WEBVTT 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:04.799 Thank you, Robert. 00:00:04.959 --> 00:00:05.679 Good evening. 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:08.240 It's so good to be here. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:10.000 My name is John. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.640 What's your name? 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:13.519 Nice to meet you. 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:14.640 Nice to meet you. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:27.679 Since we have just a couple extra minutes, and I'm really going to teach, I have an amazing sense of humor, and I'm 59, and I have discovered the meaning of life. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:30.399 And I have it here on this laminated card. 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:35.359 Because all of us ask questions about life, and I'm just so excited because I figured it out. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:37.200 And I laminated it. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:42.799 Which means when I laminate something, it means it's it's extremely special. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:51.439 If I would have been Moses when I went up to the top of Mount Sinai, I would have laminated the Ten Commandments. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:52.079 You know what I'm saying? 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.079 And I mean, I wouldn't have put them on stone. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:55.439 You know, those things will break. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.159 I'm going to explain life to you right now. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:05.200 On the first day, God created the dog. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.480 God said, sit all the day by the door of your house and bark at anyone that comes by. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.640 I'll give you a lifespan of 20 years. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:15.120 The dog said, That's too long to be barking. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:17.439 Give me 10 years and I'll give you back the other ten. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:18.799 And God agreed. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:20.799 On the second day, God created the monkey. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:23.439 God said, Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:25.760 I'll give you a 20-year lifespan. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.359 The monkey said, How boring. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.760 Monkey tricks for 20 years? 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:30.959 I don't think so. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:33.840 The dog gave you back 10, so that's what I'll do too, okay? 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:35.280 And God agreed. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:37.840 On the third day, God created the cow. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:45.280 God said, You must go out in the field with the farmer all day long, suffer under the sun, have calves, give milk, to support the farmer. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:47.439 I'll give you a lifespan of 60 years. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:49.519 The cow said, That's kind of a tough life. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:51.599 You want me to live for 60 years? 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.480 Let me have 20 and I'll give you back the other 40. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.159 And God agreed. 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.760 On the fourth day, God created man. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:05.359 God said, Eat, sleep, play, marry, enjoy your life. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:07.519 I'll give you 20 years. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:09.199 Man said, What? 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.319 Only 20 years? 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:13.520 I tell you what. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:21.840 I'll take my 20, I have the 40 that the cow gave you back, the 10 the monkey gave you back, the 10 the dog gave you back, that makes 80, okay, okay, God said. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:23.919 You've got a deal. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:27.759 So that is why the first 20 years of our lives. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.159 I see the train of coming. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.280 That's why the first 20 years of our lives. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:49.680 I just know what's going to be said. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:53.680 That's why the first 20 years of our lives. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.240 We eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:00.719 For the next 40 years, we slave under the sun to support our family. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:06.000 For the next 10 years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:14.080 For the last 10 years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everybody that goes by. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:26.240 You have just had life explained to you. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:32.240 Get your piece of paper because I'm going to talk to you about how a biblical miracle works. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:35.599 And I only have 27 minutes to do it. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:50.639 How does a biblical miracle work in my life? 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:51.439 Say, are you ready? 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:51.840 Here we go. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:52.960 It's going to be two or three lines. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:55.759 I'll repeat it a few times so make sure that you have it. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:01.520 When there's a need sensed by a few. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:13.520 When there's a need sensed by a few, and each individual understands his responsibility. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.439 When there's a need, satisfy a few. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:22.079 And each individual understands his responsibility or her responsibility, okay? 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:27.920 And gives his all regardless of the odds. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:32.160 When there's a need, satisfy a few. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:43.519 And each individual understands his responsibility and gives his all regardless of the odds, then Jesus works a miracle. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:44.879 I'll repeat it. 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:47.759 When there's a need, sensed by a few. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:56.560 And each individual understands his responsibility and gives his all, regardless of the odds, then Jesus works a miracle. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:58.319 Do you have that written down, huh? 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:00.319 Okay, let's read it together as a congregation. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:01.439 Let's read it aloud. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.800 When there's a need, sense by a few. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:12.560 And each individual understands his responsibility and gives his all regardless of the odds. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:16.079 Then Jesus works a miracle. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:18.399 The story is told in all four Gospels. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:22.639 In fact, it's the only miracle of our Lord's that is recorded in all four Gospels. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:29.759 And I'm going to read out of Mark chapter 6, and I'm going to read it out of the message because we know the story of the feeding of the 5,000. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:33.759 And as I get ready to read this story to you, think about it for a moment. