Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Personal example of UFM Sponsorship
• Numbers are given in this passage:
• 5000 men
• 5 barley loaves and 2 fish
• Why the details given?
• Can 5 loaves and 2 fish provide for about 10'000 people?
• Recorded in all 4 gospels - this is a significant and important miracle
• Repeated miracles: He fed the 4000 on the plain
• E.g. The catch of fish
• They are precious lessons for our life
• Repeated teachings:
• The sermon on the mount
• The sermon on the plain
• Hard teachings and teachings of great comfort
• Last week's message
• Series: "People Jesus Met"
• Could have gone on to the woman caught in adultery
• Jesus meeting a needy crowd
• Overview:
• His Pity
• His Provision
• His Power

His Pity

• Luke 9:10
• The disciples needed some private time but the crowds followed them
• Jesus had compassion and pity for these crowds
• Jesus saw them as sheep without a Shepherd
• John 6:2
• Some only came because of the miracles He performed
• He healed them all (Luke)
• He taught them many things (Mark)
• Example of DL Moody
• We need to be a minute man
• We are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus
• This is a wonderful example of Jesus serving others
• We are called to a life of service
• May it be that we become like the Lord Jesus
• Concerned for the multitudes around who are going to hell without Christ
• May it be that we are moved to help those around us
• We will never love the masses and pray for them unless we come to Christ
• Have we yielded our life to Christ?

His Provision

• Linked to Jesus' Pity
• God cares for all people
• We see Jesus provision for all those who didn't say thank you or maybe didn't like Him
• v5-6 - Jesus is testing Philip
• 'Philip - do you believe that I am a God who can provide?'
• Philip had been one of the disciples sent out two-by-two and known God's provision
• 'Philip - You trusted me in the little things, will you trust me in the bigger things?'
• v7 - Philip's response
• Is there cynicism or transparency in his voice?
• He is not believing
• What is our response?
• Do we question God's provision?
• Do we say that God cannot because we are sinners?
• Example of Hudson Taylor
• Do we believe that God uses you and me?
• Example of George Muller
• We look up to these people but do we trust God in love and faith?
• We have seen funds provided for the refurbishment
• God tests us - do we look to God as the great provider?

His Power

• He blesses the bread and fish and they begin to multiply
• Ordered dissemination of the food to groups of 50-100 (compare other gospel accounts)
• Mark 6:41 - He gives thanks once but keeps on giving
• A miracle out of nothing
• You either believe this or you don't
• Do you pick and choose what you will believe?
• Example of Billy Graham
• God is able to do unusual and wonderful things
• We need to look to Him
• We need to seek first the Kingdom of God
• God has promised He will meet the needs of His people
• Rom 8:32

Closing Remarks