John Chapter 6:10-18

To realize that it's almost un-American to be thankful of what you already have that you're always supposed to be striving for more.

You're always supposed to be wanting more. The problem is that's a very un-biblical attitude.

The Lord tells us to be thankful for what we have and we have Paul telling us that he has learned to be content that tells us a couple things from one that you can learn it. And number two that you need to learn. It's not something that comes naturally a lot of us desire more and more and more and bigger and bigger and bigger.

But we need to be thankful for what we have and not be complaining for what we don't try to go 24 hours without murmuring without complainant you share with your husband generally watch over the picture with the pate. I'm going to try to not complain so much would you keep me accountable to not doing this you're going to be surprised at what roles out of your mouth the next 24 hours welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina David McGee's associate pastors DA Brown is with us. Welcome to the program today. Brother Bob even in life's difficulties. We need to remember and be thankful for what we have today. Pastor David helps us to be thankful for all that God is blessed as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 6.

Now here's David McGee, blessing us with his teaching in the storms were in John chapter 6 week look through the first nine verses last week talked about and we kinda like I left Philip hanging so we better go back there and rest your fellow I will pick it up in verse 10, and they've they've just in verse nine there is a lad here has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are they among so many. And Jesus said, make the people sit down. King James says make the men sit down now. There was much grass in the place of the men sat down and number about 5000. Now it says in here so the men sat down so maybe you're wondering what what the women do. They just keep standing while understand something and I've read some commentaries and say wow there is 5000 men was probably 10,000 people, or 12,000 people are 15,000 people problem with that is the don't really understand their Jewish history, they don't perhaps understand the Hebrew Scriptures while because if you go back to verse four it says now the Passover feast of the Jews was near. Why is that important what you remember all the Jewish males had to go to Jerusalem three times a year. If you remember the feast that required the males to come to Jerusalem as a by remember what those are obviously one of them would be Passover the other one would be Pentecost and the third one would be Tabernacles. These three feast every year. All the Jewish males were required to come to Jerusalem, so this is why there's a whole big gathering of men. And you know sports are involved. This is because they're going to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and what's interesting to is when you look at these three fees and as you read through Scriptures take note of them because these are three times of the year that Jesus would go up to Jerusalem to minister to the people will see that in this book will see later on in John another Passover where he goes under Jerusalem see another feast of the Tabernacles and in John chapter 7 where Jesus goes up to Jerusalem and there some neat neat stuff that if you understand the Jewish feast just opens up the New Testament. So it's an awesome thing. Remember that now you remember that Passover as well was a time, the time when Jesus Christ himself was crucified as not only a Passover lamb but the Passover lamb and then you remember the feast of Pentecost which was Pentecost is 50 days again 50 days after the feast of unleavened bread or Passover. And remember that that was the birth of the church that we see in the book of acts. Again, all the Jewish males were there so it was through this setting through these dates that so much of this ministry happen and it's interesting because when you go back into the Hebrew Scriptures that talks about appointed times.

Those that were there in the Hebrew indicates dates or rehearsals for something so we see again that this is all according to the plan of God. Verse 11 and Jesus took to Lowe's and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to the disciples and the disciples to those sitting down and likewise of the fish is much as they wanted. This is interesting because Jesus gave thanks Jesus gave thanks we should give thanks we should give thanks every time we when you go out you should still give thanks and DON'T be shy about it, don't.

Don't try to hide it. You never know who you might be blessing as they watch you live out your faith in such a real way that you asked the Lord to bless your food you give thanks for the food and you know, on occasion, I don't do it every time, but on occasion you know when I'm out the restaurant I use it as an opportunity to witness in the sense that I stand up and all speak loudly as I asked the Lord now. Thank the Lord for the food and thank you Lord for this restaurant for the jobs that you provided for the people working here and for the food were about to receive and learn. I just asked that they would all come to know you is as Savior and Lord to your death on the cross. I can be forgiven of sins and mortgages thinking that for that in Jesus name, amen, is given a forgotten unit of the gospel and that I've never been kicked out anywhere I've gotten somewhere. Looks but I've also got some people I came up and praise God that was that was also but we've had people applaud I don't do it for those reasons and again I don't do it every time, but I do it often, just to prepare you forever out at lunch together anything but it's an important thing because it it reveals our thankfulness to the Lord Jesus gave thanks for the use a little bit notice he didn't go well.

