JOHN 6:5-11 | ARE YOU WILLING?
Notes
Transcript
JOHN 6:5-11 | ARE YOU WILLING?
JOHN 6:5-11 | ARE YOU WILLING?
ILLUSTRATION: Tressa and Jaxon were going out on a date, just the two of them.
Our kids love to go on mommy and daddy dates.
I love those opportunities to spend that focused time with our kids… we don’t do it enough.
Jaxon is learning to be a little gentleman and was looking forward to this opportunity to take mommy out on a date.
Tressa and Jaxon were heading to the restaurant and as they were, Jaxon determined it was time for him to take charge of this date.
He told his mom, “I don’t know if you’re going to be able to pay this… but you can use my money.”
Now, at any given time, Jaxon has somewhere between $5-$10, so this was shaping up to be a very cheap meal.
Later in the night, Tressa had to get gas and once again, Jaxon stepped into his role on the date and offered to pay for the gas for his mom.
When Tressa shared the story with me, we both laughed a little bit.
But then another lot crossed my mind… I’m thankful our little 6 almost 7 year old boy was willing to use what he had to pay for his date with his mom.
EXPLANATION: Last week we saw as the crowd began to arrive as they were following Jesus.
A multitude likely somewhere between 10,000-20,000 were showing up to listen to the teaching of Christ.
But there was a problem, there wasn’t food to feed this crowd.
Jesus brought this problem to Philip who used all of the human reasoning he could come up with the solve the problem, but what he didn’t realize was the one who had the answer to the problem was standing right before him.
Jesus always knows the answer to every problem you will face in this life.
There is nothing you will go through that Jesus isn’t enough for.
In that moment, Jesus could have snapped His fingers and cheeseburgers could have fallen from the skies.
That may sound crazy, but manna fell from heaven every day for 40 years for the children of Israel, so it could have happened.
Jesus also could have said, “be satisfied” and everyone’s tummies would have been filled.
But Jesus loves to give people an opportunity for Him to use them.
It’s the call of God from Isaiah 6:8
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
God is constantly looking for those who are willing to be used by him
And this day on this grassy mountainside, the story was no different.
And as is so often the case, the answer to the problem, came from an unlikely source.
It came from a little boy… John calls him a “lad”
But this unlikely source was a willing young man that God was able to use!
APPLICATION: Friend, God is looking for some willing people He can use today.
From this crowd of people here this morning, God is looking for some willing hearts that He can use to do His work.
This morning, I want to share a few questions that I hope each person will examine yourself through and determine, “Are you truly willing to be used by God?”
Because while we may say we are… sometimes our words and our actions don’t line up.
For a few moments, let’s answer 3 questions that we find from v.9 in our passage today, and then determine if you are truly willing for God to use you.
V.9, ARE YOU WILLING TO COME TO JESUS?
V.9, ARE YOU WILLING TO COME TO JESUS?
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
EXPLANATION: This seems so simple, but notice where this little lad was… He was “here”
Now, there was no doubt many places he could have been.
They were close to the sea of Galilee, so he could have been fishing
Nearly every day I get asked this question from my oldest… “Dad, can I go fishing?”
This boy could have had a line in the water and a worm on the hook trying to pull in a big catch he could tell everyone about.
He could have been off playing with his friends.
The word “lad” literally means, “little boy”
Little boys love to play… it hasn’t changed in 2000 years.
He could have been out digging a hole, or chasing a cat, or throwing rocks in the water.
This little boy could have been in a lot of places, doing a lot of different things… but he was here… ready to hear from Jesus.
APPLICATION: Friend, how faithful are you to the times when you should be coming to Jesus?
I praise God you are here today, you are doing what the Bible commands for us in Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
It is God’s will and His desire for you to be faithful to the house of God where you can come and learn about God.
I hope each week you are growing from God’s Word and being changed into the image of Christ!
I had someone tell me one time that they didn’t feel I was doing a very good job of convicting people in my messages.
Can I let you in on a secret this morning… it isn’t the preachers job to convict anyone!
It is my job to stand up here and give you the Word of God.
Paul challenged Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-2
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And just a couple verses later Paul writes
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Friend, it is the responsibility of this preacher and any other teacher or preacher to boldly proclaim, not our opinions
Not our personal convictions
Not our traditions we’ve always held.
It is the responsibility of this preacher and anyone else that stands behind this pulpit to PREACH THE WORD!
Because Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
You see, it isn’t my responsibility to “convict” anyone… that responsibility lies in the Word of God and the Spirit of God at work in your life.
But we also know Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Friend, if you don’t experience the conviction of God’s Word during the preaching of God’s Word, it’s because of one of two things is happening… either God’s Word isn’t being preached.
