Nothing Wasted

Welcome

Welcome to Celebration. We are so glad that you are here. My wife, Maegan and I are honored to serve as the Lead Pastors and if there is anything that we can do to better serve you and your family, please don’t hesitate to let us know. If you are joining for the first time welcome, or digitally, we welcome you as well and want to invite you to join us if you are ever in the Orlando area.

Series Recap

I hope you have been enjoying the Signs series. If you are new, we have been on an amazing journey through the Gospel of John and over the past few weeks we have been so encouraged at seeing the signs/miracles that Jesus performed. This inspires us because we know if God did it for them, He can and will do it for me!

After the Message

Also, if you haven’t done so, go and check out our podcast, After the Message. It is a great way to continue the message and series in a conversational setting. It will truly encourage you.

Scriptures

John 6:1–15 CSB

1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. 3 Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near. 5 So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?” 6 He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place; so they sat down. The men numbered about five thousand. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated—so also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Prayer

Today I want to talk about what’s in our hands. I have entitled today’s message, Nothing Wasted.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you speak to us today. We need to hear from you. We need an encounter with you. We need a moment with you. Holy Spirit we invite you to have your way. Encourage us. Challenge us. Speak to us. Open our eyes. Open our ears. Open our hearts. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Illustration

There are times that I watch HGTV and I wish I could repurpose things. Seeing a house that may need work, but seeing the value and potential. There is a show where people go into a resale market and buy used items, antiques then go home and repurpose them. Ps Lindsey is one of those people that can repurpose things. I have a headboard that needs to be repaired and I am about to throw it out. I have no skills of that sort.

My dad does this all the time. Take the sink from one place and uses it at another. He sees value in everything!

Transition

Imagine living a life where you see the value in everything. The messy stuff, the small portion, the pain, there is value in it. It can be used. When God sees us, He sees value. No matter the sin, struggle, setback, He sees you through the lens of the finished work Christ. He sees you in His image. We often think, there is no value in the messy parts of our lives. It is not true!

There is a story about a man named Joseph in Genesis. He had a heck of a journey.

Favored by his father, hated by his brothers

Had prophetic dreams

Sold into slavery, still had favor

Was falsely accused of rape, still had favor

Ended up interpreting a prophetic vision that literally saved the country…and his family

If he didn’t end up in Egypt, he likely wouldn’t have been in position to save 2 nations. He famously said to his brothers

Genesis 50:20 NLT

20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Nothing is wasted in the hands of Jesus. No season is wasted. No pain is wasted. No setback is wasted. No struggle is wasted. God is the God of stewardship and by His grace, nothing we experience is wasted.

Romans 8:28 NLT

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

I am not implying that God caused all things, but He can use all things. Nothing is wasted in the hands of Jesus! Whatever you are carrying, put it in His hands, because nothing is wasted in the hands of Jesus. He knows how to repurpose our pain for the purpose of gain!

Context

After this…let me tell you what happened before this. Jesus has healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath. This has caused a bit of friction with the religious people that wanted to “cancel” Him. Jesus begins to make some bold statement. Very bold to the extent of putting Himself on par with God.

He teaches on the kingdom of God. He was resisted. He healed people, they resisted Him. He pointed to scripture, they resisted Him. He went to His hometown, they resisted Him. He famously quotes, “a prophet is without honor in his own home and hometown”. The text says He didn’t do many miracles there because of their unbelief. What if the biggest barrier to our next miracle is our lack of faith?

Observations

Jesus hears of the death of His cousin, John the Baptist. He is grieving. He withdrew to be alone.

Pursuit Wasn’t Wasted

The word about Jesus is out. everywhere He goes, He is healing and teaching and it is literally changing lives. Now, He goes to a remote place. This was going to take some effort to get it. It was 10 miles away. It was rough terrain. It was steep inclines…but the people pursued. Let’s explore for a moment. Many of the folks didn’t have first hand experience with Jesus. They heard about Him. They pursued. They didn’t give up. Pursuit isn’t convenient.

Pursuit requires persistence. Caleb is a cornerback. He often has to run from one side of the field to the other. There was a play where he had to chase down the receiver on the other side of the field. It didn’t look like they would stop him. Caleb didn’t give up. He chased this guy down and stopped them from scoring.

Pursuit requires persistence. What if we had the type of faith to chase down our blessings like that? The type of pursuit that says I will not give up. The type of persistence that says, I will not let you go until you bless me! The type of pursuit that will give, serve, show up. Don’t give up. Your pursuit will not be wasted.

Perspective Wasn’t Wasted

Jesus sees their pursuit and He was filled with compassion. Compassion means to be moved at the core of your being. It is more than when we say our “thoughts and prayers” are with you. It compels you to act. When Jesus sees you, it compels Him to move on your behalf. He inquires about getting them something to eat.

Philip responds with a calculator. We don’t have enough to help. I am so glad David didn’t use a calculator when he faced Goliath. We can be so consumed with data that it dilutes our faith. Calculators corrupt beliefs.

Andrew has a different perspective and says, this isn’t much but if anyone can do something with it, Jesus can. I imagine it took him some courage to speak up. To share his perspective.

Don’t let the size of the situation silence your faith.

Don’t let how things look, obstruct your view of Jesus.

Take what you have and put it in the hands of Jesus.

Andrew shared his perspective and Jesus used it! A faith perspective isn’t wasted in the hands of Jesus.

Position Wasn’t Wasted

Jesus instructs His disciples to have the people sit down in groups of 50’s and 100’s. I envision the disciples are asking, why does it matter? Can’t we just have them line up? The people could be asking, why do we have to sit over here and not over there? However, Jesus had other ideas. Luke’s Gospel says they sat down in groups of 50. Mark’s Gospel says groups of 50 and 100’s. 50 is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. 100 is a double portion. Jesus positioned them to receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

They didn’t have to do anything but position themselves. Are you positioning yourself for what God wants to do?

I went to a drive thru a few weeks ago. After placing my order, I get to the window and discover they don’t have any cups for my drink. It occurs to me, many of us show up wanting God to pour out blessings but we haven’t brought our cups. Discipline and obedience are the cups that God pours His blessings into. (Elijah & Widow; Cup runs over) This leads to overflow and abundance.

Isaiah 1:19 CSB

19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.

Psalm 23:5 CSB

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Discipline means to follow through and be consistent. Our discipline unlocks abundance in our lives!

Serving others isn’t wasted (disciples)

Giving (little boy)

Engaging God (crowd)

Closing

God can use it

The fish and bread was broken and multiplied. God is masterful at using broken pieces.

Last Sunday, after church, I stood outside and had some amazing conversations with many of you. We laughed, encouraged each other, we connected like family. I go a phone call informing about the death of my cousin. I was and still am devastated. Yesterday at his funeral, a few of his friends surrendered their lives to Christ.

Nothing is wasted in the hands of Jesus…because He knows how to provide exactly what we need.

God can use our broken pieces but we must put them in His hands. He is a provider.