MAKING WHAT WE HAVE, EFFECTIVE IN THE MINISTRY!

 Your ministry becomes significantly effective, only when placed in the hands of the Master!

John 6:1-14 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

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. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 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. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 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. 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.

1. THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED AND A HUNGER CRY IN THE WORLD! 

There were a lot of hungry men besides women and children. There is a needy world just outside our door. And maybe it's right within our family! The Word of God says: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Isaiah 54:1-3 KJV

As Jesus looked on the Samaritan crowd approaching He said: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. John 4:35-38 KJV

2. YOUR TOTAL RESOURCES LOOK WOEFULLY INADEQUATE IN COMPARISON TO THE NEED!

All the lad has was five loaves and two fishes, his own lunch! Not much for a family, much less 5, 000 men!

You may look at what you have and think, it is not good enough, and it will never work. But God simply asks for what you have in your hand! He'll take your shepherd's sling, and use it to knock down a giant, and bring deliverance to a nation (1 Samuel 17). He'll take your ordinary water and turn it into wine (John 2).

3. THE MINISTRY EXPERTS PRONOUNCE YOUR RESOURCES INADEQUATE!

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? John 6:7-9 KJV

The ministry experts have already calculated that their 200 pennyworth of bread was insufficient, much less your 5 loaves and 2 fishes! How often have we not held back because we fear the opinion of others? Oh, we say, they have more resources! They are far more skilled and talented! They have been in this thing a long time! Why should I even bother?

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 KJV

4. ALONE AND HELD ON TO, THOSE RESOURCES ARE INDEED INADEQUATE!

The seed never amounts to much unless it's planted! The ox is not productive while it remains in the stall! The water in the jugs will always remain water until poured out and offered in service! Placed in the Master's hands, your sling becomes more deadly than a plethora of tanks and guns! Your loaves and fishes becomes a gift that keeps on giving!

 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  Luke 6:38 KJV

5. JESUS IS WILLING TO WORK WITH IT, IF YOU WILL GIVE IT TO HIM!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  Romans 12:1 KJV

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  John 6:37 KJV

6. FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE, BE WILLING TO YIELD WHAT YOU HAVE TO JESUS!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2 KJV

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  Romans 6:13 KJV

7. THOSE MINISTERED TO, MUST SEE JESUS, NOT YOU OR YOUR RESOURCES!
 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.  John 6:14 KJV
No one mentioned the person with the lunch! They only saw the One who fed them. In like manner,  in ministry, Christ must be glorified and people should see Him, remember Him and run after Him!

That no flesh should glory in his presence.  1 Corinthians 1:29 KJV

But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10 KJV

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3 KJV

REMEMBER:

Moses killed one Egyptian and delivered one man, when he tried in his own strength. When what he had was empowered by YAHWEH, he destroyed the Egyptian military and delivered the whole nation of Israel! What if he had allowed his initial failure to become a barrier to his subsequent surrender to YAHWEH?

The widow of Zarephath was getting ready to eat her last meal and then die. When given to the ministry her meal, fed three souls for the duration of a drought! What if she had refused to answer the challenge to her faith?

God does not need a multitude of talents to get the work done! He asks only for an obedient, surrendered heart!

Remember Jesus! Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  Hebrews 5:8 KJV

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2:8-16 KJV