Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand.

VI Christian Union
today, we talked about Jesus Feeding the five thousand.
Our story is taken from John 6:1-1

¹Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ²and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. ³Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

⁵When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" ⁶He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

⁸Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, ⁹"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

¹⁰Jesus said, "Have the people sit down."There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,

and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹²When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." ¹³So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Four points were talked about today, and it is based on the acronym of
ROGT(Roses On Garden Trees:P)

R- resources doesn't count
In the story, Jesus tested Philip on purpose, to show them that it is quite impossible to feed so many people with wwhat they had. Jesus tested them so that in return, they can see His power even more clearly. They clearly do not have enough to feed the people but God shows that nothing is impossible!

In our school, how much can the few of us do? We must always remember that it is not our number that counts, but what GOD can DO!

O-Offering up everything we have, no matter how little!
The little boy's offering of 5 bread and 2 fishes is nothing compared to a number of about 15000 people(adding in the children and women). it is like 7 to 15000! I don't think anyone would need to do study maths to do the calculations and say that it is insane to be feeding them with so little. However, the boy knows that though it is little, he still offered it all up. And through that, God used his "little offering" to feed that huge crowd. When we offer up things, it doesn't matter how much we have, but in all that we do, we have to give all that we have!

G-Give thanks instead of complaining!
Jesus wasn't complaining about how little he had, but instead, he gave thanks for what he had received from the little boy. it is very easy for us to complain whenever we face troubles, but instead of focusing on what we lack of, let us take time to give thanks for what we have:)

T-Trust in God no matter what!
Whenever we hear God's voice calling to us to do something, whenever we face troubles or problems, always know that God knows what is He doing and He will lead you through it. Jesus knew what he will do before he tested Philip, and God knows what He's doing when He calls you! Therefore, Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

CONCLUSION, we are to be like that little boy, offer up everything we have no matter how little it is, and trust in Him as He leads us and guide us!


extras**
As i dismissed the CU today , I had an urged to follow my friends for lunch,(they joined CU for awhile though they are not believers) and i'm very glad about it. As we walk to the place we will have lunch, they began asking about Christianity and I'm glad I could share the gospel with them.

This is an example of following the guidance of the Holy Spirit and trusting in Him. I could had walked off back home, not follow them and never had the chance to share with 'em. So, please pray for my friends too, hoping that they will one day come and see the gospel and embrace it themselves, named-Yoong Meng, Yeong Han and Tai Foong. thanks!

NOTE* to all VICU members: please remember to bring your sports attire this coming friday(27/02/2009)