LOC #28: BE AN OVERACHIEVER (John 6:1-13)

(This message may be used as an individual sermon or as part of the series.)

JOHN 6:1-13 – BE AN OVERACHIEVER

LIFE OF CHRIST #28

You and I each know at least one person who we consider to be an overachiever. They never stop working. They always need to be accomplishing something new. They have to be the best. They seem to work beyond their ability to get things done.

Many think that it’s wrong to be an overachiever. “Why should we be so committed to achievement that it drives ourselves and others crazy?”

Jesus was an overachiever.

He walked on water.
He raised three people from the dead.
He fed thousands of people with a minimum of food.
He made lame men walk, blind men see, and dumb men speak.
He calmed storms at sea.
He died for the sins of the whole world.
He arose from the dead.
He ascended into Heaven.
He sits on the right hand of the throne of God.

“Of course, Jesus is an overachiever,” you say, “He’s God!”

Jesus wants you to be an overachiever.

But let’s define the word overachiever a little differently.

Let’s think of an overachiever as a person who accomplishes things above his own natural ability.

John 14:12, John 15:16, Acts 1:8, Philippians 4:13

Why would Jesus ever want you to be an overachiever?

Because much can be accomplished for His glory when we trust Him.
Because it shows how much we love Him.
Because the needs are so great and Christ is so compassionate.
When we overachieve properly He gets the glory.

Last time we saw Jesus take his disciples apart to a dessert place to rest awhile. However the crowds were waiting for Him. Jesus had compassion upon them and began to teach them.

The story continues this week as it gets late and there is a need for this huge crowd to be fed. Jesus feeds the 5,000 men plus women and children. This was one of his “overachievements”.

This story can teach us some lessons about being overachievers for the glory of God. Let’s consider the following principles:

SUPPOSITION – JESUS WANTS YOU TO FEED THE MULTITUDES – Vss. 1-7

A supposition is an assumption.

There is no sense in trying to be an overachiever unless our Lord and Master wants us to be overachievers.

This miracle is recorded in all four Gospels.

We learn from comparing the accounts. Each one gives us some more information.

The other Gospels tell us that it was toward the end of the day in a desert place and the disciples encourage Jesus to send the crowd away so they can get food.

Jesus’ answers in Matthew 14:16, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

Jesus is telling the disciples that they should feed the multitude. And of course, with His help they could have.

The disciples were stymied and could only think of going somewhere and buying food, which probably wouldn’t have been enough anyway.

Vs. 5 – Jesus tested Phillip. “Where can we buy bread, so this crowd can eat?”

Vs. 6 – Jesus already knew what He was going to do. I think that Jesus wanted Phillip to ask Jesus to do a miracle.

Vs. 7 – Phillip’s answered that even 8 months worth of daily wages would hardly be enough to give them a little.

There is a multitude of spiritually hungry people both saved and unsaved around us. Jesus says feed them spiritually and help them physically. Mark 16:15, Matthew 5:16, Galatians 6:9-10, Hebrews 10:24-25

And like the disciples we look at the multitude and we check our resources and we begin to think that we have nothing to offer.

We look at our own abilities or lack thereof.

We look at our own backwardness.

We look at our lack of talent or brains.

We look at our lack of learning.

We look at our lack of finances.

We get discouraged and think that we can’t help one or two people, let alone a multitude!

Jesus wants us to feed a multitude, but how?

SURVEY – WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT JESUS CAN USE? – Mark 6:38

Mark 6:38 – He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

Vss. 8-9 – John tells us a little more. The five loaves and two fishes that were found were a little boy’s lunch.

Just as Jesus had the disciples make a survey of what was available, I believe that He would also have us make a survey of what we have available that Jesus might be able to use.

The list I gave you to consider is not a complete one, but should get you to thinking, “What do I have that Jesus can use?”

____ A driver’s license and car

____ A singing voice for solos or choir

____ A sense of humor

____ The ability to play a musical instrument

____ A friendly disposition

____ An ability to teach

____ An ability to encourage

____ A listening ear

____ An ability to cook

____ An ability to clean

____ An ability to fix things

____ An ability to plan

____ A regular income and/or bank account

____ An ability to invite

____ An ability to memorize

____ An ability to learn

____ A concern for lost souls

____ An ability to pray

____ A voice to sing praise to God at home and in church

____ Artistic ability

____ Hospitality

____ Computer skills

____ Other? ____________________________________

I suggest you take this list home and honestly check off the abilities you have, asking God for help.

