Feeding TheFour Thousand

Feeding the Four Thousand

Text: Matthew 15:32-39.

Preamble

Before I get into the message of Matthew 15, let me talk about a related subject for a moment. James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” If you are a born-again Christian, God expects you to witness to sinners and lead them to Him. Not doing so is a sin. It denies Christ’s Lordship and it leaves neglected sinners without hope.

Internet

Some time ago I read an article specifically designed to upset complacent church members. (www.amazingbible.org). The author thought, and rightly so, that the evangelistic failures of today’s church are abominable. Despite the many resources available for propagating the gospel, we have become the least effective propagators in history. And some of our ‘converts’ never exhibit the lifestyle changes a real conversion brings.

Wrong method

Of course, the world hears preachers say a lot, especially on “Christian” television, but some of isn’t true. Besides that, our method of delivery can interfere with the world’s ability to see God in us. 2^nd Timothy 4:3-4 speaks of people unable to “endure sound doctrine,” who ignore “the truth of the gospel, and embrace “fables.” Although people with itching ears are responsible for their own choices, Paul directed his warning to teachers. And, if he was alive today, He might tell us to quit trying to entertain people and preach the gospel. He did tell us how he did the job. 1. “For I determined not to know any thing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2). 2. Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Cor. 14:40).

God’s plan

Jesus was not an entertainer. His concern for mankind was, and is redemption. His message speaks of self-denial. It does not promise riches or comfortable circumstances in this life. Titus 2:11-14 describes God’s plan: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

God wants us to be productive members of His church, which includes being zealous for good works and doing them. Failure to comply makes us, practically, worthless to Him. I believe He is pleased when we are able to “prosper and be in health” while we await our final redemption. But He is more concerned about the prosperity of our “souls.” (3 John 1:2). Why? When Christians are seen as “spiritually” prosperous, happy in the lord as they love and serve Him, lost sinners will want what they have and can be directed to Jesus. Don’t excuse yourself if you aren’t a professional preacher. Every Christian is responsible to be godly and share the gospel. God will use you to win souls when you obey Him.

Teaching Text – Matthew 15:32-39.

Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

Significant

There is something significant in the incident described by Matthew 15:32-39, something often missed by readers. It concerns who Jesus is, what He tried to accomplish then, and what He wants to do through us now.

First, who is Jesus Christ?

Although He is "Savior" to those who submit to His plan of salvation He will judge those who do not. As Peter said, “nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

The world needs to know that Jesus Christ is both the Son of God and God the Son. Those who continue to deny Him, as either will face His judgment.

John 1:1 says Jesus is God. John 1:3 credits Him as the Creator. John 1:12 says He can save everyone who believes in His name.

Second, what was Jesus’ purpose in the setting described in my text?

He trained His disciples to evangelize the world. He did preach the Gospel to the poor, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and raise the dead. But He was occupied, primarily, with the disciples. Nearly everything He said and did was directed at equipping them for ministry. He was the teacher; they were the students. He taught by example. They watched, listened, asked questions, and did what He did. In this case they participated in a tremendous miracle.

Three things this miracle emphasized:

1. God does not need to set a stage for a miracle. He can perform whatever He chooses on stages that are already set. In other words, God is not limited by man’s timetable. He is able to do what He wants done, through His submitted subjects, at any time and in any setting where they cooperate.

2. Each disciple who follows Jesus closely, believes what He said, and does what He taught, may have opportunity to participate in miracles.

3. Jesus’ example was recorded for our instruction. All of His disciples should learn to minister as He did, when and where a need arises.

A. Christianity is not a spectator sport. We are in a contest of sorts, one that will determine our personal rewards, if any. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “run with patience the race that is set before us.”

B. Christianity involves warfare. We are pitted against the forces of the evil one who wants to destroy us. As Peter said, we should “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8).

C. Christianity is a mission with demands. Jesus called us to witness for Him in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).

Although we do not have equal abilities or opportunities, most of us can do something to advance the cause of Christ, if only by making life easier for someone in His Name. Jesus' words addressed this issue: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matt. 25:40)

Definitions

Before I continue I want to define several words so you'll know what I mean when I use them. I also want to encourage you to read your Bible. You are responsible for your relationship with God. Don't accept my ideas, or those of anyone else, without checking the Word for yourself. My wife thinks I say that too often. I think I don’t say it enough. She feels there is no point in listening to preachers you can’t believe. I know that sincere preachers can make honest mistakes. Check us out with the Scriptures. Determine the truth of God’s Word for yourself. And be certain you know the God of the Bible. One of His names is Jehovah Jesus. Read His commandments. Obey Him as a way of life. Listen (spiritually) when you read your Bible. You might be surprised to find God can speak to you through His written word.

Apostle

An apostle represents his Lord. To do so effectively he must know what his Lord expects of him. The Twelve Apostles began as disciples. Jesus disciplined them for three years before promoting them. Many other disciples did not become apostles.

Disciple

A disciple is one who studies under a teacher with the idea of becoming like the teacher in attitude and in action. Discipleship implies the discipline of hard work over a long period of time.

