SIT DOWN
We all know the story of the loaves and fishes in the Bible.
In John 6:1-14: Jesus wanted the disciples to feed a large crowd.
They said it would be impossible.
But, a boy with them had five small loaves of bread and two small fish.
First this is showing that no matter what the situation Jesus wants to do something great.
We see that someone is bringing something to Jesus to use to help others.
Whatever you have, no matter how small, give it to Jesus and watch him do miracles with it.
Jesus takes this gift, thanks God for it, and uses it to feed over 5,000 people, with leftovers to spare!
If we are not careful we will miss the most important part of this message.
It can be found in Matthew 14:19 KJV And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And he commanded that they sit down.
To sit with denotes intimate fellowship (Psalms 1:1; 26:5; Luke 13:29; Revelation 3:21)
When we have a family dinner, we break out the long table and pull chairs from all over that we might SIT together.
What does the Bible say about sitting still?
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46 is song of praise to God for protection from Jerusalem's enemies.
I often see this verse used as an instruction to stop doing, sit quietly and contemplate on the Lord.
We even read many places where Jesus was sitting.
What is the significance of Jesus sitting?
When the Bible makes statements that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, it is affirming that he has equal status to the Father within the Godhead (Hebrews 1:3, 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 7:55-56).
When He lived on earth, Jesus found joy in spending time with children.
There are several scripture stories about parents who brought their children to Jesus to be blessed.
On one occasion, His disciples tried to send them away so Jesus could rest, but He immediately told His disciples to let the children come to Him.
In John chapter 4: So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well.
Here Jesus sat down to wait for the woman so that he might change her life.
Maybe we should learn to sit and let Jesus minister to us.
I am always going, busy doing this and that.
Going 100 miles an hour and getting nothing done.
I know you all can relate.
Sometimes we need to put the brakes on and sit down.
While sitting that allows us to focus on Jesus.
Turn our hearts and minds to him.
Maybe this gives us a chance to have Jesus change our lives, give us advice or tell us something that we wouldn’t hear if we were going.
Sure Jesus tells us to go and make disciples.
Go and spread the good news to the lost and dying world.
But he also tells us to make time to hear him.
How many people miss out on conversations, like the other day, I was in the kitchen warming up lunch, my wife was in the living room.
She was talking to me but I only would catch a word or two and would have to walk closer to her and say I am sorry, I didn’t hear you.
Now once I was sitting next to her on the couch and focused on her, I didn’t miss a word.
That is how this message is coming to me.
Jesus wants us to sit down and listen and watch him do miracles.
He showed them how great GOD was, Jesus lifted the meager items and blessed or gave them to GOD, then GOD did the multiplying.
We can have Jesus take our small offerings and do great things with it.
So it’s ok to sit in Jesus presence.
Sit with our eyes on him and watch and learn from him.
I do believe that in our walk there are times that we need to go and do what he commands and there is also a time to sit so we can learn or get a blessing.
It might be hard to know when to do either.
Our focus should stay on Jesus and be available to him to use us.
We read that when Jesus would teach others, those people would sit at his feet and let Jesus speak into their lives.
We should get into the habit of sitting at the feet of Jesus and watch our spiritual walk become more for him.
We will close in a prayer.