May almighty God be gracious
to us and bless us this morning as we meditate in his holy word.
Let's turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 6, and we'll read verses
5 and 6. The Gospel of John, chapter 6,
and reading verses 5 and 6. When Jesus then lifted up his
eyes and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto
Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this
he said to prove him, for he himself knew what he would do. The Word of God is very comprehensive
in its contents and it gives us so much direction in it for
our lives today and we shouldn't think therefore that the Word
of God is in any way not applicable to us. But when we recognise
that The Word of God never becomes out of date, never becomes old-fashioned,
and it picks up all our needs. And so here we have before us
in these early verses in this sixth chapter, the picture that
Jesus went over the Sea of Tiberias and a great multitude followed
him. because they saw his miracles
which he did on them when they were diseased. And Jesus went
up into a mountain and there he sat with his disciples and
the Passover feast of the Jews was nigh. So there's the background
and we see the Lord Jesus Christ then in this position with this
vast multitude and we're told how big it was, it was 5,000
men plus all the women and plus all the children so it was a
very great concourse really and they'd come to see Jesus and
they'd come to see his miracles and they'd come to hear what
he would say and therefore we read when Jesus then lifted up
his eyes and saw a great company Come unto him, he saith unto
Philip, whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? So a direct question to Philip. It was an obvious question and
we're told then why Jesus actually asked Philip this question. And
the reason was He said to prove Him, for He Himself knew what
He would do. Well, how true that was in Philip's
life, and not only Philip's life, but I believe in some ways or
some manner, God deals with all His people and tests them, proves
them, and here was that test for Philip as to what he would
do and we see that of course he gives a carnal answer and
we have this picture really to direct us to recognize that sometimes
we just look around at natural things forgetting that we have
a great God who is able to do great things. Indeed, faith laughs
at impossibilities and says, it shall be done. And therefore
there may be those things in our lives which might seem to
be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God. And that should be very encouraging
for us. And we're told, therefore, that
Jesus asked Philip this question to prove him. The Lord knew what
he would do. He always knows what he would
do. Because the wonder of it is that back in eternity, everything
that was to happen on this earth, right from the beginning, right
to the end of time, was known by our God. Nothing happens in
a haphazard way. All is known. And that should
be a comfort to you and me. Sometimes we may think the way
is very mysterious and we may not understand it, why things
are occurring, but we should realize that God is in control. And God does that. which is ultimately
for His honour and glory. And if we are His children, for
our eternal good. Sometimes it takes a long time
for poor, finite men and women to realise the greatness of God
and the power of God and the effect of God's Word and the
effect of God's work. And so we should not think that
as we journey on this earth that God won't test us. He won't prove us. And it's good
to think therefore that perhaps God is testing us and he is proving
us. Remember, we're told here, and
this he said, to prove him. God may perhaps have asked you
and asked me questions. And it may be to prove us, to
prove our belief in God, prove to believe in his ability to
do that which may seem impossible for us. Nothing is impossible
for God and yet he does test his work, test his people. We have examples. in the Word
of God. Perhaps one of the most well-known
examples is the case of Abraham. Abraham was wonderfully blessed,
wasn't he? In his life directed and God
had been with him. He brought him out of Ur of the
Chaldees and Abraham had followed God's directions. He never appears
to have failed to follow God's directions. And then he came
to that wonderful time when God heard his prayers and granted
him a son, Isaac. And that must have been a wonderful
encouragement for him. And then there was that test. to prove his faith, and he was
told to go and offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. Well, we read
it, don't we? We're probably pretty familiar
with it. And then it's worth just realizing what it meant. What it really meant was, in
Isaac was the answer to Abraham's prayers and also the fulfillment
of God's promise to Abraham. And now he's being told to go
and offer up Isaac. What a great test for his faith that was. And sometimes God tests our faith. not perhaps in the same way but
nonetheless it may be in weighty ways in our lives we should not
just pass it over and think well I can ignore that which God has
