Five Loaves and Two Fish

1 ONE DARK RAINY NIGHT • A SALESMAN HAD A FLAT TIRE ON A LONELY ROAD. • BUT TO HIS DISMAY HE HAD NO LUG WRENCH. • SEEING NEARBY FARMHOUSE, HE SET OUT ON FOOT. • SURELY THE FARMER WOULD HAVE A LUG WRENCH, HE THOUGHT. • BUT WOULD HE EVEN COME TO THE DOOR? • AND IF HE DID, HE’D PROBABLY BE FURIOUS AT BEING BOTHERED. • HE’D SAY, “WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA GETTING ME OUT OF BED • IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?” • THIS THOUGHT MADE THE SALESMAN ANGRY. • WHY, THAT FARMER IS A SELFISH OLD CLOD TO REFUSE TO HELP ME. • FINALLY THE MAN REACHED THE HOUSE. • FRUSTRATED AND DRENCHED, HE BANGED ON THE DOOR. • “WHO’S THERE?” A VOICE CALLED OUT FROM A WINDOW OVERHEAD. • “YOU KNOW GOOD AND WELL WHO IT IS,” • YELLED THE SALESMAN, HIS FACE RED WITH ANGER. • “IT’S ME! AND YOU CAN KEEP YOUR OLD LUG WRENCH! • I WOULDN’T BORROW IT IS IT WAS THE LAST ONE IN THE COUNTY.” • SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE LET OUR EXPECTATIONS RUN WILD • WE ARE JUST SURE SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN A CERTAIN WAY • AND WE LET THAT AFFECT WHAT WE THINK WILL HAPPEN • WE LET THAT AFFECT HOW WE RESPOND TO WHAT DOES HAPPEN…. • EVEN HOW WE RESPOND WHEN GOD WORKS IN OUR LIFE • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING EXPECTATIONS • IS A FORM OF SELF WORSHIP, IT IS PUTTING OUR UNDERSTANDING • OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN • ABOVE GOD’S PLAN FOR WHAT HE WILLS TO HAPPEN • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK • AT GOD WORKING AN AMAZING MIRACLE IN LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE • AND HOW THEIR EXPECTATIONS SHAPE THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS MIRACLE • TURN TO JOHN 6:1 • JOHN HAD JUST TOLD HIS READERS • HOW JESUS HAD RESPONDED TO THE JEWISH LEADERSHIP WHEN THEY CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT HEALING ON THE SABBATH…. • JESUS HAD JUST DONE A MIRACLE IN JERUSALEM • AND NOW THEY PLOTTED TO KILL HIM • JESUS CONCLUDED HIS RESPONSE TO THE LEADERS OF THE NATION AT THE END OF CHAPTER 5 BY SAYING JOHN 5:46–47 FOR IF YOU BELIEVED MOSES, YOU WOULD BELIEVE ME, FOR HE WROTE ABOUT ME. “BUT IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE HIS WRITINGS, HOW WILL YOU BELIEVE MY WORDS?” • WHEN CHAPTER 6 BEGINS THE LOCATION AND THE AUDIENCE HAVE CHANGED JOHN 6:1–4 AFTER THESE THINGS JESUS WENT AWAY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE (OR TIBERIAS). A LARGE CROWD FOLLOWED HIM, BECAUSE THEY SAW THE SIGNS WHICH HE WAS PERFORMING ON THOSE WHO WERE SICK. THEN JESUS WENT UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, AND THERE HE SAT DOWN WITH HIS DISCIPLES. NOW THE PASSOVER, THE FEAST OF THE JEWS, WAS NEAR. THE LOCATION • JOHN STARTS OF BY LETTING HIS READERS KNOW • THAT JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES HAD LEFT JERUSALEM…. • WHEN HE WRITES; AFTER THESE THINGS • IT MEANS SOME TIME HAS PASSED • WE CAN’T BE SURE HOW MUCH TIME • BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT AWAY • THE POINT IS THAT IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE • HEALING OF THE MAN SICK FOR 38 YEARS • ITS BEEN AWHILE SINCE THE JEWISH LEADERS BEGAN PERSECUTING JESUS • WHEN