Tom Fisher - Layman Ignored by the LCMS

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

The polemic portions of this article is directed at persistent heretics not Christians. Christians do not need polemic persuasion. They are born again by the INCORRUPTIBLE Word of God in the King James Bible and are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and have the gift of the Holy Ghost to understand and believe God's Word. 

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.  1 Peter 1:23-25 King James Bible

God the Holy Ghost attached Himself to the INCORRUPTIBLE Word of God in the King James Bible for the reformation of the world and our present day reformation. True Christians believe God preserved the Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write in the TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's Bible, King James, Russian Synodal Bible, the Portuguese Almeida Recebida Bible, the Dutch Statenvertaling Bible, the Spanish Reina-Valera Bible, etc.

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6,7

I am compelled by the Word of God in Psalm 12 to believe with absolute CERTAINTY, that God preserved the exact Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write in the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Ben Chayyim Hebrew Masoretic Text, King James Bible, and Luther's German Bible, the Russian Synodal Bible, the Portuguese Almeida Recebida Bible, the Dutch Statenvertaling Bible, the Spanish Reina-Valera Bible, etc. These are the Bibles God chose and used for the reformation and these are the Bibles God has chosen for our current global reformation. 

I want to amplify the CERTAINTY Psalm 12 gives me in the perfectly preserved TEXT of God's Word in the TEXTUS RECEPTUS and the King James Bible. There are NO footnotes referencing the fraudulent and corrupt Vaticanus in the TEXT of God's Word. God forever rejected the corrupt Vaticanus text and all the modern English Bibles (NIV, ESV, RSV, NKJV, NASB, Beck's, etc.) emanating from it:

Psalm 12 compels me to believe the King James Bible is the exact perfectly preserved Word of God. It has NO errors or omissions. It has NO alternative readings or doubt creating footnotes. It creates certainty in the text of God's Word. 

There are NO alternative readings for Christ's Words instituting His LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT for us sinners in Holy Communion:

19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:19,20

Many sophomoric school boy "Lutheran Pastors" do not believe these are the exact Words spoken by Christ. They don't like what Christ said, so they change and alter the text of God's Word to say "new covenant" instead of "new testament", and "poured out for you" instead of "shed for you". All of the modern Bibles (NIV, ESV, NKJV, NASB, RSV, Beck's, etc) corrupt the text of God's Word in this way. 

The phrase "poured out for you" can best be illustrated by my grandmother's milk pitcher. She would fill it with fresh milk from grandpa's milk cow 'Daisy'. I remember grandmother pouring the white milk into my cup at breakfast. So when you use the phrase "poured out for you" I picture white milk being poured out of grandmother's pitcher.

Can you imagine how absurd it would be to change Luther's catechism to say "poured out for you" instead of "shed for you".  Luther's catechism stresses the phrase "Given and shed for you":

"What is the benefit of such eating and drinking?

That is shown by these words, "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation are given to us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation."

Tell me. Can there be forgiveness of sin with the phrase "poured out for you"? I think not, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Christ died and shed His blood on the cross once for the remission of all our sins. So let us stick to the text of God's Word when instituting and distributing the Sacrament. It is especially needful to repeat the Words, "Given and shed for you" during the distribution of the Sacrament. To say otherwise is to wickedly teach against Christ's Last will and Testament for us sinners. I will not allow these 'Lutheran Pastors' to give me communion. 

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's 1941 Hymnal and the current Hymnal both adhere to the King James Bible text for Holy Communion. Pastor's in LCMS must adhere to the King James Bible text found in the 1941 Hymnal and current Hymnal. It is our duty to insist and DEMAND that they adhere to the Word's of Christ in the King James Bible as found especially in the 1941 Hymnal. If they refuse then write a letter to President Harrison requesting they be removed from office. I have done this many times. Explain that you are absolutely unable to allow such minions of Satan to give you communion, for your conscience is bound to the Word's of Christ in the King James Bible. Explain that you will not allow any Lutheran Pastor to change Holy Communion into a Calvinistic covenant that gives nothing. Assert that Holy Communion is Christ's last Will and Testament, bequeathing to you forgiveness of all sin and eternal life. 

Luther's catechism magnifies the phrase, "Given and Shed for you".

"How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does them, but the Words here written, 'Given and shed for you for the remission of sins'; which Words, beside the bodily eating and drinking, are the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he that believes these Words, has what they say and express, namely, the forgiveness of sins."

