Trusting God: From Small Offerings to Abundant Blessings
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into John 6, focusing on the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000. This passage is rich with insights into Jesus' character and the principles of God's kingdom. We see Jesus' compassion for the physical needs of the crowd, but also His deeper desire for their spiritual transformation. The crowd followed Jesus because of the signs and wonders He performed, but Jesus wanted them to seek Him for who He is, not just for what He could do for them.
We explored the concept of testing versus tempting. God tests our faith to reveal where we stand, but He never tempts us to sin. This distinction is crucial for understanding God's character and His intentions for us. We also discussed the principle of multiplication in God's kingdom, contrasting it with our natural inclination towards addition. Whether it's through observing the Sabbath, tithing, or prayer, God multiplies our efforts and resources when we trust Him.
The story of the feeding of the 5,000 also teaches us about the importance of bringing what we have to God, no matter how small it seems. The little boy's offering of five loaves and two fishes was multiplied to feed thousands, illustrating that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine when we surrender our resources to Him.
Finally, we touched on the importance of rest and generosity. Jesus withdrew to the mountain to be alone, showing us that rest is essential for effective ministry and generosity. We are called to be generous, not just with our resources but also with our time and energy, ensuring we have the margin to care for others.
### Key Takeaways
1. God Tests, Not Tempts: God tests our faith to reveal our spiritual condition, but He never tempts us to sin. Temptation aims to entrap us in sin, while testing aims to strengthen our faith and reliance on God. Understanding this distinction helps us trust God's intentions and grow in our spiritual journey. [12:25]
2. Principle of Multiplication: In God's kingdom, principles like Sabbath rest and tithing demonstrate that God multiplies our efforts and resources. Observing the Sabbath and tithing are acts of trust that invite God's supernatural provision and blessing, far beyond what we could achieve on our own. [26:25]
3. Bring What You Have: The miracle of the loaves and fishes teaches us that we are not responsible for the outcome, only for bringing what we have. God takes our small offerings and multiplies them to meet needs in ways we could never imagine. This principle encourages us to trust God with our resources and efforts. [48:27]
4. Generosity and Rest: Jesus' example of withdrawing to rest and His generous provision for the crowd highlight the importance of rest and generosity. We are called to create margin in our lives to be generous and to care for others effectively. Resting in God’s provision allows us to serve others from a place of abundance. [52:46]
5. Prayer as Multiplication: Prayer is a powerful principle of multiplication. When we pray according to God's will, we tap into His supernatural power to accomplish what we cannot do on our own. This requires aligning our desires with God's will and trusting Him to act in His perfect timing and way. [44:28]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Junior High Dismissal
[01:34] - Reading John 6:1-15
[03:04] - Opening Prayer
[04:05] - Context of the Miracle
[05:40] - Jesus' Frustration with the Crowd
[06:54] - Seeking Signs vs. Seeking Jesus
[08:01] - Wanting to Feel Better vs. Being Better
[09:22] - Meeting Physical and Spiritual Needs
[10:41] - Historical Context of the Miracle
[12:25] - God Tests, Not Tempts
[14:42] - Personal Story of Testing
[16:18] - Not Every Open Door is from God
[18:40] - Philip's Assessment and God's Ability
[20:39] - What is Impossible with Man is Possible with God
[23:15] - Living by Faith, Not by Sight
[25:32] - Kingdom Principles of Multiplication
[26:25] - Sabbath as a Principle of Multiplication
[29:19] - Resting the Land Every Seven Years
[31:58] - Chick-fil-A Example of Sabbath Rest
[33:11] - Tithing as a Principle of Multiplication
[38:03] - Generosity and God's Provision
[44:28] - Prayer as a Principle of Multiplication
[48:27] - Bringing What You Have
[52:46] - Importance of Rest and Generosity
[55:35] - Praying for Impossible Situations
[57:17] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 6:1-15
2. James 1:13
3. Luke 18:27
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial reason the crowd followed Jesus in John 6:1-15? [01:34]
2. How did Jesus test Philip, and what was Philip's response? [12:25]
3. What did the little boy offer, and how did Jesus use it to perform the miracle? [48:27]
4. According to James 1:13, what is the difference between testing and tempting? [13:04]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to test Philip specifically in this situation? What might this reveal about Philip's faith? [12:25]
