Text: “And a great multitude followed Him
(Christ Jesus), because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were
diseased.”
John 6:2.
Good morning, faith-filled
Christian! Having been given God’s
wonderful gift of saving faith, you now seek to walk by that faith, and are not
easily taken in by some outward show of strange ‘signs and lying wonders’! You do well, faithful friend, you do very
well. The Lord is pleased with you in
this day of increased apostasy and straying from the truth.
“For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work…and then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall
consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of
His coming; even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power
and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the
truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7)
“(For we walk by faith, not by
sight)” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Our text today informs us that ‘…a
great multitude followed…’ Christ Jesus, and then continues on to explain why
they did so - ‘…because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were
diseased.’ (V.2)
Many of the more gullible today
continue to follow hard after men and women who seem to be able to put on a
spectacular show of ‘…signs and lying wonders…’
How sad to see so many within
Christian circles that are unable to ‘…walk by faith, not by sight…’ . Yet, it is a prophesied sign of the latter
times, well predicted within the pages of Holy Scripture. Beware, sign-seekers!
“For there shall arise false
Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch
that, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold I (Christ) have told you before. Wherefore…believe it not.” (Matthew 24:24-26)
The ‘multitude’ which followed Jesus
in today’s Scripture text followed Him only in order to SEE the miraculous
things that He did; the Divine healings that Christ, in His great compassion
and love, did to those that were sorely afflicted by disease. Everyone loves to see a circus! Even in a church!
However, we never learn of this
‘multitude’ of sign-seekers ever coming to a saving faith in the risen Lord
Jesus. Like Julius Caesar ‘they came,
they saw, they…‘ went home unaffected by the Gospel message!
There is no mention of these
sign-seekers ever receiving God’s gift of saving faith and, thus, finding
Eternal Salvation in the Christ of God!
How often Christian Pastors,
Ministers and Evangelists see thousands turning out to SEE them preach the powerful
Word of God. Yet, too often, we also see
a majority of such curious souls walk away from the meetings still lost in
their sins. They desired to SEE the show
- but when the show was over, they returned home without the Christ in their
hardened hearts.
“For by grace (God’s unmerited
favour) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift
of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. For we (the saved) are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath BEFORE ordained that we
should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“Because strait (strict, difficult)
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life (Eternal life), and
few there be that find it. Beware of
false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing (look like God’s
Shepherds), but inwardly they are ravening (devouringly greedy)
wolves…Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:14-20)
True Pastors are called to feed
God’s sheep - not financially fleece them!
Jesus said, “I am the good Shepherd;
the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling (pay-seeking,
hired hand), and not the shepherd…seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep,
and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them (the silly deceived sheep), and
scattereth the sheep.” (John 10:11-13)
With this vital teaching of Christ
in mind therefore, let us be very careful as to the motives of our hearts when
attending church meetings. Let us ask
ourselves: Am I going to this meeting in order to be entertained, to SEE
strange and dramatic things? Or am I
going along to listen intently to the preaching and teaching of God’s Holy and
Spirit-inspired Word?
Thought: Miracle-gazers are like star-gazers - when
the show is over, they quickly forget the sights they have seen. Stand fast in Faith!
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