The Trouble With Our Sufficiency

Report (vs.1-4)

Riddle(vs.5-6)

Replies(vs.7-9)

Lack of Money

200 pennyworth

a working man was content with a penny as fair for a days wage of work. Phillip is saying that 2/3 of a persons annual income doesn’t even come close to feeding this multitude. $63,000 is the annual income of a single person in 2022. $42,000 is about 2/3 on the annual income.

So they definitely couldn’t buy food.

Lack of Materials

5 loaves and 2 fishes

Even if they had the money to get the bare minimum, the average price of bread in the US is $1.75. That adds out to 24,000 loaves of bread.

We’d probably have to go to 2,400 grocery stores, or more to get that amount of bread (this is the bare minimum!)

Lack of Motivation

They may take a little(vs.7), Little Lad, “What are they among so many?”

What people would think would be an obscure person for God to use is just what God is looking for.

Andrew had already given up! (What are they among so many?)

They had little bread, a little boy, and little belief. THAT’S THE TROUBLE WITH OUR SUFFICIENCY. WE HAVE LITTLE!

Request(vs.10-11)

Jesus said, y’all sit down and watch what’s about to happen.

He created all things

Colossians 1:16 KJV 1900

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

He’s the bread of life

King James Version Chapter 6

48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

He own’s all things

Psalm 50:10–12 KJV 1900

For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: And the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Result(vs.12-13)

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:20 KJV 1900

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

He was the flour, oil, and 2 sticks for the widow woman.

He was the rock that Moses smote.

He was the man that hung on the cross, so you wouldn’t have to go to hell! He was the sufficient sacrifice!

He was the grace that was sufficient for Paul’s side. (Jesus was full of grace and truth!)

2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV 1900

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Our efficiency turns out to be a deficiency unless we have God’s sufficiency.

—The Vance Havner Quote Book

Havner, Vance