(KJV)

John 6:5–9 KJV 1900

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

“It’s In The Lord’s Hands Now”

Let me began this morning, with a classic poem by “Myra Brooks” at an auction that took place. there was a violin that came up for bidding. The violin didn’t look like much, it didn’t seem like much and so the auctioneer opened the bidding at a hundred dollars. But when he opened the bidding at a hundred dollars, no one bided on this violin. Seventy-five dollars, still no bid. Fifty dollars, still no bid. And then this gentleman walked from the back of the room to the front. His name was Felix Mendleson; a master violinist. He took the violin and made a few minor adjustments. After making the adjustments, Felix Mendleson began to play some of the most beautiful music these folk had ever heard. After he finished he went back to his seat and the auctioneer again started the bidding off with a hundred dollars. Two hundred dollars; three hundred dollars; five hundred dollars; seven hundred dollars; and the violin sold for a thousand dollars. There was a young boy there that had attended the auction with his father. And he asked his father why is it that the violin that wouldn’t sell for a hundred dollars at first, ended up selling for a thousand dollars? He father candidly answered, “because it had been touched by the master.”

et me began this morning, my brothers and sisters, by first saying that a story was told about an auction that took place. And when this auction took place there was a violin that came up for bidding. The violin didn’t look like much, it didn’t seem like much and so the auctioneer opened the bidding at a hundred dollars. But when he opened the bidding at a hundred dollars, no one bided on this violin. Seventy-five dollars, still no bid. Fifty dollars, still no bid. And then this gentleman walked from the back of the room to the front. His name was Felix Mendleson; a master violinist. He took the violin and made a few minor adjustments. After making the adjustments, Felix Mendleson began to play some of the most beautiful music these folk had ever heard. After he finished he went back to his seat and the auctioneer again started the bidding off with a hundred dollars. Two hundred dollars; three hundred dollars; five hundred dollars; seven hundred dollars; and the violin sold for a thousand dollars. There was a young boy there that had attended the auction with his father. And he asked his father why is it that the violin that wouldn’t sell for a hundred dollars at first, ended up selling for a thousand dollars? He father candidly answered, “because it had been touched by the master.”

I wonder, I wonder is there anybody here this morning that will admit that your life was like my life? It didn’t have much meaning? It didn’t seem like much? Didn’t have any value at all? Folk really didn’t put much stock in us until we met Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and allowed Him to be Lord of our life? I don’t know about you but the only difference between my life then and my life now is that I have been touched by the Master’s hand. Have I got a witness here?

Here in our text, John chapter 6 which takes place at the Sea of Galilee as Jesus and His disciples crossed over to the other side. Jesus had just finished preaching and teaching to this crowd of people and decided to get away, alone with His disciples. But this crowd seen Jesus crossing over the Sea of Galilee and they knew where He was going. And so this great multitude took a four-mile journey around the Sea of Galilee in order to get to where Jesus was.

Now as I was looking at this, I noticed that all four gospel writers write on this. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each give an account of the feeding of the five thousand with two little fish and five loaves of bread. But one of the things that really stood out with me is where it took place. John said that it took place in a mountain on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The other gospel writers said that it took place in a desolate place, in a desert area. John said it took place in a mountain that was elevated. Matthew, Mark and Luke said that it took place in a desolate, desert place that was out. I could not help but to wonder why would one say that it took place in a mountain that was elevated and the others say it was in a desert that was barren? But then I discovered that there are those of us that can be elevated yet barren. Have I got a witness? There are those of us that can be high and dry. There are some people who are up and out. We like to talk about ministering to the down and out. And we need to minister to the down and out but I’ve discovered that you can also be up and out. Help me here somebody. There are those who are elevated and barren. Those who are high and dry. You are up and out. You’re up in prominence, you’re up in prestige, you’re up in position. You’re up in popularity, you’re up in possessions, but you’re out of touch with God.

It’s In The Lord’s Hands Now / page 2

That’s what’s going on in this passage of Scripture, folk were elevated and barren, high and dry, up and out. And as they came, Jesus began to deal with them. And of course you do know that it doesn’t matter whether you’re in the mountain or the desert, Jesus can handle it? Have I got a witness? Y’all do know that God can work in the mountains, don’t you? Well, you don’t have to take my word for it you can ask Abraham. Abraham was on Mount Moriah and God provided him a ram in the bush. Abraham will tell you God can work in the mountains. Ask Elijah. Elijah was on Mount Carmel and God provided fire from on high. Elijah will tell you God can work in the mountains. Ask Moses. Moses was on Mount Heron and God gave him the Ten Commandments. Moses will tell you God can work in the mountains. Or you can ask Jesus. Jesus was on Mount Calvary when He died for the sins of the world. You may be in a mountainous area but God can work in the mountains. Have I got a witness here?

