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Making men MEN again. The David Alliance will help you slay your giants.
Episodes
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Eph. 3:20
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
First never doubt his power. If you have a hard time coming up with stories of his power in your life… simply go out at night in the dark and look up into the stars. He is an awesome God. And then begin to ask him to reveal is love and his amazing power to you. His power changed your life, it transformed you, it forgave you your sins, it prepared heaven for you. His power is available to you… push in! PUSH Pray until something Happens!
Second if you want to give God the glory or make God look good it is always available to you. WE don’t seek Gods power just for our goal list, our relationships, our needs wants and desires. No, first and foremost I want his power to do his work and make him look good.. When you want to move in the supernatural, in the super powerful and in the “without measure” realm begin to work for God on Gods priorities…. want to know his priorities? First read the life of Jesus and secondly pray and ask him. You will quickly find out what he wants YOU to do for HIM!
Finally, his power is without measure… it is without end. So use it. If you were heading to Niagara Falls and you started digging through your kitchen for a glass or container to capture the Niagra Falls in…i.e. all of Niagra falls- you would be considered insane.Here is a clue - its not a cup you want, its a hose. His power is infinite and eternal. So plug into it for all areas of your life. Make every area of your life based on Gods priorities and then turn the hose on… stay plugged into him. Seek his continual infilling.
Monday May 02, 2022
Monday May 02, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
Q 3 Is anger a sin? YES and NO
Jesus got angry… but he did not sin.
Ps. 7:11 God is angry every day
Mark 3:5 Jesus Got angry at the Pharisees because they said it was a sin to heal on the sabbath.
John 2:13-18 Jesus was angered in the temple
Anger is related to the “fight, flight, or freeze” response of the sympathetic nervous system; it prepares humans to fight. By the way I would add “fight flight, freeze or fit” response. meaning we throw fits and get even more angry but do nothing about it.
If our anger leads to sin (wether in thought or deed) it is a sin… we need to take it to God and ask him to forgive us and help us.
If our anger is in fact hating what God hates, but still does not cause us to do what God would do… then we risk it becoming fleshly anger and sinful.
But if our anger leads us to fight for justice or fight for the needs of others or fight for what God says is holy… well then its a good thing.
Dave Jenkins said “Our outrage as Christians should lead to bringing others into a loving relationship with Christ.”
Godly anger asks us to do what God would do. Which is usually not what our flesh wants to do.
We know the saying “WWJD” what would Jesus do… but I bet most of us never, and I mean never ask that when we are angry, ticked off and outraged.
Anger will either point you to God and his actions or point you to your own feelings and actions… one is a sin the other is freeing and empowering.
When God clear the temple… there are two things you need to know.
He cleared it out not because they were selling animals… and in fact selling animals was a way to help those who came from far distances to buy animals to sacrifice. It was of service to worshippers. But over time they went from selling animals on the outside of the temple to the inside. This area where they were selling them was set aside for non jews to worship God. But the jews set it up as a market to make money off of people- and in fact take away a place for non jews to worship.
It made Jesus angry that someone came in between God and his worshippers. (we serve a jealous God)
Secondly when it says that Jesus cleared out the temple with a whip, it was actually more like a broom. oh sure you could whip people with it, but it typically was used as a broom. But Jesus was so angry he grabbed what was at hand and in anger cleared the temple.
If you are angry, and you are mad because something is unjust and keeping others from knowing God, then ask God to help you do something about it and know that he may use you and what ever is at hand to change the world. Are you so angry that is moves you? Then make sure it moves you closer to God.
Friday Apr 29, 2022
Friday Apr 29, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
If sowing means reaping… and it is an iron clad rule in scripture…
Then every day we should be willing to give freely
Oh, not just our money, though that is a big one, you must also just simply give where there is a need.
Give someone some extra time… listen instead of excusing yourself away from the conversation.
Give someone you don’t know some much needed advice.
Give someone a smile… yes a complete stranger.
Give someone a hug… I dare ya.
Give someone a ride…
Give someone the best seat
Give someone the tickets to the game
Give someone a walk along as they head out to their car
Give someone a compliment on their clothes or weight loss
Give someone an encouraging word regarding the jam they are in
Give someone a heavy dose of appreciation… someone from your past would be great.
