Experiencing Power
Jamie Hart   -  

John 6:1-21

THE FOURTH SIGN: FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND

After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias ). 2 A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. 3 Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near. 5 So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat? ” 6 He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish ​— ​but what are they for so many? ” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place; so they sat down. The men numbered about five thousand. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated ​— ​so also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

15 Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

THE FIFTH SIGN: WALKING ON WATER

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. 19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

A Story Of Power (6:1-4)

Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.

Bread and Water

Where do you need deliverance?

I realized that for both myself and other people, addictions are not limited to substances. I was also addicted to work, performance, responsibility, intimacy, being liked, helping others, and an almost endless list of other behaviors. I also learned that all people are addicts, and that addictions to alcohol and other drugs are simply more obvious and tragic addictions than others have. To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace.

– Gerald May, Addictions & Grace

Demonstration Of Power (6:5-21)

So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd…

“Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?”

When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers…”

…they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid…But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

…and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

How can we experience this POWER?

Experiencing The Power

ADMIT YOUR POWERLESSNESS

“There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish ​— ​but what are they for so many? ”

A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn.

Your extremity is God’s opportunity. The difficulty all along has been to get to the end of you; for when a man gets to the end of himself, he has reached the beginning of God’s working.

– Charles Spurgeon

SURRENDER YOUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated ​— ​so also with the fish, as much as they wanted.

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.