World Hunger

John 6:31-40

 

INTRO: World hunger is a theme that is ever before us. We are very blessed in this nation. Most of us eat well and live comfortably. Not so with much of the world. Physical hunger is a terrible thing. Most Americans have never experienced real hunger.

Throughout the world 27,400 children die each day from malnutrition; 13,700 of these die from outright hunger (Hunger notes). How sad to think of ten million children dying each year because of little or no food.

Although our hearts are rightfully touched by these statistics, there are other statistics that are just as staggering. Buddy Murphrey says: "170,000 people die everyday on our earth. That is 7,000 per hour or 120 each minute. Probably 90% of these do not know Christ as their Savior" (6). Friends, there is a world wide need of getting the Gospel out to hungry souls. Jesus said in John 6:35, "....lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

Preacher, why should we go out into the field? Why should we get the Gospel out to the lost world? Friends, the answer is found in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Then in II Cor. 5:11 the Bible says: "Knowing the terror of the lord, we persuade men."

The need of spiritual bread and the supply of that bread illustrated by the word of God in Exodus 16 and in John 6. The manna that came down from heaven in the "wilderness of sin" is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ who came into this world to provide spiritual manna for those who believe on Him (Jn 6:47-51).

 

I. EXODUS 16:1, THE MANNA FELL IN THE WILDERNESS OF SIN

A. The manna, the bread from heaven that fed the Israelites, fell first in the wilderness of sin.

1. This world was a wilderness for Jesus because a wilderness is a homeless place, a place where no one wants to build a permanent dwelling place.

a. When Jesus was born, there was no room for Him in the inn. "The Wonder of wonders, Oh how could it be, that God became flesh....."

b. During His earthly ministry, He did not have a place to lay His head: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Mt 8:20).

c. When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took the crucified body of Jesus off the cross, they laid His body in a borrowed tomb.

2. Jesus came into the world to satisfy word hunger spiritually (Jn 6:51, 58).

C. Jesus, the bread of heaven, left the portals of glory and came down to the wilderness of sin so that you and I could one day see the glories of heaven.

1. "Out of the Ivory Palaces into a world of woe, only His great eternal love made my Savior go."

2. He came to me; He came to a hungry soul. When I could not come to where He was....

 

II. EXODUS 16:4a, THE MANNA CAME FROM HEAVEN

A. This manna was not a product of Egypt which is a picture of the world.

1. What they received in Egypt ran out.

2. What you get from the world will run out and leave you thirsty.

B. The bread by which God fed Israel was not a product of their own hands.

1. Salvation is not by works (Titus 3:5). The only thing you can do is believe (Jn 6:28-29).

2. The manna was given to the Israelites by grace. They didn’t deserve it. Salvation is by grace (Eph 2:8-9).

 

III. EXODUS 16:4b, THE MANNA MET A DAILY NEED

A. The Bible says they were to gather the manna "every day." We need the spiritual bread every day.

1. "The manna which they gathered today would not suffice them for tomorrow. They needed to obtain a fresh supply each day" (Pink 133).

2. "Yesterday’s manna will not do for today, nor today’s for tomorrow. We must feed upon Christ everyday with fresh energy of the Spirit, else we shall cease to grow" (CHM 212).

B. Every Christian needs to grow spiritually (II Pet 3:18); and to grow, we must eat.

1. Yesterday’s spiritual food will not nourish us today.

2. We must never go on a spiritual fast. Our prayer should always be: "Give us this day our daily bread."

 

IV. EXODUS 16:13-14, THE MANNA CAME TO THE PLACE THE ISRAELITES WERE

A. The Israelites were starving, and they needed food to sustain them. How far did they have to go to get this food? Did they have to take a long journey?

1. God brought the manna right to them. All they had to do was stretch out their hand and take it. If a person died of starvation, it was his own fault because the manna was provided (Jn 1:12).

2. If a person dies without Christ after hearing the blessed Gospel story, it is his own fault.

B. The unrepentant, unbelieving, thief on the cross died with the remedy at hand. The Word of God is nigh unto you today. Sinner friend, Oh, that you would hunger for truth (Rom 10:6-9).

1. "Out of this very nearness springs the sinner’s responsibility. All around each tent door lay the manna. Something had to be done with it. It must either be gathered or trodden under foot! Sinner, what are you doing with the Christ of God" (Pink 133).

2. Sinner, reach out and by faith receive Christ (Heb 10:29).

 

V. EXODUS 16:15, THE MANNA WAS GOD’S FREE GIFT

A. The Bible says: "And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat." It was at no charge; it was a gift, an expression of grace.

B. Just as God sent down the manna as a gift, He set Jesus, the true bread as a gift (Jn 6:32-35; 3:16; Rm 6:23).

C. You cannot work for this gift or else it would cease to be a gift. All you can do is receive it and thank God for it (II Cor 9:15, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift").

 

VI. EX 16:16, EACH INDIVIDUAL HAD TO GATHER HIS OWN MANNA

A. "This manna was to be gathered every morning. Each man was to gather it. This was to be a personal experience" (McGee 253).

B. Just as the individual Israeli had to receive his manna, receiving Christ is a personal matter. No one can believe for you. You must receive Christ as your own personal Savior (Rm 1:16; Jn 3:18, 36).

VII. EXODUS 16:21, IT WAS TO BE GATHERED EARLY

A. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says: "Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth."

1. Young people need the bread of life.

2. II Tim 3:15.

B. Receive Christ before it is too late.

1. One day it will be too late.

2. The scriptures remind us of life’s brevity:

a. Prov 27:1, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow...."

b. James 4:14, "...for what is your life, it is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time then vanisheth away."

c. Prov 29:1, "he that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed...."

 

 

CONCLUSION: There is manna for the hungry soul.

---