Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Various ways to fail God
  • Transgression of God's Law
  • Sins of omission
  • The easiest way to fail - to worry ... and not trust God
• We worry - examples
  • It is right to be concerned but not to worry that erodes trust in God
  • Matt 6 - Jesus speaks often about worry in this chapter v25, 27, 28, 31, 34
• It is a command not to worry, "be anxious about nothing"
  • It is also an encouragement - the Christian is not to be weighed down and troubled
    • We have Jesus' peace
    • We have the peace of God
• We often fail and worry - like the disciples
  • John 6 - the apostles must have been very worried when Jesus told them to feed the multitude 5,000
    • In their minds it was an impossibility - the must have been troubled
    • Their idea - to send the people away to get food (very pragmatic)
      • Perhaps they thought it was the people's responsiblity
  • Jesus was very calm, trusting on His Father
    • He was the opposite of the disciples
• Focusing on v5 - "Where shall we buy bread, that these might eat?"
  • How would you respond to this?

A Test

• A test - focusing on Philip, Andrew and Simon Peter - who all lived in Bethseda, near to where they were
  • Jesus knew what He was going to do
• Philip - did not say 'you know', 'you can do all things', instead he said it is 'impossible'
• Is this not typical of you and me?
  • Instead of trusting God we say 'impossible'
  • How do we react to these tests?
• Jesus calls us to faith - examples
  • Faith as small as a mustard seed is enough
  • Let us hold onto Him
  • We must be practical and wise, but always to trust in God

God uses means

• Where shall we buy bread - Jesus wanted to involve the disciples
• This miracle is recorded in all 4 gospels (the only other miracle recorded in all 4 gospels is the resurrection of Jesus Christ)
  • It is important
  • There is another miracle with the feeding of the 4,000
• God calls us to exercise faith and wants to use us
  • In 2 of the gospels - Jesus says 'you give them something to eat'
    • Jesus did not need to use the disciples
  • God often uses His people to meet the needs of others
    • He often wants to use us
• Jesus first uses Philip, then Andrew, then a little boy
  • They are waiters and stewards
• Give what you have - if everyone gives a little, this yields a lot
  • Example in Church
  • Example of the lady with two mites
  • Example of Moses, David, the disciples - there is no impediment
• There are all sorts of ways in which we can serve God
  • Use the little we have - because God uses means

A demonstration of who Jesus is and what He has come to do

• There is a certainty and purpose in His words
• We see His compassion and His concern for people
  • Despite being so busy they didn't have time to eat, they went to a quiet place, and John the Baptist had recently been beheaded
    • If anyone had reason to worry and rest - it was Jesus Christ
  • However, He did not turn the multitudes away - they were sheep without a shepherd
    • He taught them all day long
    • He had compassion on them
    • He was concerned for them - for their souls and their body
    • This was a contrast to the disciples
• He was a Shepherd to the people
  • Psalm 23
• The Passover
  • Chapter 6 - Jesus says He is the bread of life
  • The time to remember Moses bringing out the people from the bondage of Egypt
    • Explanation
  • A prophet like unto Moses - Deut
    • The Passover Lamb is amongst the people
    • Offering Himself as the bread of life
    • Reading 6:26-35
  • The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 points to something far greater and deeper
• Come to God for who He is - not for a miracle
  • All that believe in Him will have everlasting life
  • He is the bread of life that comes down from heaven
• Challenge:
  • Have you believed in Him?
  • Have you fed upon Him?
  • Have you received Him?
  • We offer Jesus Christ the word of God
  • If you believe in Him you can have eternal life

Closing Remarks

• There were 12 baskets left over
  • We are not to waste
  • More importantly - God blesses abundantly
    • John 10:10
    • Jesus will give you life in all it's fullness
• Come to Him today
  • Do not live a life of worry but trust
  • Trust in God
  • Do not be burnt out but be blessed
  • Quote from Robert Morriston