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:42.160 One life, one life, made a difference for 5,000 people. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:45.040 Here's the story. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:51.519 When Jesus arrived with his disciples, he saw a huge crowd, and at the sight of them his heart broke. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:56.800 Like sheep with no shepherd they were, and they went right to work teaching them. 00:05:57.040 --> 00:05:59.279 Now, I'm going to stop here for a moment because I have a sense of humor. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:02.639 Whenever I read something that strikes me as funny, I just think it's funny. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:03.600 Get the picture. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:07.759 Jesus has been teaching now probably for a couple of hours, large crowd out there hear him. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:11.600 And this next phrase just kind of cracks me up. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:24.560 When his disciples thought that this had gone on long enough, how would you like to be known as the person who interrupted Jesus? 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:36.800 The greatest teacher ever, teaching incredible words of eternal life, and they're tapping his shoulder and saying, Lord, it's gone on long enough. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.800 And then when they interrupted, then they went on and said, We are a long way out in the country. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:44.000 It's very late. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:46.720 Pronounce a benediction. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:49.519 And send these folks off so they can get some supper. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:50.720 And I love this next phrase. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:52.399 Jesus said, You do it. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:56.800 You fix supper for them. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.079 They replied, Are you serious? 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.360 You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper? 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:05.360 But he was quite serious. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:08.240 How many loaves of bread do you have? 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:09.839 Take an inventory. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:11.519 That didn't take long. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.680 Five, they said, plus two fish. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.040 Now you know the story. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.720 Jesus took this kid's lunch. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:29.360 And he took this lunch and he prayed over it, blessed it, and multiplied it, and the great miracle of the feeding of the five thousand occurred. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:32.160 One lunch. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:40.240 One life made a huge difference that day for thousands of people. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.120 When I was a kid, we used to play this game. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:44.480 I don't know what the name of the game is. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:45.759 I call it the hot and cold game. 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:47.680 I don't think that is the title. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:52.079 But it was a fun game, and I'm going to explain it to you and see if you played it. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:56.240 Let's just say the water bottle is the object that I'm to find. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.480 There are maybe a half a dozen kids in a room. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:01.920 One kid is it, the kid leaves the room, the rest of the kids they hide. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.680 They hide the object. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:06.959 And when the kid comes in the room, the other kids say hot or cold. 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:10.720 And by saying cold or hot, they let him know how close he is to the object. 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.399 So I call it the hot and cold game. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:13.839 How many of you played that game? 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:15.040 Oh, yes. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.160 Same background I had. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:20.000 So we're going to play the game tonight. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:20.480 I'm it. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:21.199 I'm out of the room. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:26.879 I have no idea where the water bottle is, but you're going to talk to me, and we're going to play the hot and cold game right now, okay? 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:27.680 So start talking to me. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:28.480 What am I here? 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:29.439 Okay, talk to me. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:50.240 I'm burning up, aren't I, huh? 00:08:52.000 --> 00:09:01.519 Now you see, I'm able to discover the desired object because when you say I'm hot, you tell me I'm very close to it. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:10.799 What I'm saying to you as a congregation and to many of you individually tonight is you're very close to receiving a miracle from God. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.639 Very close. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:21.679 And the story of the kid, the kid, I'm going to say he's a junior high kid that has the lunch that mother's fixed for him that day when he comes to hear Jesus. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:23.440 I think his name was Johnny. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:29.759 And he had another buddy, I think, was in junior high with him, and I think his name was Jimmy. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:34.399 Jimmy and Johnny, two biblical Southern names. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:43.279 And as they're coming that day with their lunch, they have no idea what God is going to do through Johnny's life. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:48.879 He has no idea that God is going to use him, one life, to touch thousands of life. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:55.200 He has no idea the ripple effect that God is going to produce in his life. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:04.000 If he could hear the audible voice of God while he's coming with the crowd, he would hear God's voice say to him, Hey, kid, kid, hey, hey, kid, hey, hey. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:05.279 You're hot. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.200 You're hot. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:09.600 You're real close. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:14.320 To seeing God do a miracle in your life. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:20.399 Now, on the piece of paper, you have the breakdown of how a biblical miracle works. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:23.600 When there is a need. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:40.480 As this Bible story opens, and Jesus with his disciples comes across the hill and he sees this crowd, his heart breaks because they're like sheep without a shepherd, and the story just absolutely jumps out at all of us and says, there's a need here, a spiritual need. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:46.480 They're lost, they're confused, they need a leader, they need some security, they need some guidance, they need some help. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:52.799 The very story opens with a need just right in front of the eyes of Jesus and the disciples. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:57.759 A few hours later, there's going to be a physical need because as he's teaching, the people begin to be hungry. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.799 And that's kind of where the story begins to take off. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:09.679 In my second pastorate in central Ohio, I went to a church that had been very plateaued, very flat for 12 years. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.039 As a young pastor, I thought, how God, how could I increase their faith? 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:17.440 They were people that just didn't expect much and were just settled in. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:26.559 And I felt that I should preach on miracles to help people really understand God and how He wanted to work in their lives. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:31.200 And so one Sunday I got up and I said, I'm going to preach on all the miracles in the Bible. 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:35.120 And I had no clue how many that would be. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:38.080 I was just a young, zealous pastor. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:40.159 So I started in the Old Testament. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:47.279 I went through the Old Testament 14 months later. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:51.279 Now that's a rather long series. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:57.840 Fourteen months later, I'm finished with this series on miracles in the Bible. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:05.840 And when I finished teaching on every miracle in the Bible, I asked myself a question: is there something, is there something that every miracle has in common? 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:12.799 I mean, is there when you look at in the Old and New Testament, is there something that you can just say is true about every miracle in the Bible? 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:22.639 And I came to the conclusion that there's one thing, one thing, that every miracle in the Bible has in common. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:26.240 Now, because you have great teaching here at the church, a gateway. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:34.960 If I could come down off the platform and I could say, what do you have to what do you have to do or have to receive a miracle from God, you would give me some great answers. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.519 Somebody would say real quickly, John, you've got to have faith. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:40.000 Boy, faith's important, isn't it? 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.039 You can't even please God without faith. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:47.440 But I could show you people who received miracles from God that didn't have any faith at all. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:49.679 In fact, I can show you people who received miracles from God. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:51.039 They were surprised. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.320 Whoa. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.360 Whoa. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.440 What happened here? 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:00.799 Woo! Are you with me? 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.200 Somebody said, well, you got to pray. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.440 Well, that's prayer is huge. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:11.279 I could tell you people who never prayed at all that received miracles. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.080 Now I'm not picking on the disciples. 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.440 I totally understand. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.639 I totally understand. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:27.039 Because when I have a prayer request, when I have a need, I'll get my pad of paper out and I'll get my pen out, and I'll say, okay, God, here's my problem, and I'll put my prayer request across the top of the page. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:38.559 And then because God is so busy, many times I will offer suggestions of how He could answer my prayer. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.480 How many of you have ever done that? 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:45.279 At least one time today. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:51.120 You know what I'm talking about, don't you? 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.600 Huh? 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:55.679 And I'll say, God, here's my problem, and Lord, I you're very busy. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.679 I'm going to keep this simple, Lord. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.840 I think a three-step plan would be fine. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.080 And here's one, and here's the second thing. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:09.279 And it's like God, it's like God's in heaven, and he's looking over, and he's hearing my suggestions, and he's going. 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:13.679 Whoa! 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.320 Chow, chow, chow. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:17.039 Slow down. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.000 Slow down. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:22.000 That is so good. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:23.759 Here, here. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:25.039 Please, please, please. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:27.120 Would you could you repeat that for me one time? 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.519 Oh, yes. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:30.799 Yes. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.639 Why have I never thought of that? 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:37.120 That is so awesome. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.600 I have given hundreds of suggestions to God. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:50.399 And He's not taken one yet. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.840 You see, God doesn't want my suggestions. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.600 He doesn't want my ideas. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:58.559 He wants my involvement. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.080 We'll bring our needs to God. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.759 We'll say, okay, God, there's the need. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.559 There it is, Lord. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:05.679 There's the problem I have. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.480 And then I love it. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.519 We'll give it to God and then we slip out as fast as we can. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.519 You know, we kind of sneak away with it. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:13.039 He's got it, and we're over here. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:16.000 And we kind of get kind of in safe distance. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:27.360 Then we turn around and we say, Go ahead, God. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.080 Take care of that for me. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.639 You can do it. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.480 You're the man. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:50.240 And when he's slow, we'll try to be his chief cheerleader. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.960 Yeah, we'll start singing songs to him. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:57.600 Oh, yeah, we'll sing, and if singing songs to him doesn't work, we'll quote scripture to him. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:04.320 We'll say, God, God, you're able to do exceeding abundantly more than we can ask for a pay. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:10.159 It's like God said, Where did you hear that? 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:20.559 You see, we'll quote scripture, we'll sing songs, we'll do everything but what he wants. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.320 He wants our partnership. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.080 He wants our involvement. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:28.720 You see, most Christians don't want miracles. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.879 Most Christians want magic. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:40.639 And God wants a partnership. