PASSING THE TEST OF GENEROSITY - JOHN 6: 5-6

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.

BIG IDEA: WHEN WE BELIEVE CORRECTLY, WE CAN ANSWER CORRECTLY.

ON SUNDAY, WE DISCUSSED THE PRINCIPLE OF “MORE THAN ENOUGH,” WHICH SUGGESTED “WHAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.”

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE MANY OF US LOOK DOWN UPON WHAT WE HAVE TO GIVE, NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD CAN USE ANY AMOUNT FOR HIS GLORY...

LET’S DELVE DEEPER INTO THIS CONCEPT, AND REEXAMINE JESUS’ INITIAL QUESTION TOWARDS PHILIP: WHERE WILL WE BUY BREAD SO THAT THE PEOPLE CAN EAT?

BELOVED, AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO THIS GENEROUS SERIES, WHAT IS THE QUESTION THE LORD IS ASKING YOU?

HOW WILL YOU PARTNER WITH YOUR CHURCH TO REACH THE LOST?

HOW WILL YOU INVEST IN THE ONGOING WORK OF YOUR CHURCH - THROUGH OUTREACH, IMPROVING OUR ON CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT, EXPANDING OUR MINISTRY FOOTPRINT?

HOW WILL YOU PARTNER TO SERVE ON A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BASIS, BEYOND VIEWING OR ATTENDING?

WHERE WILL WE BUY BREAD SO THAT THE PEOPLE CAN EAT?

WHEN WE BELIEVE CORRECTLY, WE CAN ANSWER CORRECTLY!

HERE’S OUR ONLY POINT: YOU WILL PASS THIS TEST!

OVERCOME THE NEGATIVITY!

PHILIP LIKE US IS A REALIST. REALISTS ALWAYS ELEVATE FACT OR REALITY OVER POTENTIAL.

((JESUS IS ASKING US THIS QUESTION, BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNOWS WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO))!

AND WHAT IS JESUS GOING TO DO? EXPAND HIS KINGDOM…ENHANCE PEOPLE’S LIVES…GROW HIS CHURCH…GET THE GLORY!

JESUS WANTS US TO BE FAITHFUL IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS!!!

AND BECAUSE PHILIP DID NOT BELIEVE CORRECTLY, HE ANSWERED INCORRECTLY.

PHILIP (LIKE MANY OF US) GOT CAUGHT UP BEING NEGATIVE.

ARE YOU NEGATIVE MORE THAN YOU’RE POSITIVE?

DO YOU SEE GLASSES HALF EMPTY, RATHER THAN HALF FULL.

ARE YOU THE ONE WHO TOUTS, “I’M JUST KEEPING IT REAL!”

PHILIP WAS TALKING ABOUT AMOUNTS, WHEN JESUS WAS ASKING ABOUT LOCATIONS!!!

BELOVED, BAD BELIEF WILL GET YOU OFF TRACK.

NEGATIVE OR FAITHLESS LIVING WILL GET YOU OFF TRACK.

AND Y’ALL IT’S CONSUMING.

IF YOU FOCUS ON THE ONE BAD THING, WHEN 99 GREAT THINGS OCCUR, THEN YOU’RE OPERATING IN NEGATIVITY…AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THE SOURCE OF YOUR NEGATIVITY.

NEGATIVITY IS NOT A SPIRITUAL GIFT!!

THAT’S NOT DISCERNMENT…IT’S NEGATIVITY PHILIP!

PHILIP IS PULLING OUT HIS POCKET CALCULATOR, WHEN HE SHOULD’VE PULLED OUT HIS GOOGLE MAPS...

HOW DO WE PASS THE TEST?

KNOW WHO WE’RE DEALING WITH. JESUS YALL.

HE’S THE ONE ASKING.

HE’S THE ONE WHO WANTS TO FEED 5,000.

HE’S THE ONE WHO NOTICES THE NEED OF THE CROWD...

AND JESUS SIMPLY WANTS US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS....

BELIEVE THAT NOTHING’S TOO HARD FOR HIM.

OUR BELIEF IS CONNECTED TO WHO HE IS.

OUR BELIEF MUST WITHSTAND STATISTICS.

OUR BELIEF MUST SEE WITH EYES OF FAITH.

ANSWER HIS QUESTION BASED UPON FAITH!

FAITH WOULD’VE SAID, “LORD, I DON’T KNOW WHERE, BUT I KNOW WHO!”