Multiply That Bread!

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He charged them, saying, "take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "it is because we have no bread." But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them. "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is you heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up? They said to Him, "Twelve." Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up? And they said, "Seven." So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?" Mark 8:14-21

This is an interesting event because it happened right after the feeding of the 4,000 and several other miracles. The disciples witnessed the demonstration of the Kingdom of God through the hands of Jesus. Their faith should have soared off the chart. Unbelievably, they forgot to bring more than one loaf of bread, but this was meant to be a set up for them to demonstrate a mighty miracle themselves. But, instead of remembering that Jesus had fed the enormous crowds twice before, they mumbled among themselves that there was not enough to eat.

Jesus rebuked them because He had already shown them twice before that He was their provision (Jehovah Jireh) and that if they spoke the word, they could do what He did. He would say today, "didn't we go thru this before on two other occasions and you still haven't learned a thing?" What's wrong with you? How much did we start with before and how much did we have when we finished? The first time we had twelve fragments left over, (twelve is the number of government and authority) and the second time there were seven baskets (seven is the Biblical number of completion). Jesus was making a point to them, but they just couldn't get with it. He had given them the authority to operate as He had and completed it with the feeding of the four thousand. Now, He expected them to walk this thing out before Him, but they couldn't discern nor understand what He was saying to them.

We operate out of a hardened heart today as well, by walking in unbelief. Do you have eyes to see what God has done for you over and over again and still complain about what you don't have or what you cant do? Do you have ears to hear what Jesus is saying to the Church? You have been given power, dominion and kingdom authority to manifest creative miracles on the earth as Jesus did.

Right after this miracle Jesus took spit and opened a blind man's eyes (I believe demonstrating their blindness), gave Peter revelation of who He was; the Son of God, predicts His death, rebuked Peter for being swayed by Satan to stop the plan of the Cross and then He charged them with taking up their cross and following Him. He asked the question, "for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Jesus was moving them into a path of deeper revelation of the spiritual realm. So many preachers today can't see Jesus, because they are still desiring the world and the things of the world. What will it profit them in the end? They are lusting after the things of this world, but Jesus is desiring to show them His glory and His Heavenly realm.

After all this, Jesus gave only three of the twelve the privilege of seeing Him in supernatural glory. He told them that there were some standing by who would not taste death until they see the kingdom of God present with power. Again, they didn't understand what He was saying, but He took three with Him to reveal His transfiguration. Nine saw nothing!

It's just like today, the Holy Spirit can be at work in a service and several people are caught up in God's glory, and there will be those who are texting, totally unaware of what's going on around them. Others can be so familiar with being spectators of who's wearing whatever or doing this or that, without ever experiencing the fullness of God, that they have no idea that they have missed it. They are satisfied with the preacher or message, but never able to get caught up in the Messenger, who is the Holy Spirit.

These same three men became Jesus inner circle for they knew without a doubt who He was, because they had seen His glory with Elijah and Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration. No longer did they need a revelation, because they had confirmation. Glory be to God!

We have all we need on the inside of us to do whatever we need to do. At Calvary's Cross Jesus said, "it is finished." He sat down until we make His enemies His footstool. Do we believe that? Are we just pew warmers who come to Church, hear three or four songs, a message, give offerings and then go home? God forbid! Get caught up in Him and take your one loaf of bread and multiply it. Speak to your circumstances and watch them change. We have been given the power and authority to do whatever God has called us to do and when He puts us in a position to demonstrate His glory, He expects us to come though for Emmanuel is with us. What's in your hand...multiply that loaf of bread. Hallelujah!

Cynthia Brooks