Matthew 14:13-21

See, we all look to the prayer, breaking of the bread and then the miracle but there is another huge ingredient - the management of the miracle.

He told the people to sit down!

As church leaders, praying, breaking the bread and then expecting the miracle is not the 'Jesus way' of doing things. The miracle has to be managed. Jesus told the people to sit down.

What exactly did He do?

First of all, He took control of the situation, of the crowd. Anything could have been happening but in telling them to sit down He took control and established authority. Many a leader when wanting a miracle doesn't take control of the situation.

Secondly, when the crowd sat down it then gave Him a different vantage point. He could see the situation for what it really was and not for what he thought it was. He would have still been standing and so, as the crowd were sitting His vantage point was greater. Many a leader when failing to establish a greater vantage point also fails to see things for what they really are and prays blindly or from a place of panic.

Thirdly, when the crowd sat down, they saw Jesus from a different perspective! This is huge! When a leader doesn't recognise the importance of managing the miracle they fail to position the people so that they can have a greater perspective on the Lordship of Christ.

Praying, breaking bread and expecting the miracle, according to the Jesus' model, are always the pre-requisites for managing the miracle.

I know we need the supernatural intervention of God to feed the thousands of people in our communities and cities. The reality is that God will never do what he has asked us to do...to "go, make disciples," to 'be salt and light' and 'a city on a hill'.

Yes the miraculous happens and prayer works, but Jesus first got things ready; positioned the people and managed the miracle.