Too Many Loaves, Not Enough Fish
When it comes to the topic of Prosperity, the Gospel story of the Feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21), is likely to be one of the most popular stories to be used as the basis of explaining how, in God Abundance, we do not ever have to worry about any lack.
However, what if the Potential is available but we fail to recognize it? What can we do to ensure we do not go hungry even though we are continuously fed?
Experience the Sermon
Sermon Notes
Main Scripture: Feeding the Five Thousand
“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matthew 14:13–21 NRSV)
Quotes
"We shall serve for the joy of serving, prosperity shall flow to us and through us in unending streams of plenty.” —Charles Fillmore
“Your fortune is not something to find but to unfold.” —Eric Butterworth
"It is a sin to be poor.” —Charles Fillmore
“Poverty is a form of hell caused by man’s blindness to God’s unlimited good for him.” —Catherine Ponder
“A committed giver is an incurably happy person, a secure person, a satisfied person, and a prosperous person.” —Eric Butterworth
“Don’t go through life, grow though life.” —Eric Butterworth
Invocation (Tao Te Ching – Chapter 14)
Looked at but not seen,
listened to but not heard,
grasped for but not held,
gormless, soundless, intangible:
The Tao resists analysis and
defies comprehension
Its rising is not about light,
its setting not a matter of darkness
Unnameable, unending,
emerging continually, and
continually pouring back into nothingness,
It is formless form, unseeable image,
elusive evasive unimaginable mystery.
Confront it, and you won’t see its face.
Follow it, and you can’t find an end.
Perceive its ancient subtle heart, however,
and you become master of the moment.
Know what came before time.
and the beginning of wisdom is yours.
Metaphysics of Words and Numbers
Bread – substance; the sustenance for spirit, mind, and body
Fish – ideas in which there is great possibility of increase
Disciples – the 12 Divine Ideas of mankind to manifest the universe
Christ – The perfect word or idea of God
Two (2) – Creative principle; male and female, spiritual and physical levels of being; spiritual and material realms.
Five (5) – The five senses of touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing.
Seven (7) – Completion – usually, but not always, divine.
Twelve (12) – Spiritual fulfillment; spiritual completion.