Luther's catechism shows who is worthy to receive the Sacrament with the phrase, "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins":

Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily?

Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these Words, "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins". But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared; for the Words, "For you", require all hearts to believe.

Luther said, "that little word 'testament' is a short summary of all God's wonder and grace fulfilled in Christ." (Martin Luther, CPH, LW, vol.35, pg. 84) Luther went on to say:

"So in this matter, you must  above all else take heed to your heart, that you believe the words of Christ, and admit their truth, when he says to you and to all, 'This is my blood, a new testament, by which I bequeath to you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life. (Martin Luther, CPH, LW, Vol. 35, pg. 88)

Martin Chemnitz, the second Luther, has an ominous warning for evil Lutheran Pastors who change Christ's Testament into a Calvinistic covenant:

"For since Christ instituted His supper in the form of a testament, it is also not allowed at another time to distort even a man's covenant, if it is confirmed, by adding or subtracting. How much greater sin it is therefore, to change or mutilate the testament of the Son of God." (Martin Chemnitz, CPH, Ministry Word and Sacrament)

Satan's ultimate lie is that the pure text of God's Words is lost forever with the original autographs. Satan and his minions have created doubt and uncertainty in all texts of God's Word with this lie. This lie is taught as truth to the point that both Pastor and laymen believe it. Everyone seems to believe the King James Bible contains at least some errors and omissions. It seems no one is certain that God preserved the exact Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write in the King James Bible. "God only inspired the Words in the original autographs" is a common belief. They insist that since the original autographs are lost that it therefore follows that all texts of God's Word contain errors and omissions. 

The King James Bible is the main Bible God used for the reformation of the world. Yet I constantly hear Lutheran Pastors and laymen insist it contains at least a few errors and omissions. Only an UNCLEAN spirit would attach himself to a Bible corrupted with errors. Yes, that is how most Pastors and laymen blaspheme God the Holy Ghost: (I constantly hear them say, "God only inspired the Words in the original autographs. The autographs are gone, therefore all texts of God's Word contain errors and omissions." Their blasphemy against God the Holy Ghost is relentless as they say, 'The King James Bible, and Luther's 1545 Bible definitely contain some errors and omissions, therefore God the Holy Ghost used Bibles that were corrupted with errors and omissions during the reformation'.). Yes, they are blaspheming God the Holy Ghost as being an UNCLEAN spirit that attaches himself to Bibles corrupted with unclean errors and omissions. They refuse to tremble and submit themselves to God's Word in Psalm 12. They PERSIST in their lies and blasphemy against God the Holy Ghost 

1. How can God the Holy Ghost be the Spirit of truth if all texts of God's Words contain at least some errors and omissions? It's impossible, therefore it is pure blasphemy against God the Holy Ghost to insist all texts (especially the TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Ben Chayyim, Luther's 1545 Bible, and King James Bible) of God's Words contain some errors and omissions.

2. How can God the Holy Ghost guide us into truth if all texts of God's Words contain at least some errors and omissions? It's impossible, therefore it is pure blasphemy against God the Holy Ghost to insist that all texts of God's Words, especially the King James Bible, contain at least some errors and omissions.

3. How can God the Holy Ghost be attached to the pure Words of God if God did not preserve the Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write in the TEXTUS RECEPTUS Greek, Ben Chayyim Hebrew, Luther's 1545 Bible, and the King James Bible? 

The whole world was plunged into sin when Satan added the word 'not' to the pure text of God's Word in Genesis 3:4.  Notice how Satan creates the possibility that Eve might not die if she eats the fruit God forbid her to eat. 

"And the serpent said unto the woman, 'Ye shall not surely die.' Genesis 3:4

That little word 'not' changed God's Word into a lie. There is no uncertainty in the pure text of God's Word:

" And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

Satan and his minions removed the Word 'God' and added the word 'he' in 1 Timothy 3:16. This lie creates the possibility of Jesus being just a man by replacing the Word 'God' with 'he'. The NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Beck's all corrupt 1 Timothy 3:16 in this way. This is why God the Holy Ghost attached Himself to the King James Bible. The King James Bible is the exact Words God preserved and kept for us from the original autographs He inspired the prophets and apostles to write as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

