Ants, Conies, locusts, and spiders. Four of the most amazing little evangelist’s heaven ever employed to deliver a very personal and eternal message to all of us here.
Proverbs 30:24-28 (NKJ) There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer; The rock badgers (conies) are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the cliffs; The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks; The spider (lizards) skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.
1 The message of the ant! Prov. 30:25 (prepare for your eternal future)
2 The message of the conies! Prov. 30:26 (is to run to the rock of ages and hide in it. JESUS)
3. The message of the locusts! Prov. 30:27 (unity)
Pro.30:28 (KJV) The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
First the Geckos are very different from most lizards. Their head has a triangular shape than the lizard’s V shaped head. Many Geckos have little suction cup feet allowing them to cling to just about anything like the spider.
Today I want to talk about the spider. One thing I have always noticed about spiders, and I wonder if anyone else has noticed this too—they are everywhere , on walls, ceilings, above your head, everywhere. They spin their web and can cling to just about anything. And have you ever noticed also—they are always in the RIGHT places: corners, nooks, hideaways where they can be fairly assured no human travelers will come by, and where they can be fairly certain to have insect visitors. (Trip to bear lake in Idaho.)
What is the Lesson of the spider? HOLD ON!
We need to learn by faith we can take hold of the promises of God no matter what might come our way for by His Grace and Mercy we will dwell in the palaces of heaven someday.
Trials and storms will come our way because Satan is out to destroy us, to destroy our faith in God if he can. But for our faith to grow it must be tested. God lets us go through trials not to destroy us but to develop us. Satan will steal our faith, kill our testimony and destroy our health if we let him.
Picture this scene in Acts 27. Paul was in a boat on his way to Rome, in God’s will. He was one of 276 passengers in this boat.
The Bible tells us that for many days the wind blew against the boat, the sea washed over the deck tossing the helpless vessel to and fro. In a frantic attempt to save themselves from drowning, the crew threw every thing they could overboard. They even went on a fast and cried out to God to save them. But still the storm raged and the wind blistered its way across the water. The lives of the passengers continued to be in jeopardy.
They seemed without hope, destitude to be destroyed when Paul finally stepped forward. Calmly and with great strength he gave them Four (4) anchors for their faith. These anchors will hold you steady during the storms of life.
Acts 27:23-25 AMP
For this [very] night there stood by my side an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve and worship,
And he said, Do not be frightened, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you all those who are sailing with you.
So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith (complete confidence) in God that it will be exactly as it was told me;
1. Know who you belong to vs 23
Paul recognized that he belonged to God.
We need to realize that we belong to God and that God will not let anything happen to his property that will destroy it.
You and I must look at that storm and say – “I am a child of God, I belong to God and you cannot destroy me.” (Have the congregation repeat this)
Romans 8:35-39 (AMP.) “Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution, or hunger, or destitution, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, for thy sake we are put to death all the day long, we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt—am sure—that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Let the devil know that you are God’s and that God will protect what is His.
2. Know who you serve vs 23
Even though it appeared that the storm held a death grip on the Apostle Paul and all of those with him in that storm battered boat, he knew that he was serving God. He knew that he was a servant of God and that God was not finished with him yet. He knew that there was still a work for him to do.
There are times and still are times when the only thing that sustains me is the fact that God has called me, that I am His servant and that knowing I am in His will is sufficient enough to see me through the storm.
When we receive Christ as our savior, He calls us out of darkness into His marvelopus light. When you feel like quiting, think about whom you serve. Did Christ quit? He finished the Job and paid the price to give us eternal life.
Let your faith in Him rise up and proclaim to the enemy, “I am called of God. I know whom I serve. I know I am in His will and I know that He will see me through.
3. Know God’s promises vs 24
Vs 24 God promises to save all that were with Paul.
Paul trusted in the promise of God. That’s all he needed to make it through was God’s word.
We need to listen to God’s promises and God’s Word for it will always be an anchor during the Storm.
4. Believe in God vs 25
Vs 25 keep up your courage for I have faith (complete confidence) in God that it will be exactly as it was told me;
Not only did he have God’s Word but he chose to believe God’s Word.
What good does it do us to have God’s Word if we don’t believe it?
What good does it do us to read God’s Word if we don’t believe it?
What good does it do us to quote God’s Word if we don’t believe it?
It is in those dark bleak moments we must stand and say with Paul,
“I BELIEVE GOD.”
There have been times when the storm was very boisterous and almost overwhelming in my life, but I have had to look that storm in the eye and say: I BELIEVE GOD. (Say that with me.)
In whatever storm you and I are going through we need to know God understands what we are facing and God knows everything about that situation. We must know and believe that God has our best interest in His hands and that He will not let us down.
Have you ever been trying to get a child or someone else to do something and you said: “Just trust me.”
That is what God wants us to do, just trust Him. So HOLD ON!
Conclusion:
1. Remember the message of the ant is to PREPARE TO MEET THE LORD for when winter comes, it will be too late.
2. Remember the message of the conie is to run to the rock of ages and hide in it. JESUS!
3. Remember the message of the locust is UNITY!
4. Remember the message of the spider is to HOLD ON!
