Out Loud

(NLT) — 19 They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness.

I want to speak to someone tonight who needs refreshment… Who feels the burning and the longing for more…

I want to speak to someone tonight who needs refreshment… Who feels the burning and the longing for more…

Are we a hungry church???

CHALLENGE- Don’t speak against God — Your wilderness is about to become your garden.

If you have said nothing good can come from this, open up your heart and get ready for a miracle from God.

MAIN POINT- God puts out his best spreads in the wilderness.

(NLT) — 1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wantedfjdjkfdjkdlfjskkoooooooooooooobami. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. 14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were reasm

dy to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

POINT- We all struggle with faith and action.

When we are faced with impossible situations we can feel like we are drowning, and we will do whatever it takes to hide from the pain, to distract from insecurities…

I want to look at just a few verses in our text for a moment…

For the people in our text they just wanted to

(NLT) — 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”

I’m here to tell someone that YOU ARE ENOUGH — The power that raised Christ from the dead is in you.

My struggles will not define me, my insecurities will not distract me, my doubt will not silence me…

KEY- Doubt’s favorite phrase is shut up.

Sure doubt would love to have you complain and try to reason with yourself — Kind of like Phillip… But doubt knows it has won when you stop speaking…

KEY- There is power in what you say.

(NLT) — 18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

(NLT) — 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.

(NLT) — 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

KEY- When Jesus asked how can we feed these people, Phillip gave a reply the rest of the disciples were silent, then Andrew SPOKE.

This is why I am so thankful for Andrew…

(NLT) — 8 Then Andrew, Peter’s brother, spoke up.

ILLUSTRATION- Think about some of the inventions that when they were first pitched people had to have thought it was crazy… Could you imagine some guy speaking up…

Escalator

Hand sensor sinks

Chair lift

Hot air balloon

Gun

POINT- The greatest breakthroughs in your life are going to be the moment’s when YOU SPEAK UP with faith.

KEY- A warning for those that

I wonder if Andrew felt so dumb saying here is a boy with some food…

WHY DID ANDREW SPEAK UP???

1. Being silent meant he would never know.

Could you imagine Andrew seeing that boy and thinking to himself, I wonder if Jesus could use this.

ILLUSTRATION- Not wanting to sound stupid; Going through customs and boarder patrol in the US, they asked me, “What was the purpose of your trip?” I reply with, “Terrorism… I mean tourism… I’m a terror…ourist… … … I was on vacation.”

POINT- If you want to have a confidence in the power of God you have to give him the chance to move in your life, but some of you won’t give him a chance.

(NLT) — 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Giving him a chance might mean embracing some of those sucky moments in your life instead of shutting down whenever they hit you…

(NLT) — 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

KEY- I would never know my God could bring me through if I wasn’t stuck first.

I wouldn’t know that God could bring me through that pain had I not felt pain… I wouldn’t know that God could deliver me from that depression had I not had expereince it… I wouldn’t have known God could heal me of all my sickness had I not been sick…

So now when I expereince disappointment I can keep my head up — my hope is not in my circumstance… So when the fighting at home is unbearable I’m not discouraged… When I don’t get into that college I’m not discouraged… When my car breaks down I’m not discouraged… When that relationship ends I’m not discouraged… I’m set up to be encouraged…

POINT- For Andrew speaking up meant opening up — Here is what I’m thinking.

POINT- For Andrew speaking up meant opening up — Here is what I’m thinking.

For some you have been so guarded not allowing anyone or even God into your hopes and dreams… You guard your insecurities… Not only do you never speak up but you never open up, your life is as silent as your words… You do your best to blend in to be just like everyone else… While you wish you were noticed you want to be unseen…

I’m not allowing my doubt and insecurities to double team me any longer — Christ is in me! What little God has put before me I’ll speak up, open up and give it to him… Just like Andrew… Hey Jesus here is what I see, here is what I have, I know it doesn’t seem like much but it is what I have…

I will speak up, I will open up… My heart is not going to be guarded to the one who put it back together.

