THE POWER OF A PENCIL
(5 things you can learn from a plain old pencil)
John 10:28-30
Rev. Tim Porter
DID YOU KNOW (Background)
I'm sure none of you in here know life with out the pencil being in it. Right?
DID YOU KNOW - The first Pencil was invented in ancient Rome by Romans and called a Stylus, Scribes used this thin metal rod to leave light but readable marks papyrus (an early form of paper) but pencil history doesn't stop there........
After the discovery of a large graphite deposit in England in 1564. The graphite was found to be better than lead because it left a darker mark, but the mineral was so brittle that it required a holder
Now originally, the graphite sticks were wrapped in string and then later inserted in hollowed -out wooded sticks. THIS IS WHEN THE WOOD CASED PENCIL WAS BORN.
Pencils were mass produced in Germany in 1662 and in the 19th century during the industrial revolution an active pencil industry developed. by a man named Nicholas Jacques Conte (a French army officer)
Several years later Mr. Hymen Lip man came up with the idea of the eraser. He tried to pattern it but couldn't, because did not invent the pencil. Later the pencil and eraser were united into one piece.
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY A PENCIL IS YELLOW? It is not so that it can be found on a cluttered desk or seen if dropped in the grass. In fact the pencil was painted yellow in 1890,,,, because the best graphite in the world came from China. The American pencil makers wanted a way to tell people that their pencils contained the very best Chinese graphite. So they were painted yellow....yellow in China stands for royalty.
THIS IS HOW WE GOT OUR MODERN YELLOW #2 PENCIL.
INTRODUCTION:
The Pencil maker Nicholas J. Conte took the pencil aside, just before putting it into the box. He said there 5 things you need to know, He told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.
1... You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow your self to be held in someone's hand.
2... You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil
3... You will be able to correct mistakes you make
4... The most important of is what's inside.
5... On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write
The pencil seemed to understand and promised Mr. Conte to remember, and went into the box with purpose in it's heart.
TODAY'S MESSAGE IS "PENCIL POWER" 5 THINGS YOU CAN LEARN FROM THE PENCIL YOU HOLD IN YOUR HAND.
I.) ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD
Just like the pencil, in the hand of the right person, can do some amazing things if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand.
** A pencil can make beautiful drawings in the hand of an artist.
** A pencil can craft amazing stories in the hand of writer.
** A pencil can solve the most complex math equations in the hand of an a mathematician.
** A pencil can write some of the coolest music in the hands of a musician
** A pencil can write the most touching note in the hands of a loved one.
But in the wrong hands, A pencil can become useless or worse, used for the wrong things.
In the hand of a 2 yr. old, a pencil becomes a dangerous toy
In the hand of an enraged friend, a pencil becomes a dangerous weapon.
LIFE ILLUSTRATION:
When I was in middle school, we would have pencil fights, outside at lunch. I was the school champ. One Friday at lunch we were having a good old pencil fight, it had come down to me and one other guy (Mark Harbin) the winner would be the new school champ. After 3 round I won by breaking his last #2 yellow pencil! Mark became so mad, he went into a rage, it became a very heated The outcome I was stabbed 4 times with a pencil, once in my arm, leg, my finger and in my right eye. Ye! I still have the lead in me to prove it.
In the hand of an ill- tempered teenager, a pencil becomes an instrument of perverse language on a bathroom stall.
3. But we're like the pencil, in the sense that we have the ability and the capacity to do some pretty awesome things as long as we're in the right hands. In the hands of God, your possibilities are endless. Your story is as yet untold, but your life is being written by the hand of God.
*** (John 10:28-30) NLT 28 "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one".
II) GET SHARPENED
Just like a pencil has to be sharpened to become better, you can be sharpened by going through various problems and trials in your life, but it will indeed make you a stronger person.
*** James 1:2-4 NLT 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
The troubles, though not brought on by God , are used by God to make you a stronger person.
Jesus promised us that in this world, trouble would come our way, but He didn't stop there. He said "I have overcome the world, and thus because he's in us, we're world over comers, too.
I'm sure you can go back in your mind and life and remember some tough times, But when you think about it, you've come through, and it's made you stronger.
LIFE ILLUSTRATION:
I can remember some tough times in my life. My dad had to have some serious surgery, he was down for a very long time and couldn't work . He slipped into a deep horrible state of depression. He slept all the time and couldn't attempt to even work. This period seemed to go on for the longest and was tough. My mom and I would do what we had to do to keep the family business going, I would work and do side jobs just to help provide. In addition to going to school. That was a tough time, but you know, I look back on that, and I can see God's hand, I can see how God was sharpening me and making me better. I never once blamed God because I know that it wasn't His will for us to be going through that season in our lives.
So you might be going through something that has been thrown at you, but I encourage you to allow God to sharpen you through this time and work His perfect will in you, so that you will come out on top.
*** (Romans 8:28) NLT 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
III.) CORRECT MISTAKES :
Just like a pencil has an eraser to be able to correct mistakes, you, through the Grace of God, can correct mistakes and grow through them.
*** 2Timothy 3:16 NLT 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Paul wrote to young Timothy and said "that Scripture can be used to correct our mistakes. And Scripture prompts us to do things about the mistakes we've made. One thing it tells us to do, is to confess our sins."
*** 1 John 1:9 NLT 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all wickedness.
How many of ya'll have made mistakes? I have, too.
And some of our mistakes have to do with other people. We get into Arguments, we say things we don't mean, we yell " I hate you" from the very pit of our selfishness, only to feel such remorse after the thought of what we've done sets in . How do you correct such mistakes?
Well The bible help us out there, too.
*** Ephesians 4:26 NLT 26 And don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Basically, take care of it real quick. Go and apologize for what you said, or done, set things straight. For every mistake you may have made, God has an answer, and a measure you can use to correct it.
IV.) IT'S WHAT 'S ON THE INSIDE:
Just like a pencil's most important is the lead, it's what 's on the inside of you that's important. The part of you that makes you who you are is on the inside.
*** 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; and a new life has begun!
A lot of people look at the outside to judge someone. They only care about appearance. But it's not about what's on the outside. It's not about the clothes you wear, or how white your teeth are. It's not about , how you wear your hair, it's not about your weight, your eyes, your nose or how much money you have. It's not even about hoe popular you are or think you are . It's about what you are on the inside...
*** 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT 7But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Your heart is the most important part. Your heart is who you are. And if you live your life like your heart is the most important part, then your heart will show through, above and beyond your outer appearance. It's your heart that is going to move you forward. It's your heart that's going to help you succeed.
V.) LEAVE YOUR MARK:
Just like the pencil's purpose is to leave its mark, you are to leave your mark where ever you go. No matter the situation , you must continue to serve God in everything.
No matter where you go, you can make a difference. You can leave behind a legacy/You can influence people and do it just being your self/You don't have to follow everyone else/ You don't have to give in to peer pressure/ All you have to do is follow Jesus to make your mark.
*** Colossians 3:17 NLT 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
You'll make your mark by being you/ You'll make your mark by standing up for Jesus Christ/ You'll make your mark by declaring your Faith.
I have said all of this to say : Life with out Jesus is like an unsharpened Pencil---- NO POINT !
Closing Prayer..........
