“I Will Not Send Them Away”

Text: Matthew 15:32-39

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (11/10/02)

Introduction:   

ILLUS: Fish live in Water – Fish that jumped out of my aquariums as a kid.  Very few survived.

We were designed to live in the environment of God.

Acts 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Colossians 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

We need the LORD more than our garden needs the sunshine or the rain.  We need Him more than the air we breathe.

Here is the feeding of the 4,000.  This is a separate miracle from the feeding of the 5,000.

5,000 – 5 loaves and 2 fishes (12 baskets left over)

4,000 – 7 loaves and a few fishes (7 baskets left over)

5,000 – Focus on Disciples – Illustrating Divine Supply for ministry

4,000 – Focus on Multitude – Illustrating man’s deep need and the Lord’s deeper still compassion.

Jesus said, “I will not send them away”.

Jesus did not say that because He needed the multitude, But the multitude needed Jesus!!

Their needs were not met because of their ability to procure the necessary help from Christ.   -    But because of His sufficiency and His desire, and His initiative in meeting their needs.

There are several reasons why Jesus would not send the multitude away.

Every reason illustrates another aspect of our deep need for God.

I. Because of His Compassion on Them

ILLUSTRATES OUR HELPLESSNESS

A. Resides in His Nature

He said “I Have” compassion, NOT “I will have” or “I would like to have” or “I will work it up”.

Psalms 86:15  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Think of....

1) Adam & Eve – Sinned, but God had already provided salvation in His infinite wisdom and grace.

2) Noah – Found grace in the eyes of the Lord

3) Israel – Time and again we see the longsuffering of God’s compassion.

What does that mean for us?

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

B. Results from His knowledge of us.

Compassion / mercy has to do with human misery.  Not always a direct result of sin.

“they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat”

Matthew 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

The Lord knows our helpless position as men and women.  He knows our weakness.

He knows our needs before we ask, and He is touched by our misery.

Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

C. Received in our Necessity

Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

SONG – Jesus is near, to comfort and cheer, Just when I need Him most!!!

II. Because They have Nothing to Eat

ILLUSTRATES OUR EMPTINESS

World Hunger Facts

826 million go to bed hungry every day. This is 2.8 times the population of the United States.

200 million of those are children.

Of the over 6 billion people in the world, 1.2 billion live on less than $1 per day.

About every two seconds someone in the world dies from hunger or hunger-related causes. Every minute 24 people die of hunger.

Amos 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Some truths about our Spiritual emptiness

A. This World is a Wilderness – vs.33

Where is the bread? 

(ILLUS: A mirage in the desert)

The world has it’s bright lights, a lot of Snap, Crackle and Pop on the surface, but no substance!!

1 Corinthians 7:31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Ecclesiastes 1:2  Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

B. Man’s supply is insufficient – vs.34

Seven Loaves and a few little fishes.

Our Best is insufficient.

Man wants to add a little religion to his life, like the garnish on a meal.  Like a little spice in his/her life.

LISTEN - Christ is Life!!!!

C. Apart from Obedience we will not be Filled – vs.34

He “Commanded” the multitude!!

John 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

SONG – Trust & Obey

III. Because They will Faint

ILLUSTRATES OUR WEAKNESSES

FAINT - "to unloose," as a bow-string, "to relax," and so, "to enfeeble," and is used in the passive voice with the significance "to be faint, grow weary,"

A. We faint in the Way – vs.32

Battle against Sin & the Flesh. / Sanctification / Spiritual Growth / The Crucified Life

LOOK UP & READ Hebrews 12:1-3

Paul realized the Battle ........

1 Corinthians 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Summary of Phil. 3:12-14

• I have not attained
• I will not attain while bound by this mortal body
• God has apprehended me (laid hold of) for the ultimate purpose that I attain.
• Therefore, I will keep pressing for the mark....

B. We faint in the Work

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Soulwinning / Praying (Luke 18:1) / Preaching

4,000 churches close their doors every year in US

C. We faint in the Woes (Adversities)

LOOK UP & READ II Corinthians 4:8-16

Proverbs 24:10  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Jeremiah 12:5  If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

B. We will not faint in Worship & Waiting

LOOK UP & READ Isaiah 40:28-31

Conclusion:     (Review)

The multitude came to Christ, helpless, empty and weak.  But Christ had compassion on the multitude and fed them, refreshed them and strengthened them.  They went away revitalized, not fainting.

How we need the LORD!!!

Helpless?  - He is all compassion

Empty?  - He is the Bread of life

Weak? – His grace is sufficient for you!!