Servant

A “servant” is someone who serves, whether for a cause, in a regular job, or by being helpful to someone in some manner

Minister

“Ministers" are servants. All of us are servants, regardless of title. Hopefully, we will work diligently at being disciples, whether or not we ever become apostles. Ministers are not necessarily, officers, or office holders in the institutional church. Some serve Him effectively for years without official titles and without ever standing behind a pulpit.

Jesus

Jesus was the ideal servant. He served His Father, doing only what His Father told Him to do. But He directed His ministry to people, exactly as Isaiah predicted and Luke reported. Luke said Jesus of Nazareth “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” (Acts 10:38).

Isaiah quoted Jesus’ job description 800 years before Jesus outlined it at Nazareth: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me. Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, Too proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of Joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3). Remember, Jesus served God by serving people. If you are God's minister you will serve people too, however God directs you.

The miracle

Look at the circumstances connected with the miracle recorded in our text. Jesus was re-teaching the lesson of Matthew 14:13-21, where He fed more than 5000 people. Both incidents occurred in a deserted place. On both occasions, people who hadn’t eaten for a while were fed and satisfied with what was available on site. Jesus told His Disciples to use what they had with them. They brought Him a meager offering; He seated the crowd, blessed the food, broke it, and told the disciples to feed the crowd. That was only the beginning of the miracle. The food continued to multiply in the hands of the disciples. In fact, much of what the disciples broke remained uneaten after 4000+ hungry people were satisfied.

The lesson

Jesus intended for His Disciples to follow His example. They would face similar needs later, as would all of us who ever become his disciples. Like them, we are expected to use what we have with us at the time to meet needs. Hopefully we will be prepared to act when occasion demands.

Eph 4:11-12 states God’s intention to continue the discipleship program indefinitely: "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Each part of the five-fold ministry of the church is named here. Each office was to be active throughout the church age. The primary function of each one involves equipping saints for the work of ministry.

Now, if this idea is followed to its logical conclusion, each saint of God will become a minister of God's graces, helping to equip others after becoming equipped himself. Note: I did not say each saint would become an officer in the church. God does not call everyone to be a prophet, an apostle, an evangelist, a pastor or a teacher. Most of God's ministers, or servants if you will, are simply helpers of one kind or another. Many do not, and may not ever be able to perform their service in a congregational setting.

Lack of performance

Over much of the last twenty centuries, Church leaders, as a whole, have ignored Christ's instructions to "equip the saints" for the work of ministry. In many places only designated clergymen are permitted to participate in corporate ministry of any kind. “Laymen” are discouraged from performing any “ministry,” in or out of the church. Worse yet, most church members seem satisfied with the arrangement. Jesus saw the problem coming and warned the seven churches of Asia Minor (Rev. 2:6 and 2:15) saying He hated "the doctrine of the Nicolaitans." "Nicolaitans" comes from two Greek words, "Nicos" and "Laos." Nicos means "a conquest;” Laos means "the people." In other words, the "clergy" effectively stole the work of ministry from the "laity."

You

Now it’s time for the laity to reclaim the ministry. If you are a born-again Christian, according to John, Chapter 3, and, if you are capable of doing so, you should become Christ’s disciple and learn to minister. When you are properly equipped you will not need to call another Christian to do the tasks Christ assigns you. You will do them yourself, with resources God provides you.

I do not advocate works as a means to salvation. Works never saved anyone and works cannot keep them saved. Salvation comes only by grace through faith in the Christ of Calvary (Ephesians 2:8), who loved us and “gave himself for us.” (Titus 2:14). You must be born-again before the works I have in mind can do any good for you or for the rest of the world. If you are saved, consider your obligation a privilege as well as a responsibility.

Think

Consider these questions: Are you on fire for Jesus? Do you love Him more than life itself? Are you affecting your world for Him? Hopefully you are not lukewarm or a backslider? If you have lost your first love for Jesus, as did the Ephesians Christ cited in Revelation 2:4, your lack of enthusiasm makes you unable to witness effectively.

Enthusiastic lifestyle

You do know what the word “enthusiasm” means, don’t you? It comes from two Greek words, “en” and “theos,” which, when used together, mean “God in you.” If God is in you let Him out to touch the lives of others. Talk about Jesus, and what He has done for you, every chance you get. Study the Word. Lead lost sinners to Christ. Disciple your converts.

When God reveals a need you can meet don't send the needy one to church, or to a church official. Supply the need yourself, where you are, with the resources you have. The original disciples used a few loaves of bread and a few fish successfully - under Jesus’ direction. Before you begin, pause for prayer. Give what you have to Jesus, symbolically at least. Let Him bless it and break it for the need at hand. Then use it to fulfill the need. If the needy one is hungry physically, share your bread. If he is hungry spiritually, share the bread of life. If he needs prayer, pray for him, with faith in God’s promises that address his need. If he needs a helping hand, offer yours (within reason of course). Be careful about doing, for anyone, what he is able to do for himself.

Foot soldiers

Jesus Christ is still the Great Shepherd of the sheep but today’s legwork is our responsibility. He is still in business but He uses properly equipped people to serve other people in His stead today. Let him use you to win the lost and rejuvenate His church. There is no time to waste. We must do our jobs now if they are to be done at all. Otherwise, God may give up on us and spew us out of His mouth, as He threatened to do to the idle, lukewarm, self-satisfied Christians at Laodicea in Asia Minor. (Revelation 4:16).

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