The corruption of 1 Timothy 3:16 can be traced back to the Nestle-Aland Greek Text and United Bible Society Greek Text (commonly referred to as NU-Text in footnotes). The corrupt Nestle-Aland Greek traces it's roots back to the ultra corrupt Westcott-Hort Greek Text. The Westcott-Hort Greek Text is based on the fraudulent and ultra corrupt Vaticanus Greek Text. God rejected the corrupt Vaticanus Greek in favor of the perfectly pure TEXTUS RECEPTUS Greek Text at the beginning of the reformation.(To learn more see page 170 of Pastor Jackson's book; The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation versus Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations). God the Holy Ghost attached Himself to the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545 Bible, and the King James Bible, Russian Synodal Bible,  the Portuguese Almeida Recebida Bible, the Dutch Statenvertaling Bible, the Spanish Reina-Valera Bible, etc at the beginning of the reformation to our present reformation of the world. This is why there absolutely cannot be any errors or omissions in these Bibles, unless you want to persist in blasphemy against God the Holy Ghost until forgiveness of sin and eternal life slip away from you forever. Put your hand to your mouth. Turn away from your vile blasphemous reasoning. Tremble and submit to the Word of God in Psalm 12.

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6,7

Creating the possibility that Jesus might be just a man persists throughout the corrupt Nestle-Aland Greek and  the corrupt Bibles (NIV, ESV, NASB, RSV, NKJV, Beck's, etc.) emanating from it. The NIV removes the Word 'Godhead' from Colossians 2:9 and replaces it with the phrase 'Deity lives in bodily form'. Many false gods are believed to be 'Deities that live in bodily form'. God's pure Word banishes this lie:

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Colossians 2:8,9 KJV (Note the Word 'Godhead' immediately brings the Holy Trinity to mind: God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.)

The corrupt ESV completely denies Jesus is God. It removes 'Godhead' and replaces it with 'deity'. The word 'deity' is NOT capitalized to assert Jesus is just a man. This is vile heresy. It denies Jesus is God.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. (Colossians 2:8,9 from corrupted ESV)

The corrupt RSV also asserts Jesus is not God in Colossians 2:8,9.

 See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, (Colossians 2:8,9 from corrupt RSV) Note the RSV does not capitalize 'deity'. 

Any Lutheran Pastor or laymen who persists in preaching, teaching and reading Colossians 2:8,9 from the corrupt and heretical ESV, RSV, or NIV is a heretic. Repent! Tremble and submit to the pure Word of God in the King James Bible:

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Colossians 2:8,9 KJV

Corrupt footnotes promoting errors and omissions throughout the fraudulent Bibles are the heretics friend. They are an excellent way to assert that the devil's lie is actually true. Notice how the Mark 16:9-20 footnote in the corrupt NIV asserts that verses 9-20 actually never existed because the oldest manuscripts omit them. This lie has been taught as absolute truth to the point that all you hear is: 'older manuscripts are more accurate and reliable'.  How can a manuscript be 'more accurate' without being completely inaccurate and fraudulent in the first place? There are no such footnotes found in the King James Bible because it is the pure Word of God. 

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

(Mark 16:9-20 is bracketed and maligned as being untrustworthy in the fraudulent and corrupt NIV.)

The fraudulent and corrupt ESV also casts strong doubt on Mark 16:9-20 by double bracketing and deceitful footnotes. This casts strong doubt on the resurrection of Christ.

[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.][a]

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples

12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

The Great Commission

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]

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Footnotes

1. Mark 16:9 Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9–20 immediately after verse 8. At least one manuscript inserts additional material after verse 14; some manuscripts include after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. These manuscripts then continue with verses 9–20 

(Mark 16:9-20 from the fraudulent and corrupt ESV. Note how the footnotes and double bracketing strongly convince you that Mark 16:9-20 may not even exist.)

Satan and his snarky minions don't like the word 'begotten' in the pure Word of God so they REMOVE it and replace it with 'one and only'. They hate the word 'begotten'! Why? They deny Jesus is God, one with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost from eternity. 

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV

All of the corrupt Bibles (NIV, ESV, RSV, NASB, etc ) remove the Word ' begotten' from John 3:16. Why is this so tragic and upsetting for me and my faith in Christ? Why is that little Word 'begotten' so necessary for my faith in Christ? 

Luther has always been my faithful and trustworthy pastor and teacher. Luther asserts that the meaning of the Word 'begotten' is described for us in John 1:1 to John 1:18 (See LW, CPH, vol. 22, pg. 114)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:1-18 KJV 

So 'begotten' asserts Jesus is God from all eternity, one with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost, Creator of heaven and earth, the Light of the world. Jesus is begotten of God the Father from all eternity. Jesus always does His Father's will to save us from our sins.