Give someone that thing they complemented you on… that watch, or shoes or new office toy.
Give someone a handshake who would not expect it… like the attendant at the fast food joint
Give someone a kind word about how good they are at their job
Give someone a call and say “if you ever need your dog walked, your kids cared for, your mail grabbed, Im your guy”.
Give someone the change you have been putting in that jar at home.
Give someone a free lunch… tell them they choose where!
Give someone a story of how you made a mistake and learned from it
Give your complete attention to your spouse
Give a gas card to a struggling college student
Give a back rub to your kids
Give a laugh and a giggle to a child
Give time to take a group picture
If you ain’t giving you ain’t living.
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
I dare you to change your life…
I dare you to do something hard…
I dare you to be and fulfill the complete potential in you…
So we immediately stop and think, well I could, I should, I know it would take a lot of work, and some risks and some trial and error - but Honestly after 57 years on this earth I have realized that is not what is truly keeping your from your potential… Have you ever heard this quote?
Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny (Or your potential).
This is true, but this is lacking in one major overwhelmingly obvious condition or step…
If you really want to change - and I mean change anything - for Good, true 100% change you have to do the almost impossible for most people.
If you truly want to change your life - in any area, you have to be willing to change friends. Changing friends will change you. But warning, most friends don’t want you to change, or to change friends… why? Because it makes them feel aware of how little they are willing to put into changing their own lives - in changing themselves.
Look if you are a gym rat, how many times have you had people around you give you excuses as to why they are out of shape… or even how they intend to get back in shape. They feel guilty around you- thus they start the nervous talk, the excuse talk, the backtrack talking. I have found a way to help them realize the dilemma - I look at them and tell them to change friends or they will never change their life and health. And they kind of nervous laugh… and then still list of some rationale… “uh, well I don’t need to change friends, I just need to get motivated, I just need to get a plan, I just need to focus, I just need to make time, I just need to eat better… I just I just I just I just…
Shut the front door and get rid of the excuses and get new friends. You want to be a boxer, you better start hanging out with boxers. You want to be a successful entrepreneur you better start hanging out with successful entrepreneurs, you want to be a better parent you better start hanging out with better parents… you better change your “friendscape” and not just your landscape.
So if I think back to this past month I have had to say no to acquaintances who want to go hunting, fishing, go out to coffee and just talk, go to a movie etc… these are all fine and things I would like to do… but if I am seeking change than I need to spend time with the people I want to be like. i.e. change
The disciples were 11 men who wanted to be like Jesus… and Jesus wanted them to be his disciples… however as much as Jesus taught them, it was more about them being with him - lets be honest, most of the time the disciples didn’t even understand what Jesus was saying - but they are in his presence.
You might miss the fact that in order for the disciples to change, they had to be with Jesus - meaning they had to leave family and friends.
Luke 14:25 Many people were traveling with Jesus. He said to them, 26 “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life! 27 Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower.
This no doubt has a deep pointed spiritual application to us as Christ followers - but it also screams the practical application of change by association in our own normal lives. I don’t cut out all my friends, nor do I unfriend them - but the amount of time and influence I give them is now handed off to others who I want to be like.
Who you are is who you are with.
Quick thought - maybe you are not with anyone, you are a loner a shy person etc… the same still applies to you.
The greatest missing ingredient in changing your life comes down to changing your friends.
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
How do you win in life?
How do you win in marriage?
How do you win in your job?
How do you win in your health?
How do you win in your intelligence?
How do you win in your personal goals?
Whatever the question is - the answer is the same. You win - YOU ALWAY WIN with deeper relationships.
I have said this a million times… “I ain’t rich, but I got friends”.
You need something done, you need something, you have a question… not to worry I have deep relationships. You win with deeper relationships.
We all know its true. And because it is true we must ask ourselves continually “how can I deepen my relationships?” In every arena?
My spouse, my kids, my boss, my co-workers, my pastor, my small group, at my favorite restaurant?
Here are 3 things you can immediately do to make deeper relationships.
Listen and ask questions.
