One thing is for sure, WHATEVER WE DO, WE DO FOR A REASON. Also, EVERYWHERE WE GO, WE GO FOR A REASON!
For example, have you ever seen a football stadium full of people and wondered what motivated those people to be there? Of course you know there are probably many reasons; such as...
- They have a DATE.
- They ENJOY WATCHING a bunch of grown men act like young boys wearing funny uniforms.
- They are BORED and want to do something different.
However, some go to football games because they are football fanatics.
Illus: These remind us of the man who was an absolute fanatic about football. He could tell you...
-What team every NFL player played on.
-What position every NFL player played.
-How much every NFL player made.
He studied football the way a dedicated Christian studies his Bible.
A man was praising him for his great memory one day, and said, “DO YOU EVER FORGET YOUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY?” He replied, “NEVER, I WAS MARRIED THE DAY JOE NAMATH THREW THE TOUCH DOWN ON OCTOBER 8, 1969, IN THE LAST MINUTE OF THE GAME. THEY BEAT THE RED SKINS 13-7.”
However, the next time you see thousands of spectators fill a football stadium, do not be deceived into believing every last person who is there loves the game. Some go for other reasons.
We all have different motives for the many different things we do, and for going where we go.
As a pastor, I know it would be great if everyone had come to church today out of a hunger to hear God’s Word preached, but I realize that any pastor who looks across any congregation and thinks that is naive.
Some of you came...
- Because you were BORED sitting home.
- Because you did not want to watch TELEVISION REPEATS.
- Because of the SOCIAL standing it might put you in.
- Because you can make BUSINESS CONTACTS.
- Because someone in your family is GETTING MARRIED and you need a church and a minister.
- Because you know one day you are going to DIE and you know it would be a shame not to have a pastor, and a congregation for your funeral.
- Because YOUR PARENTS told you that you had to come.
And then there are those of you who are here BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE LORD and YOU WISH TO WORSHIP HIM!
So we see, people go to church for many reasons. It is true now, and it was true back when Christ walked this earth.
For example, the group mentioned in our text went to the Lord and He wanted them to know that He knew why they followed Him. Some were...
I THE BREAD SEEKERS.
Jesus was the greatest Teacher and Preacher of God’s Word Who has ever walked on this earth! However, He knew that not everyone who flocked out to see Him came to hear HIM preach the Word of God.
Jesus knew exactly why they came!
Look at verse 26. We read, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”
Jesus had been trying to get something across and they were not getting it.
A. First, he had a reason for performing miracles. He performed them because the miracles would confirm He was who He said He was. In many cases it accomplished that purpose. For example...
- In John 2:11, we read, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED ON HIM.”
- In John 2:23, we read, “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, MANY BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, when they saw the miracles which he did.”
The fact is, the miracles Jesus did caused many to believe on Him. He said He was the Son of God and the miracles He did were very convincing evidence.
Look at what Nicodemus said, John 3:2. We read, “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art A TEACHER COME FROM GOD: FOR no man can do these MIRACLES that thou doest, except God be with him.”
Scripture tells us why Jesus did the miracles He did. THE MIRACLES PROVED HE WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS!
B. Secondly, verse 26 tells us why those people were following Him. We can not look across a congregation and make any judgment as to why any of the people are present.
HOWEVER, JESUS LOOKED ACROSS THAT “CONGREGATION” AND TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHY THEY HAD COME!
Look at verse 26 again. He said, “...Ye seek me...BECAUSE YE DID EAT of the loaves, and were filled.”
Why did Jesus tell them that? Because no one enjoys having the “wool pulled over their eyes.” The Lord wanted those people to know if they thought He was that naive, they were mistaken.
The Lord told those people that they were “BREAD SEEKERS!”
Remember, earlier He had sat those people all down and provided physical food for them. Now it seems they were hungry again and they had come back for more.
So many are like this today. They believe the church is here to provide a hand-out when they want one. THESE ARE THE MODERN DAY BREAD-SEEKERS.
Then there are those who are...
II. THE GLORY SEEKERS.
There is a difference between the BREAD SEEKERS and the GLORY SEEKERS.
The BREAD SEEKERS will be around as long as there is food being provided. The glory seekers will only stay as long as there is glory. WHEN THE GLORY IS GONE, THEY ARE GONE.
