Paradigm Shift part 3: Don't Throw Out the Leftovers

Part 3 of "Paradigm Shift" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 8-31-2014.

Paradigm Shift Pt 3

Moments. It’s what we celebrate as people. Birthdays, graduations, finishing a race, entering into the next grade for school. Life is made up of moments, but more importantly, it is made up of a journey. Full of excitement, pain, highs and lows, sometimes it’s pleasant, and sometimes it’s anything but easy, but it all makes up our individual journey.

Each of us has an individual perspective on life and on circumstances that we face. Some of us look at our issues and think we may die, we feel depressed, we’re full of anxiety, or maybe some of us see an opportunity for victory. Wherever you’re at in your journey, God has you there for a purpose. Life is a series of tests and lessons, and God is not wasting any pain that comes your way.

Maybe some of us are going around in circles and going through the same things because God’s trying to open our eyes to a new perspective on the issue. He’s trying to shift our paradigm. He’s trying to use what’s in front of us, and the little we have, to reveal something great to us.

In Matthew 14, Jesus uses the disciples to feed 5,000 people (around 15,000 including women and children). They start out with five loaves of bread and two fish, and after the whole miracle comes to an end and everyone is fed, they are left with twelve baskets with scraps of food in them. Twelve baskets, one for each disciple. If ever in the future they doubted that Jesus was able, or if they started to lose faith, it was almost as if they could feel the scraps of bread in their basket and remember the miracle Jesus did. If He did it before, He can do it again!

When we “feel the scraps” of our past, we are reminded of what God has done in our lives. We are reminded of His faithfulness and grace. This is what telling people about Jesus, praying for the sick, etc. does. It is reminding us of where we were when Jesus found us, and in that moment, we celebrate His faithfulness again and believe for greater!

In your situation, what scraps of the past do you need to feel to remind yourself of God’s goodness? What perspective do you need to gain to learn what God is teaching you? Life is a journey, and God is constantly wanting to shift our perspectives on things to see like Him. As Jesus would say, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matt. 13:9).

Food for Thought:

1. Where are you at in your journey with God? What do you think He’s been trying to teach you?

2. What are the scraps of your past that you can feel to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness?

3. What has been your perspective about the hard circumstances of life lately?

4. Has there been something you’ve been going through over and over again? Is there something God may be trying to shift your perspective about?

5. What perspective will you choose to have this week on your circumstance?

Additional Scriptures for Study:

• Mark 6

• Matthew 14

• John 1:1

• Philippians 4:6-12