Psalm 2:7 asserts that Christ is begotten of God the Father from all eternity, but the corrupt Bibles (NIV, RSV, ESV, NASB, etc.) deny this by teaching that Christ is begotten of God the Father when He was born of the virgin Mary. They all assert that Christ is just a man.

The corrupt NIV and corrupt RSV do not capitalize the Word 'Son'  in Psalm 2:6-7, asserting Christ is just a man.

6 “I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father. (Psalm 2:6-7 from the corrupt NIV. Please notice the Words 'son' and 'father are NOT CAPITALIZED, asserting Christ is just a man and God the Father is really not God either.)

The corrupt RSV also teaches Christ is just a man in Psalm 2:6-7

“I have set my king
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son,
    today I have begotten you. (Psalm 2:6-7 from corrupt RSV. Please notice the Word 'son' is NOT CAPITALIZED, asserting Christ is just a man.

God's pure Word in Psalm 2:6-7 teaches Christ is God begotten of God the Father from all eternity.

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Psalm 2:6-7 KJV

The NIV and RSV deny Christ is God in Psalm 110:1 by not capitalizing the Word 'lord'.

1 The Lord says to my lord:[a]

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”

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Footnotes

1. Psalm 110:1 Or Lord. (Psalm 110:1 from the corrupt NIV. Notice 'lord' is NOT CAPITALIZED.

The corrupt RSV also fails to capitalize 'lord' in Psalm 110:1

The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
till I make your enemies your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1 from the corrupt RSV. Notice 'lord' is NOT CAPITALIZED.)

God's pure Word in the King James Bible asserts Christ is God in Psalm 110:1

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Psalm 110:1 KJV

Satan and his snarky minions tirelessly create doubt in the text of the Word of God, especially passages that assert the Holy Trinity, the virgin birth of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and the indisputable truth that Jesus is both God and man in one person. 

Satan and his snarky minions relentlessly insist that the pure text of 1 John 5:7-8 was added to the TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545 Bible, and the King James Bible. Lutheran Pastors and laymen fearlessly blaspheme God the Holy Ghost by accusing Him of attaching Himself to unclean errors and additions in 1 John 5:7-8. Yes, they fearlessly blaspheme God the Holy Ghost as being an unclean spirit that attached Himself to unclean errors and additions in 1 John 5:7-8 for the reformation of the world. 

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 1 John 5:7-8 KJV (Notice the corrupt Nestle-Aland Greek and the corrupt Bibles (NIV, ESV, RSV, NASB, etc.) emanating from it omit 1 John 5:7-8.

I still hear Lutheran Pastors continue to lie and deceive by saying, 'The original autographs are gone, therefore all Bibles contain some unclean errors and omissions'. This lie leads to total corruption and uncertainty in all Bibles and all true doctrines taught in the pure Word of God. 

The corrupt RSV denies the virgin birth of Christ by deleting the Word 'virgin' in Isaiah 7:14 to also create doubt in the accuracy of Matthew 1:23; and Luke 1:27.

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman[a] shall conceive and bear[b] a son, and shall call his name Imman′u-el.[c]

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Footnotes

1. Isaiah 7:14 Or virgin
2. Isaiah 7:14 Or is with child and shall bear
3. Isaiah 7:14 That is God is with us (Note the corrupt RSV creates strong doubt and uncertainty in the virgin birth of Christ.

The corrupt NIV also denies the virgin birth by using a footnote to create strong doubt in God's Word.

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel.[d] 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,

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Footnotes

1. Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
2. Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
3. Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they
4. Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us..

There are many miracles in God's creation we will never be able to understand. I am filled with wonder as I watch my ewe gently nudge her lamb to its wobbly legs to drink her life saving milk. So also God gives us the milk of His life giving INCORRUPTIBLE Word in the King James Bible. His Words are efficacious. They give us faith. They give us an understanding to believe His Word. So as Christians we believe His Word when it teaches us to believe the virgin birth of Christ, the humanity and the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Christ in one person, the Holy Trinity, the creation of the heavens and the earth by the Word of God, The preservation of the Words God inspired the prophets and apostles in the King James Bible. We need no persuasion outside of His INCORRUPTIBLE Word.

