A Little Boy's Lunch

Happy Sunday. I pre-recorded last Sunday's sermon before hurricane Helen hit land. Like you, I've been Amazed by the devastation caused by the storm. Like you, I have checked on loved ones who live in the impacted areas. I appreciate all the calls and messages. Our part of Atlanta was just fine.

When I was Pastor in Indiana, our little town was hit by a tornado a couple of times while I served there. I was so encouraged by the generosity of people who sent money and supplies for the relief effort. Some came and spent weeks with us helping our little Community. I encourage you to find a Ministry you can trust to give to. Perhaps you can go and even help.

One of my favorite people in the world had a big L limb on his house and a hole in his roof the other day after Helen. He lives in Augusta, Georgia. A friend of his drove to take care of the emergency all the way from Birmingham, Alabama. That's a roundt trip of over 600 miles. I love it.

There are countless stories of helpers that have done so much. After Hurricane Katrina, I went with some great hooer volunteers to the New Orleans area to help. I was so impressed to see all the church vans and buses all over that City. God's people from all over this country came to be the hands and the feet of Jesus.

You may be asking, what can I do? Perhaps you've already donated money or supplies or your time. You may think, what good will my little bit do? I have a story about that today. Let me read you a familiar story from John chapter 6.

There we are told, "Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called The Sea of tiberias. A large crowd kept following him because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the Festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Phillip, 'Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?' Jesus said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered Jesus, '200 daeri would not buy enough bread for each of them to get even a little.'

"One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Jesus, 'There's a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they among so many people?' Jesus said, 'Make the people sit down.' Now it was a large grassy place, so they sat down, about 5,000 in all." That's just the men; they were women and children too.

"Then Jesus Took the Loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated, so also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they were satisfied, he told his disciples, 'Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.' So they gathered them up, and from the F fragments of five barley loaves left by those who had eaten, they filled 12 baskets."

This story is so important in times like these. You may be asking again, what difference can I make? Does this story give you an idea? One small boy took his lunch that day, five small pieces of bread and two fish. It wasn't much.

Andrew said in verse 8 and N, he said, "There's a boy here who has five barley Loaves and two fish, but what are they among so many people?" What difference will that make? What are they among so many people? As you know, they were enough to feed that crowd. Likely there were over 15,000 who ate that day.

Plus, we're told that there were 12 baskets of leftovers. What's the significance of that? People have their own ideas and talk about it, but I like to think it was a basket for each disciple to remind them that Jesus can do Miracles. We need to know that ourselves. I need reminding of that from time to time.

When we see pictures of such Devastation, it's so vital that we don't lose sight of the fact that God can still do great, great things. Let's say you give, oh, $100 to disaster relief. You know, that money may buy formula that saves a baby's life. That money may buy gasoline for a family to travel to safety. That money may help open the doors of a church where Revival breaks out and scores of people are saved.

I have no idea what will happen, but I do know this: God expects us to share what we have. It may not be much. Times may be tough for you, but remember that 2,000 years later, we're still talking about a little boy's lunch. God bless you as you give.

You know, I don't understand why this disaster happened. It's above my understanding. It's perplexing. But today I want to close with the last two verses of Psalm 29.

There we are told, "The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!" Let me repeat that again, the last two verses of Psalm 29: "The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits in en throned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!"

Pray with me. God, we pray for strength. We pray for peace. Those are promises that you give us in your word. Bless those so impacted by this storm. Bless the churches and the Ministries that will help. Bless us as we give to the right places so they can help.

Father, we pray that this could even lead to Revival in this land that desperately needs you. Forgive us for the things we take for granted, and thank you for friends that'll drive from Birmingham to Augusta and all other places. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

God bless. Thanks for joining me today.