WHEN The DEMANDS Of LIFE Are DEMANDING
life is demanding
Life brings it's twist and turns: pressure, people, problem (s) (financial, marital )
intro: how can we maintain a proper perspective
Text. Mat 14: 13 - 20
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Backdrop of this story : people ( overwhelming crowd ) were hungry - had little to work with (demands)
Vs. 16, 17 16
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
Three things that will help us maintain a proper perspective :
Vs 19 looking up
1. LOOK UP
ps 121: 1
I lift up my eyes to the mountain where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth.
Story of Abraham teaches us the importance of looking up
Genesis 15:5
“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
The promise
Genesis 22:13
“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”
The provision
LOOK WITHIN - depressed
LOOK BEHIND - discouraged
LOOK AROUND - distracted
Vs 19 he gave thanks
2. GIVE THANKS
WE are much like the little boy who was given an orange by a man. The boy’s mother asked, “What do you say to the nice man?” The little boy thought and handed the orange back and said, “Peel it.”
THANK HIM...
1 day = 86400 seconds of those how many have we paused to say thank you?
Nowadays - open door for people
(don't hear anything)
How about .. Be thankful for & not complain what
we don't have
(Exercise) - thru this week urge to complain - switch!
Vs 20 disciples picked up twelve basketfuls
3. KEEP SERVING
How many disciples?
How many basketfuls left over?
Your time of blessing will COME..
THOSE SERVED - got a fish sandwich
Those feeding : BASKETFULS !!
Proper perspective:
Look Up
Give thanks
Keep Serving
