LETTING GOD WORK THROUGH YOU
The feeding of the 5,000
From the four gospels
That evening the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this deserted place. But Jesus replied, "That isn’t necessary, "You feed them. “Impossible!" they protested. “With what?" they asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for this entire crowd!" For there were about five thousand men therein the crowd. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune to feed them! "How much food do you have?" he asked. "Go and find out." Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. "There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd? "Just tell them to sit down on the ground in groups of about fifty each," Jesus replied. So the people all sat down. Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred. They sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. They all ate until they were full; now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted." There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat! And they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. About five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!
Let us see what is going on here. Jesus had heard about his cousin, John the Baptist, being killed. He has gone off to be by himself with his followers but the crowd came to where he was so instead of taking a rest to grieve He spent the day teaching a large crowd. It came
time to eat. Man’s solution was to send them away so they could find something to eat. Jesus looked at His 12 followers and said no let us feed them. It is amazing to me that no one had brought their lunch but a small boy. What was that boy’s mother thinking when she sent him out there? What were all the others thinking that they did not bring something to eat? Let us take a long sentence here to bring meaning to what the lesson is that we need to learn.
“WHEN THERE IS A NEED SENSED BY A FEW AND EACH INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDS HIS RESPONSIBILITY AND GIVES HIS ALL REGARDLESS OF THE ODDS, THEN JESUS WORKS A MIRACLE.” Written by John Maxwell
1. WHEN THERE IS A NEED. We see here many people who have a hunger need. Not only were they hungry physically but also spiritually. Why else would they travel a far distance to listen to Jesus speak and for such a long time? I received a message that the average message of preachers today is 31 minutes. Now if you are charismatic the message is 40 minutes and Methodists is only 20 minutes. Is an average of 31 minutes of hearing God’s Word preached enough to last for a week? Many sit for an hour or more in front of a TV or a movie or a baseball game more than once a week and fill their minds with those things and can they still be satisfied with only ½ hour of God’s word on Sunday. I know that there are ones who miss coming every Sunday.
WHY DO I NEED CHURCH Author Unknown
Why can’t I worship God in the comfort of my home, enjoying the best preaching and music TV has to offer? Why can’t I just enjoy being alone out in the woods just God and I and the pine trees? Why can’t I meet God at the water’s edge, wiggling my toes in the warm sand? Why do I really need church? I need church because it’s a family reunion. Jesus said, "Who is My family, those who do My will" MK 3:33, 35. We are a family rejoicing with one another, crying with one another, helping each other. We need each other’s support. I need church because it’s a classroom. I’m preparing for a mission; I’m on an extended course of study. For the rest of my life I’m enrolled in a course of Christian discipleship. I need church because it’s a refuge. The sanctuary is a place to get away from the busyness of the world. It’s a mini-retreat. It’s a place to focus my thoughts on things above, to worship. I need church because it’s like a billboard. As my neighbors see me go down to that building on the corner week after week, they can tell what is important in my life. I need church because it’s a memorial service. Imagine that I had been in a war and one of my buddies threw himself on an enemy hand grenade to save me and it killed him. Suppose I learned there was to be a memorial service for him in my hometown. Would I be there? Of course! And since Jesus died for me, it’s to honor Him that I attend His memorial service. I need church because it’s a victory celebration. Jesus left an empty tomb. We can celebrate His resurrection together. At least one day a week should be set aside for remembering Jesus’ triumph over death and Satan. I need church because it’s a time to spend with my Father. I’m a child of God, he is my Father a remote dictator. He delights in spending time with me, and I want to be with Him. God wants to reveal His plans to me. I want to get in on the details, to cooperate with Him. Jesus said that when two or three are gathered together in His name, He is there. God has warned to not to forsake gathering with other believers. I need church because I’m a part of a family, I have lots to learn. I know what my priorities are. I esteem Christ’s death and am overjoyed by His resurrection. I want to spend time with my Father and other believers. That is why I need church.
Can you hear him say “When there is a need? I know of a preacher who preached through all the miracles of the Bible in 14 months. He said the one thing that they all have in common is where there was a need it was then a miracle would happen. Do you have problem? You are a candidate for a miracle. Could I say if you don’t have a problem you don’t need a miracle.
2. SENSED BY A FEW. We do not all have to sense the need. It takes just a few. Are you one of the few? Are you listening? God was there long before we knew there is a problem.
