The Lord's Supper Series

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.