Sunday, December 12, 2010

They are Hungry!

They are hungry- will you bring them lunch?
John 6:1-9

Intro.- Have you ever gone to a good restaurant and you are about to take the bite of the best meal ever- Then Somebody wants a bite? That is what this story is about!

I. You are ready to share your lunch!
Will you Stand out when people are Hungry!

John 6:1-4, (message) Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

The Passover feast was drawing near! Jesus new he would eventually be the Passover lamb!

II. The crowd was hungry!
John 6:5, When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"

I have learned that hunger and expectation is often dependent upon who draws the crowd!

III. Jesus asks his disciples to see with different eyes!
I love that- he asked the guy with the Faith problem

John 6:6- He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Jesus knows what he is going to do, but he gives you a chance to buy into the vision!
You have to understand Jesus always gave the disciples opportunities to prove they believe!

TL Osborne- physical eyesight can blind spiritual vision!

IV. The truth and reality are very different!
Look at Philip- he gives the reality answer! He didn’t give the truth!

John 6:7, Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Reality is People are hurting- truth is Jesus can heal them
Reality is finances can hinder you- truth is Jesus is the banker
Reality is some kids are born into horrible situations- truth is Jesus can take them out
Reality is you may not be a great speaker- truth is when Jesus gets your life he creates a voice

Reality is you may not have very many gifting- Truth is God looks for availability

Psalms 51:6, Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

(Put leaders around me that know the truth and we will change the world and see the supernatural while the reality speakers live the mundane life of the natural!)

The problem in ministry comes when reality is a brighter neon sign than the faith God has placed in you!

Acknowledge reality on every level- but you fight the devil with Truth!
It sets you free!

Psalms 25:5, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

God is looking for people in this room that will defy the odds! The enemy will tell you that you will never change lives, you are never going to be great! But you have the truth!

Psalms 145:18-19, The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

I continually live in a state of reality denial! It is an adventure!

Jesus started so many scriptures with- I tell you the truth!

I heard a song called- “Wait and See” by Brandon Heath- I loved it- it described someone who was told he would never be anything- he made so many mistakes!
Here are some of the Words from the song- “He is not finished with me yet. There is hope for me yet cause God's not finished with me yet.”

They were wrong! Prove the world wrong! And God right!

1 Corinthians 1:19, For it is written:"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

God loves to prove the world wrong!
Romans 3:3-4, What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."

V. The pointer and the producer!
John6:8, Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Here is Andrew- He points out to Jesus the little boy!

Every leader must have around them someone who points out others gifting! In other words he was the facilitator!

Here was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter! He introduced Peter to Jesus! He knew how to bring people to the master.

What do we know about Andrew? Andrew, disciple of Christ, was from the city of Bethsaida near the region of the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). He and his brother Peter were a fisherman by trade. In fact, it was Andrew who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus (John 1:41-42). According to the Gospel of John, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40) before becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Andrew chased the anointing!

What were some main points in the life of Andrew? We know he pointed out the little boy!
• Andrew (along with Philip) introduced some Greek fellows to Jesus (John 12:20-22).
• Andrew inquired of Jesus regarding the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:3-4).
• He was among the disciples who gathered in the upper room after they had been indwelt by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13).

By studying tradition, we learn that Andrew preached in different regions and started a church in Constantinople. One account states that he refused to make sacrifices to heathen gods and was beaten and crucified at Patrae and Achaia.

****Andrew hung for approximately two days and during this time he praised God. (He was always pointing towards Jesus even in death)

Throughout his life, Andrew was a man with whom many of us can identify. He expressed doubt at times, did not always understand or comprehend the Lord's teaching, and he occasionally lacked faith. However, Andrew persisted.

He would point out the CHOSEN! Be a leader that can see the chosen! He saw the little boy!

Many are called but few are chosen! (Matthew 22:14)
Scene- He chooses a kid- can you see the kid- he is about to eat- then a bully disciple says- Hey kid give me your lunch!

Will you show up ready with a bag full of lunch? What is in your bag?

Five loaves! Two fishes! That meal represented so much!
Bread- 5 loaves- (The number of Grace) You better have the word in you! Be ready to share the bread! Jesus always break the bread!

Fishes! – there were two- (represents the joining of two different ones- You and God) that means each one is called to win more than yourself!
We are fishers of men!

If you come prepared he will pull you out of the crowd! You and God with some Grace!

VI. The field was full of people!
John 6:10, Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

VII. Let nothing go to waste!
When you call something leftover- Jesus calls valuable!

John 6:12, When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

VIII. Make Jesus Famous by your obedience! Learn to hide!

John 6:14, After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus knows how to hide from the peoples desires and requests! He slips away!

Notice the little boy didn’t make the headlines! He wasn’t on the front of Time magazine!

Nope he went home having done his best! The people were fed! Jesus was more famous! Welcome to ministry!