If the day arrives that I as pastor of Whitehall Baptist Church cease to preach the Word of God, and instead spend all my time giving you my opinions on things, throw me out!
The other possibility is the Word is being preached, but the soil of your heart isn’t willing to receive it!
Friend, if God’s Word is preached and you are refusing to respond to God’s Word, you may be in the right place geographically, but it could be that you’re heart isn’t where it should be.
You can spend time with Jesus in the church house…
You should be spending time with Jesus each day as you personally dive into God’s Word!
ILLUSTRATION: When you have a baby, you eventually get to the point that you are feeding it baby food.
That mashed up, liquified stuff you call sweet potatoes or green beans.
And they take that spoon and magically turn it into an airplane and guide it into your mouth.
But if things go right… eventually mom stops feeding you.
Eventually you learned how to pick up the spoon or the fork on your own.
And you weren’t good at it at first, but the more you did it the better you got at it.
Some of you, like me, have gotten really good at it and we should probably take some steps back…
APPLICATION: Friend, do you know what Sunday morning is… It’s when I get to feed you the word of God.
And I do my very best to make it into something that is easy for you to swallow.
But if you only eat on Sunday mornings you are going to struggle to grow.
You need the daily nourishment of God’s Word.
And I know, at first you say, “I don’t understand it all”… that’s fine.
But if you will start that time of Bible reading by asking God to help you to understand, you’ll find with time that you begin to grow all on your own as you study God’s Word!
One of my favorite things to hear as a pastor isn’t, “Pastor that was such a great message”… though that is nice when some of you do share that with me.
My favorite thing to hear is from a Christian who says, “I was reading my Bible this week and I got this…”
Friend, don’t miss that opportunity for a daily relationship with God
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
What happens if you miss a day?
Start again tomorrow.
If you miss a meal, you don’t say, “Well I guess I’ll just stop eating now…”
No, just be faithful to your next meal!
Maybe you need to come to Jesus for the very first time…
Maybe you are here this morning and you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Jesus comes to you this morning and He offers you a gift.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
He offers you the gift of eternal life!
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But Jesus will not force that gift on you.
You must choose to come to Jesus just as you are, and ask Him to forgive your sins.
If you will 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
EXPLANATION: Don’t miss the incredible example of this lad.
He was willing to come to Jesus
Are you willing to come to Jesus?
V.9, ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE TO JESUS?
V.9, ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE TO JESUS?
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
EXPLANATION: Now, I don’t know where everyone else’s lunch was.
We don’t know for certain, but it’s possible there could have been some others there that day that also had brought a little lunch.
But what we do know is this little boy took what little he had and he gave it all to Jesus.
APPLICATION: Did you know that you have been given certain giftings by the Lord?
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes about how God has gifted every person in the church for specific purposes.
In 1 Corinthians 12:7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Every person here has been given gifts from God.
Some of you can are musical
Some of you are mechanical
Some of you know how to work with people
Some of you can connect with people
Some of you have been blessed financially
Some of you have the ability to teach like I could never imagine.
And some of you only using the gifts that God has given you for your glory and for your personal profit.
Some of you have taken the gift God has given you and you have buried it and are unwilling to use it.
ILLUSTRATION: Jesus told the story of 3 men men who were given talents from their master.
Two of them used their talents their master had given them and were blessed for it.
But one of them buried his talent in the earth
When the master came back, he was furious… and he called him a wicked and slothful servant.
APPLICATION: Friend, what are you doing with what God has given you?
Maybe you think, my ability God has given me seems so small and insignificant…
You know, I think that’s probably exactly what that little boy thought on that day too.’
In fact, Andrew even comments to Jesus… “What are they amongst so many”
What he had wasn’t much…
But God isn’t looking for people who think they have something to offer Jesus…
God is looking for people who are willing to give what little they have to Him!
ILLUSTRATION: Moses had just been confronted by God from a bush that was on fire but wasn’t consumed.
At this point in Moses’s life, he had attempted to take things into his own hands to deliver the children of Isreal and killed an Egyptian guard.
When Moses realized Pharoah knew and would be coming to kill him, he ran for his life.
Now for 40 years, he was on the backside of the desert.
And after 40 years of taking care of his father in law’s sheep, God shows up in his life and gives him a purpose.
But Moses is resistance… what is he going to do… he had already tried.
What God had to teach Moses it wasn’t about what Moses could do… it was what God could do through Moses.
In Exodus 4:2 God asks Moses a question
And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
Moses had a wooden rod in his hand.
ILLUSTRATION: As a kid, I can remember going out in the woods there in Indiana, and there were a lot of sticks that became a lot of things in my mind.
