The youth service we had on November 8 was once again a major success - with the sacntuary filled with young people.  What was interesting this time was that majority of those in attendance were first-timers, invited and brought over by those who joined us in the previous service two weeks ago.  The youth ministry is star-bursting and I thank God for the influx of a new breed.  But more than the numbers, what I am most thankful about is the opportunity that God is giving to the young people to have a fresh start with their lives.  After singing two worship songs, I felt an urge to invite those in need of prayer to step down to the stage where I thought we could collectively pray for all.  But when about 3/4 of the audience came down, I was overwhelmed.  Then came another urge to pray for them one by one and I thought, God, we’re talking about almost a hundred here and it’s running late (9 pm already).  But God, with all his goodwill, persisted and so I asked fellow leaders to pray for the young people individually.  Then I saw God minister to the specific needs of the youth.  I have already received some tetimonies and still waiting for more.  To God be the glory for His massive works in the young people today.  It is obvious that He loves the new generation so dearly. 

Let me now share with you the things that I shared with the youth on that day, taken from John 6:1-15, the story of the feeding of the 5,000 (actually that doesn’t include children and women).  This is the first in a series of three preachings drawn from the narratives of John 6 in which people were encountering Jesus differently. 

The question that lifts itself up from the story of the feeding of the 5,000 is straightforward: who gets to experience the extraordinary works of God?  Of course, everybody managed to eat bread and fish with 12 baskets of left-overs to boot.  But before that extraordinary miracles happens, we meet three people who came up to Jesus to solve the dilemma of how to feed the crowd. 

1.  Meet the spectators (verses 1-3).

Jesus was planning to take a rest after the whole encounter with the Pharisess who questioned him right after seeing him heal the crippled man (the narrative of my previous preaching, just see blog before this).  Now the lame man’s healing must have been a major headline and so people, posibly those who were also waiting together with that crippled man for the water in the pool to bubble and hence get a supernatural healing from the holy water (again, see previous blog), packed up and started looking for Jesus.  After all, many of them have been waiting years for the pool to bubble.  ”Why wait for the bubble when this guy has already healed our crippled dude?  Time to look for him!” 

These are what I call the spectators, those who follow Christ for the sheer entertainment, spectacle, or exciting things He offers.  There’s no difference from the ones who enjoy watching those entertainment shows - with all the dancing, singing, crying game participants who will smile after the show host gives them 5,000 pesos.  Jesus to many of those in the crowd of more than 5,000 was mere entertainment.      

The world hasn’t changed that much.  To many of us, God is mere spectacle.  We join church because it’s fun.  Or we come to church because it has become a habit.  We are happy hearing positive testimonies of other brethren.  We sometimes have our own stories to share.  But when it’s time to get our hands dirty by helping other people, participating in the ministry, offering time, resources, and talents, we sneak out. 

That’s fine, sure, maybe because we are sometimes busy with other things.  But herein lies the problem: when problems come, it’s the spectators who sneak out first and quickly so.  Exams?  Binasted?  Hindi binigyan ng juice at bread paglabas ng service?  Nastumble kay ganito?  Nacriticize ng iba? 

There’s a tendency for the spectators to have the most superficial relationship with Christ.  Click if you want to know if you a spectator.

2.  Then you have the worriers (verses 5-8).

Jesus tested Philip, one of his disciples, by asking him what they can do to feed everyone.  Philip would most probably have a few ideas since he lived somewhere near the area (Bethsaida).  But instead of suggesting some concrete and encouraging ideas, he blurted, “well, even one year’s wage is not enough to cover for all, sorry”.  Of course, Christ knew that it was impossible to feed everyone - by human hands, that is.  Apart from testing Philip, he was preparing the way for people to see that an extraodrinary work can only come from God. 

Let’s analyze Philip’s statement further.  This guy had been with Christ all along - seeing him do miracles, declare himself to be God, speak to the Samaritan woman, heal the crippled man.  “Maybe He’s really awesome and powerful.  But feed everyone here?  Now that’s asking too much, isn’t it?” 

Thoughts like this happen when we don’t know God comprehensively.  We speculate on His power and character.  “Maybe God is good to everyone but me.”  “Maybe God created me this way - with all the failures and stupidity that define who I am.”  “Maybe it’s okay to sin, after all, God made me like this.” 

God realizes that it is impossible for the human brain to comprehend him fully.  But in spite of that, He wills to reveal Himself to you and me.  See God’s declaration in Jeremiah 24:7:

“I will give them a desire to know me and to be my people. They will want me to be their God, and they will turn back to me with all their heart. “

This is why we have the Bible today so that we will have the basic familliary of who God is and how much He loves us.  So much so that Christ, God who became man, had to die on the cross in lieu of you and me. 

3.  Then there’s the selfless boy (verses 8-13).

While the commotion as to how to feed everyone was going on, somebody raised his hand, stood up, and offered everything he had - a little boy with 5 pieces of bread and two fish.  If the boy was selfish like many adults tend to be, he could have gone out briefly and satisfied himself instead.  But no, he thought that maybe he could offer something.  Now that something, interestingly, was all he had for the moment.  5 pieces of bread and 2 fish. 

Out of the selflessness of an ordinary boy whose name was not even mentioned came out an extraordinary miracle whose impact was grand-scale. 

Out of these three sets of people who met Christ on that day, it was only the selfless boy who truly experience God’s extraordinary work.  When they opened their eyes afrer thanking God for the little that they had, the little was turned to  massive. 

Imagine what God can do in our lives if we offer everything that we have ti God (even if to other people, it’s only “something”).  Let’s get something out of the bread and fish as symbolic of something even more important.  These are food and food giv nourishment to life.  When the boy gave up all he had, it was, to a great extent, trying to say, that “Lord, I’m kinda hungry right now and can actually die being so but I’m giving up what I have for you to use”.  In other words, when the boy offered his food, he was in fact offering his life.  Look at what God did.

It’s the selfless who will get to experience the extraordinary works of God.  Let me end by quoting from Prov. 3:5-7:

“Trust in the L

ord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.  Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
By allowing God to take over and lead every aspect and minute of our lives (which is what biblical selflessness is all about), we can expect Him to turn what seems to be our weaknesses and limitations into something great.  Yes, God can do extraordinary works in your life, family, relationships, studies, and work.  

For correspondence, email me at ctm_youthonfire@yahoo.com.