More than Enough!

John 6: 1-13 New Living Translation

1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money* to feed them!”
8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

Positioned for Plenty!

My maternal grandmother, Florence, was one of my favorite people on the planet. I have fond memories of climbing up onto her triple mattress high bed to receive sweet candies, fruits and nuts as well as vivid stories of country life. Gram never failed to offer some sort of tangible or cerebral treat, and even after I became an adult, I never approached her little room without the expectation that my sweet tooth would be amply satisfied. Gram’s spirit moved to Heaven this summer, and today I recall the many treasures she gave, both natural and spiritual. She taught those of us who would listen, so much about trusting God in the rough times and praising Him for even the little things like a good catch of fish at the lake or a little less pain in an old, worn knee. There are a few unfortunate members of my family that never sat at her feet. Grandchildren who never paused to hear her adventurous tales of “Papa Sandy” and “Mama Kizzie” and farm family follies must now depend on her children for just a taste of those days gone by. While they may read of bitter Arkansas winters and promising Arkansas springs in our family newsletter, they will not enjoy the pictures our grandmother painted memory by memory upon the canvas of our minds. We, the one’s who staid after the candy was gone, can now close our eyes and relive the precious moments anew. Because we were in the right place at the right time, we were provided with physical, emotional and spiritual nurturing that was only gotten through proper positioning beneath the loving care of my grandmother’s hands.

I often think of Jesus and His disciples; how after his death and resurrection, these chosen few must have thought back to amazing days like that detailed in John 6. Oh how their hearts must have been filled with joy at the memory of our Lord’s provision. The crowds described here were “huge”, and the people had seen Jesus’ “miraculous signs as he healed the sick.” The disciples and the crowd were compelled by His good works to position themselves in the presence of Jesus. If we are to enjoy the blessings and provision of the Lord, we must be willing to follow Him as far as is necessary to receive. The scripture says that Jesus has crossed over to the “far side of the Sea of Galilee” and later up onto “a hill”. Many of these followers had left the comfort and predictability of their homes in pursuit of the Son of God. Positioning ourselves in the presence of the Master may require a move outside of our comfort zones into a far away place. We may have to travel across uncertain terrain of new jobs, new ways of thinking or new avenues in ministry. Thank God, that we can follow Jesus with trusting expectation that in doing so we are being positioned for plenty! An old, old song rings in my spirit even now: “Where He leads me, I will follow. I’ll go with Him, all the way!”

All is well! You’ve been here before!

Jesus recognized the physical needs of His followers. He knowingly asks his disciple Phillip in Verse 5 where they stand with regard to food for the masses. Isn’t it amazing how our Lord empathizes with our every day needs. He not only feels our physical, emotional and spiritual hunger, He is leading and guiding you to the proper place of breakthrough. Verse 7 makes me smile every time I read it. Here we see Philip, a trusted follower of Jesus, answers that there are simply not enough resources either present or in the future ample enough to meet the needs of the crowd. I smile because, Phillip is not naïve to the miraculous works of Jesus. He has traveled with Him day in and day out. He has witnessed Jesus turn water into wine in John chapter 2. No doubt his heart raced at the sight of Jesus speaking a healing and restorative Word to the man lame for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda in chapter 5. And if that wasn’t enough, Philip has heard Jesus declare in chapter 5 verse 37 that the Father Himself had sent Jesus and was a witness to His divinity. So it is somewhat amusing to see Philip sitting in the atmosphere for a miracle with seemingly NO CLUE as to what God was about to do. How many of us have somehow forgotten the amazing things that God has done in our own lives. Refuse to sit helplessly in situations of spiritual, emotional or physical hunger. Remember that Jesus is with you in this far off place. Don’t wallow in discontent and self-pity as if God has not brought us through these same types of situations before. We must recognize our difficult situations as the ideal positions for Divine intervention! Testify to yourself and others regarding what God has done for you in times past. Don’t be fooled into “hustling” your way into a way out. Refuse to compromise your integrity or relationship with God in order to meet your needs. The enemy will present you with very appealing avenues out of temporary pain, heartache and struggle. Know that this is a trick. You already know that his job is to kill, steal and to destroy your destiny and purpose in God. Against all odds, maintain uncompromising and unwavering faith in God! While it may be true that there is no amount of additional work or effort you may be able to put toward your current situation (v. 7), understand that when you present BIG problems to Jesus you can have equally BIG expectations. You are a child of God, a follower of the Cross and Daddy God is seriously up to something in YOUR situation. He has seen you through so many times before. Continue to trust your Father to do it again. You are truly in an atmosphere for a miracle!

Closer than you think!

Even if you are in familiar places of provision, your miracle may still feel very far away. Brother Andrew, in verse 8 inspires us to speak up and recognize that we are closer to our miracle of provision than it may appear. While Andrew does admit that he doesn’t see how the with five barley loaves and two fish are sufficient, he has recognized the potential in the “little” that is there. We must choose to present our “little” to the Lord. God can take what you feel is small in this life and multiply it beyond your imagination in the Kingdom of God. In verse 10, Jesus commands the crowd to sit down. He then takes what initially seemed an inadequate meal for even one child and transforms it into an abundance of food for over five thousand men, women and children. After following after the heart of God, over difficult and challenging terrain, why not sit down in His presence. Prepare your heart and mind to receive your present miracle by remembering the great things He has done in your distant and immediate past. Look around you now, and see the little things that God may be trying to use to bring your miracle to life. Follow the example of Jesus and lift up your “little” substance to God. Give sincere thanks for what you have in hand right now. Finally, have a heart for those beyond your inner circle. Look closely at the example of Jesus in our text. Not only did Jesus not feed Himself or the disciples first, verse 11 clearly relays that they first “distributed [the food] to the people”. After feeding the many, the disciples were then able to collect baskets and baskets of tasty leftovers for themselves! Not only are you very close to your personal miracle, you are also very close to being a conduit for the love and power of God to other people. You are about to be blessed to be a blessing!

Dr.’s Orders:

1) Pray for a friend or family member that is in a place of lack. Ask God to miraculously increase the “little” in their lives for His glory. Don’t forget to tell this person that you are praying for them. They will be so encouraged by your prayerful concern. Just knowing that you are going to God on their behalf will inspire them to continue to pursue Godly provision.
2) Look at your own life and recall deliverances and miracles past and begin to meditate on the goodness of God. Praise Him for taking your “little” and creating financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual abundance in your life! Encourage yourself in the Lord!
3) I challenge you to give of yourself. What “little” talent, gift or resource lies dormant in your God given treasure box? Ask God to give you the courage to offer your talents, gifts and resources back to Him in the coming months. Write down several ways you can give more in your family, the work place and the church. Prepare to see a miracle in your giving!