A PRAYER FOR THE OVERWORKED by Gary Matlack
Lord, how did I get so busy? I’m blazing through life at light speed. Away from you I’ve become too occupied, it seems, to begin each day rejoicing in your presence. To put on the brakes long enough to share your love with a co-worker. To seek a quiet midday retreat to tell you how much I love you. To take personal interests in helping a brother or sister grow in Christ. Has the activity of the Christian life overshadowed the serenity of Christ Himself? Has pressure replaced prayer, instead of prompting it? Have I substituted workload for wisdom? Could it be that I’m too busy teaching to learn? Passing others by too quickly to take their extended hand? Instead of mounting up with wings like an eagle, am I content to be a squawking chicken, shuffling aimlessly in a cloud of dust? Instead of being still and knowing you are God, I’m moving too fast to know who God is. How long it has been since I let you lead me beside the still waters! I seem to prefer instead the neurotic navigation of relentless rapids. If I could only stop hacking at life’s overgrown weeds long enough, I’d notice the cool patch of green you’ve prepared for me. The burning pace I keep has made me thirsty for your peace. And there you’ve stood all along, your cup overflowing with refreshment. And why do I refuse to dwell in your Word? I sometimes feel as though the Bible has become a script for "acting" like a Christian, with its lines cleverly retell on cue. Oh, How I need to take it in like the life-giving vitamin that it is. I need to be swallowing every word. I need tot take time to digest every truth. So my life will bear the fruit of the Master. Forgive me Lord, for taking time to worship you only when I can fit you in. I forget, I’m the one to fit into your plan. I need a break with you, alone, At the Open Arms Inn. So here I am one saint checking in, very weary. Very much in need of his Creator’s loving embrace with quiet encouragement. Do you have something by the still waters? Thank You Jesus I knew you would.
3. EACH INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDS HIS RESPONSIBILITY. It takes all that will join in to help with the problem. Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “You feed them.” They had no idea how to get this done. It says, “Jesus already knew what He was going to do. I like that because I face problems that I have no idea how to solve them. That means I do all I can possibly do and Jesus will do the rest. I have to take the responsibility for what I know to do and then let Jesus do what ever else needs to be done to get the job done. If you notice again that all Jesus did was take the food and give thanks to God and the food did not run out until all were satisfied. There were still leftovers. So if we do all that we know to do and we have Jesus as the blesser of our work then we will see it done and there will be leftovers. What do you have to show as your leftovers for being involved in the work of Jesus? Can I check your spiritual basket this morning?
4. GIVES HIS ALL REGARDLESS OF THE ODDS. Why is it, when it comes to work there are some who are willing but have an “I don’t do………”
a. Many find it hard to do for others because they will have let go of the comforts they have. Remote controls used to be getting up and change the channel or send children to do it. We used to spend time in the kitchen fixing a meal but now it’s pop in a microwave and in 10 minutes or less we eat.
b. This request of Jesus did not make sense. There could have been up to 20,000 people there before the disciples and they had not brought food with them. There was no food warehouse store in sight. They did not have the number of the nearest catering service. They had little money and their treasurer was a man who did not like to let go of the money except for taking it for his own needs. There were no tables and chairs in which to set everyone so this could be done in an orderly fashion. I also wonder what these people had for a drink. Eating fish and bread would make me thirsty. They were out in a deserted place so why should they even be asked to help these people for they did not have the resources.
c. The boy did not need a miracle for he had his lunch. I am sure as he gave what he had he might have thought did I give enough? Do you think this boy ever got away from this story? When it came time for family get-togethers everyone would gather around the boy and say what was that story again? When he got older probably some said the only story he can give is about the time Jesus did a miracle with his lunch. You see it was the day God used him. What story do we have to tell about the day that God used us? This boy had one that never got away from him.
Regardless of what the odds are. Story of the Teacup
There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We’ve never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don’t understand," it said. "I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, ’Let me alone’, but he only smiled, ’Not yet.’ "Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I’m getting dizzy? I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, ’Not yet.’ Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips and he shook his head, ’Not yet.’ Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. ’There, that’s better’, I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. ’Stop it, stop it!’ I cried. he only nodded, ’Not yet.’ Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, ’Not yet.’ Then I knew there wasn’t any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later He handed me a mirror and I couldn’t believe it was me. ’It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful.’ ’I want you to remember, then,’ he said, ’I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad and when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you wouldn’t survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.
God knows what He’s doing for all of us. He is the potter and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will.
5. THEN JESUS WORKS A MIRACLE. WHEN THERE IS A NEED SENSED BY A FEW AND EACH INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDS HIS RESPONSIBILITY AND GIVES HIS ALL REGARDLESS OF THE ODDS THEN JESUS WORKS A MIRACLE.
God only gives to you that which He knows you will let flow through you.
Will you trust Jesus with your lunch? Will you give Jesus your lunch? That boy had no assurance that he would get anything to eat when he handed over his lunch. He had to trust Jesus. Life needs to be lived that way. Give what you have to Jesus and then trust Him to supply your needs. Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no days, any hours or minutes. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will all expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived. It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Your gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone. What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.
by Michael Josephson