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:45.519 God wants your lunch. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:56.960 My father, who has been an incredible mentor to me for many years, I've heard him say this hundreds of times. 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.639 John, without God, you cannot. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:04.799 Without you, God will not. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.240 It's a partnership. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:19.440 When you look at miracles in the Bible, one of the first things that you'll begin to discover is that when God is about to do a miracle, he involves people. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:26.880 Last week I was doing the teaching on John chapter 2, the turning of water into wine, first miracle of our Lord. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.240 And what did Mary say? 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.920 Mary said, whatever he tells you, do it. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:33.359 And Jesus got the servants, he said, you know, put the water in the pots. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.400 They got these big pots. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.359 They put the water in it. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.119 And then, of course, the miracle happened. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.240 They brought it to the host. 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:40.960 And it says the host couldn't figure it out. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:47.519 But the servants knew because they were involved in the process. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.880 Listen to me, my friend. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.079 My name is John. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.119 I am your friend. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.720 Listen to me very carefully. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:56.960 Never try to explain God until you first obey Him. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:04.079 Christians are educated way beyond the level of their obedience. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:06.000 Wow. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.519 He wants you to get involved. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:11.599 He wants the lunch. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:16.319 He looks at the disciples and he said, You give them something to eat. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:22.799 When there's a need sensed by a few, and each individual understands his responsibility. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:27.839 And gives us all regardless of the odds. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:31.440 Now, this is the second fragile part of the miracle. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:36.319 The giving regardless of the odds. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:41.359 When Jesus said, You give them something to eat, the disciples went in a panic. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.920 They went over to Judas and said, Jude, talk to me how much money we got. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.680 He starts to get the calculator out. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.880 He's crunching numbers. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.799 He says, Guys, we are in deep weeds. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.160 We don't have enough money. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.519 So they got to panic. 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.240 And you know the story. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:52.799 They go to the crowd. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.319 They go through the crowd and say, Have you got something to eat? 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.440 Have you got some food? 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:58.079 And they're going through the crowd looking for food. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:00.640 Let's go back to Jimmy and Johnny. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:07.039 Jimmy watches these guys asking the crowd for food. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.880 He runs to his buddy, Johnny. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:14.720 He said, Johnny, the guys that hang with Jesus, they're looking for food. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:18.799 And I'm telling you, I scouted the crowd out and nobody planned ahead. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:22.960 And you're the only person in the crowd that has food. 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:26.880 And I just want you to know they're closing in on you. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:38.720 I think Johnny took his lunch and sat on it. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:44.400 I think he operated on the principle to squash lunches better than none at all. 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:48.720 And I think there are two reasons why he had a hard time giving Jesus his lunch. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:53.599 Number one, it's hard to care for others when you're comfortable yourself. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:08.240 Out of 5,000 people, there was only one who didn't need a miracle from Jesus. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:10.480 It was the kid with the lunch. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.000 He didn't need a miracle. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:12.880 He already had his lunch. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.119 He already had his provisions taken care of. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:18.160 He didn't need God to do anything spectacular that day. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.680 He had his needs met. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:23.359 It's hard to care for others when you're comfortable yourself. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:27.359 I applaud you because, as a congregation, you said, this is not enough. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:31.119 Not until every person is reached for Jesus Christ. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:38.400 Second reason I think he had a hard time giving up his lunch, the request. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:41.119 Made no sense at all. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.759 Hey, kid. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:48.240 If you give your lunch to Jesus, here's his plan. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:52.319 He's going to take it and put it in his hands. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.559 He's going to pray over it and bless it and break it. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:59.440 And Sonny, we're going to feed 5,000 people with that lunch. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:03.599 I think Johnny looked at Jimmy and said, What have those guys been smoking? 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:20.160 Robert, I wonder how many times in my life I've missed the best that God had for me because what he requested of me didn't make sense. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:29.119 And so I held on to the security of my lunch because I knew I had that instead of letting it go and trusting Jesus. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:36.000 If the kid were here today, what the kid would tell you is, you can trust Jesus with your lunch. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.519 And he did. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.240 And you know the story. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.319 Everybody ate, baskets were left over. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:52.160 All the gospel writers stopped telling the story there, but I can tell you the story continues, and since they didn't continue it, I will. 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:57.680 That day Johnny went home. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:00.799 And when he pushed the The screen door open. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.759 Hey, Mom, I'm home. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.920 Sweetheart, I'll be in the living room in a moment. