One Of You Shall Chase A Thousand!

ONE OF YOU SHALL CHASE A THOUSAND!

Joshua 23:10-11

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: WHEN EVERYBODY GAVE

1. The pastor of a tiny country church had been having trouble with little giving in the offerings.

2. One Sunday he announced, “Now, before we receive the offering, I would like to request that the person who stole the eggs from Widow Jones’s chicken coop please DO NOT GIVE any money in the offering. God doesn’t want money from thieving hypocrites.”

3. The offering plate was passed, and for the first time in months everybody gave. God wants all of us to give of ourselves too!

B. TEXT & IMPLICATIONS

1. “One…of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.” Josh. 23:10-11, NKJV.

2. Often we are overwhelmed by a sense of personal insignificance. Often people feel like “throw aways.” We feel useless believing, "I am just one--and what can just one do?" BUT ONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

C. ONE VOTE PUT TEXAS & CALIFORNIA IN U.S.A.

1. On a sweltering summer afternoon in 1842, Henry Shoemaker, a farmer in Indiana, remembered it was election day and he’d forgotten to vote. He had promised to vote for Democrat state rep Madison Marsh. He saddled his horse, rode to the polling place, and cast his ballot. As a result, Madison Marsh was elected…by one vote.

2. At that time, state legislators elected U.S. senators. In January of 1843, Madison Marsh, after the sixth electoral ballot, changed his vote, triggering the election of Democrat Edward Hannegan to the United States Senate…by one vote.

3. In February 27, 1845, the United States Senate voted on admitting Texas. The original vote was a tie at 26-26. Senator Henry Johnson of Louisiana changed his vote, allowing the measure to pass 27-25. Senator Edward

Hannegan had cast a vote for Texas, keeping it a tie until Johnson switched sides. His vote was decisive!

4. In 1846, the U.S. Senate was deadlocked about whether to declare war with Mexico. Senator Edward Hannegan cast the deciding vote for war. As a result, California changed hands from Mexico to the United States. [these facts have been verified http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/imh/view.do?docId=VAA4025-031-2-a03]

D. THESIS

1. It’s amazing what one person can do! Helen Keller said, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do."

2. We’re going to look through Scripture and see examples of how God demonstrated that one person can make an incredible difference.

3. The title of this message is “One of You Shall Chase a Thousand!”

I. ONE LITTLE BOY – instrumental in feeding 5000 (Availability)

A. SCRIPTURE READING

9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten” John 6:9-13.

B. OBSERVATIONS

1. The little boy could easily have said, “I’m just a kid, what can I do? There’s thousands of grown-ups; if they can’t take care of the problem, what can I do?”

2. But he still offered what little he had and Jesus used his small offering to feed the multitude!

3. God uses what you have to fill a need. The widow who poured the oil to save her sons, undoubtedly had small vessels and large vessels to fill. Each one played a part in God’s plan.

4. Some of you feel like, “I’m just a small vessel; I don’t matter.” But that’s not true. God fills you with His oil for you to pour out to liberate someone. Your oil is needed.

5. God doesn’t need much to work a miracle. Every vessel matters. God will multiply your little bit to meet a need no one else could supply.

6. Isaiah said, “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ’Here am I! Send me." (6:8)

7. Make yourself available to God and you’ll be surprised what He does with your little bit!

II. ONE LITTLE GIRL – she was instrumental in healing a world military leader

A. STORY OF THE LITTLE MAID