In order to feed the multitudes, in order to be an overachiever, you must begin by knowing what you have available for God’s use.

SURRENDER – GIVE WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO JESUS – Vs. 9

In order for this miracle to take place, the little boy with the lunch had to do something with it.

HE HAD TO SURRENDER HIS LUNCH TO JESUS!

Christians who have been blessed by God with all sorts of abilities are not surrendering their abilities to God for His use. Thus, they are not overachieving. Romans 12:1-5

First, we are to surrender ourselves to God and that includes all our gifts, talents and abilities.

When we surrender our abilities we are asking God to show us how we can use them for His glory.

Let me ask you, what are you doing right now to feed the multitudes that have so many needs? Won’t you begin by praying over the survey and then surrendering your abilities to God for his use? Ask Him to show you how to use your abilities?

SUPPLY – JESUS WILL MULTIPLY WHAT YOU HAVE – Vss. 10-11

The little boy’s lunch, so insignificant, was used to feed the multitude, because Jesus multiplied it.

Jesus can start multiplying what you have to offer once you start using what you have to offer for His glory. Romans 12:6-8

Here’s another reminder. We can’t do anything in our own strength. When we surrender our abilities to be used by God, we must use them in His power!

Zechariah 4:6 – …Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

John 15:5 – I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

SURPLUS – DON’T WASTE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU – Vs. 12

Jesus instructed the disciples to pick up the leftovers so that there was no waste.

God has given you many gifts, abilities and talents.

When we use them we bring honor and glory to God.

When we use them we show our appreciation.

When we fail to use them, we are wasteful.

When we use them for our own benefit only, we are wasteful.

SUPPOSITION – JESUS WANTS YOU TO FEED THE MULTITUDES
SURVEY – WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT JESUS CAN USE?
SURRENDER – GIVE WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO JESUS
SUPPLY – JESUS WILL MULTIPLY WHAT YOU HAVE
SURPLUS – DON’T WASTE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU – Vs. 12

(This message may be used as an individual sermon or as part of the series.)

MATTHEW 9:23-27 – STORMY WEATHER

LIFE OF CHRIST #24

We all face trials and troubles often. It is what Cole Porter called “Stormy Weather” in a song that he wrote.

There were a couple of times when the disciples faced storms on the Sea of Galilee.

As we look at this story about literal storm, we also learn lessons about the figurative storms that cause trials and troubles in our lives. Let’s see what lessons we can learn this morning about stormy weather.

STORMY WEATHER IS BEST FACED WHEN JESUS IS IN THE BOAT

Vs. 23 – Think of the boat as our lives.

Although God is present everywhere, there is a special sense in which God is present in our lives. When He indwells us, He has taken up special residence inside of us. John 14:16-17

God the Holy Spirit dwells inside of the Christian.

He is there to guide us, protect us, keep us, teach us, and comfort us.

And God has promised the Christian that this presence is unending! Hebrews 13:5-6

You have heard people say, and might have said yourself, “I wouldn’t want to face this problem without the Lord!”

How true! If God is willing to take up residence in our lives through his Holy Spirit it would be dumb not to avail ourselves of His presence.

When you trust Christ as your payment for sins, you are what the Bible calls, born again, by the Spirit of God. And God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your life. Romans 8:9

If you have truly trusted Christ as your Savior, you have God’s presence in your life no matter what the storm may be. Make sure that you have Christ in the boat that is your life!

STORMY WEATHER RESULTS FROM OBEDIENCE

Vs. 23 – The Lord Jesus entered the boat. The disciples followed Him into the boat. It was the Lord Jesus who decided where they were going. Luke 8:22

The disciples ended up in a storm on the Sea of Galilee because they were following Jesus in obedience.

Of course, being obedient to God as a Christian and following Jesus’ leadership in our lives is the right thing to do. Luke 9:23-24

Following Jesus after trusting Him for forgiveness does not mean that it will be an easy life. In fact, we will have storms. 2 Timothy 3:12, James 1:2-4

The storms that Jesus leads through will make us strong and mature. And I’d rather follow Jesus in the middle of a storm than to not follow Jesus. Being in the center of the Lord’s will is always the safest place to be.