2. How does the principle of multiplication in God's kingdom differ from our natural inclination towards addition? [25:32]
3. What does the story of the loaves and fishes teach us about the importance of bringing what we have to God, no matter how small it seems? [48:27]
4. How does understanding that God tests but does not tempt us help us trust His intentions and grow in our spiritual journey? [13:04]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt tested by God. How did you respond, and what did you learn about your faith through that experience? [12:25]
2. In what areas of your life do you tend to think in terms of addition rather than multiplication? How can you shift your mindset to trust in God's principle of multiplication? [25:32]
3. What small offering or talent do you have that you can bring to God, trusting Him to multiply it for His kingdom? [48:27]
4. How can you create more margin in your life to be generous with your time and resources? What steps can you take to ensure you have the rest needed to serve others effectively? [52:46]
5. Think about a current challenge or "impossible situation" you are facing. How can you bring this to God in prayer, trusting in His supernatural power to act? [55:35]
6. How can you align your prayers more closely with God's will, as suggested in 1 John 5:14-15? What practical steps can you take to discern His will more clearly? [45:37]
7. Consider your current financial practices. How can you apply the principle of tithing and generosity to experience God's provision and blessing in your life? [33:11]
Devotional
Day 1: God Tests, Not Tempts
God tests our faith to reveal our spiritual condition, but He never tempts us to sin. Temptation aims to entrap us in sin, while testing aims to strengthen our faith and reliance on God. Understanding this distinction helps us trust God's intentions and grow in our spiritual journey. When we face challenges, it is crucial to discern whether we are being tested or tempted. Tests are opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God, while temptations are traps set to lead us away from Him.
In moments of testing, we can find comfort in knowing that God’s purpose is to refine us, not to harm us. He desires to reveal our strengths and weaknesses, helping us to grow in faith and character. By recognizing this, we can approach our trials with a mindset of trust and perseverance, knowing that God is with us and for us. [12:25]
James 1:12-13 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you view it as a test from God meant to strengthen your faith rather than a temptation to lead you astray?
Day 2: Principle of Multiplication
In God's kingdom, principles like Sabbath rest and tithing demonstrate that God multiplies our efforts and resources. Observing the Sabbath and tithing are acts of trust that invite God's supernatural provision and blessing, far beyond what we could achieve on our own. These practices are not just religious rituals but profound expressions of faith and dependence on God’s provision.
When we honor the Sabbath, we acknowledge that our productivity and success are not solely dependent on our efforts but on God’s grace. Similarly, tithing is an act of faith that recognizes God as the source of all our resources. By giving back a portion, we trust that He will multiply what remains and provide for our needs abundantly. [26:25]
Leviticus 25:21-22 (ESV): "I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives."
Reflection: How can you practice the principle of multiplication in your life this week, whether through rest, giving, or another act of faith?
Day 3: Bring What You Have
The miracle of the loaves and fishes teaches us that we are not responsible for the outcome, only for bringing what we have. God takes our small offerings and multiplies them to meet needs in ways we could never imagine. This principle encourages us to trust God with our resources and efforts, no matter how insignificant they may seem.
When we bring our talents, time, and resources to God, He can use them in extraordinary ways. The little boy’s offering of five loaves and two fishes was enough for Jesus to feed thousands. Similarly, our small contributions, when surrendered to God, can have a significant impact. It’s not about the size of our offering but the heart behind it and our willingness to trust God with the results. [48:27]
2 Kings 4:2-4 (ESV): "And Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?' And she said, 'Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.' Then he said, 'Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.'"
Reflection: What small offering can you bring to God today, trusting Him to multiply it for His purposes?
Day 4: Generosity and Rest
Jesus' example of withdrawing to rest and His generous provision for the crowd highlight the importance of rest and generosity. We are called to create margin in our lives to be generous and to care for others effectively. Resting in God’s provision allows us to serve others from a place of abundance.