Often they were guns… sometimes they were spears.
Usually they were some kind of weapon.
But at the end of the day, they were still just a stick.
ILLUSTRATION: In Moses’s hand he held a stick… a rod.
It was a physical representation of what he had made of his life over the past 40 years.
It was a walking stick that he likely used to help herd his sheep.
But then something happens Exodus 4:17
And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
It was still only a rod… but now it was something that was commissioned by God.
And in v.20, we find out just what had changed: Exodus 4:20
And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
No longer was this just a stick in Moses’s hands… but Moses had taken the weak thing he had and he had given it to God!
It was now God’s Rod!
Now, it would be cast on the ground and turn into a snake that would consume the snakes of the magicians in Egypt.
Now, it would stretch over the Red Sea and God would part the waters with it.
Now, when the children of Israel would battle against the Amalekites in Exodus 17, Moses told the people Exodus 17:9
And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
And when the rod was raised, Israel would win the battle… and when it was lowered, they would begin to lose.
At the end of the day, the composition of the rod never changed…
What changed was that Moses had placed what he had in God’s hands.
And in God’s hands, great things can be accomplished for His glory!
EXPLANATION: The little boy just had 5 little barley loaves, the bread of the poor man, and 2 small fish, which amounted to little more than sardines.
When the statement was made, “what are they amongst so many,” it was the understatement of the year!
But when that little boy was willing to give what he had to Jesus, Jesus took it and did more than anyone ever could have imagined.
APPLICATION: Friend, the gifts God has given you may not seem like much…
But if you will give God what you have, He can do more with it than you ever could have done on your own!
ARE YOU WILLING TO COME TO JESUS?
ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE TO JESUS?
V.9, ARE YOU WILLING TO HUMBLE YOURSELF FOR JESUS?
V.9, ARE YOU WILLING TO HUMBLE YOURSELF FOR JESUS?
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
EXPLANATION: John does something throughout his Gospel that the other synoptic Gospels don’t always do…
I gives backgrounds and insights into some of the stories that the others don’t
For example, this miracle is recorded in all of the Gospels, it’s the only one recorded in all four.
But John is the only one to tell us that the bread came from a little lad.
Often, John gives insight into the names of people that the other writers kept as anonymous.
Except in this situation.
For all of history until we get to eternity, we will only know the boy that gave what he had to Jesus as “a lad”
No name
No defining characteristics.
After v.9, we never hear anything about this lad again.
But maybe that’s the point.
In all of the book of John, he could have given a name to this little boy.
But instead he left him anonymous.
Because the starting point of being most used by God is humility.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
God’s Word is clear, those who are so often greatest used by God are those who know how to humble themselves!
Those who aren’t concerned with recognition… they are just concerned with God’s glory!
APPLICATION: You know, there’s a verse that often only gets used, almost as a threat… but it shouldn’t be.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.
God sees the nursery workers
God sees the people who clean the church
God sees those who come in early and stay late
God sees those who set things up or take things down
God sees when you leave a Gospel tract church invite for someone
God sees when you choose to say “I’m sorry” only to be met with unforgiveness
God sees when you choose to humble yourself
When you set aside your will and are willing to serve and be used by God!
For those seeking man’s praise on this earth, you will get your reward through the praise of man
The applause and the earthly praise will be your reward.
But for those serving behind the scenes in humility, one day God will bring all those hidden works to light, when He says, “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
ILLUSTRATION: 250 years ago, a small, seemingly insufficient group of colonies stood against the greatest military power on earth — their resources, by any honest math (much like Philip's), were not sufficient for the task in front of them.
Many of the individuals who gave everything for that cause — soldiers, farmers, ordinary citizens who sacrificed sons, land, and safety — are unnamed to us today.
Our great nation stands, not because of a few famous names, but because thousands of unnamed people were willing to give what they had.
APPLICATION: Our nation doesn't need more people demanding recognition —
It needs a people willing to humble themselves
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
When God’s people humble themselves, give the little they have in prayer, and truly seek God while turning from wickedness, the promise from God is clear!
God can heal our land!
Maybe this morning, what your family needs is for you to humble yourself, give what you have to God, and come to Jesus.
Maybe this morning, what our nation needs is for you to humble yourself, give what you have to God, and come to Jesus.
Maybe this morning, what our church needs is for you to humble yourself, give what you have to God, and come to Jesus.
Maybe what you need this morning, is to humble yourself, give what you have to God, and come to Jesus!
What miracles will be talked about in heaven one day, because of decisions that are made for the Lord this morning!
Friend, humble yourself!
Give what you have to God!
And let’s come to Jesus right now!