You do this to learn how to feel the issue the person is trying to describe. You are not just asking questions to find out more about what they are saying, but rather asking questions that will help you connect to them. Once you can feel what they are saying, they will believe that you understand. And it will create a depth of trust beyond just words. You are trying to not just hear them but to feel them.
If you read the gospels you will find in many places where Jesus answers others with questions… this is a good place to start - unlike many of us who want to answer with answers… bad place to start!
Listen and respond with feelings of connection.
You might say something like this - I think I understand correctly… I once lost a friend through gossip and felt betrayed by people I trusted… it made me uncomfortable sharing with others for a while… is this how you feel?
When others can identify your own emotions regarding the topic at hand, you have built a bridge for deeper connections.
If its your boss you could say “I know when people have dropped the ball for me and It left me in a bad spot… it made me feel like they only cared about their own work and not the company…. is this how you feel”.
Once you have listened and responded with questions and feelings you are ready to…
Listen and comfort…”what can I do” How can I help? What do you need?
Deeper relationships are sometimes just based on going the extra mile. Listen, and then do something about it.
Again, to many times we want to listen and then give the answer, rather than listen and ask them what the answer is… even if they don’t know, it means more if they just know you are there.
Bonus for the win… follow up these conversations. I take notes in my phone to follow up with everyone!
Try texting later in the day or the next morning asking them about the issue and how they are doing.
Check in on them before the weekend, stop by their office or their cubicle or their bedroom if you are a parent.
I hope you understand what I am about to say regarding deep relationships and if not… just mull it over and it will come to you.
In todays world deep relationships are built on less and not more.
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
TOP TEN THREATS TO YOUNG PEOPLE
Motor vehicle accidents
Guns
Unsafe infant sleep
Toxic exposures
Suicide and depression
Child abuse or neglect
Illicit drug use
Teen pregnancy
Head injuries
Drowning
How real are these… well they all have merit, but I am more concerned about my kids becoming cold to the move of God. Becoming haphazard in their pursuit of Jesus. Being ok with just being a good person…
I want my kids to pursue Jesus in all things, at all times and in all ways. But a big part of this is also teaching them how and what to look for that might be used against them.
Prov. 27:12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Prov. 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Prudent: Gk crafty shrewd and sensible…. always looking ahead for the sneak attacks of the enemy. Ready to not just react, but has learned how to be ready to respond.
John 10:10 The thief comes to steal kill and destroy…
This isn’t just a statement of fact, but rather a condition of the future so as to warn us.
So lets go back to the original statement or question… what are the top ten threats to your sons and daughters? Well one of the first things you look at when wanting to attack your enemy is what are their habits and what are their weaknesses.
so what are you students weaknesses? Start with their personality. Study it, find out what it is. Then look to see what that personality style has for weaknesses and do even more homework as to how to navigate that weakness and talk to them about it… warning them and giving them advice as to how to be aware of how the enemy would use it.
Every person has the ability to grow in their strength, but also to be even more aware of their weakness. I am a firm believer of working on your strengths… it will be of much more value than working on your weaknesses… but BUT that does not mean you don’t take a hard look at your weaknesses. We must be as evenly attuned to being aware of our weaknesses and how they can trip us up… especially over a long period of time - as much as being in tune with our strengths.
Now a word on our strengths.
I know a young man who was a new police officer… but after a year and a half the captain told him to step down and look for another job… why? Because he was kind, loving, sweet, tender hearted and a servant… which made him way to naive and trusting for that job. It put him and other officers in harms way. It was a strength that was unintentionally inverted into a weakness in that situation and in that role.
my Dad told me time and time again, Garth your biggest strengths will be your biggest weaknesses. Have you had the talk with your kids about their strengths… and how they will be weaknesses. The enemy can pull many more tricks out of his bag when working on our strengths than on our weaknesses.
Jn. 10;10 The enemy comes to steal kill and destroy… he will use our strengths to do that if we do not learn to not rely on our strengths but rather on God and his wisdom.
Your sons and daughters will be attacked by the enemy, in fact they are right now…have you prepared them for the attack.
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
Steve Jobs of Apple once said that the definition of a superbly designed product is you want to lick it!… So my question to you today is… Your Christian walk… do people want to lick it?
