The Conflict of the Ages in Living Sound

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Myers Media

Nancy Hamilton

The Desire of Ages in Living Sound

Chapter 1 - God With Us

Chapter 2 - The Chosen People

Chapter 3 - The Fullness of the Time

Chapter 4 - Unto You a Saviour

Chapter 5 - The Dedication

Chapter 6 - We Have Seen His Star

Chapter 7 - As a Child

Chapter 8 - The Passover Visit

Chapter 9 - Days of Conflict

Chapter 10 - The Voice in the Wilderness

Chapter 11 - The Baptism

Chapter 12 - The Temptation

Chapter 13 - The Victory

Chapter 14 - We Have Found the Messias

Chapter 15 - At the Marriage Feast

Chapter 16 - In His Temple

Chapter 17 - Nicodemus

Chapter 18 - He Must Increase

Chapter 19 - At Jacobs Well

Chapter 20 - Except Ye See Signs and Wonders

Chapter 21 - Bethesda and the Sanhedrin

Chapter 22 - Imprisonment and Death of John

Chapter 23 - The Kingdom of God Is at Hand

Chapter 24 - Is Not This the Carpenters Son

Chapter 25 - The Call by the Sea

Chapter 26 - At Capernaum

Chapter 27 - Thou Canst Make Me Clean

Chapter 28 - Levi-Matthew

Chapter 29 - The Sabbath

Chapter 30 - He Ordained Twelve

Chapter 31 - The Sermon on the Mount

Chapter 32 - The Centurion

Chapter 33 - Who Are My Brethren

Chapter 34 - The Invitation

Chapter 35 - Peace Be Still

Chapter 36 - The Touch of Faith

Chapter 37 - The First Evangelists

Chapter 38 - Come Rest Awhile

Chapter 39 - Give Ye Them to Eat

Chapter 40 - A Night on the Lake

Chapter 41 - The Crisis in Galilee

Chapter 42 - Tradition

Chapter 43 - Barriers Broken Down

Chapter 44 - The True Sign

Chapter 45 - The Foreshadowing of the Cross

Chapter 46 - He Was Transfigured

Chapter 47 - Ministry

Chapter 48 - Who Is the Greatest

Chapter 49 - At the Feast of Tabernacles

Chapter 50 - Among Snares

Chapter 51 - The Light of Life

Chapter 52 - The Divine Shepherd

Chapter 53 - The Last Journey From Galilee

Chapter 54 - The Good Samaritan

Chapter 55 - Not With Outward Show

Chapter 56 - Blessing the Children

Chapter 57 - One Thing Thou Lackest

Chapter 58 - Lazarus Come Forth

Chapter 59 - Priestly Plottings

Chapter 60 - The Law of the New Kingdom

Chapter 61 - Zacchaeus

Chapter 62 - The Feast at Simons House

Chapter 63 - Thy King Cometh

Chapter 64 - A Doomed People

Chapter 65 - The Temple Cleansed Again

Chapter 66 - Controversy

Chapter 67 - Woes on the Pharisees

Chapter 68 - In the Outer Court

Chapter 69 - On the Mount of Olives

Chapter 70 - The Least of These My Brethren

Chapter 71 - A Servant of Servants

Chapter 72 - In Remembrance of Me

Chapter 73 - Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Chapter 74 - Gethsemane