Lord, you know it's not enough. You know, I don't know how you think you're going to make it with this. Do any of that.

He gave thanks no complainant, no murmuring, he gave thanks for what you have.

That's a first.

Life lesson.

Be thankful for what you have. Be thankful for what you have, you realize that it's almost un-American to be thankful was what you already have that you're always supposed to be striving for more. You're always supposed to be wanting more. The problem is that's a very un-biblical attitude. The Lord tells us to be thankful for what we have and we have Paul telling us that he has learned to be content that tells us a couple things number one that you can learn it.

And number two that you need to learn. It's not something that comes naturally a lot of us desire more and more and more and bigger and bigger and bigger.

But we need to be thankful for what we have and not be complaining for what we don't have we tried this before, but you try to go 24 hours without murmuring without complainant you you will be convicted you share with your husband surely watch over there to ensure the parent say I'm gonna try to not complain so much would you keep me accountable to not doing this you're going to be surprised at what roles out your mouth in the next 24 hours we done this before. Amazing thing is, we've right after the service I chose between a take 24 Hours Dr. 24 hours, not the complaint right after service lady comes into Gazette St. George to go. You made about six minutes on and also you know what's what's awesome is when you become grateful for what you do have. I think it frees the Lord up to bless you, but lower yet learned to be grateful for what we have.

I holds back the handle blessing in our lives that we don't recognize the Lord in the blessings and another thing you see in here is that the disciples are given the stuff out. They get to receive the blessings of God and then to distribute the blessings of God. What a cool job.

The understand we get to do that we get to distribute the blessings of God we get to go to people to hate.

Are you aware have you heard this awesome stop that Jesus loves you that Jesus died for you and we get to distribute the blessings of God as well. We didn't come up with the stuff God gave it to us and we turn and we give it to others.

What an awesome thing now that the blessing when he gave thanks was an interesting blessing having a brook. I talked, I do not handle my luck hello commit select is the Hebrew blessing is blessed art thou, Lord, our God, King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth. This had been the blessing from time immemorial. It's kind of interesting, and it Jesus is going.

Blessed are you King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth.

Now the connotation. There is usually that week comes up that grows it produces kernel they crush the kernels and they form the breath and the situation he cannot skip that whole process and 5000 people made off of what had been a small amount of food amazing thing and it is a miracle you know I've heard some really wacky weird explanations for this. This was a miracle. This was a miracle of God in all something first trip when they were filled. He said to his disciples gather up the fragments that remain so nothing is lost.

Therefore, they gathered them up and filled 12 baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who would eat one interesting thing.

First of all you see that there get nothing is also gathering up the fragments so that you know nothing is wasted and I think it's important for Christians not to be wasteful, especially with food, look at this when you know when God is in something everybody gets filled everybody gets filled.

It's as we gather here on Sunday morning we look into the word of God and the word of God is so rich and so powerful and we just get filled with his word, we get filled not only with the God with the word of God we get filled with the God of the work that people come in here hungry and hurt having a bad week or having a bad day are having a bad morning I come in here and they received the richness of God's word. They receive the milk of the word the bread of the word the washing of the word.

Not only are they satisfied. There's usually little bit left over in the Julie some leftovers when you think you're supposed to do with those leftovers go give away when you go home and you see your neighbor you see Samantha stories a semi restaurant. You know, given away, given away the man I got so much at church this morning as his old dull Jesus is Lord milk take care of you and and and honor him here take some of them do much as they may be starving to death.

Only may been a church is more they might be starving for the word of God. The word which you have received this morning that you can bless them with and simply by hitting some of the points.