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.    Psalm 33:6 KJV (Evolution is a lie)

Isaiah 40:6-8 compels us to believe God has perfectly preserved His Inspired Word in the Bibles He used during the reformation: the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Ben Chayyim Hebrew, Luther's Bible, 

Russian Synodal Bible, the Portuguese Almeida Recebida Bible, the Dutch Statenvertaling Bible, the Spanish Reina-Valera Bible, etc.

6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:6-8

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

They Have They Devoured Themselves So Many Ways!

 

The mainlines, cults, and sects should examine their efforts to devour themselves and howl for even more stuff. For example, the WELS and ELS sects have built new museums - I mean gyms - a few miles from each other, for the cost of $15 million or so. But of course, one should always build new buildings for a shrinking population. Gyms are far more crucial to education than academic topics and digital books. I doubt whether books with real covers and binding are opened very often.

If the rich adulterer paid for the shiny new buildings - no problem - free! The only problem is the inevitable breakdown of equipment and the changing needs of the users.

Best of all, the Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - have built a 10 lane super highway to destruction. Originally, the Christian Faith spread rapidly from the start, because they relied on the Word of God, not the desert guy's trophies (carved in his name).

Here is a little quiz, actually a gigantic puzzle solved in a few words. This puzzle is so obvious that hardly anyone in the Big Five can explain it. I am willing to share it at no cost whatsoever, though the winners will be shunned, abused, stink-eyed, and deprived of everything.

OK. Wait for it.

KJV John 16, Jesus speaking...

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.

8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me;

Thus the only task of the Church is to teach the sin of not believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, teaching the Faith, healing the sick, offering miracles, suffering death on the cross, rising from the grave, ascending into Heaven.

Irrevocable capture of estates - annuities given away with only a signature -
fake gold, Jah?

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Lent 5 Judica - "Here we must give attention to the words of Christ, who makes the distinction that death is a different thing than to see or taste death. We all must face death and die; but a Christian neither tastes nor sees it, that is, he does not feel it, he is not terrified before it, and he enters death calmly and quietly, as though falling asleep, and yet he does not die. But a godless person feels and experiences death, and is terrified before it forever."

 

Luther's Sermons - John 8:46-59.
Judica. Fifth Sunday in Lent

8. By these words he spoils it entirely, in that he does not only defend his doctrine as right and good, which they attribute to the devil; but also ascribes such virtue to his teaching that it becomes a powerful emperor over Satan, death and sin, to give and sustain eternal life. Behold here, how divine wisdom and human reason conflict with one another. How can a human being grasp the thought, that a corporeal, an oral word should redeem forever from death? But let blindness run its course; we shall consider this beautiful saying. Christ is speaking here not of the word of the law, but of the Gospel, which is a discourse about Christ, who died for our sins etc. For God did not wish to impart Christ to the world in any other way; he had to embody him in the Word and thus distribute him, and present him to everybody; otherwise Christ would have existed for himself alone and remained unknown to us; he would have thus died for himself.

But since the Word places before us Christ, it thus places us before him who has triumphed over death, sin and Satan. Therefore he who grasps and retains Christ, has thus also eternal deliverance from death. Consequently it is a Word of life, and it is true, that whoever keeps the Word shall never see death.

9. And from this we may well understand what Christ meant by the word “keep;” it does not refer to such keeping as one keeps the law by good works; for this word of Christ must be kept in the heart by faith and not with the fist or by good works, as the Jews in this case understand it; they fearfully rage against Christ, that Abraham and the prophets are dead; they know nothing of what it is “to keep,” “to die” or “to live.” And it is not called “to keep” in vain; for there is a conflict and battle when sin bites, death presses and hell faces us; then we are to be in earnest in holding firmly to the Word and let nothing separate us from it. Thus see now how Christ answers the Jews and praises his own teachings. You say, my Word is of the devil and wish to sink it to the bottom of perdition; on the contrary I say to you that it has divine power in it, and I exalt it higher than the heaven of heavens, and above all creatures.

10. How does it then come to pass that man does not see nor taste death, and yet Abraham and all the prophets are dead, who notwithstanding had the Word of God as the Jews say? Here we must give attention to the words of Christ, who makes the distinction that death is a different thing than to see or taste death. We all must face death and die; but a Christian neither tastes nor sees it, that is, he does not feel it, he is not terrified before it, and he enters death calmly and quietly, as though falling asleep, and yet he does not die. But a godless person feels and experiences death, and is terrified before it forever. Thus to taste death may well be called the power and reign or the bitterness of death, yea, it is the eternal death and hell. The Word of God makes this difference. A Christian has that Word and clings firmly to it in death; therefore he does not see death, but his eyes are filled with the life and the Christ in that Word; therefore he never feels death. But the godless possess not that Word, therefore they see no life, but only death; and they must also feel death; that is then the bitter and eternal death.