Gross… Ok, the point of Jobs quote is that if something is really desirable you want more of it, You want to fully experience it. I love guitars… yes i play them, but I also love the design of them. A great car can be called sexy… and I have heard people say things like “it was so exciting… I would eat it”.
Maybe you have something that you just love the design of it. I have a really cool knife… yes it is sharp,,, but the design of it is so radical. It is wood, gray steel, curved, with notches in it, and a cool dovetail, with a knurled back end… But Im not going to lick it… LOL, lose a tongue…. but it is so much more then a knife.
And I also love a great pair of cool looking boots… weird I know. But I have had some boots that have two layers of soles, with two layers of leather binding, with outside steel toes and killer stitching up the sides and back. A wicked thick still zipper on the sides and the eyelids are extra big and silver and the laces are super thick rugged nylon black and silver …. I could eat dessert out of it…
Don’t even get me started on motorcycles… My wife and I were looking at a custom bike and it was so flawless and beautiful I just calmly said “I would make love to you on that bike… weird right? Yea she thought so… but It just popped into my head and out of my mouth.
It begs me to ask myself what would make my Christian walk one that people look at and think… wow! That is amazing… or what would make people look at my life and say … I want that life…it seems so desirable.
Here’s a clue. It has very little with how much you know the bible, or how much you go to church… It has a lot to do with Fruit… Who doesn’t like fruit?
Back in the time of Christ fruit didn’t exactly come in huge bountiful quantities… the land was dry, most fruit was a dry date type. Really exotic fruits like bananas and berries and coconuts etc… were almost unavailable… So when God uses fruit as an example he is stating how desirable and how rare it is in todays world.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” –Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
When our lives are filled with the fruits of the spirit… we become so desirable… Ever see that popular person who just doesn’t get rattled by what people say or do… he just loves them anyway. They have an air about them that makes them desirable.
We live in a world where it is ok to practice recreational hate and sarcasm and rage…. We don’t have to necessary preach the gospel every where we go if we just simple practice the fruits… We will stand out just by being loving… yes of course we share Jesus, but even outside of that we practice the fruits.
What makes my Christianity desirable? Its filled with fruit… rare exotic delicious fruit.
May the goal this week be that someone looks at our life and says… wow that life is designed so well… I want to lick it.
Friday Apr 22, 2022
Friday Apr 22, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
Remember when you were a kid and you got tired or scared or went to bed… you wanted your blanky! I want my blanky… what if you saw someone in serious trouble as an adult and they wanted their blanky…. it actually might not be that bad of an idea.
Where do you feel the safest? At home? By yourself? With others? At the police station? With your neighbor who is a world ranked powerlifter? Your best friend who is a SWAT team leader?
Pick the person and place you feel most safe… now imagine in that moment you are still surrounded by thousands of enemies. Do you still really feel safe? Maybe… but I doubt you have complete peace and calmness at that point. The real question might be - is it possible to be fearless and calm in that situation, To actually feel safe.
Psalm 27:2When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell. 3Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust. 4One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.…
5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.…
6Then my head will be held high above my enemies around me. At His tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
David is surrounded by his enemies and he says that his head will be lifted up above his enemies. He will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. He is giving one complete picture here, that of offering up prayer. The word “tabernacle” is “ahal” which is used to express a prayer shawl - a blanky. Under this prayer covering which is meant to create a privacy between a person and God in prayer, - People would pull this over their head when they would pray. David is able to lift his head above his enemies by pulling the prayer shawl over his head. In that secret place between him and God he can find freedom from the fear of his enemies.
You remember as a kid hiding under the covers… right? Well this time its you hiding under the covers with God. Just you and God hiding under the covers… no big deal.
There is no fear under the covers… that is -when you are in his presence. When you take time to just be with him. No phone, no computer, no distraction, no time limit, no agenda, no list of wants… just you and Jesus and your bible… maybe some worship music- but the intent is to just be with him and spend time with him. Reading, praying, worshiping him… just you and him and a blanket!
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
Matthew 14 and John 6: 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
Jesus asked the disciples “Where we gonna buy bread for all these people” - and it was a test. He wanted the disciples not only to recognize the need but to also realize that Jesus was putting it on them to meet the need. Jesus shows the need, he points it out, he brings it to our attention so that we might say… uh, I don’t have a clue. In a way it brings clarity to the fact that if God don’t show up, it aint happening!