But not only can He work in the mountains, He can work in the deserts. You don’t believe me, ask Hagar. When Abraham put her out, God made a way for her in the desert. Ask Jacob. Jacob wrestled with the angel until God blessed him in the desert. Ask the children of Israel. God fed them with manner from on high in the desert. Ask Jesus. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights and God showed up with an angel in the desert. Somebody here this morning may be up or down, in or out, high or low, but I serve a God that can meet you in the mountains and in the deserts. Have I got some more help in here?

Here in this text this morning . I see Christ’s Expectations, the Christians’ Excuses, and the Child’s Example. Are you interested? Don’t fool me now, have you got a few minutes?

First I see Christ’s Expectations. Shout that back at me say, “Christ’s expectations!” Look at verse 5.

John 6:5 KJV 1900

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

Here come these people in the mountains and in the deserts. And as they come verse 5 says, “Jesus lifted up His eyes and saw a great company.” But then after He looked at the crowd, He looks to His disciples. Now watch His expectations. He looks at the crowd and then He looks at the Christians because Jesus expects Christians to participate in meeting the needs of the crowd. Have I got a witness? See, Jesus could have did it all by Himself but He expects you and I to participate in meeting the needs of the community.

Now the interesting thing is that when the disciples seen that these folk were hungry, the other gospel writers said that they said, “send them away that they might get something that might be in villages nearby.” Now watch now, these folk were empty and hungry and they had needs that had not been met and here go the people of God, the church folk saying, “send them away.” Don’t you know, that oftimes we try to send folk away for the very same reason they came? Can’t get much help in here now. People come to us with need but we tell them to go somewhere else to get their needs met. But Jesus knew that these people were too empty to make it through mountains and deserts. They didn’t have enough in them to make it in the first place that’s why they came. Somebody in here right now, you’re too empty to make it by yourself. You got too much of a void, that’s why you came. And God is looking for the people of God to participate in meeting the needs of his people. Have I got some help in here?

But you know what? I’ve discovered that oftimes many of us are disturbed by the community. We look in the community and see all of the unmet needs. We see all of those burdens and trials and we keep trying to send folk off other places. But you know what God wants us to do? Jesus wants us, when we see the community and when our community is in a crisis, He want us to look at that as an opportunity for service. Have I got a witness? Too many of us, that kind of stuff get on our nerves. I can’t stand this, I can’t stand that. The police ought to do something about this; the mayor ought to do something about that. No, no, no! It is an opportunity, when our community is in a crisis, for the Christians to pull together and do

It’s In The Lord’s Hands Now / in the master’s hands

what Jesus expects for us to get done. Christ has expectations. Christ expects Christians to deal with the crisis.

But the problem, is that when Christ has His expectations, the Christians have their Excuses. Shout that back at me say, “the Christians excuses!” I know they had excuses because it’s in the text. In verse 5, Christ tells what He expects. He expects the crowd to be fed; He expects their needs to be met. But you know what Philip said? Philip began to give stats and statistics as to why we cannot do what Jesus expect. And I need to pause with patients here and say that I’ve been around church long enough to know that God can give vision, and Jesus can tell the church what to do, but then in church meeting, in business meeting, in board meeting, or even behind closed door’s, there’s always somebody that wants to give stats and statistic as to why we cannot do what Jesus has just asked us to do. Now I ain’t talking about nobody, I’m just talking about what’s right here in the text.

Philip began to give the facts and the figures on why we can’t do it. He began to count bodies, budgets, and bread. He said we got too many bodies here. Five thousand folk. And our budget is too small. He started talking about, “if we had.” And don’t you know, we got folk like that in the church today? They know what the church ought to be doing but they start talking about, “we’d do it, if we had.” Folk say stuff like, “Pastor, if I hit the lottery, the church is set.” No it ain’t. Because I already know that if you ain’t gonna give God a dollar when you got ten dollars, you ain’t gonna give Him a million when you got ten million. Philip said two hundred pennyworth of bread is not enough. He was counting bodies, budgets and bread. Philip came up with facts and figures as to why we cannot do what Jesus wants us to do. Philip'’ excuse was what we could do if we had.

Andrew had a different excuse. Andrew’s excuse was what we cannot do with what we have. Verse 9.