But you’ll also face storms if you’re not obedient to God.

Would you rather face storms being in the center of God’s will, or out of God’s will? Which makes the most sense?

STORMY WEATHER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

Vs. 24 – I don’t have to tell you how dangerous storms can be. Just consider last year’s tsunami and hurricanes Ivan and Rita.

This storm was a very violent storm, and even seasoned fishermen like Peter, Andrew, James, and John were having trouble with it.

The storms of life which we face are also dangerous.

Sometimes we will be in physical danger because of persecution, accidents or illness.

Other times we are in emotional danger with our “storms” threatening to overwhelm us with fear and/or depression.

Other times we are in Spiritual danger, with Satan’s attacks challenging us to give up or to sin.

And this verse alludes to another danger. We might be concerned because in the midst of the storm God appears to be asleep. He does not seem to be responding to our problems during the storm. He seems to be silent.

Our Lord Jesus was able to sleep because He had a human body that got tired. He was also able to sleep because, being sinless, He had a clean conscience. He was also able to sleep, because He quietly allowed Himself to rest in the hands of His loving Heavenly Father.

If you are doing what is right before the Lord, confessing your sins as a Christian, and striving to live for Him, don’t panic when God appears to be asleep. He’ll show Himself to be very much alive at just the right time.

STORMY WEATHER INVOKES FEAR AND PANIC

Vs. 25 – When storms come we tend to fear. And sometimes when storms come we will go into a panic. The situation seems to be absolutely hopeless!

Humans tend to be fearful. If we didn’t tend to be fearful, God would not have put so many verses in the Bible telling us not to be afraid. I’ll just give you two samples, but there are many more “do not fear” verses in the Bible. Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 41:10

We tend to fear and worry about what might happen but hasn’t happened.

We tend to fear and worry about the future.

We tend to fear and worry about the opinions of others.

We tend to fear and worry about our children, our parents, our spouses.

Then comes the times our problems are so real to us that they tend to overwhelm us. We hit the panic mode.

Yes, many fears are justified. But there is a proper way to handle fear.

These seasoned fishermen were literally in over their heads and they knew it, coming to Jesus in panic.

STORMY WEATHER REQUIRES PRAYER AND FAITH

Vs. 25 – The disciples awoke the Lord Jesus.

Their anxious prayer was an indication that they had come to the end of themselves, and that they had at least a little faith that Jesus could help.

I personally think that they waited too long to ask Jesus for help. The moment things got a little stormy, I think they should have come to Him.

We are like that. If things seem to be just a little stormy or troublesome, we’ll just worry over it and try to solve it ourselves, instead of bringing it to God right away.

But when problems get full blown, we come in a panic with a little, but not much faith that God can help. Philippians 4:6, James 1:5-8

Vs. 26 – Note that Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for waking Him up. Like I said, I feel that He would have welcomed being woken up sooner.

Notice our Lord’s calm rebuke in the midst of the storm.

He was not in a panic. He’s totally under control. He can even take the time to rebuke the disciples before He did anything. He is master of the situation.

Let’s remember when we give our stormy problems to God He is not in a panic. He can solve the problem leisurely if He chooses to. There is no reason to get in a dither or bent out of shape.

STORMY WEATHER REVEALS THE GLORY AND POWER OF GOD

Vs. 26 – Jesus said the word and there was perfect calm. It was like there had been no storm. There was no rocking of the waves that normally follow a storm. There was perfect peace.

When Jesus speaks the Word there is perfect peace.

Sometimes the problem totally disappears, but more often than not the place where the greatest miracle has occurred is inside of us.

We are at peace.

God has calmed the ragging in our souls.

Vs. 27 – The disciples were absolutely amazed! The Lord Jesus had done what they had never seen before. A human being told the storm to cease and it did. The winds obeyed Him! The waves obey Him.

They had a new appreciation for the power of Jesus!

They had a new appreciation for the glory of Jesus!

And when Jesus calms our storms, we too, should have a new appreciation for the power and glory of the Lord Jesus.

We should be amazed!

We should be filled with praise and worship.

We should be ready to trust Him when an even bigger storm comes.