struggle to believe God can repair a relationship.
But the same God who gave the Apostles the authority and power to heal diseases is the same God who gave them power and authority to feed 5000. It is the same God who promises to supply ALL of our needs according to His riches in glory.
I feel led to give something away. It’s a big ask so I began to plan in my head how I could do this in my own strength. I could start tutoring again. I could sell something. But God reminded me this morning, all He wants me to do is to ask and believe. He is the same God that has provided for me in the past, the same God who has healed my body, the same God who has set me free. The same God who will provide so that I can be generous.
Is there an area in your life, that you, like the disciples, are asking God in unbelief, “How?” You may be seeing the miraculous in other areas of your life but are having problems believing in this one area? Jesus can do the miraculous in the midst of your unbelief. Trust Him. Step out in faith and do what He called you to do. He is the same God! Trust Him!
“He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.”
Luke 9:13-14, 16-17 NIV