Fall Forward

Intro

John 6:1–15 NIV

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

God does not call the Equipped, rather He Equips the Called.

I made that statement in a board meeting years ago, and was promptly yelled at. “That isn’t true. God calls the equipped all the time!”

No God calls people that are willing to rely on Him. If you have everything you need for a task you won’t rely on God.

If you hear God ask you to do something and you get nervous. That does not mean you heard wrong. That likely means you heard correctly.

Why would God ask me or you to do something that we cannot? Because it force us to rely on Him

Why did God lead Isreal to the edge of the red sea? Because they cannot part it. But He can!

Why did God have Israel march around Jericho when they can do nothing to the wall? Because God Can tear it down!

Why did Jesus wait until Lazarus died? So God could raise him to life!

Why did God call Moses to stand before Pharoah? so that the world would know it wasn’t Moses, but Jehovah!

Why Does God choose you and me? So that He will shine in the darkness!

Can I have your Lunch?

So Here a situation where you have upwards of 20K people, the disciples want to send everyone home. But Jesus says: “No! You take car of it.” Now He says this completely understanding they have no ability to solve this. He is placing them in an impossible situation.

John 6:7 NIV

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

It’s impossible Jesus!

So the word gets out. Jesus needs food! Does anyone have anything to bring to Jesus?

Do you? You? Any thing for Jesus?

You can see the Holy Spirit begin to move as He does. quietly going from one to another? DO you have anything I can use? Can I have your lunch? Can I have your snack? Can I use you?

He Goes from one to the next, to next until someone hears and answers. Use me! Use my lunch!

Do you have faith in Jesus?

Imagine with me, there are 20K people there. Listening to Jesus! Hearing about the kingdom. I’m sure Amen’ng and praising God. Glory to God. Religious, wealthy. qualified, “the right people.”

So here is the Holy Spirit going across the congregation, whispering can I use your lunch?

Ahh No I only have enough for my family

Can I use your snack? Ahh, I have to save it for later

Can I use your breakfast? Ahh, I’m not good enough

Your dinner? Jesus can use someone else. I don’t have time to walk all the way up there.

Or how about this?

the Holy Spirit saying can I use your finances to reach the lost? Sorry I have to save for retirement.

Can I use you to teach this class? Sorry, I don’t have time.

So Here is Jesus on this Hillside, and where will the Father bring the provision from?

the Qualified? the Religious? the best leaders? the best dressed? the most money? Nope

John 6:9 ESV

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

This is how we are! Imagine this crowd, and everyone that rejected the Lord. Then God comes to this young boy, and whispers, can I use your lunch? Yes, God. the boy runs up and finds Andrew, “All I have is some fish and some bread that my mom gave me.” Can Jesus use this?

Closing:

Do you have time for Jesus?

Will you give Jesus your Lunch?

I can imagine the snickers the boy would have gotten, the lunch wouldn’t feed hardly anyone. What that boy doing, he has nothing. He doesn’t have the right food, the right clothes, the right training. Maybe he doesn’t tithe, maybe he cusses. He is 12. Rough around the edges for sure.

He may not have much to offer, but what he has, he gives to Christ!

Faith Promise!

Whatever Else God calls you too!