I Want Meat

Text:

John 6:27:

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

 

Theme:

I Want MEAT

 

Introduction:

• The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel written by the Apostle John. Some believed that it was to fill the gaps left by the first three gospels, but no concrete evidence makes this universally true.  However, it does in a unique and genuine way divulge the depth of the relationship between God and the Son AND the relationship between the believer and the Godhead.
• The Gospel of John, which houses our text, serves as a special closing to the set of Gospels that tell the good news of Jesus Christ.
  • Matthew gives a detailed depiction of the history of Jesus’ life
  • Mark gives Jesus’ life as depicted by Peter’s accounts
  • Luke gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as God’s Son who was a man – the humanity of Jesus
  • However, John gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as the man who was God’s Son – the Divinity of Jesus
• John sums up his intent in writing the Gospel in John 20:31 when he says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Life has so many different twists and turns that we often find ourselves crying out for relief.

• We feel tantalized by transient friends, overnight relationships, sometimey concern, and empty intimacy.
• We long for true friends, meaningful relationships, genuine concern, and real intimacy.
  • Our spiritual lives find the same turbulence
    • As Jeremiah said in Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” à All things of this world are vanity. They are here today and gone tomorrow:
      • Feelings
      • Emotions
      • Cliques
      • As Grandmama used to say, “The spirit don’t dwell with you always.”
    • We are left longing LASTING relief…an everlasting savor…an eternal satisfaction!
      • Our text gives God’s answer to our desires:
      • “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,”
        • I don’t know about you but I WANT MEAT!!!!
        • I am tired of short term relationships producing long term issues
        • I am tired of being HIGH on Sunday and then being depressed on Monday
          • I WANT MEAT
        • I am tired of having enough life to die and not enough to live
        • I am tired of giving all that I have and ending up with the little that’s left
          • I WANT MEAT

Body:

• However, in our desire for MEAT we must understand some things:
  • Some who want meat need MILK!
    • 1Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” à Milk is for babes!
    • 1 Corinthians 3:2, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” à Could not handle meat!
    • Hebrews 5:12, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” à Should eat meat BUT need to get a good foundation first!
  • Some who want meat need BREAD!
    • Bread is the primary source of sustenance for adults – symbolizes the sustainer of life!
      • John 6:48, “I am that bread of life.”
    • John 6:49, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.” à Physical bread gives immediate satisfaction but no long term prevention of DEATH.
      • God will take care of our immediate desire to help us to get to our long term need!
        • John 6:9, “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” à Jesus used physical bread to satisfy the people who were distracted by hunger.
      • Should eat meat BUT need to get “self” (distractions, e.g. hunger) out of the way firstJ
  • Some are ready for MEAT!
    • Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” à Spiritual Maturity is the connotative of those who desire and deserve MEAT
    • The meat is the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ!
      • John 6:58, “This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.”
        • The “bread” is what provides the “meat” à Jesus came to give us God’s Word
        • The MEAT that Jesus brought us is the Bread of Life à unto Everlasting Life
  • Those who partake of meat have to be MEAT themselves before others!
    • We are meat preserve for eternity through the “Salt” of the Holy Spirit indwelling!
      • Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
    • Without the “Salt” we will spoil and not last for eternity
      • Mark 9:49-50, “For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.”
    • Just like how meat is salt cured to allow it to last for long periods of time
      • Meat has to be packed with SALT for it to cure and then last. Otherwise, enzymes spoil the meat!
      • Likewise, we have to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to last. Otherwise, SIN spoils the life!

Conclusion:

• “which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”
  • God, the Father, has sealed, anointed, empowered Jesus, the Christ, to provide “that meat” to us!!!
    • Power Given à Matthew 17:5 (Mark 1:11), “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
    • Meat Offered à
      • John 6:11, “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.”
      • John 6:53, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”
  • God wants to take care of us not just for today but for eternity!
    • We must heed to 1Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
    • That’s why I WANT MEAT!!
      • I want to live forever with Him
      • I want to love whenever though Him
      • I want to laugh wherever because of Him
      • I want to learn whatever from Him

 

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