Chapter 75 - Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas

Chapter 76 - Judas

Chapter 77 - In Pilates Judgment Hall

Chapter 78 - Calvary

Chapter 79 - It is Finished

Chapter 80 - In Josephs Tomb

Chapter 81 - The Lord Is Risen

Chapter 82 - Why Weepest Thou

Chapter 83 - The Walk to Emmaus

Chapter 84 - Peace Be Unto You

Chapter 85 - By the Sea Once More

Chapter 86 - Go Teach All Nations

Chapter 87 - To My Father and Your Father

The desire of ages chapter 39 give you them to eat. Christ had retired to a secluded place with his disciples, but this rare season of peaceful quietude was soon broken. The disciples thought they had retired where they would not be disturbed, but as soon as the multitude missed the divine teacher, they inquired Where is he? Some among them had noticed the direction in which Christ in his disciples had gone. Many went by land to meet them while others followed in their boats across the water. The Passover was at hand and far and near bands of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem gathered to see Jesus. Additions were made to their number until there were assembled 5,000 men besides women and children before Christ reached the shore. A multitude we're waiting for him, but he landed unobserved by them and spent a little time apart with the disciples from the hillside. He looked upon the moving multitude in his heart, was stirred with sympathy, interrupted as he was and robbed of his rest. He was not impatient. He saw a greater necessity demanding his attention. As he watched the people coming and still coming, he was moved with compassion toward them because they were a sheep not having a shepherd. Leaving his retreat, he found a convenient place where he could minister to them. They received no help from the priests and rulers, but the healing waters of life flowed from Christ as he taught the multitude the way of salvation. The people listened to the words of mercy flowing so freely from the lips of the son of God. They had heard the gracious words so simple and so plain that they were as the bomb of Gilead to their souls. The healing of his divine hand brought gladness and life to the dying and ease and health to those suffering with disease. The day seemed to them like heaven upon earth and they were utterly unconscious of how long it had been since they had eaten anything at length. The day was fast spent and the sun was sinking in the west and yet the people lingered. Jesus had labored all day without food or rest. He was pale from wariness and hunger and the disciples be sought him to cease from his toil, but he could not withdraw himself from the multitude that pressed upon him. The disciples finally came to him urging that for their own sake the people should be sent away. Many had come from far and had eaten nothing since morning in the surrounding towns and villages. They might be able to buy food, but Jesus said, give ye them to eat and then turned into Philip questioned once. Shall we buy bread that these may eat This? He said To test the faith of the disciple, Philip looked over the sea of heads and thought how impossible it would be to provide food to satisfy the wants of such a crowd. He answered that 200 penny worth of bread would not be nearly enough to divide among them so that each might have a little. Jesus inquired how much food could be found among the company. There is allowed here said Andrew, which hath five barley, loaves and two small fishes. Jesus directed that these be brought to him. Then he made the disciples seat the people on the grass in parties of 50 or a hundred to preserve order and that all might witness what he was about to do. When this was accomplished, Jesus took the food and looking up to heaven. He blessed and break and gave the loves to his disciples and the disciples to the multitude and they did all eat and were filled and they took up 12 baskets full of the fragments and of the fishes. He who taught the people the way to secure peace and happiness was just as thoughtful of their temporal necessities as of their spiritual need. The people were weary and faint. There were mothers and babes in their arms and little children clinging to their skirts. Many had been standing for hours. They had been so intensely interested in Christ's words that they had not once thought of sitting down and the crowd was so great that there was danger of their trampoline on one another. Jesus would give them a chance to rest and he bathed them. Sit down. There was much grass in the place and all could rest in comfort. Christ never worked a miracle except to supply a genuine necessity and every miracle was of a character to lead the people to the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. The simple food passed around by the hands of the disciples contained a whole treasure of lessons. It was humble, fair that had been provided. The fishers and bar lobes were the daily food of the fisher folk about the sea Galilee Christ could have spread before the people of Rich Reas, but food prepared merely for the gratification of appetite would've conveyed no lesson for their good. Christ taught them in this lesson that the natural provisions of God for man had been perverted and never did. People enjoy the luxurious feasts prepared for the gratification of perverted taste as this people enjoyed the rest and the simple food which Christ provided so far from human habitations. If men today were simple in their habits, living in harmony with nature's laws, as did Adam and Eve in the beginning, there would be an abundance supply for the needs of the human family. There would be fewer imaginary wants and more opportunities to work in God's ways. But selfishness and the indulgence of unnatural taste have brought sin and misery into the world from excess on the one hand and from want on the other. Jesus did not seek to attract the people to him by gratifying the desire for luxury to that great thong, weary and hungry after the long exciting day. The simple fair was an assurance not only of his power but of his tender care for them in the common needs of life. The Savior has not promised his followers the luxuries of the world. Their fair may be plain and even scanty. Their lot may be shut in by poverty, but his word is pledged that their need shall be supplied and he has promised that which is far better than worldly good, the abiding comfort of his own presence in feeding the 5,000. Jesus lifts the veil from the world of nature and reveals the power that is constantly exercised for our good. In the production of earth's harvests, God is working a miracle every day through natural agencies, the same work is accomplished. That was rot in the feeding of the multitude. Men prepare the soil and sow the seed, but it is the life from God that causes the seed to germinate. It is God's rain and air and sunshine that cause it to be put forth first the blade, then the ear after that, the full corn in the ear. It is God who is every day feeding millions from earth's harvest fields. Men are called upon to cooperate with God in the care of the grain and the preparation of the loaf. And because of this they lose sight of the divine agency. They do not give God the glory due under his holy name. The working of his power is ascribed to natural causes or to human instrumentality. Man is glorified in place of God and his gracious gifts are perverted to selfish uses and made a curse. Instead of a blessing, God is seeking to change all this. He desires that our dull senses shall be quickened. To discern his merciful kindness and to glorify him for the working of his power, he desires us to recognize him in his gifts that they may be as he intended a blessing to us. It was to accomplish this purpose that the miracles of Christ were performed after the multitude had been fed. There was an abundance of food left, but he who had all the resources of infinite power at his command said, gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. These words meant more than putting the bread into the baskets. The lesson was twofold. Nothing is to be wasted. We are to let slip. No temporal advantage. We should neglect nothing that will tend to benefit a human being. Let everything be gathered up that will relieve the necessity of earth's hungry ones. And