Raising Heroes for Christ
John 6:1-15
Sermon by Rick Crandall
McClendon Baptist Church - Feb. 25, 2007
*Last Thursday was George Washington’s birthday. What a hero he was! Historian James Flexner called Washington “the indispensable man.” And Richard Smith said, -“If George Washington had not existed there arguably would have never been an American Republic.” (1)
*Ron Hutchcraft described Washington’s leadership this way:
-King George and his army must have been having a good laugh. George Washington and his Continental Army had been whipped in battle after battle in their campaign to become independent from Britain. British troops had driven the Americans out of New York City, across the Hudson River, across New Jersey, and finally into Pennsylvania.
-Then came the winter of 1777, at a place outside of Philadelphia called Valley Forge. Washington’s troops faced not only a [brutal] physical winter there, but an emotional winter. Discouragement and defeat may have been their worst enemies, but General Washington wasn’t about to let those enemies win. He fought back by immediately deploying his soldiers to fortifying their camp. Then the drills began, while Washington worked on getting more recruits and building his army into a real fighting force.
*Many historians believe that the outcome of America’s battle for independence was decided at Valley Forge more than in any battle . . . One army went into the winter at Valley Forge - divided, discouraged, demoralized. Another army emerged from that winter. They were unified, they were fortified, they were confident . . . (2)
*Washington was a great leader who trusted in our great God. Once he prayed, “Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ.” (3)
*Our children may never be great Presidents like Washington, but they can certainly be great heroes for Jesus Christ. Jesus can turn them into heroes, but we can help. Let’s look into the Word of God and see what to do for our children.
1. First, make the sacrifice for them.
*You have to read between the lines here to see the sacrifice here, but I believe somebody made a sacrifice for this boy. Think about this unusual situation. It was an enormous crowd, 5,000 men plus women and children, maybe 15 or 20 thousand people. Mark tells us they were out in the country in a deserted place. Jesus and the disciples had gone there trying to be alone for some needed rest -- But the people saw them leaving, and many ran to follow them.
*Why the rush; why the excitement? Verse 2 tells us that it was because they had seen the Lord’s miracles. Many had been healed -- Even people who were paralyzed and blind, even people with leprosy. Demons had been cast out. People had even been raised from the dead!
*So there was this mad rush to get to Jesus, and in that rush, almost no one had brought food. Mark 6 sets the scene: “Jesus saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” (Mark 6:34-36)
*Jesus knew that he was going to feed those people, but He tested Philip’s faith and that’s when Andrew brought this little boy to Jesus. In vs. 9, Andrew said, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
*This was the only food in the whole crowd. Where did it come from? Probably from his parents -- But one thing is for sure: It had to come from someone who cared. And I believe they gave that boy their best, because they must have been in the crowd that day too, without any food of their own.
-Would you let your little boy go wandering off alone to the middle of no where?
-Would you let him go alone in that crowd of people?
*Someone was there with that boy, and they had given him their best. That’s what God wants us to do for our children -- Give them your best. I’m not talking about paying $200 for a baseball glove or $3,000 for a set of golf clubs or giving them a BMW for their 16th birthday. I am talking about giving your best -- Living your best, sacrificing yourself, your selfish wants and wishes for what really matters -- Caring about children the way Jesus Christ cares about children.
*In Matt 10:42, Jesus said, “Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
*And in Matt 18:5-6, He said, “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
2. Make the sacrifice for our children, but also recognize their potential for service to God.
*We have to realize that our children have something to offer God. Yes, they have great potential for the future, but God can even use them today, just like He used this little boy. Right now what they have may seem very small, like those 5 little barley loaves and 2 sardine-sized fish -- But a little is a lot in the Hands of God! That was true of the lunch, true of this little boy, and true of our children too! We have to recognize that our children have something great to offer God. They can have a great impact on God’s Kingdom right now.
*Wallace Chappell tells the great story of a little girl who came down front after one of his revival sermons. After some coaxing, this shy, little girl told him that the day before she had received a phone call from a lady who was visiting in the city from out of state. The lady had dialed the wrong number.