Most of the time the GLORY SEEKERS have a list of churches they have belonged to. Why? They go from church to church. When one church ceases to “shine the spotlight” on them, they move on to the next church.
Illus: A man who is a Bible College graduate has a list of churches he has belonged to in the past twenty years. He has never belonged to any church for much more than a couple of years. Why? He is good only for about a six-months impression. That is, he has talent. When he attends a church, the people are impressed. In fact, they make an all-out effort to make him feel welcome and soon he joins. But, soon they discover all he cares to do is stay “in the SPOTLIGHT.” Once he is not there, he becomes upset and is ready to move on to the next church.
Now that man has a problem. He has belonged to so many churches that now his reputation precedes him. He is having to drive farther and farther to find a church where no one knows HE IS A GLORY SEEKER!
Sometimes it seems it would be good to require what many businesses require. That is, before you are hired to a job the employer wants to know-
- How many previous jobs you have had.
- How long you were at each job.
- The addresses of your former employers to write to see what kind of reference they would give about you.
If churches did this, it is sure that often the story they would get from the other churches would not coincide with the membership candidate’s version of why he left those churches.
Glory seekers are usually easy to spot. Their long record of church hopping and their craving for attention are dead give-a-ways.
The only time these people are happy is when everyone is telling them HOW GREAT THEY ARE! They are like children who will do anything to get attention.
- Many DRESS IN OUTLANDISH FASHION because they want attention.
- Many have HAIR CUTS THAT LOOK RIDICULOUS because they want attention.
- Many push hard to EXCEL IN SPORTS because they want attention.
- Many feel they cannot compete with others for attention in a positive way so THEY MISBEHAVE to get attention, etc.
Some church attendees do the same thing in church. Their DEMEANOR IS RIDICULOUS but it works, they get the attention they crave.
Since God has placed pastors to be heads of His churches, often those who crave attention will oppose them because those pastors stand in the way of their having their way.
Jesus’ disciple, John, had someone do this to Him. Look at III John 1:9. We read, “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.”
Do you know why Diotrephes did not receive John and the other apostles? John said it was because HE WANTED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT and he considered John and the others as a threat. He did not want to make room for them to come in and minister to the people.
Illus: This is one of the reasons some small churches do not grow. The GLORY SEEKERS have all the SPOTLIGHT positions occupied and woe be unto anyone who would try to rob them of those positions. They will go out of their way to make newcomers feel unwelcome. They do not want to feel threatened by anyone.
The Lord Jesus had to deal with THE BREAD SEEKERS and the GLORY SEEKERS just as we do today.
Then there is one more group that WE CAN BE GRATEFUL FOR. They are...
III. THE CHRIST SEEKERS.
There are many of these IN THE SCRIPTURES. For example:
A. Mary was a Christ seeker. Look at Luke 10:38-42. We read, “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
The Lord knew MARTHA LOVED THINGS and MARY LOVED HIM!
B. Paul was a Christ seeker. Paul said, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.” The apostle Paul went through stonings, rejection, beatings, jailings, etc., because he loved the Lord.
Not only do we find CHRIST SEEKERS in scripture. We also find many CHRIST SEEKERS in our churches.
We often hear people say the reason they do not go to church is because they know some who go there for the wrong reasons. That is true, but THERE ARE MANY THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. That is, in every church there are Christians-
- Who recognize the greatness of Christ and every time the church doors are opened, they are present to worship Him.
- Every week who bring the Lord’s tithes and their offerings and lovingly place them in those offering plates so that the news of Jesus’ greatness can go forth.
- Every week who spend hours of labor, doing things for the Lord that no one else knows about, because they love the Lord!
- Every week they are witnessing and inviting families and friends to attend the house of God.
In Churches all over the world you will find CHRIST SEEKERS WHO TRULY LOVE HIM!
God was pleased with those who sought Him because they loved Him.
Are you seeking Him because you love Him? He knows if you really love Him or not. He wants you to love Him.
Conclusion/Summary: Who are those who follow after Christ? There are...
I. THE BREAD SEEKERS
II. THE GLORY SEEKERS.
III. THE CHRIST SEEKERS.
