Grace Upon Grace

These are theological truths that every needs to Christian know and be able to discern. Why? Because if we confuse them disaster will be the result. How?

The days and lives of the average person are dedicated to his daily job. He works to earn a living, looking forward to the weekend, to have a few luxuries, if possible, and to lay aside something for the future. We live to satisfy what we perceive we need, and our sinful flesh only focuses upon the temporal, revealed, visible, kingdom of the left, what do I have to do to get through — — trap. It’s no wonder that one relegates their spiritual life to just a task or something they like to do. And we hope our lives are good enough to get to heaven.

The problem is, we are confusing our work with God’s work, and the result is we are tying to do the work of God.

GOD SUPPLIES ALL OUR NEEDS OF THIS LIFE AND ETERNITY.

Hungry People

Seeking Jesus is praise worthy, but is He sought for the right reason?

They spent a lot of time that day looking for him:

They knew the disciples crossed the lake alone, without Jesus.

Yet, they heard He was with them. How?

They were looking for food to fill their stomachs

They wanted him to be a provider of food — Bread King

They were only focusing on their Temporal needs

They were not able to see beyond their own stomach

They were looking for their “felt needs” to be met.

Jesus sought to change their focus away from their temporal needs to eternal needs.

A byproduct of the Fall is looking away from God’s Word of promise to focusing on how something will serve me now.

Genesis 3:4–6 ESV

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

They were only focusing on their temporal needs — “how this will serve me now!”

Hungry People Today

The first impulse of a humanity is to satisfy an immediate, tangible need.

Illustration — What would you do with one-million dollars?

When people think of spiritual needs —

He tries to satisfy them by his own efforts.

… what do I HAVE TO DO TO BE SAVED?

… what is the minimum requirement for being a member of the congregation?

… If I just had a better devotional life.

He evaluates them in contrast to the pleasures of life

… how does this make me feel? (am I bored; do I see this as a waste of time?)

… do I have TIME to give to my spiritual needs?

… during worship, what church offers the best programs for my children?

Humanity looks for signs that his efforts are acceptable to God

… people in text wanted Jesus to provide a sign to validate his claim

… we want signs that we are doing the right things.

Illustration: today some think, “if I get the COVID vaccine that will demonstrate my love for others, which will be pleasing to God.”

Since the Fall the focus of people has been directed inward to themselves and satisfying their perceived needs, even urges — the temporal needs of today. That was the problem Jesus was addressing in the text today, and is our problems today.

St. Paul said it best in today’s epistle reading that we are people tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by . . . human cunning, by the craftiness in deceitful schemes. Just as the serpent deceived Eve to focus on their temporal needs, he doing the exact same thing today.

How is _________ going to help me?

Will __________ keep me from dying?

Will __________ make me and my family happy?

Bread of Life

The difference between God’s way and our way is He — Jesus — has promised to provide for ALL of our needs, temporal and eternal.

Imagine that someone gave you $100, and then we might say, “Wow, thank you! Is there something I can do for you?” To which comes the reply, “Why yes, I’d appreciate it very much if you would accept this new car from me also.” So it is with God. He has promised to provide for ALL our needs of body and soul — it is called grace upon grace. For all His favors toward us God, believe it or not, would regard it as a favor toward Him if we would simply be the recipients of His eternal favor.

He provides for all of our needs in this life and the life to come.

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

First and foremost, what God wants in return for all His goodness toward us is an opportunity to be even better toward us. He not only provides for every temporal need of ours, He gives us more and more and more.

We get here a thrilling glimpse into the nature of God. In our society we are unaccustomed to people doing good without having some selfish motive in heart. If a people does something for us, it’s almost automatic for us to ask, “What is he after?” And so it is for all doing of good. But today we realize that one Person — three Persons, in fact, the Triune God — is not like that. He is love. In loving us He has not selfish motive. He loves you so that He might love you more. He is good to you for no other reason that that He might be even better to you. All the blessings God has given you have this purpose: that you might be on the receiving end of God’s blessings all of your temporal needs of life and all of eternity. That is what God is after.

As we ask ourselves today, like the people in our text, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” we can do no better than answer in the words of Jesus Himself: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” The psalmist said it best, “The Lord preserves all who love Him...” (Ps. 145:20a).

GOD SUPPLIES ALL OUR NEEDS OF THIS LIFE AND ETERNITY.

Don’t we have a marvelous God?

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