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Raising Heroes for Christ
John 6:1-35
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Grayson Baptist Church - June 10, 2012
(Adapted from sermon preached at McClendon Baptist Church - Feb. 25, 2007)
*George Washington is called the “Father” of our country, and rightly so.
What a hero he was.
Historian James Flexner called Washington "the indispensable man."
Richard Smith said, "If George Washington had not existed there arguably would have never been an American Republic."
(1)
*Ron Hutchcraft described Washington’s leadership this way: "King George and his army must have been having a good laugh.
George Washington and his Continental Army had been whipped in battle after battle in their campaign to become independent from Britain.
British troops had driven the Americans out of New York City, across the Hudson River, across New Jersey, and finally into Pennsylvania.
*Then came the winter of 1777, at a place outside of Philadelphia called Valley Forge.
On Dec. 19, 1777, Washington's poorly fed, ill-equipped army staggered into Valley Forge, weary from long marches.
Winds blew as the 12,000 soldiers prepared for winter's fury.
Only about one third of them had shoes, and many left a trail of bloody footprints.
The army was ravaged by sickness and disease that killed 2,500 men that winter.
*“Discouragement and defeat may have been their worst enemies.
But General Washington wasn't about to let those enemies win.
He fought back by ordering his soldiers to begin fortifying their camp.
Then the drills began, while Washington worked on getting more recruits and building his army into a real fighting force.
*Many historians believe that the outcome of America's battle for independence was decided at Valley Forge more than in any battle . . .
One army went into the winter at Valley Forge - divided, discouraged, demoralized.
Another army emerged from that winter.
They were unified, fortified, and confident . . .
(2)
*Washington was a great hero who trusted in our great God.
Once he prayed this prayer: "Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ."
(3)
*Our children may never be great Presidents like Washington, but they can certainly be great heroes for Jesus Christ.
Jesus can turn our children into heroes for His Kingdom.
And we can help.
Let’s look into the Word of God and see how.
1.
First, make the sacrifice for our children.
*You have to read between the lines here to see the sacrifice here, but somebody made a sacrifice for this boy.
Think about this most unusual situation.
It was an enormous crowd, 5,000 men plus women and children, maybe 15 or 20 thousand people in total.
*The Book of Mark tells us they were out in the country in a deserted place.
Jesus and the disciples had gone there trying to be alone for some needed rest.
But the people saw them leaving, and many ran to follow them.
*Why the rush; why the excitement?
-- John 6:2 tells us that it was because they had seen the Lord’s signs or miracles.
Many had been healed, -- even people who were paralyzed and blind, even people with leprosy.
Demons had been cast out.
People had even been raised from the dead!
*So there was this mad rush to get to Jesus, and in that rush, almost no one had brought food.
Mark 6:34-36 sets the scene:
34.
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.
So He began to teach them many things.
35.
When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.
36.
Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."
*Jesus knew that he was going to feed those people.
But He tested Philip’s faith and that’s when Andrew brought this little boy to Jesus.
In vs. 9, Andrew said, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"
*This was the only food in the whole crowd.
Where did it come from?
-- Probably from the boy's parents.
But one thing is sure: It had to come from someone who cared.
And I believe they gave that boy their best, because they must have been in the crowd that day too, without any food of their own.
*Would you let your little boy go wandering off alone to the middle of nowhere?
Would you let him go alone in that crowd of people?
Somebody was there with that boy, and they had given him their best.
*That’s what God wants us to do for our children: Give them your best.
I’m not talking about paying $200 for a baseball glove or $3,000 for a set of golf clubs or giving them a BMW for their 16th birthday.
I am talking about giving your best, living your best, sacrificing yourself, sacrificing your selfish wants and wishes for what really matters, caring for children the way Jesus cares for them.
*In Matthew 10:42, Jesus said, "Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."
*And in Matthew 18:5-6, Jesus said:
5. "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
6. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
*Make the sacrifice for our children: The children in your family, the children in our church, and the children in our community.
-Jesus can turn our children into heroes, but we can help, so sacrifice for them.
2. And see their potential.
*We have to realize that our children have something to offer God.
Yes, they have great potential for the future, but God can even use them today, just like He used this little boy.
*Right now what they have may seem very small, like those 5 little barley loaves and 2 sardine-sized fish.
But a little is a lot in the Hands of God!
That was true of the lunch, true of this little boy, and true of our children too!
*We have to recognize that our children have something great to offer God:
-They can offer Him themselves.
-They can give their hearts to the Lord.
(That’s what He wants more than anything else.)
-And they can have a great impact on God’s Kingdom right now.
*Wallace Chappell tells the great story of a little girl who came down front after one of his revival sermons.
This shy, little girl told the preacher about a phone call she received the day before.
The call was from a lady who was visiting in the city from out of state.
She had dialed the wrong number.
*The little girl didn’t know her, but she began to talk to her, and she even invited the lady to her church.
Then the little girl got excited as she told the preacher, "The lady said she hadn't been inside a church in 20 years.
But she was at church tonight!
I talked to her.
And when you asked for people to accept Jesus, she was one of those who came forward!" (4)
*And I know we don’t usually want our children to talk to strangers.
But that lady from out of town got saved!
She was from out of state, and she had a dozen reasons not to go to church.
But God used a little invitation from a little girl to help that lady come to Jesus!
*That woman will spend forever in Heaven, because God was able to use that little girl.
And He can use our children too.
3. Jesus can turn our children into heroes, and we can help.
So sacrifice for them, see their potential, and steer them to the Lord.
*Do everything you can to help steer children to the Lord.
In vs. 8&9, when they began to search for food:
8.
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
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