Maybe Johnson loads down on Sunday morning or Thursday night you can go minister to somebody else feed others from the leftovers I might be leftovers to you, but you know, so I starving to death mentor like all is this good stuff and you can minister to Proverbs chapter 11 verse 24 says there is one who scatters, yet increases more than there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty, something happens as you give yourself away. Something happens is you sure what's going on in your life and if you hold back and you you try to withhold stuff this verse as it leads to poverty.

But if you scatter then you increase all the more.

I know that some people use this in a financial sense, and I think that probably works. It can also use be used in a spiritual sense of scriptural sense of distributing the word of God because you can only get so full and if you never pour out on anybody.

You can't get filled back up and the reason sometimes you're not receiving more from the Lord is not porn anything out and you can continue the site blessed me or bless me, Lord, give me more knowledge give me more wisdom what you doing with what you've been given already.

Are you porn out the servant are you sharing 11 people see as you pour out God is faithful to pull back in two scatter feet leftovers give stuff away will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob were excited about God's word, going forth with Pastor David and want to pray for some people in the cities were rebroadcasting today in California. We have Yucca Valley in Colorado. We have Burlington Fort Morgan Grand Junction Lamar Lyman Montrose God, we thank you for the people listening today in these areas. We pray that they will be encouraged in your word, they would realize that you want to bless them. Lord, you have a good plan for them God. We pray for those who are sick in the area that you will please heal them and low. We pray for the pastors and churches that they would be ignited and all the good plans you have for them and sharing your word throughout their city.

In Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse by verse 14 then those men when they had seen the sign that Jesus did said this is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world also noticed there's 12 baskets or 12 disciples, so they each had a basket left over I will go get confused about that later that they forgot the bread but that's another story. Truly the prophet when it speaks of the prophet. This is referring back to Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 15 really a portion of the chapter, but will sure to versus the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your meds from your brother and him you shall hear and skip down to verse 18 it says I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command him so this is what this verse is referring to.

It's not saying a prophet, saying, the prophet, and when the prophet is mentioned.

It's talking about the Messiah becoming one of the coming Prince and that prophet was in this God verse 15. Therefore, when Jesus perceived there were about the coming taken by force.

The making king, he departed again to the mountain by himself alone. Jesus didn't want to be making it's not what he was tearful he was here to give his life away and we see several instances in the Gospels were people wanted to make him king, and he walked away from. There's only one instance in the Gospels were Jesus allowed himself to be referred to as King as the coming Prince and it's interesting the timing that was his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The reason he received that on that one day is it had been prophesied. Hundreds of years before. In the book of Daniel, Jesus was not allowing himself to be made King how unhuman and how very godlike. Yet he didn't go well you know hey if I was skiing. I could probably do a lot of good in the world and that God definitely be that you know heavy hitter.

Tithing got and I think I'll do this king doing, but he realized that wasn't what he was supposed to be doing. There's no reason he departed. Perhaps a stronger reason there is a danger to the disciples and if he had have lingered. Perhaps the disciples would've really been into this king thing on Jesus, you know… This sounds like an awesome idea.

We we think you really be a great political activist need be a great King and you could really change things unless we took a boat and and all 12 of us are for praise God could do it.

There is a danger of that happening and I think that's part of the reason why Jesus removed himself from the situation because he probably would've had the problems with the disciples and Jesus again this is not what I'm here for guys, this is not what I'm here for. See there is a joy in doing what you're forced to do doing what you've been called to do doing what you were sent here to do. There's a joy that's in a piece is just amazing that comes with it.

That is something to that's kind interesting Jesus, I want to make him king and walks off by himself know we seen this enough in the Gospels, to realize what he was doing whenever he walked off by himself. He went by himself, his walk announcement, the Lord, all guys were there's something there. Jesus, instead of wanting to hang out with the crown want to go spend time with his father. I love Sunday mornings it's it's I mean I really enjoy Sunday mornings if there's just excitement inherent as people are serving and you show up early. People are doing stuff to get ready and people were coming in and they're excited and they're expected and and you know you can just tell there there desiring to meet with God, they're expecting to meet with God and the people come forward at the CERT at the end of the service and and is just awesome time. But you know it's more awesome for me as you sit alone with the Lord.