Has Anyone Else Guessed - the Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Are Clones of America's Business Failures?

 

The Lutheran Church in America modeled its organization after General Motors. Nobody was ashamed - they were proud of copying Management by Objective. I heard Peter Drucker's MBO in the LCA and - surprise! - WELS. Drucker enchanted denominations by promoting the clownish pratfalls of Fuller, Willow Creek, the Hour of Power, etc.

Just as business devoured itself with MBO, so the synods spat on the Means of Grass and the KJV - to make themselves cool (!?) and waste everyone's money but not theirs. Oh no.

The Waltherian Four - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC - wanted to preen their feathers and strut around showing off their superiority. Given their unified (Fuller etc) stupidity, they have nowhere to hide their colossal failures, clergy arrests, and bankruptcies.

Tis funny - Thrivent gives a lot of money to the Luther-dumbs by waving their irrevocable charitable trust annuities [beware this investment vehicle] to the grandparents, rewarding the clergy for selling something they don't understand, and giving some loot to the synods.

Reformation Seminary Lecture - KJV Acts 2

KJV Acts 2

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [ The 50th day, Jewish Pentecost]

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [Already taught faith through Jesus]

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. [Foreign language - "dialectos", not the same as ecstatic speech in 1 Corinthians]

εαν ταις γλωσσαις των ανθρωπων λαλω - glossais

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Peter Addressing the Crowd

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Great Depression Changed Congregations

 

Denominations are now quite certain they are best in managing their menageries. Before the Great Depression, mother churches tended to establish their own sister churches, where the land and buildings were funded built up by people from the original parish. Later, the headquarters argued that they could handle the costs of similar projects and take on the burden of those wanting to expand.

The Michigan District President, LCMS, said they had more money in their expansion fund than the entire Lutheran Church in America had - $40 million at the time. One Michigan LCA district had a mission supervisor so drunk he could not hold onto the desk phone when someone phoned. Lunch with him was not much better.

This went on everywhere, not just among the Lutherans. Those who objected to Holy Mother Church were punished by exile from the choice congregations while the apostate or cool guys, a tight-knit group in many cases, got the best deal. 

The know-it-all executives mess things up and blame everyone else. They follow the trends. The future executive pooh-bahs flew to Fuller Seminary or drove to Willow Creek, checking out how the Hour of Power became Purpose Driven. One hilarious brainstorm had LCA-ALC-LCMS-WELS gathering together for a great, holy, getting along great pratfall, financed by LB-AAL->Thrivent.

1. The parish pastors did not stand up for anything.
2. The college and seminary professors idolized the ELCA stars.
3. The laity whimpered and became even more passive.
4. The Means of Grace vanished in the face of the Next Big Thing.
5. The worst Bibles made the most money so they were OK!
6. Worship and the liturgy evaporated slowly.
7. They all leaned to fads instead of dwelling on the Word.
8. Faith in Jesus Christ made people uncomfortable.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Lent 5 Judica - "What does Christ do here? His life he abandons to shame and dishonor, is silent and suffers them to call him a Samaritan; while he takes pains to defend his doctrine. For the doctrine is not ours, but God’s, and God dare not suffer in the least, here patience is at an end; but I should stake all that I have and suffer, all that they do, in order that the honor of God and of his Word may not be injured. For if I perish, no great harm is done; but if I let God’s Word perish, and I remain silent, then I do harm to God and to the whole world."

 

"For if I perish, no great harm is done; but if I let God’s Word perish, and I remain silent, then I do harm to God and to the whole world." Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe.