Rest is not just a physical necessity but a spiritual discipline that enables us to recharge and refocus on God. Generosity, on the other hand, flows from a heart that trusts in God’s provision. When we rest and give generously, we reflect God’s character and create space for His blessings to flow through us to others. [52:46]
Mark 6:31-32 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves."
Reflection: How can you create margin in your life this week to rest and be generous with your time and resources?
Day 5: Prayer as Multiplication
Prayer is a powerful principle of multiplication. When we pray according to God's will, we tap into His supernatural power to accomplish what we cannot do on our own. This requires aligning our desires with God's will and trusting Him to act in His perfect timing and way.
Prayer is not just a means of asking for things but a way of partnering with God in His work. When we pray, we invite God’s power and presence into our situations, trusting that He can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. By aligning our prayers with His will, we become conduits of His grace and power in the world. [44:28]
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: What specific situation in your life can you bring to God in prayer today, trusting Him to multiply your efforts and work in ways beyond your understanding?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Some people want to feel better more than they want to be better. They just want the problem to go away. I mean, let me just tell you, if you're a counselor's in here, those, those, that's Carolyn knows exactly what I'm talking about. Just, just make the problem. Just fix the problem. How did I fix the marriage? How did I get, just make it better so that I don't feel guilty anymore. What's the pill that I can take? I don't really want to change my, change my diet and exercise. Just give me the pill. Just give me the pill." [08:01] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What is impossible with man is possible with God. I don't know what you're going through today. I don't know what you're working through, but let me just tell you something. What is impossible with man is possible with God. We live on a different plane than the rest of the world, guys. Not because we're better, but because he's better. And we understand that we have access to power that is not available to natural man." [21:26] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We do need to help the poor. We need to help the hurting, but we, and we need to meet needs, but we also need to understand that the world needs Jesus. He's Jesus. So, so this miracle is really important because it was a sign and it was something that the Jewish people would have understood." [09:59] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Prayer is the principle of multiplication. Listen to this. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it's working. Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, seeks. I'm sorry. Everyone who asks, receives. The one who seeks, finds. And the one who knocks will be opened." [44:28] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We are not responsible for the multiplication or the outcome. We are responsible to only bring what we have. We would have a whole lot less stress in our life. If we stop worrying about all the outcomes of our life, his word is a lamp into our, what light into our, what, that's all we have to focus on, bring what we have." [48:27] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus says this, pray your kingdom come, my kingdom come, my will be done is what he's saying, but the father's kingdom come, the father's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What God has planned in heaven, you're saying, Lord, I call it down into earth and existence. You're praying it in his existence. We've got this opportunity to tap into the power of God in any situation. We pray his will in existence." [23:15] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Not every open door is from God. You know? I hear people say all the time, things like, well, if God opened the door, I'm going to walk through it. God, God, Hey man, I was sitting there and God opened the door and all of a sudden I'm walking through it. And I'm like, well, it could be from God. It could be a test. It could be from Satan or it could be an algorithm on lock, you know, on, uh, LinkedIn is what I was going to say. It could be just an algorithm on LinkedIn." [16:18] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We think in addition, well, I got one more day to do some work. Got a little more. Hey, you know, after church, I got to get in there. Okay. Okay. Okay. God thinks in multiplication, I will allow you to accomplish enough. So you get more work done in six days. So you get all your work done. Plus you get to rest your body." [29:56] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I tithe to honor God. I tithe to break stinginess off of my life. I tithe to support my local church and make sure that the needs are taken care of. I tithe because it opens the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing." [42:11] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "He cares about you. He cares about your physical needs. He really does. He cares about making sure you have a house, you have transportation, you have a job, you got food on the table. He cares. Ask him about it. Talk to him about it. So you need to know. No, he's not just so disinterested, so interested in just the heart thing. He doesn't care about what's going on. He knows you have issues in your life that you need to get solved. Bring them to the Lord." [49:27] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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