Sealed By His Spirit So That Ye Might Be Filled With the Knowledge Of His Will In All Wisdom And Spiritual Understanding -- Part 1552

"Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints ... for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel, which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard [of it] and knew the grace of God in truth!" (Colossians 1:1-6)

Sadly, too many desire the "earthly food" that fills the belly over the spiritual manna that fills the soul. Remember, what happened after Jesus fed the five thousand with the young boy's five barley loaves and two small fishes? When the people were filled, Jesus said unto His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." This the disciples did filling twelve baskets with the fragments of loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

When they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, the men said, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." (John 6:14) One would assume that their hearts would be filled with gladness.

However, when Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force  -- to make Jesus a King -- He departed again into a mountain Himself alone. The day following, those that had eaten went looking for Jesus, seeking Him. When they found Jesus, these men asked, "Rabbi, when camest Thou hither?" Remember, these were the very same men who had seen the miracle that Jesus did and said, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." (John 6:1-25)

What did Jesus say to them? 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you -- ye seek Me not because ye see the miracles but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled." (John 6:26) In other words, these were amazed by the signs and wonders that Jesus did, but not quite enough to follow Jesus. These were content that their bellies were filled, but did not desire the same outcome for their soul.

So, Jesus knowing their hearts says unto them, "Labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27; Matthew 6:19; Acts 2:22) 

The conversation continues, with these men then asking Jesus -- "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." This is when these asked Jesus for a sign. They said, "Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." Then Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world." (John 6:32-33) 

Jesus goes on to tell them that He is the bread of life. That He is the bread that came from heaven to give life unto the world. That here He was, the Lord of glory standing in front of them but they believed not. Even though these had seen Jesus, heard His teachings, and witnessed His miracles, they were not convinced enough in their heart to believe. (John 6:36; John 6:26, 64) 

Indeed, these did not believe the works that Jesus did had been done "in My Father's Name" or that "they bear witness of Me." (John 10:26) 

We see quite the contrast when Jesus conveys the same gospel message to the woman from Samaria. She had come to collect water at the well that day, and there is Jesus. After some dialogue, Jesus says to the woman -- "Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give Him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14) 

Herein, the woman's heart desired to know more. She said, "I know that Messias comes, which is called Christ; when He is come, He will tell us all things." (John 4:25-26) When Jesus responded, saying, "I that speak unto thee am He," - the prophesied Christ, she willingly went to tell those in the city of Samaria of the man "which told me all the things ever I did." (John 4:15- 44)

Two very different responses when it came to Jesus. What was the difference?

On the one hand, there were those like the woman at the well who heard Jesus of Nazareth with their heart. Conversely, those who were miraculously fed rejected the One and Only Lord. As Peter (standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost proclaimed -- "a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ... ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that it should be holden of it." (Acts 2:22-23)

Choose life. Choose death.

Choose Jesus who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) Repent and be water baptized [buried] in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38-47)

And when you do, "the eyes of your understanding" will be enlightened; "that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe according to the working of His mighty power -- which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set [Him] at His own right hand in the heavenly [places]." (Ephesians 1: 18-23)

Jesus -- the giver of life and salvation. Be filled/sealed by His Spirit. Stand in the offering plate.