You're A Miracle!

TEXT: JOHN 6:1-14. AMP

“After this, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Sea of Tiberias). A large crowd was following Him because they had seen the signs (attesting miracles) which He continually performed on those who were sick. And Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down there with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was approaching. Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward Him, and He said to Philip, “Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?” But He said this to test Philip, because He knew what He was about to do. Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii (200 days’ wages) worth of bread is not enough for each one to receive even a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down [to eat].” Now [the ground] there was [covered with] an abundance of grass, so the men sat down, about 5,000 in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; the same also with the fish, as much as they wanted. When they had eaten enough, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and they filled twelve large baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign (attesting miracle) that He had done, they began saying, “This is without a doubt the promised Prophet who is to come into the world!””

Introduction

A. MIRACLES AND THE MULTITUDE

(1) Many followed Jesus to see His miracles

(2) People especially moved by His Power to heal (vs 2).

B. THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THE CROWD (vs 3).

C. QUESTIONS AROSE WHEN THE CROWD APPROACHED AGAIN

(1) Where can we buy food for all these people?

(2) How shall we feed this hungry crowd?

Body

A. WHEN FACING PROBLEMS, REMEMBER HIS POWER(vs 1-7)

1. Problems come to all.

2. Problems are often cantered around People (vs 5)

3. Solutions to problems may require more than we possess.

4. The Lord saw this problem first (vs5)

(a) He let Philip in on the problem to prove him

(b) Jesus knew what He would do before Philip answered

(c) Nothing takes God by surprise.

5. Philip focused on the problem and planned accordingly.

6. He should have focused on the power of Christ and relaxed.

7. With God , nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

B. LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN IT IS GIVEN TO JESUS (vs 8-9)

1. Andrew find a boy.

2. Some focus on problems; others find people with solutions.

3. A boy... His lunch...and The Lord

(a) Only five barley loaves and two small fish

(b) That would be enough to feed 5000 hungry people.

4. God has often used small things to bless many

(a) The widow's mite; David's sling

(b) Moses' rod; Gideon's lamps.

5. When we give what we have to Jesus He multiplies it.

C. WE MUST BE WILLING TO OBEY BEFORE WE ARE READY TO BE BLESSED (vs 10)

1. "Make the men sit down"

2. How humbling this sitting and waiting

(a) Obediently taking their places

(b) Waiting to be fed from the lunch of a child.

3. Different from our worshiping of big names and titles.

4. Our humble Saviour giving thanks for food.

5. Orderly distribution of the food by the disciples

(a) Nothing disorganised about Jesus

(b) He will bring order to our lives.

6. Compare: "as much as they would " to everyone may take a little".

CONCLUSION:

A. The Effect of the Miracle.

1. The twelve baskets left over: perhaps given to the little boy.

2. The people knew that Jesus was the promised One.

B. Key Lessons in the Miracle

1. Hungry souls all about us need the living Bread.

2. Jesus wants to use us and what we have to feed them.