“What’s in your hands?”

The power of one person making a difference!

John 6:1-15 (Pew Bible page 754)

Today is Veterans Day

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as Armistice Day to remind Americans of the tragedies of war. A law adopted in 1938 made the day a federal holiday. In 1954, Congress changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.  Veterans Day is a time to remember those men and women who served in our U.S. Armed Forces.

 

George Washington’s efforts as general during the American Revolutionary war were immensely responsible for our victory. His ability to motivate and lead men into battle, even when the odds seemed to be completely against us. When supplies and materials were extremely short. When the conditions and weather were as harsh as they could be, it was Washington's leadership ability that caused men to stand up and push forward and gain the United States Of America it's independence.

 

To those who served to protect our freedom… freedom isn’t free… Military cemeteries… U.S. Casualties…

Cathy & I have walked… Punchbowl in Hawaii, Arlington National Cemetery, Various cemeteries from Antietam to Gettysburg where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous address… Civil War battle deaths were 214,938, WWI = 53,402, WWII = 291,557, Korean War = 33,741, Vietnam = 47,424, war on terror = 2,333

THANK YOU for serving!

 

What’s in your hands?

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It’s been said to act as if what you do makes a difference.  Why, because it does.

 

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We can look at people like Henry Ford… Albert Einstein… Thomas Edison… Billy Graham… Dave Earley… you & me… I like to do something before we begin the message…

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Pause and think of your abilities, spiritual gift, talent, time or treasure that God has blessed you with?

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What has God placed within your sphere of life, within your hands to make a difference?

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This morning we’re going to look at the story of the feeding of the 5000 where God used a little boy.

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This miracle is the only one recorded in all four Gospel accounts.

 

We Must Be…

1.  Conscious of Hungry Souls Around Us.

John 6:1-4 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 miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

 

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Springtime, on the beautiful rolling hills overlooking the deep blue Sea of Galilee, gentle breeze…

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A great crowd of people followed Jesus unbidden … seeking healing, teaching, curiosity… 5000 men +

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Within the human heart outside the family of God there’s a hunger to know the truth that sets free

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Hungering for direction in a spinning world… sin destroying lives/ relationships/ homes/ churches

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We must never forget our mission in reaching the multitudes around us… that’s our purpose

 

Mark 6:34 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.

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Mark’s account says Jesus had compassion on them… as sheep without a shepherd… wandering

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Easy prey for the enemy… Wolves attack the weak, stragglers… same for the believer

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Jesus provided both physical and spiritual food to the people… put food in the belly then win them.

 

John 4:35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

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I surveyed our area 6 years ago: within 1mile = 3,400, 3miles = 34,000, 5miles = 104,000 people.

 

2.  Aware of Subtle Thoughts and Words we Use.

John 6:5-9 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, "Eight months' wages would not 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?"

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As we continue the story we see two disciples mentioned, Philip and Andrew (Peter’s brother).

 

Attitude Differences…

·         Phillip Shrugged – We Can’t – Indifference, would not buy – impossible situation…

·         Andrew Suggested – We Can – Here’s a boy with his lunch bag… one person who can make a difference… God is looking for Andrews with a can do spirit…

 

2 Chronicles 16:9a “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…”

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If your hearts are committed to Him – we have God’s promise of His strength in our tiredness/weakness

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Our building project is big; don’t think someone else will do it… we can… dirt, hammers, brooms…

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This past week we saw numerous men & woman using what was in their hands.

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Jim Stout & John Remphrey were two men who worked long and hard all week!  A Can Do attitude!

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There were others… John, Kevin, Matt… the different ladies who prepare lunch each day!

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God raised up men like Rich Kresge and Dale Green and others to use what was in their hands!

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People who are committed to making a difference for eternity… not like Philip but like Andrew, we can!

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Be cautious of our thoughts and words… they tell a lot about you… Negative or positive.

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What’s your level of commitment to the Lord?  God calls it sacrifice… committed to common goal.

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I like what the Lord says about David, a man after God’s own heart… flawed as he was…

 

Acts 13:22b “…I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

Do – not sit, everything – not some, I – not self

 

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David used what was within his hands to actively make a difference… Israel’s greatest King ever.

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God wants you to actively use what’s within your hands to make a difference also.

 

 

3.  Willing to Give with Open Hands in Faith.

Matthew 14:16-17 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

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Jesus is the provision, the Bread of Life… using a boys lunch… supplying the needs… (Phil 4:13)

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What has God placed within your hands?  What can you do to accomplish the work?

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Next Saturday, the new driveway and some guard rails will be installed – come out and get dirty!

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Five barley loaves (cheapest grain) and two small sardines were willingly given with open hands…

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Open hands to give in faith but also to receive God’s blessings in return.

 

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

 

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God can take the little you have to offer Him and to turn it into much… out of the dirt rises a new church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Serving God by Serving Others.

John 6:9-11 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 the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 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.

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Jesus Organized a Plan of Action – sit the people down in groups of 50’s or 100’s (Mk 6:40)

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Jesus Relied on His Father –He looked up to heaven (Mt 14:19)

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Jesus Gave Thanks – He gave thanks.

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Jesus Served – what just came from the open hands of a little boy now fed thousands

 

We see 5000 men plus women & children (Mt 14:21) – some estimates as high as 20,000 people!

We serve Christ by serving others… we can serve God in hundreds of ways, it doesn’t have to be in front of a classroom teaching the Bible… maybe it’s privately praying, giving financially, hard manual labor, cooking for the workers, baking cookies (thank you Kelly) & muffins, volunteering for whatever needs to be done… is literally serving Jesus…

What’s in your hands?

 

Supernatural Results…

John 6:12-13 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.

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All had enough to eat, don’t waste but use to feed others… 12 baskets/12 disciples… what a lesson!

 

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Disciples Faith Grew!

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Lives Eternally Changed!

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God Abundantly Supplies!

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Blessings Overflow to Others!

 

How can God use your life to further His Kingdom on earth?

 

What’s in your hands?

      The power of one person making a difference!  YOU ARE THAT PERSON!