Luther's Sermons - John 8:46-59.
Judica. Fifth Sunday in Lent

6. What does Christ do here? His life he abandons to shame and dishonor, is silent and suffers them to call him a Samaritan; while he takes pains to defend his doctrine. For the doctrine is not ours, but God’s, and God dare not suffer in the least, here patience is at an end; but I should stake all that I have and suffer, all that they do, in order that the honor of God and of his Word may not be injured. For if I perish, no great harm is done; but if I let God’s Word perish, and I remain silent, then I do harm to God and to the whole world. Although I can not now close their mouth nor prevent their wickedness, I shall nevertheless not keep silent, nor act as if they are right, as I do about my good life, so that they retain their right. Although they do me injustice at the time, yet it remains right before God. Further, Christ excuses himself, and says: “I have not a demon,” that is, my doctrine is not of the devil’s lies; “but I honor my father,” that is, I preach in my doctrine the grace of God, through which he is to be praised, loved and honored by believers. For the evangelical office of the ministry is nothing but glorifying God, Psalm 19:2: “The heavens declare the glory of God” etc. “But you dishonor me,” that is, you call me the devil’s liar, who reviles and dishonors God.

7. Why does he not say: I honor my father, and ye dishonor him; but says: “Ye dishonor me?” Impliedly he proves by this, that the father’s and his honor are alike and the same, as he and the Father are one God; yet along with this he also wishes to teach that if the office of the ministry, which God honors, is to be duly praised, then it must suffer disgrace. In like manner we will also do to our princes and priests; when they attack our manner of life, we should suffer it and show love for hatred, good for evil; but when they attack our doctrine, God’s honor is attacked, then love and patience should cease and we should not keep silent, but also say: I honor my Father, and you dishonor me; yet I do not inquire whether you dishonor me, for I do not seek my own honor. But nevertheless be on your guard, there is one who seeks it and judges, that is, the Father will require it of you, and judge you and never let you go unpunished. He seeks not only his honor, but also mine, because I seek his honor, as he says in 1 Samuel 2:30: “Them that honor me I will honor.” And it is our consolation that we are happy; although the whole world reviles and dishonors us, we are assured that God will advance our honor, and therefore will punish, judge and revenge. If one could only believe it and persevere, he will surely come. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my word, he shall never see death.”

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Judica - The Fifth Sunday in Lent - "This Gospel teaches how hardened persons become the more furious, the more one teaches them and lovingly stirs them to do their duty. For Christ asks them here in a very loving way for a reason why they still disbelieve, since they can find fault neither with his life nor with his teaching."

 

Luther's Sermons - John 8:46-59.
Judica. Fifth Sunday in Lent

JUDICA. FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT


TEXT: John 8:46-59. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

1. This Gospel teaches how hardened persons become the more furious, the more one teaches them and lovingly stirs them to do their duty. For Christ asks them here in a very loving way for a reason why they still disbelieve, since they can find fault neither with his life nor with his teaching. His life is blameless; for he defies them and says: “Which of you convicteth me of sin?” His teaching also is blameless; for he adds: “If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?” Thus Christ lives, as he teaches.

2. And every preacher should prove that he possesses both: first a blameless life, by which he can defy his enemies and no one may have occasion to slander his teachings; secondly, that he possesses the pure doctrine, so that he may not mislead those who follow him. And thus he will be right and firm on both sides: with his good life against his enemies, who look much more at life than at his doctrine, and despise the doctrine for the sake of the life; with his doctrine then for the kind of life he leads and will bear with his life for the sake of his teaching.

3. For it is indeed true that no one lives so perfect a life as to be without sin before God. Therefore it is sufficient that he be blameless in the eyes of the people. But his doctrine must be so good and pure as to stand not only before man but also before God. Therefore every pious pastor may well ask: Who among you can find fault with my life? Among you, I say who are man; but before God I am a sinner. This Moses also boast in Numbers 16:15 that he took nothing from the people and he did them no injustice. Samuel did likewise in 1 Samuel 12:3 also Jeremiah and Hezekiah, who rightly boasted of their blameless life before the people, in order to stop the mouths of blasphemers. But Christ does not speak thus of his doctrine, he says not: “Who among you can find fault with my doctrine”; but “If I tell you the truth.” For one must be assured that his doctrine is right before God and that it is the truth, and accordingly care not how it is judged by the people.

Squirming Away from Dependence on Thrivent, US.AID, Lawsuits, the Usual Rascals

 

Perfect for Luther-dumbs

All Time Ichabod views11,911,111

Archbishop Eaton and Bishop Harrison roared about their need for legal action to keep US.AID funds rolling along. How wounded the sects must be when their favorite side bets have nothing to do with the Means of Grace!

Suffragen Bishop Schroeder created a smoke cloud surrounding their in-house (but independent) counseling service, so handy for criminal arrests. 

1. "He no longer works for those schools."
2. "He is getting counseling from our independent WELS service, but it is confidential."
3. "We turn off the news as soon as we see people affiliated who are no longer with our sect."

