John, Part 22
Series: Give Us This Day, Part 1
John 6:1-15
- Continuing in John with a new sermon series: “Give Us This Day” (5 parts)
-- Purpose: To examine the command (discipleship) to follow Him (obediently)
-- FOCUS: The application of our belief in Him to help us live faithfully, now!
-- There are many items to teach on over the next few months; pray for wisdom
Read John 6:1-15 / Pray
Point 1 – Two Understandings of Faith
- Situation: The crowds KEEP following Him because of His works v2
-- Sea of Galilee is a very large lake to travel around: 13 miles long / 8 miles wide
-- Jesus would’ve understandably been wearying from their daily pressure
-- SEE: Ministry is not for the fragile because everyone needs something
- Now, something unique happens as they are following them v5b
• He knew that they would be without a meal, been with him all day
• They could have just returned home – but instead they followed for more
• Greek: akoloutheó; followed or pursued (Deliberately is the implication)
- So, Jesus uses this opportunity to pose a question to Philip v6
• Don’t miss: He tests the faith of one of His disciples to reveal his heart
• APP: God’s questions are less about knowledge and more about your faith
• Consider: What is God asking you to trust Him on that you haven’t yet?
- In response, Philip demonstrates a “cynical view” of faith v7
-- His response is from a place of human logic vs. trust of Who he is with
-- All he accounts for is money and resources: “Where’s the nearest Walmart?”
-- APP: He is not looking to the power, or the ability, of what God can do
-- EX: Mark 4:35-41 shows us another example of this same problem
- A cynical faith only sees what is humanly possible (it naturally omits God)
-- BIG: Why? We fear that God’s authority is not enough in our situation!
• Yes, we thank God when He comes through for us in our need
• But we fail to see what He can do if we would trust Him
- New Year: Where are you asking God to help you grow in faith?
-- Don’t get caught up in the “new year, new me” stuff that society sells
-- APP: Where do you need God to work in you? Have you asked? Phil 4:6-7
- SEE: In contrast, we see an “optimistic faith” from Andrew vv8-9
-- He went to the crowd, and was able to find a young boy who brought lunch
-- APP: He brought something: “Here is what I can find Lord, will this help?”
- Andrew was willing to offer something to Jesus’s challenge/question
-- He trusted Jesus and was willing to give what he could find to help
-- APP: Andrew was willing to sacrifice everything, trusting Jesus for the rest
-- DEEPER: He was willing to trust; to lay it before the Lord; are you?
- TR: Now … let’s see if we can unpack what Jesus did as a teaching moment
Point 2 – Our Faith Guides our Discipleship Journey
- What Jesus does: bring an unswerving demonstration of what faith looks like
-- Taking what was offered, Jesus lays it before God for His use/glory
-- How? He gives thanks & He prays – don’t overlook the necessity here
• Giving thanks: To actively recognize God as the source of all good things, expressing praise through prayer, worship, and obedience to God
- This is not asking God to bless your 5lb hamburger to the health of your body
-- This is asking God to use what you have, who you are, to show others who He is
-- The real blessing comes from Him using you (we GET to) to share with others
-- FREE: This is why the contrast of Andrew and Philip’s responses are shown!
- GROWTH: The result is known to us because of God’s ultimate authority v11
-- The outcome of this incredible feast was ALL God: to amplify trusting Him
-- All Jesus could do was lay this before God, and trust God for the delivery
-- SEE THIS ^ : The work is God’s not yours, ours, mine, etc. Always Him!
-- APP: This is why it’s critical when you pray, we pray for His will …
- APP: God meets the need because of the One who asked; what He brought
• Jesus demonstrates what it means to trust in God for total provision
• And we get to see the results: 5,000 men were filled (plus women/kids)
- BONUS: He not only met the need but provided abundantly (4 things) vv12-13
1) The 12 baskets gives remembrance to the 12 Tribes of Israel
o Symbolizing that Jesus's miracle provides for the whole covenant
2) The 12 baskets also represent the 12 Apostles; each being provided for
o Even Philip! Emphasizing that Jesus sustains those who serve Him
3) Gathering more than was given shows Jesus's supernatural generosity
o Met beyond the bare minimum; gave an abundance (food for later)
4) The command to gather the fragments ensures that none is wasted
o Reinforcing the idea that in Christ, nothing of His gift is lost
o APP: We must see this application: Be willing to use what He gives!
- However (CH), even with this great result people insert expectations vv14-15
• The people wanted to crown Him as “ruler” (based on His “toolbox”)
• APP: They were not interested in following Him because of who He was
• He met their physical needs – so to them He could be their “fairy godfather”
- But surrender to Him? No! They wanted Him to be their personal wish granter
-- KNOW: God is not a genie in a lamp; He doesn’t do things so we’d be happy
-- Nor does He do things so that we’d like Him more – He desires ALL of us
- This is why Jesus came, to bring us to a God that loves us by showing the way
-- Despite humanities efforts to wrangle Him in, He still provided their need
-- RE: We were created with a purpose, a purpose to worship Him Isaiah 43:21
-- TRUTH: If Jesus knew Philip’s heart v5, doesn’t He know yours also?
Musicians / BIG IDEA
- CHALL: Are you putting your expectations on God like these people did?
-- Or are you willing to surrender and look to Him for everything? (our purpose)
- What Jesus does is show us what living discipleship looks like:
• Being willing to bring God all you are, all that you can, for His use
• Then trusting Him to use it for the glory of God in showing others
- Where do you need to really surrender to God in whatever you are dealing with?
-- Are you willing to do that here and be different from this moment forward?
- Pray