there should be the same carefulness in spiritual things. When the baskets of fragments were collected, the people thought of their friends at home. They wanted them to share in the bread that Christ had blessed. The contents of the baskets were distributed among the eager throne and they were carried away into all the region roundabout. So those who were at the feast were to give to others the bread that comes down from heaven. To satisfy the hunger of the soul. They were to repeat what they had learned of the wonderful things of God. Nothing was to be lost. Not one word that concerned their eternal salvation was to fall useless to the ground. The miracle of the loaves teaches a lesson of dependence upon God. When Christ fed the 5,000, the food was not na at hand. Apparently he had no means at his command. Here he was with 5,000 men besides women and children in the wilderness. He had not invited the large multitude to follow him. They came without invitation or command, but he knew that after they had listened so long to his instruction, they would feel hungry and faint. For he was one with them in their need of food. They were far from home and the night was close at hand. Many of them were without means to purchase food. He who for their sake had fasted 40 days in the wilderness would not suffer them to return fasting to their homes. The providence of God had placed Jesus where he was and he depended on his heavenly Father for the means to relieve the necessity. And when we are brought into straight places, we are to depend on God. We are to exercise wisdom and judgment in every action of life that we may not by reckless movements place ourselves in trial. We are not to plunge into difficulties neglecting the means. God has provided and misusing the faculties he has given us. Christ's workers are to obey his instructions implicitly the work is Gods and if we would bless others, his plans must be followed. Self cannot be made as center self can receive no honor. If we plan according to our own ideas, the Lord will leave us to our own mistakes. But when after following his directions, we are brought into straight places. He will deliver us. We are not to give up in discouragement, but in every emergency we are to seek help from him who has infinite resources at his command. Often we shall be surrounded with trying circumstances and then in the fullest confidence we must depend upon God. He will keep every soul that is brought into perplexity through trying to keep the way of the Lord Christ has forbidden us through the prophet deal, thy bread to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul. When thou see the naked that thou cover him and bring the poor that a cast out into thy house, he has bitten us. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. But how often our hearts sink and faith fails us and we see how great is the need and how small the means in our hands. Like Andrew, looking upon the five barley loaves and the two little fishes we exclaim, what are they amongst so many Often we hesitate unwilling to give all that we have fearing to spend and to be spent for others. But Jesus has forbidden us. Give ye them to eat. His command is a promise. And behind it is the same power that fed the multitude beside the sea. In Christ's act of supplying the temporal necessities of a hungry multitude is wrapped up a deep spiritual lesson for all his workers. Christ received from the Father he imparted to the disciples, they imparted to the multitude in the people to one another. So all who are united to Christ will receive from him, him the bread of life, the heavenly food, and imparted to others in full reliance upon God. Jesus took the small store of loaves and although there was but a small portion for his own family of disciples, he did not invite them to eat but began to distribute to them being them served the people, the food multiplied in his hands and the hands of the disciples reaching out to Christ himself. The bread of life were never empty. The little store was sufficient for all. After the wants of the people had been supplied, the fragrance were gathered up in Christ. In his disciples ate together of the precious heaven supplied food. The disciples were the channel of communication between Christ and the people. This should be a great encouragement to his disciples. Today, Christ is the great center, the source of all strength. His disciples are to receive their supplies from him. The most intelligent, the most spiritually minded can Beto only as they receive of themselves. They can supply nothing for the needs of the soul. We can impart only that which we receive from Christ and we can receive only as we impart to others. As we continue imparting, we continue to receive and the more we impart, the more we shall receive. Thus we may be constantly believing, trusting, receiving and imparting the work of building up the kingdom of Christ will go forward Though to all appearance, it moves slowly and impossibilities seem to testify against advance. The work is of God and he will furnish means and will send helpers. True earnest disciples whose hands also will be filled with food. For the starving multitude, God is not unmindful to those who labor in love. To give the word of life to perishing souls who in their turn breach forth their hands for food, for other hungry souls. In our work for God, there is danger of relying too largely upon what man with his talents and abilities can do. Thus we lose sight of the one master worker. Too often the worker for Christ fails to realize his personal responsibility. He is in danger of shifting his burden upon organizations instead of relying upon him who is the source of all strength. It is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of God. Successful work for Christ depends not so much on numbers or talent as upon pureness of purpose. The true simplicity of earnest dependent faith. Personal responsibilities must be born. Personal duties must be taken up. Personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ. In the place of shifting your responsibility upon someone whom you think more richly endowed than you are, work according to your ability. When the question comes home to your heart, when shall we buy bread that these may eat? Let not your answer be the response of unbelief. When the disciples heard the saviors direction give you them to eat, all the difficulties arose in their minds. They questioned, shall we go away into the villages to buy food? So now, when the people are destitute of the bread of life, the Lord's children question shall we send for someone from afar to come and feed them? But what said Christ? Make the men sit down and he fed them there. So when you are surrounded by souls in need, know that Christ is there. Commune with him. Bring your barley loaves to Jesus. The means in our possession may not seem to be sufficient for the work, but if we will move forward in faith, believing in the all sufficient power of God, abundant resources will open before us. If the work be of God, he himself will provide the means for its accomplishment. He will reward honest, simple reliance upon him. The little that is wisely and economically used in the service of the Lord of heaven will increase in the very act of imparting in the hand of Christ The small supplier food remained undiminished until the famished multitude were satisfied. If we go to the source of all strength. With our hands of faith outstretched to receive, we shall be sustained in our work even under the most forbidding circumstances and shall be enabled to give to others the bread of life. The Lord says, give and it shall be given unto you. He that so earth, sparingly shall reap also sparingly. And here that so earth with blessing shall reap also with blessings. And God is able to make all grace abound unto you that ye having always all sufficiency in everything may abound unto every good work as it is written, he has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor his righteousness abi forever. And he that supply seed to the sewer and bread for food shall supply and multiply your seed for sewing and increase the fruits of your righteousness. Ye being enriched in everything unto, unto all liberality, which worker through us Thanksgiving to God.