John 6:9 KJV 1900

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

He said, “There’s a lad here with 5 barley loaves and 2 fishes; but what are they among so many?” His excuse is what we cannot do with what we have. Christ had expectations and the Christians had excuses but the good thing is that Andrew had a way of bringing folk to Jesus. In verse 8 it mentions that Andrew is the brother of Simon Peter. Evidently, the folk to whom John was writing was more familiar with Peter than they were with Andrew. But if you remember correctly, it was Andrew who brought Peter to Jesus. He had a habit of bringing folk to Jesus. Y’all remember the Greeks that went to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover, and they were looking for Jesus? They said to Andrew, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” Andrew brought them to Jesus. He’s got a habit, I tell you, of bringing folk to Jesus.

But now look at who he’s got this time. Andrew brings this little boy to Jesus. And what I like about Andrew is that he brings to Jesus folk who really don’t count. And I say that because in this passage of Scripture they only counted the men. They didn’t count the women or the children. And I’m sure that crowd had folk in it with prominence, prestige and position. I’m sure some of’em had popularity and possessions. Some were so-called big folk but Andrew didn’t limit himself to the big folk in the crowd because there’s some little folk in the crowd that God can use. So he goes and he gets one that other folk didn’t even count. Somebody here this morning, you think you’re not important; you think you really don’t matter much. You feel like you have no value at all. But I rose this morning to let you know that God has a way; oh I wish I had some more help in here. God can reach down in the midst of a crowd of so-called somebodies and pull up what other folk called nobodies and make a somebody out of’em and use them in His service. Have I got a witness in here?

Andrew brings this boy to Jesus but he began to tell Jesus what we cannot do with what we have. somebody here at fourth street is telling jesus even if we had, somebody here at fourth street is bringing to jesus that which he blessed us with and telling him what we can’t do with what we have. lord have mercy. Christ has His expectations and the Christians have their excuses, but what we’ve got to learn to do is follow this Child’s Example.

It’s In The Lord’s Hands Now / page 4

Shout that back at me say, “the Child’s Example.” Watch him now. Little boy, little lunch, little bread, little fish, but big responsibility. Now why is it that Jesus expects for us to do big things with little stuff? I mean, it would seem like if He gives us big responsibility, He should give us big resources. Why would He give us little and expect us to do much? I’ve discovered that the reason is because God is gonna have a hand in it. If He gave you all of the resources you needed to meet your responsibilities, you wouldn’t let Him have a hand in it. if God just gave we would never give God the glory God deserves.

Shout that back at me say, “the Child’s Example.” Watch him now. Little boy, little lunch, little bread, little fish, but big responsibility. Now why is it that Jesus expects for us to do big things with little stuff? I mean, it would seem like if He gives us big responsibility, He should give us big resources. Why would He give us little and expect us to do much? I’ve discovered that the reason is because God is gonna have a hand in it. If He gave you all of the resources you needed to meet your responsibilities, you wouldn’t let Him have a hand in it. if God just gave we would never give God the glory God deserves.

Somebody in here right now, you’ve got little gifts, little talents, little time, little money. And you’re comparing it to how big somebody else’s is. And you’re thinking ain’t no need of me giving my little bit. If I give my little it won’t even be appreciated. And if I don’t give it, it won’t even be missed. But you need to follow this child’s example and bring you gift and give it to Jesus. Because when your little gets in the Lord’s hands! Oh I wish I had somebody to witness with me that little become much when it’s placed in the Master’s hand.

Because I’ve discovered, , that it makes a difference whose hand it’s in. Because value is determined by whose hand it’s in. Some of y’all look confused, but let me see if I can help you. A basketball in my hands is worth about 40 dollars; but that same basketball in Stef Curry’s hands is worth 200 million dollars. It all depends on whose hands it’s in. A football in my hands is worth about 48 dollars; but that same football in Cam Newton’s hands is worth 103 million dollars. It depends on whose hands it’s in. A baseball bat in my hands is worth 49 dollars; but a baseball bat in A Rod.’s hands if worth 317 million dollars. It just all depends on whose hands it’s in.

I’m gone when I tell you, that’s why I’m putting it all in Jesus hands. All of my burdens, all of my problems, unanswered questions, I put it all in His hands. No matter how great, no matter how small, Jesus can answer then all. I put it all in His hands whatever the problem put it all in his hands. Somebody asked, “what can you put in His hands?” This and that. This, this and that. This, this, this and that. He can handle it, that’s a fact. Put it all in His hands. Just like that little lad who gave Jesus all he had and the multitude was fed with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. What you have may not seem much but when you yield it to the touch of the Master’s loving hand, then you’ll understand how your life will never be the same. Just give God your all. No matter how small

your all may seem to you. Because little becomes much when you place it in the Master’s hand. Somebody say yess!!!

Amen!