JOHN WRITES; • JESUS WENT AWAY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE (OR TIBERIAS). • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS ABOUT AS FAR • FROM JERUSALEM AS YOU CAN GET • WITHOUT LEAVING THE LAND THE JEWS OCCUPIED AT THIS TIME • THE AREA JESUS COMES TO NOW • IS ON THE BORDER BETWEEN • AN AREA THAT HAD JEWISH VILLAGES AND TOWNS • AND AN AREA THAT HAD ROMAN CITIES • THIS IS THE NORTH EAST SIDE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE THE PARTICIPANTS • JOHN LISTS ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS MIRACLE • FIRST, HE TELLS US ABOUT THE AUDIENCE FOR THE MIRACLE.. • A LARGE CROWD FOLLOWED HIM, BECAUSE THEY SAW THE SIGNS WHICH HE WAS PERFORMING ON THOSE WHO WERE SICK. • NOTICE THE REASON THEY WERE FOLLOWING HIM • THEY SAW SIGNS, MIRACLES, WHEN JESUS HEALED THE SICK • THIS CROWD WAS ONLY THERE FOR THE MIRACLES • THEY EXPECTED TO SEE ANOTHER MIRACLE • THIS HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHY THEY REACT THE WAY THEY DO • WHEN JESUS DOES THIS MIRACLE… • THIS MIRACLE IS CENTERED ON THIS LARGE CROWD • AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF THE ONE WHO PREFORMED THE MIRACLE • NEXT JOHN TELLS US ABOUT THE ONE WHO • PREFORMS THE MIRACLE • THEN JESUS WENT UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, • THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT SEE THIS AS A REFERENCE TO MOSES • AND I CAN SEE HOW THEY CAN SEE THAT • JOHN DID JUST END THE LAST CHAPTER • WITH A REFERENCE TO MOSES & LATER IN THIS CHAPTER JESUS TALKS ABOUT MOSES • ALSO, JESUS IS ABOUT TO FEED A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE • OUT IN THE WILDERNESS LIKE MOSES…. • MAYBE JOHN DID INTEND FOR US TO THINK OF MOSES • WE NEED TO REMEMBER THIS CONNECTION TO MOSES… • ONCE HE WAS UP ON THE MOUNTAIN • HE SAT DOWN WITH HIS DISCIPLES. • THESE DISCIPLES PLAY A BIG PART IN THIS MIRACLE • NOT ONLY TO THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE MIRACLE • THEY SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONES • THAT LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS MIRACLE… • THE CROWDS DON’T SEEM TO GET THE MESSAGE • EVEN MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES STOPPED FOLLOWING HIM • BUT THE TWELVE GREW GREATLY IN FAITH • AND UNDERSTOOD FROM THIS MIRACLE • THAT HE WAS “THE HOLY ONE OF GOD” THE TIMING • JOHN TELLS US • NOW THE PASSOVER, THE FEAST OF THE JEWS, WAS NEAR. • THIS HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHEN THIS MIRACLE HAPPENED • BUT MORE THAN THAT IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND • WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD WOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT • IT HELPS US KNOW THEIR MINDSET • THESE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY FOCUSED • ON THE IDEA THAT MOSES • FREED THEIR ANCESTORS FROM THE EGYPTIANS • PASSOVER WAS ALL BOUT FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE • AND THESE PEOPLE IN THIS LARGE CROWD • WERE CURRENTLY IN BONDAGE TO THE ROMANS • THEY HAD AN EXPECTATION OF A NEW MOSES • WHO WOULD FREE THEM FROM THE ROMANS • THIS ONE STATEMENT REALLY HELPS US MAKE SENSE OF HOW THIS LARGE CROWD RESPONDS TO THE MIRACLE JOHN 6:5–9 THEREFORE JESUS, LIFTING UP HIS EYES AND SEEING THAT A LARGE CROWD WAS COMING TO HIM, SAID TO PHILIP, “WHERE ARE WE TO BUY BREAD, SO THAT THESE MAY EAT?” THIS HE WAS SAYING TO TEST HIM, FOR HE HIMSELF KNEW WHAT HE WAS INTENDING TO DO. PHILIP ANSWERED HIM, “TWO HUNDRED DENARII WORTH OF BREAD IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THEM, FOR EVERYONE TO RECEIVE A LITTLE.” ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, ANDREW, SIMON PETER’S BROTHER, SAID TO HIM, “THERE IS A LAD HERE WHO HAS FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO FISH, BUT WHAT ARE THESE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE?” THE CROWD IN NEED • EVERY MIRACLE STARTS WITH A NEED • HERE JESUS, LIFTING UP HIS EYES AND SEEING THAT A LARGE CROWD WAS COMING TO HIM, • IT IS SO AMAZING THAT WE HAVE A GOD WHO UNDERSTANDS US • THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE • THEY HAVE BEEN WALKING FOR QUITE A WAYS • AND WHEN JESUS SEES THE CROWD COMING TO HIM • HIS FIRST THOUGHT IS • “WHERE ARE WE TO BUY BREAD, SO THAT THESE MAY EAT?” • NOT ONLY DOES JESUS UNDERSTAND OUR NEED • HE TEACHES HIS FOLLOWERS TO CARE FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS • JESUS HAD ASKED PHILIP THIS QUESTION • FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON… JOHN TELLS US HE ASKED • TO TEST HIM, FOR HE HIMSELF KNEW WHAT HE WAS INTENDING TO DO. • JESUS WAS NOT ASKING PHILIP TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM • HE WAS USING THE PROBLEM TO HELP PHILIP LEARN • BUT PHILIP KINDA SEEMS TO MISS THE POINT • HE SAYS; • “TWO HUNDRED DENARII WORTH OF BREAD IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THEM, FOR EVERYONE TO RECEIVE A LITTLE.” • 200 DENARII IS ABOUT 8 MONTHS WAGES • SOME PEOPLE THINK PHILIP SAID 200 DENARII • BECAUSE THAT WAS ALL THE MONEY THEY HAD WITH THEM • BUT I THINK IT IS MORE LIKELY PHILIP USED • THIS NUMBER BECAUSE IT WAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY… • HIS POINT SEEMS TO BE EVEN IF WE HAD LOADS OF MONEY • IT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH • AND PHILIP IS NOT ALONE IN MISUNDERSTANDING • WHAT JESUS IS TRYING TO TEACH THE DISCIPLES • ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, ANDREW, SIMON PETER’S BROTHER, SAID TO HIM, “THERE IS A LAD HERE WHO HAS FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO FISH, BUT WHAT ARE THESE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE?” • BOTH OF THESE MEN ARE LOOKING FOR WORLDLY SOLUTIONS • HUMAN SOLUTIONS, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR HOW • THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM • AT THIS POINT NEITHER ONE SEEMS • TO UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS IS, • NEITHER ONE SEEMS TO GET THAT HE, JESUS, IS • THE ANSWER TO ANY PROBLEM • SO INSTEAD OF TRYING TO EXPLAIN THIS TO THEM IN WORDS • JESUS IS GOING TO SHOW THEM WHO HE IS BY HIS ACTIONS JOHN 6:10–11 JESUS SAID, “HAVE THE PEOPLE SIT DOWN.” NOW THERE WAS MUCH GRASS IN THE PLACE. SO THE MEN SAT DOWN, IN NUMBER ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND. JESUS THEN TOOK THE LOAVES, AND HAVING GIVEN THANKS, HE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE WHO WERE SEATED; LIKEWISE ALSO OF THE FISH AS MUCH AS THEY WANTED. THE INSTRUCTION & OBEDIENCE • ONCE AGAIN WE SEE JESUS GIVE AN INSTRUCTION • IN CONNECTION WITH A MIRACLE • IN THIS CASE JESUS INSTRUCTS THEM TO • “HAVE THE PEOPLE SIT DOWN.” • AND WE READ THAT THE PEOPLE OBEYED THIS COMMAND • SO, THE MEN SAT DOWN, IN NUMBER ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND. • I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER TRIED TO GET A LARGE CROWD • TO DO SOMETHING LIKE SIT DOWN • BUT, FROM MY EXPERIENCE…… THESE PEOPLE ALL OBEYING • AND SITTING DOWN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MINOR MIRACLE… • THE NUMBER OF THE MEN IS SAID TO BE ABOUT 5000 • IT WAS TRADITIONAL TO COUNT JUST THE MEN • BUT THIS MEANS IT IS LIKELY • THERE WERE MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE THERE • SO NOW THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE MIRACLE • IF YOU HAVE EVER READ ACCOUNTS • OF MIRACLES OUTSIDE THE BIBLE • ALL OF THEM HAVE VERY INTENSE • DETAILED ELABORATE ACCOUNTS OF THE MIRACLE • AND YET SO OFTEN IN THE BIBLE WE SEE • VERY SIMPLE STATEMENTS OF MIRACULOUS EVENTS • JESUS THEN TOOK THE LOAVES, AND HAVING GIVEN THANKS, HE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE WHO WERE SEATED; LIKEWISE ALSO OF THE FISH AS MUCH AS THEY WANTED. • THAT’S THE MIRACLE RIGHT THERE • NO ELABORATE DESCRIPTIONS • NO INTENSE DETAILED CLAIMS • JUST A STATEMENT OF THE FACT • THAT JESUS GAVE THANKS • AND THE FOOD WAS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO WERE SEATED • WE KNOW FROM THE OTHER GOSPELS THAT JESUS • BROKE THE BREAD AND • GAVE IT TO THE DISCIPLES TO PASS IT OUT TO THE CROWD • BUT IN JOHN’S ACCOUNT THE FOCUS SEEMS TO BE • ON THE FACT THAT ALL THE PEOPLE GOT AS MUCH FOOD AS THEY WANTED • THE FOCUS IS ON THE TOTAL PROVISION • PHILIP HAD SAID EVEN IF WE HAD ALOTTA MONEY AND SOMEPLACE TO BUY FOOD • WE COULD ONLY HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO RECEIVE A LITTLE. • ANDREW HAD SAID BUT WHAT ARE THESE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE? • BUT, WHEN JESUS PROVIDES EVERYONE HAD AS MUCH AS THEY WANTED…. • THEN WE SEE THE RESULT OF THIS MIRACLE JOHN 6:12–15 WHEN THEY WERE FILLED, HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “GATHER UP THE LEFTOVER FRAGMENTS SO THAT NOTHING WILL BE LOST.” SO THEY GATHERED THEM UP, AND FILLED TWELVE BASKETS WITH FRAGMENTS FROM THE FIVE BARLEY LOAVES WHICH WERE LEFT OVER BY THOSE WHO HAD EATEN. THEREFORE WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW THE SIGN WHICH HE HAD PERFORMED, THEY SAID, “THIS IS TRULY THE PROPHET WHO IS TO COME INTO THE WORLD.” SO JESUS, PERCEIVING THAT THEY WERE INTENDING TO COME AND TAKE HIM BY FORCE TO MAKE HIM KING, WITHDREW AGAIN TO THE MOUNTAIN BY HIMSELF ALONE. GATHERING THE ABUNDANCE • A MAJOR FEATURE OF THIS MIRACLE • IS THE OVERFLOWING ABUNDANCE OF CHRIST’S PROVISION • UNDERSTAND JESUS COULD HAVE MADE • EXACTLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FOOD • TWELVE BASKETS WITH FRAGMENTS FROM THE FIVE BARLEY LOAVES WHICH WERE LEFT OVER • WERE NOT A MISTAKE… JESUS DID THAT ON PURPOSE • SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SAY THE 12 BASKETS REPRESENT • THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, I DON’T REALLY SEE THAT IN THE TEXT • OTHERS SAY THERE ARE 12 BASKETS BECAUSE THERE WERE • 12 APOSTLES, I THINK THAT IS MORE LIKELY • BUT REALLY THE POINT WE NEED TO GET • IS THAT WHEN GOD PROVIDES FOR OUR NEEDS • HE DOES SO IN OVERFLOWING ABUNDANCE • AND WHEN THE CROWD SEES THIS PROVISION • THEY REACT BASED ON THEIR EXPECTATIONS THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE • JOHN HAS TOLD US THIS LARGE CROWD WAS THERE • BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN MIRACLES WHEN JESUS HEALED • JOHN HAS TOLD US THIS TOOK PLACE NEAR THE TIME OF THE PASSOVER • THE MIND-SET OF THE LARGE CROWD WOULD BE FOCUSED • ON HOW MOSES HAD FREED THE ISRAELITES FROM THE EGYPTIANS • THEY WERE EXPECTING A MESSIAH WHO WOULD FREE THEM FROM THE ROMANS… • THIS EXPLAINS WHY THEY SAY • “THIS IS TRULY THE PROPHET WHO IS TO COME INTO THE WORLD.” • NOTICE THEY DID NOT SAY THIS IS TRULY A PROPHET • THEY SAID THIS IS TRULY THE PROPHET • THIS IS A REFERENCE TO DEUTERONOMY 18:15 “THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM AMONG YOU, FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN, YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM. • THAT MEANS THIS CROWD NOW BELIEVES THAT JESUS • IS THE PROPHET WHO WOULD BE LIKE MOSES • AND TO THEM THAT MEANT HE WOULD FREE THEM FROM • ROME THE WAY MOSES HAD FREED THEM FROM EGYPT • THE INCREDIBLE THING HERE • IS THAT THEY ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE FIRST PART • JESUS IS IN FACT THE PROPHET MOSES SPOKE ABOUT • THIS FACT IS CONFIRMED BY PETER IN ACTS 3:19-23 • AND THEY WERE RIGHT THAT THIS PROPHET WOULD FREE THEM • LIKE MOSES FREED THE ISRAELITES FROM THE EGYPTIANS… • THEY WERE JUST WRONG ABOUT WHO HE WOULD FREE AND WHAT HE WOULD FREE THEM FROM • JESUS HAD COME TO FREE MANKIND FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN • SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN FREEING THE ISRAELITES FROM THE ROMANS… • BUT THIS CROWD WAS NOT WILLING TO WAIT • AND LET CHRIST TEACH THEM, EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT HE WAS THERE TO DO • THEY WERE INTENDING TO COME AND TAKE HIM BY FORCE TO MAKE HIM KING, • JESUS PERCEIVED, OR KNEW BY HIS OWN POWER • THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS…. • SO HE…WITHDREW AGAIN TO THE MOUNTAIN BY HIMSELF ALONE. • TO UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT THIS MIRACLE IS ABOUT • WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE MIRACLE THAT COMES BEFORE THIS ONE • JESUS HAD HEALED A MAN ON THE SABBATH • AND THE JEWISH LEADERSHIP HAD IGNORED THE MIRACLE AND • PERSECUTED JESUS FOR HEALING ON THE SABBATH • JESUS HAD EXPLAINED TO THESE LEADERS EXACTLY WHO HE WAS • THE SON OF GOD, WHO DID THE WORKS OF GOD • WHO WAS CO-EQUAL WITH GOD • AND THE LEADERS OF THE NATION HAD SOUGHT TO KILL HIM • NOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY • AS FAR FROM THE LEADERSHIP AS YOU COULD GET • JESUS FEEDS THE MASSES, 10,000 OR MORE • AND THESE MASSES, THE COMMON PEOPLE OF ISRAEL • UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THE LEADER COMPLETELY MISSED • THEY UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS IS THE PROPHET • THE NEW MOSES, THE ONE WHO WILL FREE THEM • BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE MISSED ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING • IN THE PROPHECY