POWER STUDY - A38

[Albert Finch]

The Limitless Power Of God
(Read John 2 & 6)

John 6:1-9 1After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said* to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7Philip answered Him, “Two hundred £denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” 8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said* to Him, 9“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”

(Jesus had been teaching and training the disciples. They had been watching and listening to Him so they should have had some basic idea of what He was going to do. Phillip’s answer proves that He never really heard Jesus’ question. Jesus did not ask the disciples how much money they had. He did not say anything about money. He simply asked where they would buy bread to feed the crowd. Phillip got caught up in thinking about the problem. He was figuring out how many people there were, how much money was in the treasury and how much bread cost. He was so preoccupied with his own doubts and questions that the problems were speaking to him more loudly than the Lord. As a result, he answered Jesus without really listening to Him. Andrew actually listened and responded to Jesus’ question. But he quickly got sidetracked again when he started thinking about the limited resources before him instead of his unlimited God.)

John 6:10 10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

(Andrew like Phillip got caught up in the problem instead of keeping his attention on Jesus. Jesus did not even really reply to Phillip and Andrew. They had not really listened to His question or grasped what He was saying, so He did not have anything to say to them. Observation: The next time God does not seem to be answering my question or addressing my concerns, maybe its because I have not been paying attention to His word. Maybe its because I have been so busy thinking about and reacting to my problem that I failed to listen to and act on what He has already said to me. If that is the case then He has no grounds to communicate with me.)

John 6:11 11Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.

(In His hands Jesus took the little loaves and fish Andrew brought to Him. He blessed them, and gave each disciple a portion, and those portions multiplied and feed the entire crowd. What made that possible? THE ANOINTING OF INCREASE! That is the anointing that is in the hands of Jesus! Its in His ministry, its in His word, its in His Spirit, its in His name, its in His blood and it is in and on His people. Jesus’ disciples had the anointing of increase on them even though they did not understand it so well. They were able to give those people, not just a little something to eat, as Phillip thought, but rather as much bread as they desire.)

2 Corinthians 9:8 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
Philippians 4:19 19And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:20 20Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

AFFIRMATIONS:

1. Like Phillip I stop sitting around thinking about my own puny ability in what I can and cannot do.
2. I open my mouth and confirm my inheritance in Christ.
3. I look to the unlimited resources of heaven.
4. I think outside myself and inside the word – and let Jesus bless the word through me.