John 6: How to Deal with Impossible Situations

·40 min·3 clips

Reverend Tidwell asks if you have any uncrossable rivers or insurmountable problems, then declares nothing is impossible with God.

Reverend Gerald Tidwell opens the sermon by asking listeners if they face uncrossable rivers or insurmountable problems, introducing the theme of impossible situations. He cites Luke 1:37 and Luke 18:27 to establish that nothing is impossible with God. Tidwell references Jeremiah 32:17, emphasizing God's power. The main text is John 6, the feeding of the 5,000. He notes three unique aspects: it's the only miracle in all four Gospels, the only time Jesus asked for advice, and the only miracle performed before a multitude. Tidwell sets the context, explaining it follows Jesus' healing and teaching, with a crowd gathered for Passover. Jesus asks Philip where to buy bread, testing his faith. Tidwell analyzes Philip's character, referencing John 14:8 to show Philip required visible proof. Philip responds by calculating the cost, focusing on human effort. Andrew mentions a boy with five loaves and two fish but doubts its sufficiency. Tidwell applies this to church planning, critiquing reliance on collateral like money or talent. He reads the miracle account, noting Jesus had people sit down, symbolizing rest, and distributed as much as they wanted. The leftovers fill twelve baskets. Applications include leaving impossible situations with God, the necessity of prayer and fasting for miracles, refusing to worry, and placing what you have in God's hands. Tidwell states God needs impossible situations to perform miracles, as with Abraham and Sarah. He concludes with a theological reflection on God's power and prayer, urging a believing church to see the impossible done.

As heard by us

Philip's bread calculation becomes a lesson in seeing impossible needs through faith rather than human effort.

This single-episode teaching reads John 6 through a practical question: what does faith do when a need appears larger than human effort can meet? It opens with Luke 1:37 and Mary's question about conceiving a child, then moves to Jesus asking Philip where bread will come from.

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When the numbers say no, you may want to hear what faith does with the question.

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