Introduction:
A. Satisfaction is a feeling that comes when a need, a desire or an expectation has been fulfilled or gratified. What a wonderful feeling that is. Time to celebrate.
B. Eating and drinking. Hungry and then eat at the buffet. What a feeling that is after extremely hungry and we have something to eat. Some of us may have too much to eat and we don’t feel good. Thanksgiving- sitting around after the meal. Satisfaction.
C. When it has been a long day and you go to that bed. Satisfaction.
D. Many thinking questions in a book I have been working through. What most excites you about the world? What do you enjoy most about life? After working on a project for a long time and it is finally done and it seems like it was done well, time of satisfaction. Time to celebrate. Even better when the project is with a team. Bible Bowl, after the last game.
E. Sports teams are much the same way.
F. In the military it is the same way. The division or platoon or whatever has just done something well or has been working long and hard on some goal or project and it is over and the group is praised and then comes a great sense of satisfaction. We did something and we did it to the best of our abilities.
G. At work we see what we have done and it was done well and the boss comes and gives praise and then comes the sense of satisfaction.
H. A sense of satisfaction when we have completed a certain obligation fulfilled a promise. Honorably discharged.
I. A sense of satisfaction when a debt has been paid off, like the mortgage, car payment, credit card.
J. I hope and pray at the end of my life I can look back with a sense of satisfaction over accomplishments, responsibilities, and relationships. (Psa 91:15 NIV) He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.(Psa 91:16 NIV) With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
K. On that day to hear, Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
L. Some people might call that arrogance and pride. (Eccl 2:24 NIV) A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,(Eccl 2:25 NIV) for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
M. As long as we do not forget God, the one who enables us and allows us to do good, then it is healthy to find satisfaction in these things.
N. Give the glory and honor for these things back to God. Touch not the glory!
WBTU:
A. However, this satisfaction leaves just as quickly as it comes.
B. The feeling leaves and so we must go on to the next project, accomplishment, or whatever will give us that feeling again.
C. We are never completely satisfied. All of our needs, desires and expectations are never full met.
D. Proverbs says that the eyes of man are never satisfied. Want something more, see something better. This is why we have credit card debt. Get it, feel satisfied for a little while, and then the feeling leaves again.
E. (Eccl 6:7 NIV) All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. Go to the big buffet and say, I’ll never eat again. Next day, hungry again.
F. (Eccl 5:10 NIV) Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
G. (Isa 55:2 NIV) Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
H. The Rolling Stones sang, I Can’t Get No Satisfaction. They are right, there is no lasting satisfaction, there is no lasting joy, there is no lasting fulfillment, contentment.
Scripture Reading: Briefly comment on the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.
John 6:32-35, commentary.
John 6:47-58, commentary
John 6:66
I. When Christ said, “I am the Bread of Life,” He communicates far more than appears on the surface.
J. As a matter of fact, these statements repelled his original hearers. They thought he meant to actually take his flesh and drink his blood. Must have thought him mad. Not until after Calvary and the cross did even his closest disciples understand.
K. When he said this, bread was valuable. It was the staple of their diet. Several years ago in our society it was the same way.
L. Jesus takes a simple thing from life, bread, and causes it to mean so much more. He is not just talking about physical bread but spiritual bread that meets spiritual hunger.
Thesis: When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” He was trying to communicate three things from the spiritual realm which we will look at today.
For instances:
I. Jesus supplies spiritual life. Vs. 51.
A. To become the bread of life the Lord Jesus had to be made bread for us.
1. He was bruised, crushed.
a. How do we make bread? Crush the wheat.
b. Jesus went through the kneading trough of suffering and travail.
c. (Isa 53:5 NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
2. He was baked for us.
a. He was a meal offering for us. He went through God’s wrath. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
b. God had to punish sin. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.
3. He was broken for us.
a. This would not be fully understood until the Lord’s Supper. This is my body that is broken for you. He passed it out.
b. He became bread and was passed out. He was broken for all of mankind.
c. Feed us. Take life of Jesus so we may life. Become a Christian. To eat this bread is to accept Christ.
d. So many people will not take the bread that will give them life.
Transition: Jesus is the bread of our spiritual lives. Without that bread, we are dead and under punishment. However, those who take that bread will become alive and will be raised from spiritual death. Just one taste is not enough; we must continually feed on the bread of Christ. We must eat it every day like one eats bread and food to stay alive.
II. Christ sustains spiritual life. Vs. 57.
A. The new life only grows and develops as we feed on Christ.
B. We need to live on Christ as He lived on His Father. He always feed on His Father.
C. How? 3 ways He lived on the Father.
1. Feeding on the Word of God.
a. Quiet time. Meditation. Prayer.
b. He is to be our daily bread. Many of us would never think of skipping a meal. Why do we skip something so much more important?
2. Feeding on the will of God.
a. John 4:34- My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
b. Doing the will of God in our lives gives us spiritual nourishment
c. What not to do and what to do.
3. Feeding on the work of God.
a. The doing of God’s work frees our soul.
b. God has prepared all of us for works.
c. Service feeds us. It gives us strength and power.
Transition: We have learned that Christ supplies spiritual life and only through him. We have learned that Christ sustains spiritual life. We need to be constantly eating of the bread of life. It is a day-by-day thing, like eating to maintain physical health. The meal that we eat from Christ is a satisfying meal. It is not bland, it is satisfying. We eat to live, or we live to eat. As a Christian, we should live to eat because Christ is so satisfying.
III. Christ satisfies life. Vs. 35
A. (Isa 55:1 NIV) "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.(Isa 55:2 NIV) Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
B. He who eats physical food will not be satisfied. However, he who eats spiritual food of Christ will always be satisfied. Man’s deepest hunger is spiritual.
C. (Psa 34:10 NIV) The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
D. All of our needs, wants, desires and expectations will be fulfilled in Christ so that we will be completely satisfied. Get a taste of it here but more is coming.
E. Christ promises to feed and cloth those who are His children. May not have a rib eye steak and Tommy Hilfiger clothes, but our needs will be met. (Psa 37:25 NIV) I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
F. Christ gives rest. Complete rest one day.
G. Sense of belonging, sense of accomplishment. Little is much when God is in it, labor not for wealth or fame, there’s a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus’ name.
H. The battle will be won and all soldiers will retire and be honorably discharged.
I. Our work will be well pleasing.
J. No more debts to pay. All paid in full through Christ.
K. Man really hungers for 3 things:
1. God
2. Truth
3. Life. I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.
L. Jesus completely satisfies the soul.
M. Our needs will be satisfied here, while our wants wait for another time and another place. Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
N. Man tries to find his satisfaction in life from many things, but we will never be satisfied until we find that satisfaction in Christ.
Communion:
A. Have communion every Sunday. Why? It is Biblical and it keeps Christ at the center of our worship.
B. Those who are Christians are free to partake.
C. We do not exclude anyone from partaking. Christ is the host of this table.
D. Had Boy Scouts here one young man didn’t know what to do.
E. Eat the bread and drink the cup as it is passed. John 6:53.
F. These are symbols of Jesus and the Sacrifice He paid for us on the cross. He was crushed, baked and broken for us.
G. His blood was shed.
H. Think about Jesus.
I. Communion Hymn
J. Partake
Invitation:
A. The Lord’s Supper and Baptism are acts of both praise and proclamation. In prayer we address God. In preaching we address man. In the communion we talk to both.
B. In this Supper we proclaim to the world our faith in Jesus, while we praise Him who died for us.
C. Snickers, It Really Satisfies.
D. Jesus really satisfies. Without him, no satisfaction, no eternal life.
