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1 Kings 8v1-6,10-11. 22-30,40-43      The Ark of the Lord.

Ephesians 6v10-20                          The Armour of God

John 6v56-69                         Many disciples desert Jesus.           

We find true life, in Jesus Christ!

What were many looking for?

The people had understood Jesus’ teaching in physical terms, but Jesus was teaching in spiritual terms.

Jesus recognised that many were following him for the wrong reason, v26 “to eat their fill”.

v63 “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

So many left him when he emphasised the spiritual nature of his ministry. V66

Many people today turn away from Jesus because they want the physical things in life, not until later do some come to realise that the deep richness of life lies in the spiritual things.

There are of course many physical and social benefits in following Jesus.

·        New social welfare systems to feed the poor and provide health care.

·        Turning away from drunkenness and debauchery, as seen in revivals around the world.

·        Better health both physically and mentally, through miracles and improved services.

Mat 11v4-6. “The blind see, the lame walk...”  Jesus’ report to John.

Luke 4v17-21. “Anointed me to preach good news to the poor….”

And we know that many of the social structures in our Western nations have been built on the foundation of Gospel principles and values.

Jesus came however to bring a new Spiritual Freedom.

V55 “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.”

V57 “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.”

He came:-

·        To pay the penalty for sin

·        To restore our relationship with the Father.

·        To redeem us from spiritual death

·        To provide spiritual sustenance

·        And bring us into a living relationship with the Father.

God responds to the yearnings of people’s hearts.

·        Ex 2v24. “God heard their cry….”  The people under slavery in Egypt

·        Isaiah 40v1. “Comfort, comfort my people….” The people in exile in Babylon because of sin.

·        The Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes. Matthew 5.

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted.’

“No one can come to me, unless the Father has enabled him”. V65

God is still responding to the yearnings of people’s hearts.

Those people that call out to him will find him. Luke 11v9-10. Pr8v17, Mat 6v33, Heb11v6, Ps119v2

Some people in prison are coming to know Jesus, in their cells.

V68-69 “Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One from God.”