BIG LESSONS FROM SMALL THINGS
or
FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS
Introduction: Prophet Zechariah 4:10--- "For who has despised the day of small things?" He was trying to encourage a nation as they were rebuilding their temple and having a difficult time.
The budget was low, the morale was even lower, and it looked like the job would never be finished. The people were discouraged because the whole project seemed so small--it just wasn't the temple
it used to be.
Solomon's Temple was destroyed in 585 B. C. when Zedekial rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. The city and Temple were burned to the ground. In 539 B. C., Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian Empire, and a year later Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return. By 536 B. C., the first group had arrived and laid the foundation of the temple. Because of opposition from neighboring peoples, work on the temple stopped and was not resumed until God raised up Haggai and Zechariah
sixteen years later to preach the need to complete the reconstruction project. The people quickly responded to the challenge, and the rebuilding of the temple was completed in 515 B. C. This second
temple is known as the Temple of Zerubbabel. It continued until the year 20 B. C. when it was severely damaged by skirmishes between the Jews and Romans.
Define Despised:
--to be utterly without a way through
--to regard as nothing
--to treat with contempt
Ezra 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men,
that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
Some of the Jews who witnessed the laying of the foundation for the second temple, despised
it because it was not to be compared to the Temple of Solomon.
Read Haggai 2:1-9
The prophet here declares that the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former. (v. 9)Though the work seems small and the foundation seems not to compare, God uses the prophets to strengthen the hands of Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to complete the work and God would bless it.
I. BE CAREFUL NOT TO DESPISE SMALL THINGS
A. To deliver His people from Egypt --- God sent a baby--- Moses
Exodus 2:1-10; Hebrews 11:23-24 In the Hall of Faith
B. To deliver the nation of Israel from spiritual defeat --- God sent
a baby --- Samuel
I Sam 1:20; 2:18; 2:26 Hebrews 11:32 In the Hall of Faith
C. To deliver mankind from sin --- God sent a baby --- JESUS
Matthew 1:18-21 "save His people"
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
I Cor. 1:28 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II. GOD USES SMALL THINGS
A. To defeat Goliath --- David used a sling and God used a shepherd boy.
I Samuel 17:40
B. To defeat the Midianites --- Gideon used 300 soldiers with pitchers
and torches and God used a man of simple heritage.
Judges 6:11-16 Judges 7:1-7 and 16-22
C. To escape death --- Rahab used a scarlet thread and God used a harlot.
Joshua 2:3-7 and Joshua 6:23-25
D. To feed 5000 --- Jesus used a few loaves and fishes and God used
a lad's lunch. John 6:9-12
Never despise the small things because God can use them to
accomplish great things.
III. GOD USES SMALL ACTS
A. Mary of Bethany --- anointed the feet of Jesus --- God anointed her
life in preaching Matthew 26:6-13
B. The widow in the Temple --- gave her two mites (all of her living
though) --- Jesus called
a disciple meeting to make sure the men did not miss the message
--- "She gave more" Mark 12:41-44
No sincere act of worship or service is overlooked by God.
C. The 120 in the Upper Room --- gave their soul, mind, and body to
God --- God gave them Holy Ghost and the honour of starting the New
Testament Church.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place.
IV. FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS WILL LEAD TO BLESSING IN BIG THINGS
First ---The Christian who can't be trusted with the small things can never be trusted with the
big things. You must be faithful over a few things.
Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Luke 16:10-12 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
Job 8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
A. David was faithful to tend sheep --- When others saw a shepherd boy,
God saw a king.
B. David trusted God in private as he killed the lion and the bear
--- God let him kill the giant in public in front of the armies of the Israelites and the Philistines.
I Samuel 17:34-37
C. Timothy was faithful as Paul's helper --- God made him Paul's
successor.
Acts 16:1; Romans 16:21; I Cor 4:17; I Thes. 3:2
D. Elisha was faithful to follow Elijah --- God let the mantle of
Elijah fall on him.
I Kings 19:15-21 II Kings 2:9-14
V. WARNING!!! NOT EVERYTHING BIG IS OF GOD
A. The tower of Babel was big --- God confounded their language
Gen. 11:1-9
B. Some ministries have been big --- God shined the light on
them to expose the truth.
VI. NEVER BE INFLUENCED BY THE EVALUATIONS OF MEN
A. Noah was moved by fear --- others were not impressed
Luke 17:27 Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as
yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
B. Philip said' "We have found him." --- Nathanael said, "Can there
any good thing come out of Nazareth." (What if Philip had agreed?)
John 1:43-46
C. George Mueller started with a desire and a prayer --- He finished
his course
They called him independent, a rebel, even a fanatic.
He had built 5 orphanages and was providing for 2,000 orphans
by prayer and faith. When he was 71, he started out on a series of missionary trips to Europe, Asia, and America. He traveled 200,000 miles, preached in 42 countries, and kept up this pace until he was 88 yrs. old. He died at 93. The day before he died, he was still handling orphanage correspondence.
D. Hudson Taylor was laughed at when he dared to go alone to China
without the guarantee of support from home.
Men have a way of despising what is small, so be careful not to
follow the ideas of men.
Get your values from God!!!!!!!!!
VII. CONCLUSION
A. Jesus would later walk in the temple that Zechariah and the people built. Never despise
the day of small things.
B. The small things prepare us for the bigger things.
C. No work is small if it is God's work.
D. No gift is small if it is given in faith and love.
E. No act of service is small if it is done to the glory of Christ.
F. Don't go around comparing yourself to others. Let God do the
measuring and the weighing. He measures for eternity--and that
is what really counts.
