Text LUKE 9:10-17
-10- When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,
-11- but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
-12- Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "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."
-13- He replied, "You give them something to eat."
They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."
-14- (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."
-15- The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.
-16- Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
-17- They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
INTRODUCTION
A. Only miracle recorded in all four gospels.
B. Turning point of Christ ministry.
C. Marked end of year in Galilee, the preparatory stage, and introduced His main work.
D. He had just sent out the disciples on their first preaching tour and they had just returned with good news.
CENTRAL THESIS:
This story has not only three characteristics but they are also three attitudes that we need to consider carefully
I. A PRESSING NEED - The people
A. The first pressing need was for rest.
- Both Jesus and the disciples needed rest from their labors.
- Sometimes personal need must give way to the needs of others.
- Christ remained calmed and welcomed them.
- He had compassion for crowds - The rest of today is often a new opportunity for service.
B. There was also a spiritual need.
- He taught them about the kingdom of God.
- They listened for the whole day.
- "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee." (Augustine)
C. There was also a physical need.
- They were so absorbed in the teaching and healing they neglected their need for food.
- This was an uninhabited place and hence there was no source of food.
- How could he send them away hungry?
II. A POWERLESS CHURCH - The disciples
A. A challenge - "You give them something to eat."
- Mark 6 says "They said to him, 'That would take eight months of a man's wages or 200 denarii.
- Jesus needed to teach them a lesson that the power that we have is not of ourselves.
B. A confession - "We only have 5 loaves and 2 fish."
- They were forced to admit that all they collected was a meager boy's lunch.
- They had to realize that they could not do the task by themselves.
- They didn't realize "little is much if God is in it."
C. A compromise - "Send the multitude away."
- They only saw one way out, send them away.
- We often are like them and see things only through the sight and not through faith.
III. A PERFECT SAVIOR - The Master
A. The command - "Make them sit down."
- If God must use us there must be perfect obedience.
- We have to yield ourselves to Him.
- Let Him take over the driver's seat.
B. The secret - "He took".
- They needed to realize the Jesus was the Omnipotent God.
- He is awesome.
C. The blessing - "He blessed".
- He prayed over the bread.
- Whatever we do is ineffectual with out God's benediction.
D. The Supply - "They did eat, and were all filled."
- They had enough to eat and be filled.
- There was even 12 baskets left over.
- We can never deplete God's storehouse - Building this building at Six Roads.
CONCLUSION
- God is not looking at out ability.
- He is looking at our availability.
- We must learn to depend on Him.
- Worth of Christian work is in direct proportion to the devotion of God's people.
- Christ must be all in all or not at all; if He is not Lord of all He is not Lord at all.
- What is your need today? People need the Lord.