By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
Years ago, I attended a luncheon event with hundreds of others, and I was standing near the end of a loooong line waiting to be served at the buffet.
The menu was tender roast beef, creamy mashed potatoes, and healthy green beans.
After a while, someone in front of me made the comment, “I hope they don’t run out of food!”
Well, eventually I approached the small cart where two young women were serving the plates and sure enough, one of the large trays was empty (As far as I was concerned it was just the green beans, I’ll survive. But thank goodness it wasn’t the potatoes!!!).
Now with no other source in sight, a person might have automatically assumed that we would be one item short on our plates. I had already accepted this as “fact” and decided to settle for less.
But with a calm demure, one of the women halted the line and removed the empty container. Just as quickly, she bent down, opened the doors of the cart, and pulled out a huge tray of fresh, hot green beans.
Crisis over!
At that exact moment the Lord spoke to my heart, “fruit of the spirit.” He revealed to me Gal. 5:22-23, which tells what kinds of fruit the Holy Spirit brings and deposits inside EACH born again Believer in Christ Jesus.
We are NOW fully equipped with ALL spiritual blessings, through the fruit of the Spirit, living on the inside in our newborn again spirit. Eph. Chapter 1.
“Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness, long-suffering, self-control and faith.” Gal. 5;22-23 (It’s not even OUR faith; it is His faith we are given, the same faith that Jesus has, we now have living in us. We just need to learn how to release it in our own lives by reading the word of God and exercising that faith work for us.)
Like that cart, anything we need is dwelling on the inside of us through the working of the Holy Spirit. Our faith is a direct connection to the kingdom of God dwelling in us.
“The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, ‘See here!’ Or ‘See there!” For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21
But first we must believe that it is there, then by faith we must reach in and pull-out what God has already provided by His grace.
A Tray of Perfect Love
Are you faced with a fearful situation?
Reach in your spirit by faith and pull out a tray of Perfect love.
“Jesus’ perfect love will cast out the fear around you.” When it looks like you are dwelling in darkness, read His word and act on it by faith. Switch on the light and the darkness/fear must leave. Why? Because truth has come.
Do you need healing in your body? Mind/emotions? Relationships? Finances? Marriages? (Or if you are like I was ALL OF THE ABOVE!)
Reach in and release your faith and take what Jesus has provided by grace. New hearts are always on the menu, spiritual and physical.
You know, God provided Adam and Eve with all the food they would need. But they still had to reach up, grab a banana, peel it, and eat it.
I know I’m having some fun here but at the same time I am just trying to make a sincere comparison.
We are not waiting on God. He is waiting on us to “acknowledge every good thing that is in us in Christ Jesus so that our faith will become effective.”
If you know that you already have it, how can you wonder if you will ever get it?
We don’t need to petition God for more. We just need to discover who we are in Christ and ask God to help us receive and give His best.
As an example (and back to the buffet line), that person’s comment of lack, or the physical absence of the food would not disturb my peace or hinder me. With complete confidence I could reply, “No worries, there’s plenty to go around.”
We can see into the word of God and discover the truth! I fully believe that any born again believer can become so spiritually minded in Christ that we can come to a place where we don’t even understand fear anymore.
Go one step further with me here: there was not a chance that they would have run out of food at the luncheon. It was RSVP with the pre-purchase of tickets required. They took a head count and pre-planned how much they needed to prepare.
If a good caterer can have the wisdom how to shop for and cook enough food for 200 people (including all the drinks/utensils/condiments), THEN how much MORE can our GOOD GOD who created the heavens and the earth plan, prepare, and provide for ALL our needs faaaaaar in advance.
On one day, five loaves and two fish were supernaturally multiplied and fed 5,000 men (with plenty of leftovers). Luke 9:13
(Btw- when the disciples looked to Jesus to perform the miracle, He told them to do it – “YOU give them something to eat.” In other words, He was stating, “I gave you the authority to do this.”)
The “same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is living on the inside of us.”
The word of God was here long before we appeared on this earth and will remain long after we are gone, whether are not we choose to believe. Your beliefs will not change the word of God, but the word of God will challenge your beliefs.
(“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God.”) Luke 4:4
And Jesus didn’t come to be served, He came to serve, so we can follow His example.
Oh, and did I mention the dessert table? It was right out front as you entered the door. And it was packed with a variety of flavorful bites of goodness (God always serves dessert first).
And I will keep reminding myself of this whatever I am facing is a piece of cake for Jesus.
(1 John 4:18; Phil.1:6; Luke 10:19; Matt: 10:8; Mark 16:17-18)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
