How God Turns a Little into a Lot

WHEN THERE IS A NEED, SENSED BY A FEW, AND EACH INDIVIDUAL ACCEPTS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHAT HE CAN WITH WHAT HE HAS, REGARDLESS OF THE ODDS, THEN GOD WORKS A MIRACLE!

1. Identify

“…a large crowd” Mark 6:34 (NIV)

“…it was late in the day…” & “…a remote place” Mark 6:35 (NIV)

“…send them to get…something to eat.”  Mark 6:36 (NIV)

2. Accept your . 

“By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him…” Mark 6:35 (NIV)

“(Jesus) already had in mind what he was going to do.” John 6:6 (NIV)

“But he answered, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?’” Mark 6:37 (NIV)

“He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’” John 6:6-7 (NIV)

COMMON REACTIONS TO A PROBLEM:

• We .

“By this time it was late in the day…” Mark 6:35 (NIV)

• We .

“Send the people away…” Mark 6:36 (NIV)

• We about it.

“That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” Mark 6:37 (NIV)

3. Do what .

“‘How many loaves do you have?’ he asked. ‘Go and see.’ When they found out, they said, ‘Five loaves and two fish.’” Mark 6:38 (NIV)

• He gave . 
• He gave . 
• He gave it . 

“Andrew said, ‘…how far will this go among so many?’” John 6:9 (NIV)

“The important thing is to be willing to give as much as we can – that is what God accepts, and no one is asked to give what he has not got.” 2 Corinthians 8:12 (Ph) 

4. Expect a .

“Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied.” Mark 6:39-42 (NIV)

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” Matthew 14:19 (NIV)

“…and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.” Mark 6:43-44 (NIV)

Jesus: “Gather the pieces that are left over.” John 6:12 (NIV)