questioned me on we should come before God and analyse the reason
perhaps for such testing And so Philip was tested, when shall
we buy bread and that these may eat? It was a relatively simple
question but Philip obviously couldn't really see the way ahead
in any spiritual way or any way giving all the glory to God and
therefore he He responds in this way and says 200 penny worth
of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may
take a little. You see it was a carnal response. And you and I have to be very
careful in carnal response. We look on those things around
us and we judge how we see things naturally. And yet we're gloriously
told here by the Lord, for he himself, the Lord himself knew
what he would do. And that should be a comfort
to us to know that God knows what he will do. He knew what
he would do with Abraham when Abraham was being sorely tested
to offer up his only son The son of promise. You know, in Isaac really rested his religion. The test that God had brought
to pass and how wonderful it was. And there was the evidence
of God's faithfulness to Abraham, viewed clearly in the provision
of Isaac. And now he's told to go and offer
him up. Well, it's good to see the wonderful
example of Abraham. Abraham didn't hesitate. He didn't
hesitate. The next day, early in the morning,
he got up and pursued that which God had told him to do. He was
being proved, and he was proved, right down to that very last
second when he was going to slay his son in order to sacrifice
him and then God told him to stop. God had proved the reality
his faith in God and so as we contemplate such a position and
such a situation to realize how very relevant it is relevant
to us today in our little lives and if God is proving us and
he does prove us he does prove us He proves whether perhaps
we're sincere in saying that we are a true follower. We are
willing to do His will. And then perhaps the Lord brings
us into severe times of testing. You know God's servant Philip
was also sent to that eunuch to a place that he didn't really
know didn't know what the object was but he willingly followed
the command of God again it's a blessing isn't it when you
and I are made willing in the day of his power to do his will
we may have rejected it perhaps we may have thought I'm not doing
that I don't think I need to. Everything is going to go on
alright without it. And yet, it's a very solemn thing
to disobey God, isn't it? God has spoken to our hearts. He's instructed us in what we
should do. It may not be easy. We may be worried, perhaps, by
following the Lord's commands. we do those things which may
be perhaps upsetting to people but you know the real thing is
we don't want to do those things which are contrary to the will
of Almighty God do we? we don't want to be left to ourselves
we want to recognize that God proves us for our spiritual good
and for our eternal good and what a mercy it is to realize
the things which are impossible with men are possible with God
God's able to do that which you and I can't do we don't have
perhaps the strength we don't have the ability and yet what
a mercy when God gives us faith to believe that it is so, and
it is his will and his purpose to follow his commands. And so here was Philip being
proved. He didn't really come out of
it very well, did he? He looked in a carnal way. And this therefore is a test
for us to realise that we're not to look around and think,
well, what will people think of me if I do that? Or how will
it work out? We had to follow God's commands,
just like Abraham, just like Moses, just like Jacob. All those positions and people
had difficulties in their life. God tested them, he proved them
when they would indeed do his will and so today as we have
this position here realizing that God knows himself what he
would do and that should be a comfort to us and a support to us to
realize that God doesn't direct us he doesn't instruct us without
knowing From eternity, what the outcome will be. That's the great
God we've got. And God's purposes unfold in
his way and purpose. You may think, well, I can't
really see how this can work out. We're told, have faith in
God. Have faith in God. let us commit
our way unto the Lord, to trust also in him that he will bring
it to pass. He is able to do far more and
exceeding abundantly than you and I can ask or even think. And what we need to realise,
as in this case here, the great blessing is that as it's worked
out, our God, is honoured and glorified. The Lord did this
wonderful miracle, didn't he, of providing food for just those
five barley loaves and two small fishes. He provided food for,
I don't know, it could have been 15,000 people, it could have
been more. And yet when they're all fed, there were 12 baskets
of the fragments of the loaves taken up. Yes, what's an evidence
of the power of God? Do we limit God's power? It's easy sometimes to put our
own thoughts and our own little minds and come up with a solution
and come up with a view. But are we doing God's will? Are we obeying Him? Power belongeth
