Loving Like Jesus Part 3 - Meet Needs

Dr. Jared Pingleton

A respected leader in the Christian mental health field

Serves as the Director of Mental Health Care and Ministry for the American Ass of Christian Counselors

Credentialed minister

Licensed clinical psychologist who is dually trained in both psychology and theology

In professional practice since 1977

Former director of Counseling services at Focus on the Family

Been a part of hundreds of television and radio programs as a guest, co-host as well as a host

He’s a life long KC Chiefs and Royals fan.

Lastly, he was a part of the GCA family for some time serving in many different capacities (Royal Rangers)

Announcements

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Love Like Jesus

John 13:34–35 NIV

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

***Recap first two messages***

Introduction

If we are going to continue to learn how to “Love Like Jesus,” we must learn to “Meet Needs.”

Article posted in Spectrum Magazine Online:

“Needs,” what does that mean? Look up the definition of the word and you will find a statement like this one: “Something that is necessary.” As humans, what do we need? What is necessary? In the field of psychology a theory proposed by Abraham Maslow ranks our needs as human beings.  Needs take the form of a pyramid and build from basic up to self-actualization.  Basic human needs according to this ranking are food, shelter, friendship, love, and security. These basic needs must be met before a person can move upward.  Why is that important? Why spend time looking at a worldly psychological theory? Because Maslow (knowingly or unknowingly) capsulizes the work of Jesus.

Isaiah 61:1 NIV

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

This is the description of the Messiah and His anointing. Jesus quoted these verses in when He began his earthly ministry.

The Foundation

There are over 100 verses in the Bible dealing with how we should treat the poor, marginalized, disadvantaged and even the alien.

"Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits."

"During the seventh year, let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it...”

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God."

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing."

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother."

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."

"He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor."

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."

Jeremiah 22:13 NLT

13 And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.

Jer

Jeremiah 22:16 NIV

16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.

jer 22.

Transitional

The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus did not shy away from interacting with some very questionable people as well as those who held a lower standing in society: Tax collectors, religious people, prostitutes, lepers, fisherman and even children. Jesus loved people! Today we’re going to focus on loving people the way Jesus loved them by meeting their needs.

The Need for Acceptence

John 6:1–15 NIV

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Luke 19:1–9 NIV

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Often times when this text is preached most focus on Jesus’ miracle...

Example: Zacchaeus was wealthy but an outcast, he needed acceptance. ()

Big Idea: Jesus uses inadequate people who surrender what they have to Him to meet the overwhelming needs of others. If we are going to Love Like Jesus, we must surrender what we have and allow Him to use us to meet the needs of people!

Christ uses inadequate people who surrender what they have to Him to meet the overwhelming needs of others.

1. People are Needy.

John 6:2 NIV

2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick.

Explanation: Jesus went out to a deserted place to be alone, but the crowds who saw many miracles followed Him. In spite of the inconvenience, Jesus took time to slow down and minister to them. According to Mark’s gospel, Jesus tried to “get away” to rest, but the needs of the crowd pressed on Him. ()

Mark 6:31–34 NIV

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Application: Jesus’s disciples wanted to send the people away. They knew the people needed some time to reach the surrounding villages soon to buy some food, lodging, etc…

Matthew 14:15 NIV

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

*** It’s always somebody else’s responsibility ***

The disciples up until this point lacked the understanding that God was going to place them in place where they could make an impact on the lives of all kinds of people, especially people with great need both physically and spiritually.

Where has God placed you? Who has God placed around you?

Illustration: Handing out food at the Festival of Hope

Illustration:

Mark 14:7 NIV

7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.

Psalm 34:18 NIV

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

2. Jesus Uses Ordinary People to Meet Needs.

John 6:9 NIV

9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Explanation: Philip accurately accessed the situation and calculated that even if they had 200 denarii it still would only be enough food for everyone to have one bit. Perhaps Philip made an excuse why they couldn’t feed so many people.

