The Faith FactorShembull

Faith - Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

Factor - a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result or outcome. A number or quantity that when multiplied with another produces a given number or expression.

Before Jesus passed the baskets of fish and bread to the disciples, he gave thanks to the Lord and blessed the meal. You see, the point here is that the basket had to contain “not enough” based on the sheer amount of fish and bread it would take to feed such a large group. There’s no way the baskets could hold that much food, right?

Jesus knew that the disciples would make this assumption. He knew that they would be tempted to look into the empty basket and lose their faith before everyone is fed.

So, He distributed the food to them and they in turn gave it the people. It is always God who brings the increase. He is the source of blessing.

How many times have we been in a similar circumstance?

We cannot see or think of a way out. We can’t imagine a solution to our situation or an answer to our problems, and yet, when faith is factored in, things work out.

Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

It’s because we many times walk by sight and not by faith. I encourage you to factor in faith and look again!

The story goes on to state that 5,000 men were fed, but there must have been women and children too, right? After everyone ate, there were twelve baskets of leftovers! From one fish combo, thousands were fed on that day.

Recently the Lord revealed to me that 5,000 was just that day, and that over the past 2,000 years, millions have been fed through that story being preached and taught. So, you can say that one boys lunch, plus The Faith Factor equals untold millions fed!! Now that’s God math!

Faith is the assurance that the things revealed and promised in the Word are true, even though they are unseen, and faith gives the believer a conviction that what he expects in faith, will come to pass.

We don’t need to understand how, we need to understand who.

We need to understand that faith is rarely easy but always necessary. Even the disciples were unsure when Jesus instructed them to hand out the food, yet there were twelve baskets left over! He provided in abundance in a situation in which no one else had the answer.