unto God. God's power changes men and women's
minds. God's power provides for them. We have so many wonderful examples. You think of the children of
Israel. They were brought out of Egypt
wonderfully, wasn't it? A high hand of God brought them
out. No doubt they thought they were
now everything would be wonderfully smooth. They didn't realize that
almost immediately they had a great problem. The Red Sea was in front
of them. The mountains were on one side
and the Egyptians were behind them. What were they to do? Faith in God. God knew what He
would do. God knew how He would deliver
His people in a way that they would not be able to do. God's
ways are higher than our ways. And so they came to the Red Sea. No way. God made a way. He knew what he would do. And that is so, my friends, still
in our lives today. He knows what he will do. And what a comfort that should
be to be able to come and to cast all our care upon Him. And to have that willingness
to follow His words to us. God speaks. He spoke here to
Philip in a very clear way and told him, he asked him, when
shall we buy bread that these may eat? It was a sensible and
a good and a right question. There was a great need to feed
all those people. And what a test that was. Naturally speaking it was impossible. But we see that Philip wasn't
blessed with that faith to believe that the Lord could so wonderfully
appear and produce that necessary food. And so as Philip gave that
answer, which was not an adequate answer, One of the disciples,
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said, there's a lad here with
those five loaves and two fishes. And he asked the question, what
are they among so many? And then Jesus instructed them
to tell the people to sit down. There was no sign of any food. Instructed them to sit down. And so the men sat down. what
a wonderful thing it is when the power of God comes upon people
and influences them to do something which doesn't appear sensible
really but they sat down and then when they were all sat down
on the grass Jesus took the loaves and the fishes and gave thanks
gave thanks. Very simple, wasn't it? He gave
thanks for this wonderful miracle which was to be performed. And
so there was sufficient for all those many people. The Lord knew
what he would do. And my friends, let us not lose
sight of that in your life and my life. God knows what he will
do for you, what he will do for me. In watching over us, providing
for us and most blessedly bringing us at last safe home to glory. He knows what he will do. We can be sure of this. that
God has a perfect plan for your life and my life. A perfect plan which will make
us conformable to Him. That plan will make us more Christ-like
in our little lives and willing to take up our cross follow Him. We may think I can't do that
it's just too difficult well what a great blessing when God
makes us willing in a day of His power and that we realize
perhaps not when the request is there that God is proving
us but then as the answer is worked out and we see how God
has given us grace and given us strength and given us wisdom
to do his will and there is a good solution there was a good solution
here wasn't there wasn't a solution that Philip could have envisaged
perhaps in our little lives We have problems, we have difficulties.
We can't really see how there's going to be a solution. How things
are going to be worked out. Well, may we be blessed with
that wonderful favour of faith in God. Have faith in God. That's the great bottom line,
isn't it? See, we want to see things tangible
to our minds. We'd like to be able to, if you
like, put out our hand and touch things and grasp them in a natural
way. God's people walk by faith and
not by sight. And that faith is to do God's
will. And that faith is to obey his
word. And that faith is to keep his
commands. Well, what a mercy then, if God
is gracious to us and enables us to do just that. We should be very, very thankful
that we have such a God. In the previous chapter, the fifth
chapter of John, we're told about the wonderful blessing of God,
and we're told, ye sent unto John, and he bear witness unto
the truth. But I receive not testimony from
man, but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was
a burning and a shining light, and ye were willing for a season
to rejoice in his light. And then we're told, but I have
greater witness than that of John. For the works which the
Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do bear
witness of me, and the Father hath sent me. And the Father
himself which hath sent me hath borne witness of me, He hath
neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape. And
ye have not his word abiding in you. For whom he hath sent,
him ye believe not. Well it's a great blessing if
you and I are given faith to believe the word of God. The word of God has many glorious
promises and we should not put them from us. We should not turn
away and think, well, that doesn't apply to me. Sometimes it's there
to strengthen us, sometimes there to encourage us, and to direct