*The little girl didn’t know her, but she began to talk to her, and she even invited the lady to her church. Then the little girl got excited as she told the preacher, “The lady said she hadn’t been inside a church in 20 years. [But] she was at church tonight! I talked to her. And when you asked for people to accept Jesus, she was one of those who came forward!” (4)
*She got saved! That lady was from out of state, and she had a dozen reasons not to go to church, but God used a little invitation a little girl to help that lady come to Jesus! That woman will spend forever in Heaven, because God was able to use that little girl. He can use our children too.
3. Let’s recognize their potential for service to God, and make sure they see Jesus.
*Andrew brought this boy to Jesus in vs. 8&9, but there was someone else:
-Maybe Dad or Mom -- Maybe a grandparent...
-Maybe older brother or sister -- Maybe a neighbor or friend...
-Someone made sure this little boy got close to Jesus.
*When my wife Mary was a little girl, her parents didn’t go to church, but Mr. and Mrs. Ault across the street did. They took Mary, and she trusted Christ as her Savior. What a difference for all eternity! We must make sure that children see Jesus.
*We want them to see Him as our Provider. He miraculously provided the food for all of these people, but Mark 7:37 tells us that Jesus does all things well. Every good thing we have has come as a gift from God.
*We want children to see Jesus as our Provider, and as the miracle working, Almighty Son of God. He can feed 5,000 or 50,000 with no trouble at all! He can calm the storms, walk on water, heal the sick and raise the dead! Nothing is too hard for Jesus! As Luke 1:37 says, “With God nothing is impossible.”
*We want children to see Jesus as the miracle working, Almighty Son of God, and as the greatest Prophet of all. So vs. 12-14 tell us that when the people were full, “[Jesus] said to His disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.’ Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’”
*We want children to see Jesus as the greatest Prophet of all, and as the King of all kings. In vs. 15, the people wanted to take Jesus by force to make Him king, but they did not understand. They were setting their aim way to low. Jesus Christ is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords! He is the King of the whole universe!
*We want children to see Jesus as the King of all kings. And most of all, we want them to see Him as their Savior.
*Jesus got away from that mob, and that night walked on water to catch up with His disciples on the stormy sea. When He got to the boat, it miraculously and immediately got to the other side. The following day the people caught up with Jesus, but not because they wanted to follow Him -- Not because they wanted to trust in Him as Savior and Lord.
*No, they were simply trying to get another free meal, but Jesus wanted to give them so much more. He wanted to save them! He wanted to give them everlasting life. (Listen to what Jesus told them in vs. 27-35.)
27. "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.’’
28. Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’’
29. Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’’
30. Therefore they said to Him, "What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
31. "Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ’’
32. Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33. "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’’
34. Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always.’’
35. And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
*Jesus Christ is the bread of everlasting life. If you will believe in Him, if you will receive Him as your Savior and Lord -- Then He will forgive your sins and give you eternal life. Jesus can do that because He died on the Cross to take the punishment for your sins, and 3 day later He rose again!
*Nothing in life is more important than for you to see Jesus as your Savior and Lord! Nothing is more important for our children than that they see Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!
*Another one of our great American heroes was Patrick Henry. He was the patriot who in 1775, before the Virginia Convention spoke his most famous words, “Give me liberty or give me death!"
*During the Revolutionary War Patrick Henry became commander-in-chief of Virginia’s military forces, and later he helped establish the Bill of Rights in our Constitution. He became Virginia’s first governor, and was re-elected four times. Then Patrick Henry retired from public life, but despite his strong objections the people went ahead and re-elected him Governor for the 5th time. But he meant what he said, so he refused to take the office.
*He was offered a seat in the U.S. Senate, and posts as ambassador to Spain and to France. President Washington asked him to join his cabinet and become Secretary of State, and later wanted to appoint him the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but Henry refused all such honors and recognitions.
*Listen to these closing words from Patrick Henry’s Last Will and Testament:
“I have now given everything I own to my children. There is one more thing I wish I could give them and that is Christ -- Because if they have everything I gave them and don’t have Christ, they have nothing.” (5)
4. Make sure your children see Jesus in you, and teach them to trust God in impossible situations.
*Talk about an impossible situation -- How are you going to feed thousands of people with 5 small rolls and 2 small fish? Maynard Pittendreigh asks:
“Have you ever faced a situation that was overwhelming? Or a problem so difficult or complex that resolving it seemed impossible? Most of us have. And it doesn’t matter how old or young we are – we all face overwhelming and stressful situations.