MOSES MADE BACK IN DEUT 18:15 DEUTERONOMY 18:15 “THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM AMONG YOU, FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN, YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM. • DID YOU NOTICE THAT LAST LINE? • YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM. • THE LARGE CROWD HERE DOES NOT BOTHER TO LISTEN TO JESUS • THEY WERE INTENDING TO COME AND TAKE HIM BY FORCE TO MAKE HIM KING, • THIS SAME CROWD IS GONNA FOLLOW JESUS BACK ACROSS THE SEA OF GALILEE • AND HE IS GOING TO EXPLAIN WHO HE IS • AND WHAT HE IS HERE TO DO • AND THEY ARE GOING TO REJECT HIM • THEY WILL UTTERLY FAIL TO LISTEN TO HIM……. • THIS MIRACLE SEEMS TO MARK THE HIGH POINT IN • JESUS MINISTRY, THE LARGE CROWD IS HIS LARGEST CROWD… • FROM THIS POINT THOSE WHO ARE CLOSE TO JESUS GET CLOSER • AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT CLOSE TO HIM SEEM TO GET FARTHER AWAY • AND THIS OCCURS, IN LARGE PART, TO THE EXPECTATIONS • OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE • THEY EXPECTED A MESSIAH THAT WOULD LEAD THEM TO MILITARY VICTORY OF THE ROMANS • WHEN THAT WAS NOT WHAT JESUS TAUGHT • THEY REJECT AND ULTIMATELY CALL FOR HIS CRUCIFIXION • SO… THE QUESTION FOR US TODAY IN THE 21ST CENTURY • IN MULLIN TEXAS.. IS… • WHAT EXPECTATIONS DO WE HAVE OF JESUS? • WHAT DO WE THINK HE IS GOING TO DO FOR US? • DO WE EXPECT HIM TO MAKE US PROSPEROUS, RICH? • DO WE EXPECT HIM TO MAKE US SAFE, SECURE, COMFORTABLE? • DO WE EXPECT HIM TO MAKE US HEALTHY? • JESUS CERTAINLY CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS • AND SOMETIMES HE DOES • BUT WHEN WE HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT HE WILL DO THESE THINGS • WHEN WE DON’T WANT TO LISTEN AND SEE • WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IN OUR LIVES • WHEN WE INTEND TAKE HIM BY FORCE TO MAKE HIM • DO WHAT WE WANT • WE HAVE UTTERLY MISUNDERSTOOD WHO HE IS AND WHY HE CAME… • THE PREACHER WHO PREACHES THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE RICH • HAS FAILED TO LISTEN TO THE VERY WORDS OF CHRIST MATTHEW 6:24 “NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS; FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR HE WILL BE DEVOTED TO ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND WEALTH. JUST LIKE THAT SALESMAN WITH THE FLAT TIRE • SOMETIMES OUR LET OUR EXPECTATIONS GET OUTTA HAND • WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ADJUST OUR EXPECTATIONS • WE NEED TO ADJUST THEM BY FITTING THEM TO SCRIPTURE • WE NEED TO LOOK AT GOD’S WORD AND SEE WHAT • GOD HAS SAID HE WILL DO • WE NEED TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT • AND SEE JUST HOW GOD IS GOING TO WORK IN OUR LIVES • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER • GOD WORKS IN OUR LIVES IS VASTLY • BETTER THAN WHAT WE EXPECT HIM TO DO • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND JESUS CHRIST • CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST • HE CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN • HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE AND • DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR SINS • HE ROSE AGAIN AFTER 3 DAYS • HE ASCENDED TO HEAVEN • AND HE IS COMING BACK • IF THERE IS ANYONE….. 95