Intro: (Start w/Blank)
A young woman brought her fiancée to meet her parents.
After dinner, her father asked the young man into his study for a chat.
"So, what are your plans?" he began.
"I’m a theology scholar," the young man replied.
"Admirable!" the father said, "But what will you do to provide a nice home for my daughter?"
"I will study and God will provide," he explained.
"And how will you afford to raise children?"
"God will provide."
The men left the study and the mother asked her husband, "How did it go?"
"He has no money or employment plans," the father said.
"But on the other hand, he thinks I’m God."
Discussion:
I don’t know if you have ever been just overwhelmed by the things demanded from you. The boss walks in – “I want those reports – Tomorrow” “I want your stats to rise, and he gives you a plan of action based not on your own personality and skills but something he pulled out of the blue. The spouse says that he/she wants to move and do something that you thought was just a memory. The teacher comes into the class room as asks for something you didn’t think was due. And the thoughts that could run through your mind could possibly be just short of overwhelming. Who do you go to when you are overwhelmed? When things seem just impossible, way out of your league, or beyond your natural abilities…who do you move towards?
This morning our text takes us to a story about Jesus the provider. You see (Advance) – The power to make a difference comes from Jesus, not us. Turn with me in your Bibles to (Advance) on 2 slides break at vs. 13 Luke 9:10-17 (read)
This story is one of the few that is shared in all four gospels. And on the surface it’s what the editors of your NIV bibles say – “the feeding of the 5,000”. It’s a simple story about Jesus providing. As I was studying and reading and looking up words, I was thinking….This is just a story or is it something more. Does it have something else that could speak to us this morning in Piggott? Could this speak to us where we are in this church, as we are in this church? I believe the answer is an overwhelming YES! I see three things this morning that we should know about our Lord and Savior. I want to look at Jesus as the provider and see the things he provides for us. The first is: (Advance)
I. Rest (10-12)
Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgment...Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen." These are the words of Leonardo da Vinci, and no idler he; he excelled as a painter, sculptor, poet, architect, engineer, city planner, scientist, inventor, military genius, and philosopher. Leonardo Da Vinci.
a. Example of God himself
(ask this question) – In the creation story – what did God do on the seventh day?
Claus Westermann says in his commentary – “It is because of God’s rest on the seventh day that his day is holy. The holiness of the seventh day is related to the whole of the now complete work.”
i. What do you mean rest?
1. Possibly sleep – a tired body, a tired mind, a tired heart. – you sleep and might feel restored and ready to go again.
2. Possibly “Away Time” – a time away from whatever it is – you leave and come back, you might have a different perspective.
While those are good things. While those things serve a purpose, let me suggest that Biblical rest is removing those things that cause unrest in the first place. Jesus offers an invitation. (Advance)
Matthew 11:28 – "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Real rest is accomplished when you give to God the control that you never had to begin with. In case you didn’t realize this – you don’t have control over everything. Unfortunately, we are reminded of this when things, situations and people in our lives change. (Advance) A wise man will understand who has the power to change things.
God told the Israelites in (Advance)
Isaiah 30:15 -- "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…
b. Example of Jesus
Jesus withdrew from the crowds and prayed. He found his rest by talking to the father. He found peace in speaking to God in heaven. I wonder if we could gain something by finding our rest in him. This week will present to you times when you just want to give up, but I wonder if this week instead of filling yourself with worry, instead of filling yourself with stress, instead of being overwhelmed by whatever it is – you pray to God and say – “Dear God, please help me with this situation…Allow me to see your will.” What I am suggesting church, (Advance) your thorn bushes won’t all turn to roses, but possibly you might see something God wants to accomplish through you.
i. Jesus took the disciples to rest
1. They came back to tell him everything they had done and taught.
2. They were probably excited about their victories
3. Jesus was probably excited with them.
I can imagine in the distance – Jesus sees the crowds of people coming. They had learned where Jesus and the 12 were and followed. Jesus could have dismissed the crowds – and rightfully so. Jesus could have withdrew further from the crowds – and rightfully so. Instead notice Jesus’ reaction – (Advance)
Luke 9:11 – He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
c. His schedule – your rest
i. He creates something else for you to accomplish
ii. It will make you stronger – he’s not giving you a test so that you can fail, but that you will be stronger and find your strength in him.
Jesus changes from the provider of rest to the provider of: (Advance)
II. Needs (13-15) (Advance)
Matthew 6:25 – Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
a. Jesus gives example of providing needs
i. He heals those who need healing.
ii. He touches those who need touching
iii. He rebukes those who need rebuking
The disciples started to grumble – They were tired. Service to Jesus makes a person tired if they give everything they have.
One time I was at the house of my preacher after Sunday service. He laid back in his chair and watched football. He didn’t talk, he didn’t move. When he did say anything it was with an angry voice. At the time I thought it was rude, but still very forgivable. We were at the North American Christian Convention this year and there were some people on stage doing a skit. He’s the preacher and she’s the preacher’s wife. She says to him, why don’t you try being nice to me after church and mean to the people at church. Service to Jesus isn’t an excuse for rudeness, but it does make a person tired.