The Wisconsin sect boasts that their "grapevine" can manufacture any claim they want, because that keeps the public from the sordid truth. 

"We enjoy abusing younger students because that's the way we are.
The school officials have no problems with initiation."

Laetare - The Fourth Sunday in Lent - 2025. The Miraculous Feeding, Bread from Heaven.

 

The Hymn #132              O God of God

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 
The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #316    O Living Bread from Heaven 

Bread from Heaven

The Communion Hymn #508    Thou Whose Almighty Word
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 657           Beautiful Savior

Prayers and Announcements

• Sarah Buck, Pastor and Mrs. Shrader; we pray for many others.
• Zoom was working well, one year ago, going from UStream to Vimeo to Zoom.
• Enzo Meyer is graduating from Grand Canyon University, our second alumnus!
• Psalms will be the post-service readings (1-150).
• Acts of the Apostles - Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM Central. Zoom-YouTube.
• Midweek Lenten services - Wednesday at 7 PM. Zoom-YouTube.
• Easter is April 20, preceded by Holy Week.

KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Fourth Sunday In Lent
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son didst feed five thousand men in the desert with five loaves and two fishes: We beseech Thee to abide graciously also with us in the fullness of Thy blessing. Preserve us from avarice and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things perceive Thy fatherly goodness, through Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God world without end. Amen.

Bread from Heaven

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

The Fourth Gospel is especially generous in teaching the miracles, which are the connection between faith in Him and the needs of the followers. Lenski wrote "signs" while the KJV says "miracles." In this age of rationalism, many people use "signs" without much thought, as minor as seeing something special and talking about it. The word "signs" sounds rather tepid. The miracles were life-changing and used to connect the Son of God with forgiveness.

The great multitude is encouraging and also discouraging. They will fall away when the miraculous event is finish and criticize Jesus for what He is teaching. However, that still gives them hope and evidence of the Messiah. The diseased being healed was a great motivation to hear and to see the divine.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 

John's Gospel gives us the three year ministry, which is designated by the Passovers, and a reminder of Moses' people in the desert and their lack of food. Exodus is the bedrock and John 6 is the sermon about Exodus miracles, which begin with the Burning Bush, Exodus 3, the Two Natures of God, and God's Name - I AM. 

That is how we should consider the New Testament miracles - sermons about the Old Testament, which was for them - the only Testament. The wiseguys like to mock the miracles of the Old Testament, including the Six Day Creation. Once they take away the foundation - the beginning - everything else falls down upon in their darkened memories.

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove [test] him: for he himself knew what he would do.

This place in the Bible should be memorized by everyone (Doubting Castle ruled by Giant Despair - Pilgrim's Progress.) The stories of Bunyan, locked in prison, is a perfect parallel. Jesus offered the question to His disciples, knowing in advance that He could do all things even when nothing was even adequate.

There is a bit of humor in the question about buying bread in the desert, knowing what He could do. That is where we often are - as believing in Christ - wondering how something can be fixed, even though that is definitely impossible for us, but easily accomplished by the Creator, by the Word.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

As Lenski suggested, anyone could have expressed a complete lack of faith about feeding thousands of people no matter how much or little they had. That is the job of the finance committee in every church, no matter the denomination. They relish the task of saying, "Impossible!" Even now the denominations - especially the Lutherans - are playing this role because they were bewitched with magical formulas instead of the effective Word - the Means of Grace - the Gospel. 

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 

That offer is so feeble that it is more of a mockery, at the very least, no better than making the problem worse. Andrew seconds the motion to give up. This is a long-lasting response, which we still experience today and often fall on the side of these two disciples. Jesus did not mock or scold them - only wishing to help them solve the problem, gigantic for any reasonable person.

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

The details are very important. Plenty of grass means that water is abundant. Desert people know about "tanks" which store water and attract animals and humans. 5,000 men sat down, making the miracle very large. This is a monumental event but described with simplicity, very much like our daily lives, with a number of simple acts having enormous consequences in the future. 

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

So many miracles were before them, but even then they could not consume all of it. They were all stunned and had to say - "This is the promised Prophet!" And yet, many of them soon rebelled against the Word - "This is a hard saying!" - and went away. Not long ago many soft-headed people claimed that everything would grow with "disciples," so they had to "make disciples," which sounded like "making cookies." Instead of dwelling on the Gospel Word, they leaned on "disciples that make disciples that make disciples."