Andrew seemed to have a better attitude. He took time to look around and assess the situation. Of course, his answer is totally inadequate

OT passages warn God’s people against doubting God’s provision:

Psalm 78:19 NIV

19 They spoke against God; they said, “Can God really spread a table in the wilderness?

psalm 78

Application: You might not notice it at first because barley is just another grain to us. But the food which this boy has is of the poorest and worst kind. Barley is specifically prescribed in the Mishnah (a Jewish law book) as the bread which is to be used by an adulteress when she makes offering for sin. Barley was the grain of the poorest and the despised; in fact, it was considered fit only for animals. Those with any means whatsoever would look down their noses at these five, hard, dry biscuits and two sardines.

Application:

God can meet any need when we place our inadequacies in His hands!

To everyone’s amazement, the entire crowd were fed by a small meal placed in Jesus’ hand

John 6:11 NIV

11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

Matthew 14:20 NIV

20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Matthew’s gospel says “They all ate and were satisfied.” (Matthew 14:20)

matt

Jesus didn’t just meet the need; He lavished them with so much food that there were leftovers

Mark 6:43 NIV

43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

matt

“I can do things you can’t do, you can do things I can’t do, together we can do great things.” Mother Theresa

God will shatter “the pint-sized” expectations of what His followers can do if they would learn to bring Him what they have already been given. “Little is much when God is in it.” (Quotations from an article published by gotquestions.org)

3. Jesus Meets Everyday Needs to Uncover the Greatest Need.

John 6:35 NIV

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Explanation:

Jesus was never impressed with large crowds, He knew that their motives weren’t pure and that most of them followed Him to watch Him perform miracles.

Jesus was never impressed with large crowds, He knew that their motives weren’t pure and that most of them followed Him to watch Him perform miracles.

It’s been said that Rome’s formula for keeping the people happy (Bread and Circuses). Rome set aside 93 days each year for public games at the governments expense. (It was cheaper to entertain the crowds than to fight them or jail them)

Application: I think it’s important to note that Jesus fed the people through the agency of His disciples. He could have snapped His fingers and everyone would have had food drop right in front of them, but He didn’t. Instead, He gave it to his disciples to distribute to the people.

Mark 6:41 NIV

41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

mark 6.4

The disciples were learning that they needed to trust the Lord for everything they distributed. They could only give as they received. (Philip, Andrew, and each of us need to live every day with TOTAL DEPENDENCY!

Example: Zacchaeus was wealthy but an outcast, he needed acceptance. () The Samaritan woman needed mercy and forgiveness.

Closing

James 1:27 NIV

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27 The Message

27 Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

“God wants generosity to be normal, not special.” Shane Willard

Hebrews 13:6 NIV

6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Hebrews 13:16 NIV

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

1 John 3:17–18 NLT

17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

As we close today, I have two main concerns:

First, if you’ve never tasted Christ as the living bread to give you eternal life, then that is your main need. Your main need is not for Jesus to heal you or give you a job or provide you with a mate or to provide you with your next meal or even pay your next bill. Your main need is to come to Jesus for eternal life. Just as you eat bread to sustain your physical life even though you don’t understand exactly how it works, so you need to trust in Christ for eternal life.

works, so you need to trust in Christ for eternal life.

Second, if you have trusted in Christ, my concern is that you offer yourself to Him to use to meet the needs of others. The Lord wants to use you to give out the bread of life to others, whether to fellow believers or to those who don’t know the Savior. Don’t live for yourself. Live to be used of God and you’ll be satisfied with a basket full of the Living Bread for yourself.

the Lord wants to use you to give out the bread of life to others, whether to fellow believers or to those who don’t know the Savior. Don’t live for yourself. Live to be used of God and you’ll be satisfied with a basket full of the Living Bread for yourself.

Closing Prayer & Worship Team

Extra scriptures dealing with how we are to minister to those in need.

Hebrews 13:16 NIV

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Romans 12:13 NIV

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

****The story between the miracles***

Extra Material

Sometimes we are caught in a storm because we have disobeyed the Lord. (Jonah) But sometimes the storm comes because we have obeyed the Lord!

“I can do things you can’t do, you can do things I can’t do, together we can do great things.” Mother Theresa