Little is Often A lot in Christ's Hands

STUDY: #898-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: MAY 24 @ 30, 2016

Topic: "Little is Often A lot in Christ's Hands" John 6:1-13 We strive to prove that we have a lot. We live on appearances. Human beings tend to pretend, show off in front of others. This leads to lying. People even struggle to do things that they really can’t or simply should not. People demand or ask for positions of authority and leadership because they want to look great and important. If they don’t get what they want they become annoyed, angry, rude, and assume rebellious attitudes. This way they are still claiming power and leadership, although not in words. For this reason, and so that evil does not come over us; let us understand and always remember that JESUS HAS ALREADY PAVED THE WAY FOR EACH OF US! Jesus has already prepared your path. It is better to be still! God paves the way for your life. We are led by God, and He is the one that enables us. (I Corinthians 12:1118) God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body (in the church) as He wanted. There is no need to brag, boast, or fight over positions or ranks. Jesus has prepared everything for us in a perfect way! Let’s study and learn from what happened in this passage. John 6:3 reads "Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples." Our Jesus never hides from those who sincerely seek Him. Let’s be clear about who we serve! THE LORD JESUS IS A SERVANT. HE NEVER GAVE IN TO BRATS LOOKING TO BE SERVED. HE LOOKS FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO SERVE. To serve is an assignment to provide a service. The service should be provided humbly; without expecting rewards or a position, and with a spirit of prayer so that God may take you down the path He has traced, instead of the path you’ve traced. John 6:4 "Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand." It was Passover, which is why there was a crowd in the area. Many walked, but all were charted a path to reach Jesus. John 6:5 "Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him..." The desire to serve was in Jesus, and if you are spiritual it should be in you too. Jesus’ compassion was moved as He saw the large crowd. What moves you? Is it compassion or is it your love for the position, the high rank? It’s not important that people "see you", but to help those who are hungry and exhausted. Are you capable of giving them what they need? Because to do so, you have to be full of compassion. When there is someone in need, the Lord Jesus has to look for someone that can help meet those needs. He will look for whoever wants to be a servant, like Him. Philip was one of the four disciples who saw Jesus perform the miracle of wine. He was learning to trust, and believe Jesus. John 6:5 "... said to Philip: Where are we to buy bread, SO THAT THESE PEOPLE MAY EAT?" The Lord did not include His people. John 6:6 "He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do." Jesus spoke those things to Philip to test him. He already knew what He had to do. The Master was so clear, and His disciples so confused. This is how we live. Jesus did not ask Philip because He lacked information. HE DID IT TO TEST THE FAITH AND HEART OF HIS DISCIPLE. We often do not know what to do, but He always knows what to do. As with Philip, He sometimes also asks us. He does it quietly and to test us; to see if people’s needs moves us as it moves Him. John 6:7 "Philip answered him: Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little." Philip saw the cost, he thought of the money. Jesus thought of the miracles. Another disciple, Andrew, Peter’s brother, found a boy in the crowd; carrying some food. John 6:8-9 "One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him: There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" It was not much, but there was the miracle. Barley bread was the cheapest, and it wasn’t regarded as much. It was the bread of the poor. The other food was sardines, which abounded in the Sea of Galilee. John 6:10-11 "Jesus said: Have the people sit down.

Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted." The Lord Jesus gave thanks before performing the miracle, not after the miracle. Everyone ate, and was satisfied. It wasn’t a portion; they were quenched, full. John 6:12-13 "And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples: Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing be lost. So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten." The crowd had been satisfied, and so Jesus commanded His disciples to collect the remains. There were twelve baskets full of leftover pieces. Surely those leftovers were for the twelve disciples. So that Philip would understand that HE KNEW WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HE WILL DO IN WHAT YOU FACE, AND WILL FACE; BUT BE HUMBLE, AND IN PRAYER "LOOK FOR THE BOY WITH THE BARLEY BREAD AND SARDINES." Let’s seek, and strive so we don’t stumble like Philip; living distrustful of God’s power every time our visible and ordinary means fail us; proving we do not trust Him beyond what we can see. After walking for a while with the Master, Philip learned. He spent only three years with the Master. How long have you been with Christ, and with the same attitude of mistrust? It is time to learn to trust. We must trust He who has already prepared our path. Let’s believe and serve others; not show off and pretend. Let’s serve as the Master has set an example. Let's do it to meet the needs of those who we sympathize with. Let's do it with humility and in prayer; trusting that the Lord will do the miracle, because LITTLE IS OFTEN MUCH IN THE HANDS OF CHRIST. Amen.