IT'S IN YOUR HAND
SERMON STARTER
In the Service of the King even commonplace things can become powerful instruments for advancing the Kingdom of God. Timidity, insecurity and fear of failure hold many of us back. There are many first-time failures out there.
WALT DISNEY WAS TOLD A MOUSE WOULD NEVER WORK
Before Walt Disney built the empire he has today, he was fired by a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."
"A Giant Mouse on the screen would terrify women."
JK ROWLING WAS ON WELFARE
Before J.K. Rowling had any "Harry Potter" success, the writer was a divorced singled mother on welfare struggling to get by while also attending school and writing a novel.
The Harry Potter franchise made her a BILLIONAIRE by April 2012.
OPRAH WINFREY WAS TOLD SHE WAS "UNFIT FOR TV"
At age of 22, the now-TV mogul was fired from her job as a television reporter because she was "unfit for tv."
Winfrey was then demoted to morning TV, where she found her voice and met fellow newbie Gayle King, who would one day become her producer and editor of O, The Oprah Magazine.
JERRY SEINFIELD WAS BOOED OFF THE STAGE
As the story goes, the first time the young comedian walked on stage at a comedy club, he looked out at the audience, froze and was eventually booed off the stage.
ELVIS GOT FIRED AFTER HIS FIRST PERFORMANCE
In 1954, Elvis was still a no-name performer, and Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after just one performance telling him, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."
Let's not be fearful of using simple things to accomplish God's purposes. In your hand many things may seem pretty worthless, but in God's Hands all things are possible.
Pastor Phil <><<
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/15-people-who-failed-before-becoming-famous-2012-10?op=1#ixzz39KDSWzPM
August 3, 2014
Sheepfold Ministries - Pastor Phil
IT'S IN YOUR HAND
Exodus 4:1-4; Judges 15:14-15; 1 Samuel 17:40-47
"God can take even the simplest of things and produce something valuable in His Kingdom. Anything is possible if offered to God with His Love and His Power." Pastor Phil <><<
Ecclesiastes 9:10a
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. . .
Deuteronomy 28:12
12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
PRIMARY TEXT:
Exodus 4:1-4
1 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.'" 2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."
3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),"
Four Incorrect Assumptions We make About God and Ourselves
I. WHAT I HAVE IS INSIGNIFICANT TO GOD
A. Boy's Lunch: 5 loaves and 2 fish, feeds a multitude -Luke 9:15,16
"And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.
B. A Womanizing Loser kills Israel's enemies with Ropes and a donkey's jawbone - Judges 15:14-15
"When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands. 15 He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.
1. Sampson's worthless binding ropes became like threads
2. He found a fresh, donkey's jawbone and killed 1000 men
C. We commonly think that our time, talent or treasure are worthless
to God
1. What about phrase,
"One man's trash is another man's treasure?"
IT'S IN YOUR HAND, cont. p.2
2. Even a worthless life in the eyes of men can be used by God
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them
falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.” Matthew 10:29
D. Chorus: "All things are possible, Only Believe." - Luke 1:37
"For with God nothing will be impossible."
1. For with God all things are possible
2. For with God's Infused Word (Rayma) dynamite!
E. God often chooses the helpless and vulnerable - 1 Cor. 1:27
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;"
F. SPENCE CAMPBELL - has been incarcerated several months now because of false charges made by a witness that lacks credibility, but so far Spence has lead several inmates to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! He has influenced countless lives for God's Kingdom.
1. You think what you have is insignificant to God?
2. Think again
Another Incorrect Assumption About God and Ourselves
II. WHAT I HAVE IS NOT ENOUGH
A. The Fear of Lack Grips the Nation
1. We are changing from a self-reliant, independent economy
2. We are becoming an economy of the dependent
B. Kingdom of God is not based on how money is earned or spent
1. We are obsessed with the material world - Romans 14:17
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness,
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
2. We are Materially Insatiable
Rockefeller Quote: “Just a little bit more. . .”
C. In a time of drought and famine Elijah met widow from Zarapeth
1 Kings 17:12-14
12 So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.' "
1. She could have refused Elijah and hoarded what she had
2. What do we hoard today?
3. We hoard stuff we wrongly think we cannot do without
4. Time Hoarders - What about hoarding time?
a. What do we hoard our time for?
b. Cable TV?
c. Internet Social media / Chat Rooms?
IT'S IN YOUR HAND, cont. p.3
c. Facebook"
d. Androids? Texting nonsense to friends
"Whazzup?"
"Nothin' “
“Whazzup wit yuse?"
Another Incorrect Assumption About God and Ourselves
III. I MAY BE REDICULED FOR WHAT'S IN MY HAND
A. Adolescent David was mocked by Goliath - 1 Samuel 17:40-47
1. See Power Point Text
2. Giant, whose armor weighs almost 100 pounds, Laughs
3. David has only 5 smooth stones, a sling and Faith in God
B. People often ridicule what they don't know
1. Called a "Bible Thumper?"
2. You're "One of THEM!"
Another Incorrect Assumption About God and Ourselves
IV. ALL I HAVE IS OLD AGE AND A LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS
A. God doesn’t call the Qualified, He Qualifies the Called!
B. Look at Moses who was outwardly unqualified
1. He was 80 years old working for his father-in-law,
2. His was the humblest of professions
3. Tending sheep in the Desolate Back Side of the Desert
4. He's been 40 years exiled in a foreign country.
C. Moses is like we are when Called - Look at Moses' EXCUSES:
1. Who Am I?! - Exodus 3:1-12
2. Who Should I Say Sent Me?! - Exodus 3:13-22
3. What If They Don’t Believe Me?! - Exodus 4:1-9
4. But I’m Not Eloquent! - Exodus 4:10-12
5. Lord, Send Someone Else! - Exodus 4:13-17
D. What's in your hand, Moses? Exodus 4:2
"So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."
1. Shepherd's Staff - Longer than a rod w/a crooked end
a. Rounding up sheep into a flock
b. Guiding sheep
c. Pulling Sheep from bad situations
2. Shepherd's Rod mad multiple uses
a. As a Club/Throwing Stick to Defend against Predators
b. For Disciplining Wayward Sheep
c. To assist in examining, counting individual sheep
E. What's in your Hand?
H A N D S
A football in my hands is worth about $20.
A football in Peyton Mannings hands is worth about $15 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
A basketball in my hands is worth about $25.
A basketball in Shaquille O’Neal’s hands is worth about $30 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Alex Rodriguez’s hands is worth more than $20 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Venus Williams’ hands is a championship winning racket.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
A sling shot in my hands is just a kid’s toy.
A sling shot in David’s hand was a mighty weapon.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.
As you see now… it depends on whose hands it’s in.
So, put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands. Because… It depends on whose hands it’s in.
This message is now in your hands. What will YOU do with it?
It Depends on WHOSE Hands it’s in!!
40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.
42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.
43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands."
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/what-is-in-your-hand-charles-cockroft-sermon-on-christian-disciplines-110513.asp?Page=2
|