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.640 Just sit down there. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.839 And Johnny sits down. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:09.279 Pretty soon his mom comes in and says, Sweetheart, tell me about your day. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.519 Oh, mother. 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.680 And he begins to tell her this story. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:16.400 Oh, sweet, before you tell, tell me about your day. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:18.319 There's something as a mother I've been worried about all day. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:18.960 What's that, Mom? 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:28.480 Well, you're just growing, you're in junior high, and I put those few loaves and fish together in that little sack and gave it to you, and then Jimmy came over and all of a sudden I saw you guys running out towards Jesus, and you had a little bit of food. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:32.799 And as your mother, the thing that's bothering me all day, in fact, I have not gotten this off my mind all day. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:35.039 Sweetheart, can I ask you a question? 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:39.440 When I packed your lunch today, did I give you enough food? 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.160 Mom. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.720 Sit down. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.279 You know the lunch you gave me? 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.519 Jesus taught for a while. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.400 The people were hungry. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.599 There was no food. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:02.799 The disciples came and asked if I would give just those few loaves of fish to Jesus. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.559 And I, you know, Mom, I did. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:08.880 And he blessed this lunch that you packed for me. 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.400 And 5,000 people. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:13.680 Everybody, everybody had food because of the lunch, Mom. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:17.599 And Mother says, Johnny, you have been lying again. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.039 No, no, no. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.599 Call Jimmy. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.160 Call Jimmy. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.119 He'll tell you. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:28.480 You see, the rest of his life, this kid never forgot what Jesus did for him. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:37.200 You see, we talk about the miracle, and whenever we talk about the miracle, we talk about the feeding of 5,000, and it was a wonderful miracle because 5,000 people were blessed. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.319 Let me just stop here. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.599 Time out for a moment. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.960 One life. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:51.519 As you give and care and minister and do your part and get involved with this incredible work that God is doing in this congregation, there are going to be tens of thousands of lives that are going to be touched. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:57.119 And you're going to have a tendency to think about the miracle of all those tens and thousands of people that are going to be touched because of your faithfulness. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.240 But can I tell you something? 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:05.920 While that is happening and that is a ripple effect, the greatest miracle is going to happen in the fact that you got involved and you gave your lunch. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:09.599 And the biggest miracle that day was what happened to the kid. 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:11.920 Wow. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:28.640 I promise you, every day, every day, he thought about the day he gave Jesus his lunch. 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:38.720 And when he got older and got married, and he had kids about his age, and they went to go to bed and they did the bedtime ritual the parents do with their kids, and they, you know, did their stuff. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:49.200 And you know, when the when the when the boy now that's a father sat down with his kids and he didn't tell them like regular bedtime stories. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:52.000 Oh, those are so weak. 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.519 So lame. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:56.799 He'd sit on the bedside and said, Sweetheart. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:01.119 When I was just about your age. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:07.519 And the kids, his kids would roll their eyes and say, Here comes the fish and chip story again. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.720 Here comes the fish and chip. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.240 Here comes the fish and chip. 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:12.480 You better believe it every day. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:15.359 He told the fish and chip story. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:32.160 Because the miracle was not only those that received, but the miracle, the greatest miracle, was the one who gave one life. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:35.759 Thousands touched. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:38.480 In this congregation. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:50.480 As you take this faith journey together, God is going to honor your commitment, and God is going to honor your faith and obedience. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:52.960 And thousands will be touched. 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:57.839 But the lives that will be changed the most are the people that are here. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:06.079 Because you're the ones who gave up your life and trusted Jesus with it. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.079 God bless you. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.599 Thank you very much. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:16.480 You see, there's only one thing that every miracle in the Bible has in common. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:18.480 You see, every miracle, are you ready? 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:22.400 Every miracle in the Bible begins with a problem. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:30.720 Whenever you see a miracle that God does, there it always starts with a problem. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:35.039 Now, I don't know what that does to you, but that is very encouraging to me. 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:40.640 Because I have a lot of problems. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:44.240 Now get the picture. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:47.440 Miracles begin with problems. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:55.359 Now I just flew in really late last night from Phoenix, and so I have no clue, but I so I'd better do a little survey before I go on in this message. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:59.440 I'm going to assume, but maybe I shouldn't assume, I'm going to assume that you have problems. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.079 So how many of you would raise your hand and say, John, yes, I have, yes, I do. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:06.799 I have at least one problem in my life. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.680 Oh, thank you. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.559 Boy, this is good. 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.599 I'm among friends. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:13.519 How many of you would raise your hand and say, John, I'm seated beside that problem right now? 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:24.799