Just sit with my daddy and talked and I hope that you really enjoy Sunday morning.

I hope that your really blessed that you and look forward to it.

And you know and in and you really enjoy it. But make sure you spend time with the Lord just you and him make sure that your worshiping him just you and him because that's an awesome time when you just sent you go one night or one day or whatever. Toss in a worship CD and just worship God at your house just worship got it up turn it up, pull down the bonds. Do whatever you need to do and just worship the Lord is are some of the most awesome times of worship you will ever experience. You've never done that, you really ought to do.

Jesus again sets a model and if you don't take time to get along with God you to suffer for you not walk in the power and the blessing that you could and if you neglect that Tom long enough, there could be real danger, but get along with God and it will just I guarantee you will change your life be sent with the model open and say Lord you speak to me. Is there something you want to say to me that doesn't freak you out with us talk about God talking. I hope you understand what I'm saying what I'm talking about.

We you know what guys this this Bible is filled with people who not only got speak, but they expect God to speak to so when I talk about the voice of the Lord here in the voice work. I'm not necessarily talking about an audible voice of never heard an audible voice, but it's that still small voice that the Lord speaks to me through my heart my soul and I should be the rule not the exception. So as you know, say these things understand what I'm saying don't sit there and go over the cash he hears voices in his head. That's not good now as Christians we should be here in the voice of the Lord.

We should be responded to the voice of the Lord. Verse 16.

Now when evening was cut when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat and went over the sea towards Capernaum was already dark and Jesus had not come to them. Verse 18 then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing voices interesting question.

Jesus know there was gonna be a storm yet, but that he sent the disciples out on the lake yet, so I knew there was a storm and he didn't keep him from going out on the light. Yet, for some of you that may rock your boat theologically. If so, what is God because we have this mentality. Sometimes it Jesus came to keep us from any and all the storms is not true. Jesus did not come to keep us from the storms but to go with us through the storms so that we could goes to the storms every single godly what you know is a dangerous thing. He hadn't go out in this dangerously. You know what the real danger was sit there on the shore beginning to think that Jesus had come to be king. Sometimes, sometimes in life we encounter storms and and sometimes spells sometimes are storms there of our own doing.

We do things that places in storms we make bad decisions we make decisions without asking the Lord what to do and we find ourselves in the storm not always. Sometimes were in the midst of the storm not from our disobedience from our obedience. Sometimes were in the storm because of our obedience, God's goodness stop in the midst of a storm and say you know why my here.

What happened that I'm in the middle of that storm is something that I did something I didn't do runoff without asking the Lord. That's a good question asked but don't always assume because you're in a storm is because of your disobedience could be. So the Lord can come to you and reveal himself to you on a deeper level don't always assume that because you're in the middle of a storm. It's from your disobedience. It may be, it might not be Gaza Christian walk is well again it's not always easy. There's storms that happen, and it disturbs me when Christians go in. It's really difficult having storms as a Christian, try having storms when you're not a Christian and tell me which is easier to go through. It's much easier to go through a trial with Jesus than without Jesus and the people that don't have Jesus they have to go through the storms by themselves they don't have the comfort they don't have the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ and sometimes serving God's justice easy as it can be. And sometimes it's not. I think people to paint the gospel and say we come to Jesus and all your dreams will come true or doing a real disservice to the gospel because sometimes that's when the battle really begins. So we don't serve God because it's the easiest thing to do now understand in a lot of ways it's by far the easier thing to do, I'd rather follow God and try to get or that gets difficult. If you've ever tried that but the thing is you got serving God are not serving God. For me personally, not serving God that alternative is unacceptable.

I don't ever again or to walk in that not serving. So don't serve God because it's easier because he'll bless me serve God because the other alternative simply is unacceptable. Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of David McGee. That sounds good Pastor day and again. It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our life. 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on a lot extremely there you will experience a live service from David's home church.

The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of John