More Than Enough

The Feeding of the 5,000

Opening Scripture: God's Superabundant Power

Ephesians 3:20 (AMP) "Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us."

In this story we will see how Jesus was trying to stretch the mind of Philip and the other disciples. This is a familiar story, but we want to put a new twist on it.

Main Text: John 6:1-13 (AMP) – Five Thousand Fed

Setting the Scene: Verses 1-4

John 6:1-4 (AMP) "After this, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Sea of Tiberias). A large crowd was following Him because they had seen the signs (attesting miracles) which He continually performed on those who were sick. And Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down there with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was approaching."

The Question That Changed Everything

Verse 5: Jesus Tests Philip

John 6:5 (AMP) "Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward Him, and He said to Philip, 'Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?'"

Important Observations:

• Notice Jesus was thinking about provision, because He's a provider
• We must first ask the question: Why did Jesus ask Philip of all people this question?
• The Answer: If anyone knew where to get food, it would have been Philip because he was from Bethsaida, a town about nine miles away (John 1:44)

Verse 6: The Purpose Behind the Test

John 6:6 (AMP) "But He said this to test Philip, because He knew what He was about to do."

Critical Understanding About Tests:

• God's testing is never meant for you to fail, but for your faith to be stretched
• Your faith is a muscle that you must grow
• Faith without works is dead
• Jesus said there is no more or less in faith
• There is active faith and inactive faith

Why Jesus Tested Philip:

• Jesus was testing Philip to strengthen his faith
• Jesus asked him to see how big he thought God was
• There was no human solution
• Illustration: Coach Billy Joe would have us do a conditioning test before we started fall camp

Understanding Tests

A "Test" is designed to draw out something from you!
A "Test" is designed to evaluate you.
A "Test" is designed to develop you.

Philip's Limited Response

Verse 7: Thinking in Natural Terms

John 6:7 (AMP) "Philip answered, 'Two hundred denarii (200 days' wages) worth of bread is not enough for each one to receive even a little.'"

Analysis of Philip's Answer:

• Philip first looked at the natural—200 days of wages
• That's eight months' wages for an average worker (a denarius is a day's wages)
• Jesus gave him a question with no human answer

The Faith Principle:

Romans 4:16 (AMP) "Therefore, [inheriting] the promise depends entirely on faith [that is, confident trust in the unseen God]."

Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) "Without faith, it's impossible to please God."

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."

Key Lessons from Philip's Response

Philip's Mindset: "It will take a small fortune to feed all these people!"

What Jesus Wanted to Teach:

1. Financial resources are not the most important ones
2. Don't let your estimate of what can't be done keep you from taking on the task
3. God can do the miraculous; trust Him to provide the resources
4. Personal Example: The process I went through in building the church
5. Critical Truth: If you can do it in your own ability, then you don't need God
6. The Promise: If you don't put a limit on God, God won't put a limit on you

Andrew's Discovery: The Little Boy's Lunch

Verses 8-9: What Do You Have?

John 6:8-9 (AMP) "One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 'There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?'"

Key Lessons:

1. Focus on What You Have, Not on What You Don't Have
2. The disciples certainly had more resources than the boy, but they knew they didn't have enough, so they didn't give anything at all
3. By the Way: This is not salmon, grouper, or sea bass—this is sardines! Get the can!
4. We must give God something to work with

Biblical Examples: God Works with What You Give Him

God Needs Something to Work With:

• Water at the wedding at Cana
• The widow's cake (Elijah)
• The widow's oil (Elisha)

Important Truth: In performing His miracles, Jesus usually preferred to work through people.

Never think you are too young or old to be of service to Him.

The Preparation: Rest and Trust

Verse 10: Sit Down and Rest

John 6:10 (AMP) "Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down [to eat].' Now [the ground] there was [covered with] an abundance of grass, so the men sat down, about 5,000 in number."

The Principle of Rest:

• Resting in Him—often the hardest thing for us to do as believers is to rest in Him
• We must enter into His rest
• See Psalm 23

The Miracle: Jesus Multiplies

Verse 11: The God of More Than Enough

John 6:11 (AMP) "Then Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; the same also with the fish, as much as they wanted."

Critical Lessons:

• Don't focus on what's in your hand; focus on whose hand you're putting it in
• You will see here Jesus is the God of more than enough

No Waste: God's Economy

Verse 12: Gather the Leftovers

John 6:12 (AMP) "When they had eaten enough, He said to His disciples, 'Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.'"

Notice: Jesus is not about waste.

The Abundance: Twelve Baskets Left Over

Verse 13: More Than Enough

John 6:13 (AMP) "So they gathered them up, and they filled twelve large baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten."

Key Truths:

1. God gives in abundance
2. He takes whatever we can offer Him in time, ability, or resources and multiplies its effectiveness beyond our wildest expectations
3. If you take the first step in making yourself available to God, He will show you how greatly you can be used to advance the work of His kingdom

Wisdom Key #1: With God All Things Are Possible

Genesis 18:14 (AMP) "Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son."

Matthew 19:26 (AMP) "But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

Wisdom Key #2: God Will Provide

2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMP) "And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity."

Closing Illustrations: Give God Something to Work With

Biblical Examples of Provision:

The Wedding at Cana:

• They provided Him with the water
• Jesus turned it into the finest wine

Mary's Yes:

• She provided her body
• God brought forth the Savior

The Widow and Elijah:

• She provided her last cake
• God multiplied her supply

The Widow and Elisha:

• She provided the oil
• God filled every vessel

The Principle: As big as she could believe, God filled up.

Final Prayer and Declaration

Believers, I'm in faith that God is going to fill this container.

Pray with me:

"God, fill me up until I overflow. I want to run over. I'm not putting limits on You, so don't put limits on me. I give You what I have—my time, my talents, my resources, my faith. Multiply it for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Application Questions

1. What impossible situation are you facing that requires a miracle?
2. Are you focusing on what you don't have or what you do have?
3. Have you given God something to work with, or are you waiting to have "enough" first?
4. Are you limiting God by your natural calculations like Philip did?
5. When was the last time you attempted something that required God to show up?
6. Are you resting in God's provision, or are you anxious about the outcome?
7. What "little boy's lunch" do you have that God wants to multiply?

Summary: The Pattern for Miracles

1. Jesus Creates the Impossible Situation

He asks questions with no human answers to stretch your faith.

2. We Calculate in Natural Terms

Like Philip, we see only what we lack.

3. Someone Brings What They Have

The little boy didn't wait to have enough—he brought what he had.

4. Jesus Commands Rest

Sit down. Enter His rest. Stop striving.

5. Jesus Gives Thanks

He blessed what was given before multiplying it.

6. Jesus Multiplies

What's in His hands becomes more than enough.

7. There's Abundance Left Over

God doesn't do "just enough"—He does superabundantly more!

The Challenge

Stop looking at your limitations and start looking at your Provider.

Don't focus on what's in your hand—focus on whose hand you're putting it in.

Give God something to work with, and watch Him do superabundantly more than you could ask or think!