SPIRITUAL FOOD

-Introduction

-looking forward to potluck lunch

-In our anticipation of the good meal to come, we need to be careful that we don’t allow it to

  distract us from our worship.  We must remember why we are here.

-However, in view of the coming meal, I would like to talk about being hungry for a different

  type of food. 

-John 6: 3-15 (Mark 6:30-44) - feeding of the 5,000 (men) with 5 loaves and two small fish

            -Afterwards Jesus leaves that multitude and goes to Capernaum.  The multitude follows the

              next day. 

-John 6: 25-40

            -John 3:16, 2 Pet 3:9

-John 6: 48-58

            -The Jews misunderstood.  They were thinking physically and not spiritually.

            -Jesus didn't mean that they were to physically eat of His body and blood.

            -However, they were to be partakers of the spiritual food and drink that He was providing.

-Spiritual Food Provided

-The disciples did not understand.  So, Jesus continued to teach.

-John 6: 60-63

-Where is it then that we get our Spiritual food?  -  From the words of Christ - From His

  instructions.

            -John 12: 48-50

            -2 John 6-11

-We Need God's Word - We Need Spiritual Food

-Just as we must eat to live physically, we must also eat to live spiritually.

-To be healthy, both physically and spiritually, we must maintain a balanced diet.

            -Unfortunately, many people offer junk food.  (2 John 7 - deceivers)

            -Acts 20: 28-32

-This shows us the importance of standing upon God’s word.

            -2 Timothy 3:16-17

            -1 Cor 2:9-13 - It is God that feeds us properly.

-God's Word is Food for Our Souls

-Psalms 119:103 

-1 Pet 2: 2

            -The point here is that we are to grow.  In order to grow we need to eat right.

-1 Cor 3: 1-3

-Heb 5: 12-14

-We are to grow to a point to which we can handle meat, but that doesn't mean we abandon the  

  milk.

            -Just as in our physical lives, we still need milk.

            -Spiritually, we still need the milk, the principles. -  It is upon these principles that we build.

-So, we need to make sure that we are hungry for God's Word - that we have a big appetite - and

  that we are finding food.

            -With potluck dinners, I often fill up much quicker than I want to.

            -I would like to go on eating much longer and enjoy the food some more.

            -With God's Word we can just go on eating & eating & eating - We need to.

-Summary and Invitation

-We need to make sure that we are following the proper instructions - the instructions that Christ

  brought to us from God - the instructions that were delivered by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

-If we follow these instructions, then we are getting good spiritual food - a balanced diet.

-John 6:51

-If we are spiritually healthy, we will receive an everlasting home in heaven.

-What about you?  Have you been eating of the spiritual feast provided by God through Christ? 

  If not, obey the Gospel today.

            -Believe - John 3:16, Mark 16:16

            -Confess - Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10, Acts 8:37

            -Repent - Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30; 2 Pet 3:9

            -Be Baptized - Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Rom 6:3-4, Gal 3:26-29, 1 Pet 3:21

            -Walk In Newness of Life - Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-24

-If you’ve previously obeyed the Gospel but haven’t remained faithful, come back to the table:

            -Confess your shortcomings, repent of them and pray for forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts

        8:22-24).