Signs of the Times (Part 4)

Preached by Ps Jude Blayney

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John 6:1-14 The Feeding of the five thousand

The book of John = 'Nothing compares to the Glory of the Lord'. The whole of John’s gospel is about declaring the glory of the Lord Jesus. Within the gospel there are seven signs all pointing to some aspect of the glory of God.

So what’s so important about this sign?

1. God uses miracles to prepare you for greater miracles.

Verse 5-6 'He said to Philip, "where shall we buy bread, so that these may eat?" But this he said to test him, for he knew what he would do.'

Miracles always breed more miracles. When our faith gets stirred and something happens in your life God wants it to be more than just a momentary thing. He is totally interested in your life and wants you to grow from one degree of glory to another. Miracles happen to spark our faith and stir us on towards more things in God.

Jesus tested Philip. Firstly, lets understand that tests are not there to put us down or to show us how bad we are and that we are a failure but rather they are there to expand us and get us ready for something even greater.

Tests show us what we know and what we don't know. They are in our lives when we finish a season or session learning something. They also come before something else.

Philip needed to walk in the miraculous. Let’s look at Acts 8:26-40.

Wow what a miracle. Hollywood eat your heart out. Astral travel has nothing on the power of God's travel agency.

In John, Jesus had to test Philip so that he would be ready for the amazing beyond his understanding miracle that took place in Acts. He ran as fast as a chariot. He was divinely transported to another place. WOW> WOW> WOW>

What miracles is God wanting you to be a part of today? Those miracles are a precursor for tomorrow's miracles. God wants to work the miraculous in your life. He wants to flow through you to all situations. What He is doing today is so that he can to more tomorrow.

2. Miracles don’t happen because of striving but they will require action.

Verse 8-9 'One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"'

Andrew knew about the young lad. How did he find out? He went looking to solve the problem. I am impressed by his willingness to attempt to solve the problem. I am even impressed that he thought about seeing what was on hand. But as he went, somewhere along the way the enormity of the situation overwhelmed him. "What are they among so many?" The situation is too big. I can’t see the answer. I only see the problem. I wish I could find an answer. If only there where more people here who had some food so we could share it or not have to buy more. It's too big for me to cope with.

But something happened. When he shared his concerns with Jesus something happened. The supernatural took over. Jesus stepped in. When we realise our own inability, our own insufficiencies and call upon God something of an exchange takes place. It's in the place of revelation that God wants us. Revelation gives power. Even if it's a bad revelation it still gives power. Andrew did what he could, recognised he could not do any more and then told Jesus. Jesus stepped in.

Lesson, communicate with God your inabilities and trust Him.

3. Miracles start with Faith.

Verse 11. Jesus gave thanks.

Thanksgiving in itself is powerless to change. Thanksgiving is an outward working of an inward belief. Thanksgiving is one of the by products of faith. Yes we need to have a continual life of thanksgiving, but its faith that pleases God. Faith is what moves God. Our response should be thanksgiving.

Its what we believe that triggers miracles not what we do. It’s who we believe that triggers miracles not what we say. They are always the by products of the faith that lives inside of us through Jesus Christ.

4. God uses the natural to do the supernatural.

Jesus used what they had to give them what they needed. He multiplied, expanded what was with them into something they required. Moses had a piece of wood and led a nation, Daniel had a piece of leather and brought about a famous victory, Noah had a forest and brought great deliverance, Joseph had a coat that positioned for a nations salvation, Rahab had a bit of rope and opened a city, Samson had a jawbone that defeated an army, Gideon a torch that drove away the oppressors, Ruth had her hands that gleaned her way to a future life of happiness with Boaz.

Miracles are for today and they are meant to happen to you, through you and for you. God is working right now to set you up for your future using that which you have right now. He will do it.