2. Being silent meant missing his chance.

I wonder if when Andrew saw that boy with that food there if he thought to himself - Now is my chance…

POINT- Andrew was not one to miss his chance.

POINT- Andrew was not one to miss his chance.

(NLT) — 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

QUESTION- Why would Andrew mention this boy with the food to Jesus if he didn’t think Jesus would use him.

POINT- Andrew knew who Jesus was/is and he knew what Jesus could do.

(NLT) — 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”

I love how eager Andrew is… Jesus wasn’t even talking to him!

Could you picture the rest of the disciples as Jesus says, “Where can we buy enough food for all these people, what do you think… PHILLIP.” As all the other disciples think I’m so glad he didn’t say my name.

POINT- For Andrew speaking up meant being eager — Whatever it takes.

CHALLENGE- How many of us have missed our chance because we lost our drive. — We quit moving we quit looking we settled we remained still.

ILLUSTRATION- Shooting arrows up into the sky.

CHALLENGE- You can not stay still, you have to move forward.

You can be the busiest person on the planet, but if you stop bringing what you have to Jesus you have gotten silent and stagnent.

CHALLENGE- What have you brought to Jesus?

KEY POINT- Pride will do whatever it takes to keep you looking inward for your results.

So now when you have a problem in front of you, how are we going to feed all these people… How am I going to get my joy back… How am I going to stop feeling lonely… How am I going to get into the school I want… Where am I going to get the money… How am I going to find that girl friend or that boy friend…

POINT- Pride wants your first response to be like Phillip (pulls out calculator)

We will have to work for months and still it might not be enough… I will have to buy the latest trendy style… Maybe if I sell out… Maybe if I compromise… I’ll try to be who I think they want me to be…

And instead of looking up and out we look down and in and pride grows and our to do list grows and our self esteem shrinks and our purpose belittled…

all because pride has us being accountants instead of visionaries… We are too busy accounting for what we have - don’t have instead of looking for what Jesus wants to use.

KEY POINT- Speaking up means being eager. Eager people don’t care what they have or don’t have, they only care about what Jesus can use.

3. Being silent meant ignoring what Jesus can use.

POINT- Those who lack faith will never see enough to meet their need. Those who have faith will see enough in anything they can give to Jesus.

Can you picture the disciples, tired from all their ministry looking for an escape. Then here comes a crowd of people and they think ok here we go… Then Jesus asks the question, where can we get food for all these people. Can you see it… As Phillip is making adding Andrew is searching…

He is looking for anything Jesus can use, his eyes are passing through the crowds, looking…

The crowds get closer, and he sees it… the lunch sack held by a boy…

Where did this boy come from? I don’t know. Who is this boy? I have no clue. Why did this boy have such a big lunch? He was a little chubby.

Here is what I do know — Andrew found him, and brought him to Jesus.

POINT- For Andrew speaking up meant finding something Jesus can use.

CHALLENGE- Worship… Prayer… Studying God’s word… Walking out purpose…

How often in our search for the perfect match for our need do we ignore what Jesus can use.

CHALLENGE- Don’t ignore what Jesus can use. It may not be a perfect fit, it may not be the piece you were looking for.

ILLUSTRATION- Kiarra in India.

Conclusion…

Andrew spoke up and a miracle happened.

Speaking up meant opening up - Open up your heart to God open up your insecurities speak up and tell God your struggle speak up with faith with words of healing.

Speaking up meant being eager always being ready - Serve God with enthusiasm, don’t be afraid to speak up to a world to Jesus about what the need is but speak up and speak out the truth that what I have he will use.

Speaking up meant finding something Jesus can use — Be on the lookout

Andrew was only able to speak up because of what he saw, and what he saw was what he was looking for. Anything Jesus can use...

QUESTION- What do you see?