1. The exception of the resurrection this is the only miracle appears in all four gospels.
1.1. This miracle took place about one year before Jesus was crucified
1.2. The crowds followed to hear Jesus teach and to have him heal their sick
1.3. Jesus provides more than enough to meet everyone’s needs seven in an impossible situation
2. WITH JESUS, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
2.1. A. In John 6:5, Jesus asked Philip
2.1.1. “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
2.1.2. In verse 7, Philip answered
2.1.2.1. Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Philip had already calculated the impossibility of feeding the crowd.
2.2. Jesus had the answer
2.2.1. He has the solution to impossible situations.
2.3. C. Likewise, in Isaiah 65:24 God says
2.3.1. Isaiah 65:24 “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”
2.3.1.1. You cannot face a problem that God hasn’t already figured out.
2.3.2. Ephesians 2:4–5 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
2.3.3. Ephesians 2:6–7 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
3. WITH JESUS, NOTHING IS INSIGNIFICANT
3.1. A. It all started with a little lunch
3.1.1. Barley was the grain poor people used for bread
3.1.2. The five “loaves” weren’t like our loaves
3.1.2.1. They were small lunch biscuits
3.1.3. Two fish were dried fish about the size of sardines
3.1.4. It wasn’t much, but Jesus fed more than five thousand people with it.
3.2. B. Jesus not only fed the crowd
3.2.1. Until everyone was full
3.2.2. But the boy who gave up his lunch got much more than he gave
3.2.3. He started with a small lunch
3.2.4. He ended up being filled.
3.3. C. God's answers provide solutions that far eceeds our wildest expectations
4. WITH JESUS, NOTHING IS WASTED
4.1. John 6:12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”
4.2. John 6:13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
4.3. Nothing that happens to us is wasted
4.3.1. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
4.3.2. He never wastes a pain or trial
4.4. C. Life does not feel good
4.4.1. Life is often filled with broken dreams and lost hopes
4.4.2. Loss of a job can shatter
4.4.2.1. Financial security
4.4.2.2. Professional advancement
4.4.2.3. Comfort
4.4.2.4. Dreams
4.4.3. A divorce can shatter
4.4.3.1. Dreams of home
4.4.3.2. Family
4.4.3.3. Loving relationship
4.4.4. A serious illness can shatter
4.4.4.1. Hope of trips
4.4.4.2. Active life
4.4.4.3. "This is not what I imagined retirement to look like"
4.4.5. The death of a loved one can shatter
4.4.5.1. Dreams of companionship
4.4.5.2. Years of gracefully growing old together
4.5. D. All of us have dreams
4.5.1. When those dreams are shattered
4.5.2. We are often caught in
4.5.2.1. Disappointment
4.5.2.2. Frustration
4.5.2.3. Hopelessness
4.5.3. What should we do when our dreams are broken?
5. What should we do?
5.1. We can give up and say
5.1.1. “It’s not worth the effort"
5.1.2. Then just do the least that we can with the rest of our lives.
5.2. We can grow bitter and lash out
5.2.1. God
5.2.2. Society
5.2.3. Others
5.2.4. Living a life that is sour to us and everyone we touch.
5.3. We can live in the past
5.3.1. Good old days
5.3.2. Miss God’s present (and future) blessing and victory.
5.4. Or we can dare to dream once again
5.4.1. Even negative experiences teach us valuable lessons and shape our character
5.4.2. With God, nothing is wasted
5.4.3. Lay our dreams at his feet and know His plans for us are good.