Empowered Through Surrender: Trusting God to Work Through You

¹⁵ When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matt 14:15-16, NKJV)

Jesus feeding the 5,000 is a well-known miracle that I’m sure you are familiar with. Using only five loaves of bread and two fish, he fed more than 5,000 men, women and children and there were still baskets of food left over. This event is described in all four Gospels and took place near the Sea of Galilee when a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus teach. Imagine being a witness to this miracle! It’s not possible in the natural that so little food be stretched to feed that many and yet still have an abundance left. (I have 3 sons, and this would scarcely feed them!) The miracle itself is not the only significant part of this story. What should stir believers today is what happens just before the miracle takes place. 

When the disciples asked Christ to send the crowd away so that they could go find food, his command to them conveys that the disciples themselves had the capability to do something…something miraculous. This command is rooted in truth for them AND for us today. He said, “You give them something to eat”(Matt 14:16, emphasis mine). He wanted them to believe in and exercise the power of God. But they made an assessment based on what they could see with their eyes—a hinderance to operating in faith. It seems as if they had forgotten what Christ had already entrusted to them.

Before sending them out to preach the Gospel, Christ had given them authority in his name to perform the supernatural for the glory of God. Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. (Matthew 10:1, AMP) The Good News of God’s Kingdom involves forgiveness of sins, eternal life, healing, provision, casting out demons, and so much more. We have been given this same authority and Christ wants us to operate this way in the earth as a witness to his Lordship to the glory of God the Father. 

Before Christ’s ascension, He commissioned his disciples, giving them instructions to go out and preach the Gospel to all. He explained that there would be an important identifier that would distinguish those who believe from those who do not:

¹⁷ These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. ¹⁸ …They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” (Mark 16:17-18, NLT) 

This is the promise of Christ that applies to those who believe—not just for the 12 disciples, or prophets, or pastors, or “special” Christians. But we must actively participate in this by spreading the Gospel and meeting the needs of those we encounter. 

The power of God is present and available to those who believe in the name of Jesus and choose to boldly walk in their authority. Walking out this truth is not about personal growth, but about Kingdom advancement. It’s not about how strong and powerful we are as individuals, but about the strength and power of the living God operating in and through us as yielded ordinary believers. Scripture is clear that signs and wonders are not meant to draw attention to the believer but serves to bear witness to the name of Jesus. After Peter miraculously healed a man who had been lame since birth, the crowd of witnesses ran towards them in amazement. What followed was Peter’s powerful response explaining how the miracle happened.

¹² So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go…. ¹⁶ And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:12-13, 16, NKJV)

Peter’s words make it very clear: it is in the name of Jesus, through faith in his name, that miracles can occur. They don’t come about from our own power or deeds. Christ, who thousands of years ago said, “You give them something to eat,” now call us who believe to trust what he has already provided. When ordinary believers yield in obedience and exercise our faith, the Kingdom of God is advanced in mighty ways! 

🕊️ Pause & Yield: Self-Reflection

Before you move on, take a moment to search your heart and reflect. Let these questions guide you into surrender. Meet with God in a quiet place and bring these reflections to Him in prayer, asking for His forgiveness and help as needed.

1. Where in my life might Jesus be saying, “You give them something to eat,” and I’ve been tempted to send the need away instead of responding in faith? 
2. Have I limited what God can do in and through me by focusing on what I lack rather than on the authority Christ has already given? 
3. Where might fear, doubt, or distraction be keeping me from seeing the people around me as souls Christ desires to reach through me?