## Something's Fishy

## John 6:1-14

Read: v1-14

When something doesn't seem to make sense, we might respond by saying that "something's fishy!" Well, today is Fish and Loaves Sunday at Grace Baptist Temple, and the most appropriate passage of Scripture for today's message is the account of the feeding of the five thousand. When we first consider this account, we might wonder what is going on. It may not seem to make much sense to us initially.

- They started with so little! Two small fish and five loaves of bread!
- They fed so many! 5000 men plus!
- They had twelve baskets of leftovers! This after everyone had eaten!
- But the most amazing thing to me is that Jesus chose to use a little lad to accomplish this great miracle!
- Nothing the Lord does is by accident or for no purpose. Jesus was teaching the multitude, His disciples, and us.

Why did the Lord use this little boy? Obviously I do not know exactly why God chose to work in this manner, but I would like to offer some suggestions.

I. He Was Available for Service. v9

A. He was nearby.

1. He was probably pushed aside by most.

2. A little boy in the midst of 5000 men.

3. But, he was close by Jesus and His disciples.

4. Perhaps he was still in awe of just being near the Savior.

5. Do we want to be used of God? We need to stay close to Jesus.

B. He was interested in what was going on.

1. Sometimes we can be in the midst of a crowd, but not be aware of what is happening.

2. Perhaps our minds and hearts are elsewhere.

3. This little boy wasn't playing and wasting time…

4. He was interested in what the Lord was doing.

5. Sometimes we are present in body, but our hearts are somewhere else.

(Mat 15:8) "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."

II. He Yielded All He Had.

A. He was as hungry as the rest.

1. This small amount of food was perhaps his lunch.

2. Maybe his mother had packed it for him that morning.

3. I doubt that he was the only one with food that day.

B. He was unselfish.

1. He was willing to give up all he had.

2. Very unusual for a child, most are very selfish…it is our nature.

3. We must be taught to share with others.

4. But he wasn't just sharing…he was giving up all that he had.

C. He wasn't ashamed of what he had.

1. Andrew said, "…What are they among so many?"

2. Perhaps others scoffed at such a small amount as well.

3. The little boy knew something we all need to remember.

4. With God, it doesn't matter how much or how little…God looks at our hearts.

5. What do we need to yield to the Lord?

a. Our time…

b. Our talent…

c. Our treasure…

III. He Yielded to the Right Person. v11

A. He could have given it to anyone.

1. There were plenty of people there who would have been willing to take it from him.

2. All of them were hungry…

3. But, he chose to give it to the One who could do the most with it.

B. He gave it all to Jesus.

1. Jesus questioned Philip, "What are we going to do?" …Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat…

2. But Philip failed the test. v4-7

3. Instead of saying, "Lord, you turned water into wine…you have healed people of disease…you can do anything!"

4. Philip said, "There just isn't enough to go around!"

5. But the little boy was willing to give what he had to the Lord…

6. He believed that Jesus could take it and use it to meet the needs of the multitude.

7. What could Jesus do with our lives…if we would only yield ourselves to Him?

C. The results were amazing. v11-14

1. The people were not just fed…they were filled!

2. There were twelve baskets full of leftovers…

3. The people glorified Jesus Christ and declared Him to be the prophet that had been promised from God.

What a difference a little insignificant boy made on his world! He didn't have much, but what he had he was willing to surrender to the Lord and allow Jesus to use it to minister to the multitudes. Will you give your life to Jesus today? Totally yield yourselves to be used of God to minister to the needs of others? Make yourself available to the Master…who knows what God might choose to do!