It could be the first day of school or Monday morning’s algebra class or trying to get a good score on the SAT and to get into college. Or it might be the stack of bills that grow and grow, or waiting to hear from the doctor’s office to learn about the test results, or the frustration about the job -- or the fear that the job will be lost. Our lives are full of experiences that seem overwhelming and beyond our capacity to handle.” (6)
*But this story reminds us that we can trust Jesus in every situation. And we need to teach our children that they can trust God in impossible situations. Just like the little boy here, they can put all they have in the Hands of God.
*I really like what Norris Harris said about these difficult situations. Harris said:
“I remind you that every miracle began upon the platform of a problem! I dare you to find a miracle that did not begin in a problem.
*Water in dry places, quails and manna in the wilderness, stilling the sea, no funds to pay creditors, water into wine; lame walking, dumb talking, blind seeing, deaf hearing, demon-possessed freed and even the dead raised -- All began upon the platform of a problem!
*If we could ever see that, it would change our attitudes toward our problems, problems, problems! Problems are those situations engineered of God to bring us face to face with our deficiencies, so that we might view God’s Sufficiency as our only alternative.” (7)
*We need to learn and we need to teach children to trust God in impossible situations. But that doesn’t mean we throw up our hands and do nothing.
*As Pittendreigh said about Phillip, Andrew and the little boy:
“Every one of these three individuals has a good approach toward handling a difficult situation. Philip is realistic, Andrew looks to others for help, the boy is willing to give what he can toward a solution -- Each one has something of value in their approach.
*Any time we face an overwhelming situation, we should take a little of each. I don’t care if it is Monday’s Algebra test that is coming up, or dealing with the news the doctor has given you about cancer. Your husband has left you, or you’ve found drugs in your child’s room. These are real problems, and you need a little bit of Philip. You can’t pretend they aren’t there -- You’ve got to face them and be realistic.
*But you can’t be stuck there. You need a little bit of Andrew. You need to be willing to look for help from others. Why suffer alone when there are those around you who love you and can help?
*But you can’t stop there. You need a little of that nameless boy. You need to be willing to give what you can to resolving the situation. But there is something more you need -- It is the bread! It is the Bread of Life! That’s what you need in order to deal with life. That’s what you need in order to face your struggles. You need Jesus in your life. (6)
*Is Jesus Christ in your life? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Do you know Jesus as Savior and Lord?
*We need to know Him like one little girl I read about. She was a 4th grader named Alice Shedrick. In 1985, Alice was killed in a terrible fire that killed 7 members of her family. But 2 days before she died, Alice wrote this essay for her 4th grade class. It was about her best friend, God.
-“My best friend is God, he is my father. Without him I wouldn’t be born. Everybody has something to thank God for, their eyes, hands, ears, nose, legs and life. God is always there when I need someone to talk to. When something is going wrong for me, God will help me out and he will show me the right way.
*I thank God for giving the life he has given me. I think that everyone who has had troubles should ask God for forgiveness. And we should all love him. And I want to go in his big house in the sky.” (8)
*That little girl was a hero for Jesus Christ. And I promise you she did go to His big house in the sky. You can too, if you will trust in Jesus.
*Then you can help Jesus turn children into heroes.
1. (Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner, Back Bay Books - Don’t know source for Smith quote)
2. Adapted from - KERUX ILLUSTRATION COLLECTION - ID Number: 30351 - SOURCE: A Word With You By Ron Hutchcraft #4982 - TITLE: Using Your Winter To Win Your Battles - AUTHOR: Ron Hutchcraft - DATE: 2/14/06
3. Excerpt from SermonCentral illustration contributed by Terry Laughlin
4. Larry Powell, Blow The Silver Trumpets, C.S.S Publishing Co., 1991. (Found on sermonillustrations.com)
5. SermonCentral illustration from Melvin Newland, Central Christian Church, Brownsville, Texas.
6. SermonCentral sermon “Facing the Overwhelming” by Maynard Pittendreigh - John 6:1-4
7. Adapted from SermonCentral sermon “A Child’s Ministry” by Norris Harris - John 6:9
8. NY DAILY NEWS, 2/16/85, p. 3. (Found at Sermons.com - Topic Search: God)