us clearly in the way that we should go. And we should remember,
the way we take cannot be wrong if Jesus be but there. How wonderful that is, to realise
we have a kind and gracious God, who doesn't loan us more than
we're able to bear, but he comes and proves our desires, proves
our motives, and proves and tests our faith. Well, it's a great
blessing to have a God who deals with us like that. He deals with
us really like we do, or should do to our children, to desire
the best for them. And so God, my friend, knows
what is good for us. He knows what we need and He
does supply and He does appear for us. So what a mercy then
as we pass through life, sometimes we pass through crises that other
people may not know of. Just between our heart, our soul
and God. Maybe very weighty, maybe very
burdensome and yet to realise that God is dealing with us as
sons and daughters of the Most High God. He's not bringing us
into these situations just to cause us grief. He brings us
into testing situations to test the reality of our religion. You know we can easily sometimes
perhaps think of the right things and say the right things to other
people. sometimes it comes home to ourselves and perhaps we come under that
word as David was when the Prophet was sent to
him and David was very upset at that which had occurred and
then the Prophet tells him thou art the man Yes, David couldn't
wriggle out of it. He realized he was. And he was
being dealt with by God. And we see there in David's case
that wonderful submission to God's will. That wonderful condescension
to do that which is right and not to follow his own way. And
therefore he was indeed made willing in the day of God's power. And it's still the same today.
God's power. What a mercy when it comes upon
us. Perhaps changes, changes our lives, changes our desires
and directs us into that which is right. which brings honor
and glory to our God. Sometimes it's good just to ponder
our path, ponder the way we're taking, and just before God,
we don't have to vaunt it before men, just before God to ask God
whether we are doing that, which is right in accordance with his
will for us. Are we obeying his will? Are we doing that? which will
bring honour and glory to almighty God. Or are we being rebellious,
or are we being stubborn, and going our own way, and saying,
in effect, we will not have this man to rule over us? Well, be
very sure of this. God is in control. And you and
I can't wriggle out of God's way. We might try and make excuses,
But God's way is the right way. And we will prove these words,
for he himself knew what he would do. How wonderful is that for
you and me, to see this being worked out. God's will for you
and me being worked out. Worked out in our lives, when
we are willing in the day of his power, to follow him in whatever
that means you may perhaps be fighting you
know Paul the Apostle he kicked against the pricks yes until
that time when God clearly directed him to do his will and then so
simply Paul the Apostle bowed before God and said, Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do? All his previous desires and
thoughts disappeared and he was there before his God. What will
thou have me to do? how true it was in his case. The Lord knew what he would do. He'd been gracious to Paul for
many years and allowed him to carry on until that Damascus
road, when God came, caused him to fall down under the power
of his spirit. and to humbly come and say, Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do? That's a good place. That's a
God-honouring place. That means we dispense with our
plans and we're happy to work in accordance with God's plan. I'll tell you this. What does
it do? It brings peace. It brings peace
to our hearts. And how wonderful it is when
we do that which is the will of Almighty God. Well, we know
that in this case there was this wonderful work of God appearing
to that great multitude and that wonderful provision which had
been carried out and we're told then those men when they had
seen the miracle that Jesus did said this is of a truth that
prophet that should come into the world wonderful confirmation
wasn't it to that great multitude and yet we see how it was worked
out Jesus knew what he would do He asked Philip. Philip wasn't
able to come up with the right answer. And really Andrew, Simon's
brother, questioned also what would happen. There were just
these few loaves and these fishes. The Lord knew what he would do. And therefore he did this great
work. And how wonderful it was. And
we shouldn't therefore doubt that he is anything less than
the great God and today he's able to do for you and me far
more exceeding abundantly than we can ask or even think so may
God come and give us that grace to look to him to not turn a
deaf ear to what he's commanding us to do but to recognise and
appreciate that He does give us that will to do His will in
the day of His power. And so we have this statement
here, and this He said to prove Him. We need to examine ourselves
to see whether we are being proved. And if we are to realise that
God himself knows what he will do.