Ellen G. White

Book

The Desire of Ages in Living Sound

Chapter 39 - Give Ye Them to Eat

Read by Nancy Hamilton

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Other Teachings in Series

Chapter 1 - God With Us

Chapter 2 - The Chosen People

Chapter 3 - The Fullness of the Time

Chapter 4 - Unto You a Saviour

Chapter 5 - The Dedication

Chapter 6 - We Have Seen His Star

Chapter 7 - As a Child

Chapter 8 - The Passover Visit

Chapter 9 - Days of Conflict

Chapter 10 - The Voice in the Wilderness

Chapter 11 - The Baptism

Chapter 12 - The Temptation

Chapter 13 - The Victory

Chapter 14 - We Have Found the Messias

Chapter 15 - At the Marriage Feast

Chapter 16 - In His Temple

Chapter 17 - Nicodemus

Chapter 18 - He Must Increase

Chapter 19 - At Jacobs Well

Chapter 20 - Except Ye See Signs and Wonders

Chapter 21 - Bethesda and the Sanhedrin

Chapter 22 - Imprisonment and Death of John

Chapter 23 - The Kingdom of God Is at Hand

Chapter 24 - Is Not This the Carpenters Son

Chapter 25 - The Call by the Sea

Chapter 26 - At Capernaum

Chapter 27 - Thou Canst Make Me Clean

Chapter 28 - Levi-Matthew

Chapter 29 - The Sabbath

Chapter 30 - He Ordained Twelve

Chapter 31 - The Sermon on the Mount

Chapter 32 - The Centurion

Chapter 33 - Who Are My Brethren

Chapter 34 - The Invitation

Chapter 35 - Peace Be Still

Chapter 36 - The Touch of Faith

Chapter 37 - The First Evangelists

Chapter 38 - Come Rest Awhile

Chapter 39 - Give Ye Them to Eat

Chapter 40 - A Night on the Lake

Chapter 41 - The Crisis in Galilee

Chapter 42 - Tradition

Chapter 43 - Barriers Broken Down

Chapter 44 - The True Sign

Chapter 45 - The Foreshadowing of the Cross

Chapter 46 - He Was Transfigured

Chapter 47 - Ministry

Chapter 48 - Who Is the Greatest

Chapter 49 - At the Feast of Tabernacles

Chapter 50 - Among Snares

Chapter 51 - The Light of Life

Chapter 52 - The Divine Shepherd

Chapter 53 - The Last Journey From Galilee

Chapter 54 - The Good Samaritan

Chapter 55 - Not With Outward Show

Chapter 56 - Blessing the Children

Chapter 57 - One Thing Thou Lackest

Chapter 58 - Lazarus Come Forth

Chapter 59 - Priestly Plottings

Chapter 60 - The Law of the New Kingdom

Chapter 61 - Zacchaeus

Chapter 62 - The Feast at Simons House

Chapter 63 - Thy King Cometh

Chapter 64 - A Doomed People

Chapter 65 - The Temple Cleansed Again

Chapter 66 - Controversy

Chapter 67 - Woes on the Pharisees

Chapter 68 - In the Outer Court

Chapter 69 - On the Mount of Olives

Chapter 70 - The Least of These My Brethren

Chapter 71 - A Servant of Servants