JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. THEME- LIVING WORD . PREACHING # 3 AM – Sunday 18th August 2013.
In this series of preaching here at Plenty Valley Church our purpose is to inspire you & empower you to value, read and apply God’s word. In this church we believe that the bible is divinely inspired and infallible from cover to cover – If you would like more information about that please go to our podsite: http://pvc.podomatic.com/entry/2010-04-09T06_14_02-07_00
REVISION – August 4th – What ever He says to you – do it. We shared the story of the Wedding in Cana. You must hear the word and do it – then you build your house on the rock and not on the sand because the storms of life will surely come to everyone, but if we have built in the word of God then our house (life) can stand.
– # 2 – August 11th – The Word is alive and powerful, but only if it’s IN YOU! Not just on the printed page.
KEY VERSE FOR THIS SERIES
1Th 2:13 And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].
Also:
Heb 4:12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE
Jesus is called the word – the Logos in John chapter one.
Joh 1:1 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.]
JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE – HE GIVES LIFE
In the Old Testament we read that the Children of Israel we feed with supernatural food called manna which appeared to them each morning like hoarfrost on the ground. Even back then God had in mind to teach His children that the bread from heaven was supernatural and it represented God’s word.
Deu 8:2 And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your [mind and] heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
Deu 8:3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
This same truth is repeated in Luke 4:4 and also Matt 4:4 man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
To LIVE is to BELIEVE
THE STORY OF JOHN 6
The chapter opens with the story of feeding of the 5000. At this first part of the chapter we see the mention of bread that is supernaturally supplied from Jesus.
Joh 6:5 Jesus looked up then, and seeing that a vast multitude was coming toward Him, He said to Philip, Where are we to buy bread, so that all these people may eat?
Joh 6:6 But He said this to prove (test) him, for He well knew what He was about to do.
Joh 6:7 Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennies’ (forty dollars) worth of bread is not enough that everyone may receive even a little.
People followed Jesus the next day, because they wanted more bread, they were searching for the physical sustenance. But Jesus warned them that they needed spiritual sustenance, not just physical.
Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the miracles and signs but because you were fed with the loaves and were filled and satisfied.
Joh 6:27 Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him.
Here Jesus makes it plain that the food he spoke of was God’s word and it was for the giving of life. Jesus told them plainly – I am the bread of life.
Joh 6:35 Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).
The Jews said Moses gave us bread from Heaven in the wilderness. Jesus replied, “No that wasn’t the bread of Heaven, I am the bread of Heaven.”
MANNA – DAILY BREAD – A PICTURE OF JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE
Let’s look at what happened when God gave the manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness.
Exo 16:14 And when the dew had gone, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a fine, round and flakelike thing, as fine as hoarfrost on the ground.
Exo 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they said one to another, Manna [What is it?]. For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. [John 6:31, 33.]
Exo 16:16 This is what the Lord has commanded: Let every man gather of it as much as he will need, an omer for each person, according to the number of your persons; take it, every man for those in his tent.
Exo 16:17 The [people] did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Exo 16:18 When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack; each gathered according to his need.
Exo 16:19 Moses said, Let none of it be left until morning.
Exo 16:20 But they did not listen to Moses; some of them left of it until morning, and it bred worms, became foul, and stank; and Moses was angry with them.
Exo 16:21 They gathered it every morning, each as much as he needed, for when the sun became hot it melted.
This picture of the manna is a picture of God’s provision for us in His word.
Manna came to them daily; and it sustained them for 40 years. God’s word is for a lifetime.
– We need today’s word, not yesterday’s word – fresh revelation.
– For the Children of Israel it became boring – they detested it. – often we seek stimulation; but we need spiritual food.
Another picture of the word in the Old Testament is the Table of shewbread in the Tabernacle of Moses. It is called the bread of the presence, and consisted of 12 loaves, one for each tribe. This speaks of the communion around the word for every believer.
What ever we eat becomes a part of us. We are to become partakers of the Divine nature through partaking of the bread of life.
JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE – HE GIVES LIFE – DAILY SUSTAINS US
STORIES
- BROTHER YUN –
This beautiful testimony from one of God’s modern day heroes shows how the word of God sustained him. Brother Yun was imprisoned by the Chinese authorities because of his faith.
STORIES
- CRAIG – At times of disappointment that arise from not seeing the results that I long to see in people saved, lives changed, church growth and churches planted – I am seeking the Lord and many verses come to mind to strengthen me. One that I have found to be very encouraging is Ephes 3:16
Eph 3:16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE – HE GIVES LIFE – DAILY SUSTAINS US
It’s you reading the word of God daily that gives you life, to feed your faith, to build a reservoir of His word inside you so that you can draw on it at all times.
In our Urban Connect groups that’s why we don’t do a teaching – a bible study in our small groups – we want to promote your reading of Gods word for yourself, You must learn to feed yourself.
PICTURE – For a person in hospital in critical care a Naso-gastic tube keeps them alive but you can’t live like that! Similarly getting the word of God through preaching and attending church can keep you alive, but you can’t live like that! God wants you to feed yourself.
JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE – HE GIVES LIFE – DAILY SUSTAINS US
Joh 6:57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me [whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me] shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me.
Joh 6:58 This is the Bread that came down from heaven. It is not like the manna which our forefathers ate, and yet died; he who takes this Bread for his food shall live forever.
RESPONSE
- Try the reading plan – Go to http://pvcoc.org.au/bible_reading_plan.php
- Read the word daily even if it’s one verse.
- Memorise the word. Say it over and over till you can memorize it.
- In this world we are dominated by the pervading world view which is secular humanism. It is feeding you all day every day through the mass media and it is drip feeding us it’s own godless values – it is imperative that we feed on the life of Jesus through His word every day.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why is it so hard to read the word of God daily?
2. What is the best translation for you?
3. When is the best time of the day to read the word for you?
4. Is the reading plan working for you? Is there a better way for you to read the word of God?
5. What is your goal for reading God’s word over the next two weeks?
craigmanderson 
Leave a Reply