"WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?"

Exo. 4:2

INTRO:

1. Moses had lived 80 years: 40 in Egypt and 40 in Midian. At the age of 80 years, he has very little to show for his accomplishments.

2. He was not eloquent in speech and showed a lack of self-confidence

3. But when he submitted himself to the Lord, when he allowed God to direct him, he became mighty in the history of the people of God.

4. It may sound strange, but God can take the little thing and change it into something great.

I. A SIMPLE QUESTION WAS ASKED MOSES:

A. "What is that in thy hand?" And Moses answered, "A rod".

B. That which was simply a stick in the hand of Moses, probably a staff, or a shepherd's crook, became, by the power of God, the force that brought the plagues on the land of Egypt, divided the Red Sea, brought water from a flint rock, and won a battle, when Moses used it as God directed him. Exo. 4:17,20; 7:20; 14:16; 17:9; Num. 20:8-11.

C. Little things, when placed in the hand of God, become great things.

II. DAVID, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

A. A sling and five smooth stones. These, to go against a giant, with a spear as large as a weaver's beam, (his spear head weighed about 23 pounds and his armor nearly 200 pounds. He was 9 feet and 6 inches tall and probably weighed in the neighborhood of 3 to 4 hundred pounds. He certainly was not your run-of-the mill man). 1 Sam. 17.

1. The sling is a very efficient weapon, especially in the hands of an expert, Judges 20:16, and more especially if God is directing its use.

a. I saw a fifty-cent piece that was bent double by the force of a projectile from a slingshot. Have you noticed in recent news the Palestinian boys throwing stones with a sling at the Israeli soldiers? JS

B. His brethren said to him,"You are just a boy; you should go back to tending sheep!"

1. How often we have heard the same thing said to young preachers, and young people. If not in words than in expressed attitude.

2. How many battles have I fought with myself in the pulpit, when all my soul would cry out, "Why don't you quit, no one is paying any attention to you?"

3. I have seen those that have been in the church for years, who should be the very ones to offer the most and best encouragement to the young and struggling preacher, yes, sometimes even the elders of the congregation, sit and sleep, with heads bowed, or hands over their eyes, while the preacher would strive in vain to gain and hold attention.

a. Something is badly wrong when such happens.

C. Little did these men realize that the hand of this shepherd boy, the hand that held the sling on this day, would some day hold the king's scepter, this head would wear the kingly crown of Israel.

D. Notice David's words, "I come in the name of the Lord." This is what made the puny sling and five small stones mighty in the hand of David. Phil. 4:13.

III. LITTLY BOY, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

Jno. 6:9-14.

A. Five loaves and two fishes. But when placed in the hand of the Savior, and with His blessing, it became enough to feed five thousand.

B. Too often our young people are not taught to give unto God. We give them pennies to give, they grow up to give pennies. While they are young the lasting impressions are made. Make sure they are the right ones.

1. A little boy was sitting an the pew next to a nicely dressed lady. The collection plate was being passed among the congregation. The lady began to fumble in her purse to try to find something to give. Not seeming to be able to find something, the little boy handed her his own nickel and said, "Lady, here, take my nickel and give it, and I will crawl under the bench."

IV. WIDOW, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

Mk. 12:41-44.

A. Two mites, or one eighteenth of a cent. Not much you say?

B. But, in the hand of God has become a lesson too great for us to ignore. We cannot plead poverty.

C. We are like the little boy with two dimes. His mother had given both to him with the instruction to put one in the collection plate and he could keep the other one. The mother had been careful to explain that one of the dimes was God's and the other was his. As he walked down the sidewalk he dropped one of the dimes and it rolled into a sewer drain. The little boy said, "Sorry, God, there just went your dime."

D. Don't laugh brethren, we do the same thing. We use all we can lay our hands on for ourselves, and then say, "Sorry, God, all I have left is a quarter or half or just one whole dollar."

E. Don't misunderstand me, the penny, dime, or dollar can be important. If given as prospered, with purpose and cheer. "God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. 9:6,7.

V. DORCAS, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

Acts 9:36-43.

A. A needle. Yes, just a small needle. But one that has been used to the glory of God and to the solace of her fellowmen.

B. A farmer with a small seed.

A merchant with a store.

A businessman with a business.

A boy or girl with an allowance.

These put into the hand of God, can be made mighty.

VI. MOTHER, FATHER, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

Eph. 6:4.

A. A baby, a boy, a girl, yea, and much more, a soul. It has been given into your hand by God. He has placed it in your hand to let you make of it what you will. Lk. 1:66; Prov. 22:6; 2 Tim. 3:16.

B. How about your example?

Do you, by example, teach them to pray?

To read the Bible?

To be kind and gentle?

To be honest and fair?

This within itself is a mighty sermon.

VII. ELDER, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

Acts 20:28-32.

A. The future of a congregation. The souls of men. A wonderful and fearsome responsibility.

B. How is your example before the flock you have been chosen to lead? Do you set the correct example before them in attendance, in giving, in attention, in godliness? 1 Pet. 5:1-4.

C. Do you lead and inspire them on to higher ground and greater works?

VIII. PREACHER, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

A. A Bible, do you follow its instructions as given in 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 2:15; and 1 Tim. 4:16?

IX. CHRISTIAN, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

A. Privilege, opportunity, and obligation. Rom. 6:16-18; 12:1,2.

B. Are you leading others to the Lord with your manner of life?

C. Or are you driving others away and bringing reproach upon the church for which Christ died?

D. Do you realize what is in your hand and why?

1. Remember the song: "Into our hands the gospel is given. Into our hands, God giveth the light. Haste, let us carry God's precious message, Guiding the erring back to the right."?

X. SINNER, WHAT IS THAT IN THY HAND?

A. A decision. You are now deciding if you will, or will not become a Christian.

B. Remember, God can take your life and make of it something big, wonderful, useful, and beautiful.

C. But sinner friend you will have to give your life to Him. Won't you say, "Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee, Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love."

D. If you have wandered away, Jesus is waiting right where you left Him, won't you come back to the Lord?

E. Can you give a genuine answer to the question "Why keep Jesus waiting?"

CONCLUSION.

A. Each one of us has something important in our hands. How will we use what we have?

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