ALL YOU CAN EAT
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Nov. 14, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
ALL YOU CAN EAT
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: John 6:5-14
Text: John 5:11
Introduction: Notice in verse 11, “as much as they would.” That does not read, “as much as they COULD.” In other words, it wasn’t a matter of giving the fishes out until there were no more. After all, there were only two fishes. No, the fishes supernaturally multiplied, as did the bread. The words, “they WOULD,” refer to the ability of the people to eat all the fish they wanted. The word, “would,” in the Bible refers to one’s DESIRE.
I want to bring you a message this morning called, “All You Can Eat.” Some of you know that I eat lunch every Sunday at Ryan’s Steakhouse. I’m experienced at the “all you can eat” routine. I don’t fill up on just bread, though. I know a young lady who is very thin, but can eat a HUGE amount of bread. My wife says she saw her eat 14 rolls at one sitting at Ryan’s!
Before we get to the meat of the message, here is a brief outline of the passage:
* A lad – v. 9
* Loaves – v. 9
* The Lord – v. 10
* Leftovers – v. 13
* The lesson – v. 14
There are many wonderful lessons and applications that can be made from this story.
One great lesson from this passage is that the Lord Jesus Christ is the bread of life. See John 6:48. However, the Bible also compares God’s word to bread, even as God supplied the manna to the children of Israel to sustain them in their wilderness journey. I want to show you some wonderful things about God’s word as it is pictured by the bread Jesus gave.
I. THE BIBLE IS SUPERNATURAL BREAD
John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
Only supernatural bread could have satisfied such a multitude. There were about 5,000 men, according to verse 10. There could easily have been a total of 20,000 people or better present.
A. The Bible has been produced supernaturally
* See 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21.
* God used fallible instruments, the writers, but produced an infallible, inerrant BOOK.
B. The Bible has been preserved supernaturally
* See Matt. 24:35; Ps. 12:6-7.
* God used fallible instruments, the translators, but has preserved an infallible, inerrant BOOK, available today in English in the 1611 Authorized Version King James Bible.
II. THE BIBLE IS SUPPLIED BREAD
John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
A. It is the property of the Son of God
B. It prepared by the Spirit of God – 2 Pet. 1:20-21
C. It is preached by the shepherd over the flock
D. It is presented by the saints
* To each other
* To the lost
III. THE BIBLE IS SUFFICIENT BREAD
John 6:11-13 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
A. It is sufficient for the heart
* To save your soul – Jas. 1:21.
* To give you the new birth – 1 Pet. 1:23; Jas. 1:18.
B. It is sufficient for the head – Ps. 119:130
C. It is sufficient for the home
* You can raise your family by the Book – Prov. 22:6.
D. It is sufficient for the house of God
* Churches would be MUCH better off to discard their constitutions and by-laws and just go by the Bible!
IV. THE BIBLE IS STRENGTHENING BREAD
Psalms 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
Psalms 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
A. It will strengthen you for the walk with God
B. It will strengthen you for the work of the ministry
C. It will strengthen you for the war against the devil
CONCLUSION:
God has provided all you can eat in His holy word!
Do you love it?
Are you learning it?
Do you live by it?