The title of this podcast is taken from the popular, but incorrect quote from a phrase spoken by Astronaut Jack Swigert during the failed Appolo 13 mission. He actually said, “OK, Houston, we’ve had a problem.”  This phrase has become popular to describe an unforeseen problem.  We’ve all had our share of problems, some due to our bad decisions while others by no fault of our own.

In this Podcast:

we will look at the Four common responses to solve a problem:

• Throw money at it
• Turn to other people
• Take it away
• Turn to Jesus

We will see that these are the four responses that the Disciples had when confronted with the problem of feeding over 5000 people, which they had not planned to do.

1. Throw money at it

   • John 6:7
     • Two hundred pennyworth
       • approx. 8 months wages
   • This is usually our first response to a problem
     • How are we going to pay for it?
     • Start trying to figure how to rob Peter to pay Paul
       • Putting all of your focus on getting more money
       • Meanwhile, neglecting the more important things.
         • causes additional problems at home
           • Tension
           • Family friction
           • Frustration

2. Turn to other people for an answer

   • John 6:8-9
   • Went looking for someone else to help
     • Most times actually looking for self-validation (what are these among so many?)

       • There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

       • He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. (Proverbs 10:17)

       • It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:5)

     • Out of over five thousand people, only one brought a lunch?
       • Likely he was just the only one willing to help
       • He gave all that he had to give
         • If you are going to be useful to Jesus you must be willing to do your part
           • 1 Corinthians 12:12-18

3. Take it away

   (get rid of the problem)

   • Send them away
     • Matthew 14:15
     • Mark 6:36
     • Luke 9:12
     • Ignoring our problems or procrastinating about them
       • won’t make them disappear
     • Filing bankruptcy on your problems won’t fix your debt problem
       • if you keep doing the same things.
     • Trying to avoid the fact that you owe God a debt that you can’t repay
       • Won’t make that problem go away either
         • Romans 6:23
         • Romans 5:12
       • The only answer to that problem is Jesus
         • John 14:6
         • Ephesians 2:8-9
         • Romans 10:9-10,13

4. Turn to Jesus

   • John 6:10-13
     • In this case as well as with whatever problem that you’re trying to solve
       • Jesus proved to be the true solution
       • The Lad gave everything that he had
       • Jesus gave his life for his friends
         • John 6:51
         • John 10:11
         • John 15:13
       • He came to save the lost
         • 1 Timothy 1:15
         • Luke 19:10
         • John 6:38-40
       • God is not willing that any should perish and die in their sins
         • 2 Peter 3:9
         • John 3:16-18
           • Only rejecting the SON will condemn you in your sins
       • Accept the help that Jesus is offering you today
         • He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;  but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.