I got needs in my life that if God don’t show up it aint happening… I can lament all I want or I can just level up and say - yep, I need God.
And what’s crazy is that Jesus asked the disciples and the text tells us that he already knew what he was going to do. Uhm, hello - that should be the mic drop right there. I go to God with my unbelievable problem that I can’t even comprehend the solution… knowing that he already knows the answer… get it. I don’t know the answer, and I can’t figure it out… he even pointed it out to me… maybe put an exclamation point on it and a bow for good measure… but he already knows the answer. I took my boys and daughter in law to the NF concert. It was open seating and it was about 5k people. At the time he said it was the biggest concert he had ever had… my kids were looking at me like wow, this line is forever… lets make the best of it, but alas I told them to follow me. I knew the concert promoter, we went around back, I texted her “I’m here” and she came out and led us up to box seats looking directly on the stage. Dad already had the answer.
now we know that this was hardly enough food for even one man at this point. Because it was the lunch for a small boy. I would think that the disciples were probably telling themselves, “well at least we have food for Jesus… I mean, he has been doing all the work”. But it wasn’t just for Jesus… in fact for a man it would have been a nice snack after walking and working and ministering all day… but not enough for the crowd of thousands. But Jesus did not see the need he saw the provision. Jesus did not see the problem he saw the promise.
Here is a great insight… Jesus starts out by talking about solving the problem with money. “hey where we going to buy enough food for these people”. Everyone was thinking the solution had to come from one resource - that being money. Jesus again shows us how limited that thinking is. Because he does not use money… he uses what we have. You say I don’t have money or this or that… thats cool, Jesus will use something else to test you and help you pass the test.
But here is the most interesting part of this story… he does not wait until after the miracle to say thank you. And in fact some translations use the word blessed - he blessed it, like it was a magic spell. But the word truly means saying thank you for the solution, thank you for what I have.… its just enough in the hands of God. And after thanking God for what he had….
Wait wait wait… he is thanking God for the problem, starving people, he is thanking God for not enough food, he is thanking God in the middle of the disciples doubt and questions..
he is thanking God before there is any talk of reaping all the leftover bread and fishes… he thanks God for the little he has in faith knowing in Gods hands it is enough to meet the need.
Now what you might really miss is this… there are 12 baskets left over. How many disciples are there?
Not only did Jesus bless the food, he then put it in the hands of the disciples to pass out… and in their hands they sowed the loaves and fishes into the needs of those in the crowd and they in turn reaped a full basket back.
I see a need, I thank God in advance for that test, I thank God for the provision he has given me (even though it may not seem like enough)… even though it may not actually be enough, I bless others with it… and I in turn reap more than I had ever expected in my own life.
3 things
Thank God for your problems
Thank God for knowing the answer in advance
And thank God for the little that you have and sow it!
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
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July 9th - Saturday - A Father Daughter/Son conference called PROTECTOR! Speakers on how to protect your son and daughter Emotionally, physically, sexually, socially and spiritually. Ages 10 and up if you feel your student is mature enough. Price $100 per family. At HillSpring Church New prague south of the Twin Cities
Just landed a speaker who will challenge you how to keep your kids safe from human trafficking… you say well my kid will never fall into that… oh not so fast. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about… so get ready to sign up!
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 5:5 says Gods spirit is love… soooo
if nothing can separate us from the love of God (i.e. the spirit of God) then why is it so hard to walk in the spirit?
Because we lose that awareness of his love, of his spirit.
Back in middle school / High school I loved to hunt. When my friend Mitch got his license we would go out hunting together… I loved the woods. And I got good at spotting animals… Driving with Derek Cortez and spotting a pheasant….
I was completely aware of it because I surrounded myself in it.
We must learn to be aware…
This past week eating out with I was walking to the restroom and a man just said nodded his head and said “hi” - what was it…. but immediately the HS said talk to him. I ended up having a prophetic word for him and got to pray with him and even got his phone number.
You can have the HS in you and just simply lose awareness that he wants to be a part of your whole day.