In this sermon, Dan Murray revisits the feeding of the five thousand.
He points out that in the Gospels, we can see little periods where Jesus leaves the crowds and goes to the Father to pray. What Jesus is doing when he’s going away, Dan posits, is receiving life from the Father. There is this pattern of filling up, giving life, filling up again, and giving again. Therefore, Dan encourages us to imitate Christ in this way.
Throughout the sermon, Dan continues to explore the idea of giving by contrasting the unhealthy, destructive kind that is rooted in fleshly compulsion with the God-centered giving that we see in the heart and actions of Jesus.
Essentially, Dan says, we need to go to God for our needs. We are ultimately responsible for going to the Alpha, the source, and getting what we need from Him.
Some practical ways to access God’s abundance include:
1. Come to God, the source of abundant supply, daily. There is abundant supply for each day of the week. But we have to come. Sit like Mary did, ready to receive.
2. Take an honest “basket” inventory—is it full or empty? Are there signs of overextending yourself?
Is it full? Give abundantly. Simple way to give to people—say, “Thank you.”
Are there signs of running on empty? Stop giving, slow your pace, and seek an avenue of filling. Ask God to mend any holes. It might be practical like going out for a run. Approach it as working with God. Also, be patient with your heart. It’s easy to see all the needs around you and give and give. Be patient with your heart. Give it time to fill up. It takes a while to get full.
3. Take on a posture to receive. Dan does this: in the morning, he acknowledges that God is the source of life while holding out his hands open towards God. “My posture is I have nothing; you have everything.I am praying like this to receive from you.”