The disciples were no different.
b. They were tired
i. They were looking at their watches – “Is he going to keep this up all night?”
ii. They have a board meeting – Luke says they collectively came to Jesus and said to Jesus: (Advance)
Luke 9:12 …"Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."
(I am going to read a poem that I wrote about the disciples) (Advance)
iii. They looked at the need – The need to feed these people was great!
iv. They looked at the time – The time was getting Late
v. They checked the budget – There was nothing to it
vi. They told Jesus – Jesus said, You do it!
Where God leads, he provides. He has done that over and over in scripture. He has done that in my life over and over. Remember the missionaries from VBS – they would say the same. Jesus is the provider of our needs.
One of my favorite hymns is: “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” I want to read you and remind you of the words to that excellent song.
“Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely, and long for Heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion. My constant friend is he. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. I sing because I’m happy – I sing because I’m free, For his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.”
“Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds a-rise, When songs give place to sighing, When hope within me dies, I draw closer to Him, From care he sets me free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he cares for m, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he cares for me. I sing because I’m happy – I sing because I’m free, For his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.”
vii. He provided the solution for the need of salvation (Advance)
1. He willingly, without hesitation faced the pain and struggle of the cross.
2. He died on the cross for your sins and mine – not because it would exalt him, although he is exalted.
3. He provided something you and I couldn’t do for ourselves.
He built a bridge from us to God – the Bible says that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, that was true before it was in the Bible. Jesus stepped out of glory to provide what you and I couldn’t gain for ourselves. We have a need for salvation, but we have a wonderful savior. When he supplies a need we have, we should accept that need, even if it means that we are humbled. Don’t forget that God works through his people to provide for his people. – He uses you and me to help those who are hurting and can’t do for themselves. This story on the surface is about 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. We are very familiar with it. But could it be that this story is also about God doing more than what you could imagine with what you have, if you are willing to do what he wants?
c. They counted the inventory (Advance)
i. 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread
d. They responded accordingly
i. We don’t have enough
In some ways this is a very logical reaction – they didn’t have enough to feed the people. They were tired, they didn’t want to feed the people. They didn’t invite the people over – so in some ways it wasn’t even their responsibility to feed the people. They even said – we’re probably going to have to go to town to buy food – one of the other gospels says, 8 months wages wouldn’t be enough to feed these people.
We fault the disciples a little too much. We get like this too. “God, I am comfortable here where I am – please don’t make me leave” God, I don’t have enough talent to do that.” “God, I am not strong enough, to do that.” “God, I realize you want to use me for great things – but the things around me have a grip on me – I can’t let them go.” Their words were more like – “Hey, Jesus, We can’t feed these people.”
Jesus becomes the provider of our: (Advance)
III. Faith (16-17)
Jesus gives them the food – he puts things in order
a. Jesus gave instructions – “Have them set in groups of 50”
My biggest question is why 50? Why not 70? Why not groups of 100? When I get to heaven, instead of asking why God made the grass is green, or why he created mosquitoes, I am going to ask “WHY 50?” There is no reason given – but when I get to heaven he will give me an answer. The disciples obeyed the instructions of Jesus – everyone sat down. The actual Greek word says that they sat down the way a dinner guest would.
b. Jesus gave thanks
This kinda blows a hole in the “ruba duba dub, thank you for the grub” tradition that is said many times right before a meal. (Advance)
c. We should also give thanks for the meals provided (Advance)
i. God is the provider – not us.
Jesus, after giving thanks he then gives the food to the disciples. Some scholars believe that Jesus had some extra food shoved into a near by cave and brought it out when he needed it. Some scholars believe that Jesus created more bread and less fish, because just like at Lambert’s – you fill up on rolls, you aren’t that hungry for the meal. I believe Jesus had plenty of food and gave from the food God provided.
d. The emphasis isn’t on where the food came from – the people aren’t affected beyond having a need met.
e. The emphasis isn’t on anything but Jesus providing. He provided faith for the disciples. He provides us a reason to believe.
Conclusion:
Are you in need this morning? Maybe you are sitting there wondering if the same God who provided for the people so many years ago, would ever help you. Perhaps you have been tempted and have given into that temptation and you look around and you see nothing but the mess you created and you ask yourself – How could a holy God love me? Maybe you are angry at God this morning. Life is rough – you feel like you have done all the right things, you’ve said all the right things, but God hasn’t been doing for you. I believe this story this morning is connected to a promise in the Bible. I want to read you something this morning – follow along -- (Advance) Revelation 19:9 … ’Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ " And he added, "These are the true words of God."
Jesus provides us with something greater than fish and bread. He provides us with an invitation to the wedding supper. We are given the invitation to be with him in heaven for rest. But the invitation is now. The invitation is for you and for me to come and be with him, to grow with him, to do his will, to be blessed not only in the life to come, but the blessing is for here and now. The rest is for the right now, and the right here.
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as lord and savior the sad thing is, you won’t have the blessing, or an invitation to the wedding supper. He will deny knowing you. Not because you have done something bad, but because you don’t know him. The invitation in this church this morning is for you. Maybe you have been walking away from Christ in your walk with him. Maybe somewhere along the way you’ve stopped holding hands with the savior – it’s time to renew, Please come as we stand and sing.
