DO LITTLE LIGHTS MATTER?…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
IF YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS, THINK ABOUT: DOES YOUR ABSENCES MATTER?
Text: Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
If a tiny virus like CORONA (Covid 19) can create a big impact, imagine what a mustard seed of faith can do…
There was a man that went out to eat. He stopped at a franchise where they sold fried chicken. He ordered fried chicken for the young lady with him and for himself. The man then proceeded to the park where they would enjoy the chicken together. When the man opened the box of chicken it was full of thousands of dollars. The manager of the franchise was preparing the bank deposit and he always hid the money in a chicken box for fear of being robbed.
When the man and woman saw all the money they decided to take the chicken box of money back to the store. The man felt sorry for the manager so he and the woman drove back and returned the box of money. The manager was so happy and thankful for the returned money. The manager was amazed by the honesty and integrity of the man. The man was so good and honest thought the manager.
The manager appreciated the good man that he got the phone to make a call. So the manager asked the man to please wait a few minutes. The manager was going to call the TV station to put on the news about this honest, good man. The man respectfully declined the offer. The manager said why? The man bowed his head and said: I AM SO SORRY I CAN’T DO THIS. I AM MARRIED AND THIS YOUNG WOMAN IS NOT MY WIFE.
LITTLE THINGS MATTER… THE MIGHTY OAK IS A SMALL NUT THAT STOOD ITS GROUND. HOW SAD THAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY CAN’T DO ANYTHING THAT REALLY MATTERS?
Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, 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.
Matthew 25:23 (NLT2) “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
LITTLE THINGS MATTER… ANGELS WERE ON THE WAY TO DESTROY SODOM AND GOMORRAH…
ABRAHAM ENTERTAINED JESUS AND ANGELS… HE INTERCEDED FOR LOT AND HIS FAMILY…
Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
DO LITTLE THINGS MATTER? ABRAHAM NEEDS A WIFE FOR HIS SON, ISAAC… HE SENDS HIS SERVANT BACK HOME… THE SERVANT PRAYS… LORD I DON’T KNOW HOW TO FIND A WIFE… LET A GIRL COME AND OFFER US WATER… BEFORE HIS PRAYER WAS FINISHED A BEAUTIFUL GIRL OFFERS HIM WATER,
Genesis 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. 15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
REBECCA IS THE ANSWER TO THE PRAYER… A LITTLE WATER.
LITTLE THINGS MATTER… THE MASTER HAD A PLAN AND PICKED OUT THE SMALL SEED… SEEMS GOD LOVES LITTLE THINGS TO CONFOUND THE WISE?
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
LITTLE THINGS MATTER! LIVING SEEDS HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL… JESUS HAS SOME POWERFUL LESSONS ABOUT FAITH AND SERVANTHOOD… THE QUESTION IS: LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH… THE MAN HAD A GARDEN… A GARDEN HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE… THE MAN HAD A GARDEN! THE MAN HAD A SEED! THE MAN TRUSTED THE LORD OF THE HARVEST…
The little seed is a blueprint for the work of God… little seed? Little garden? Little faith? BIG GOD!
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
LITTLE? LITTLE MATTERS… YOU HAVE ENOUGH…THE MEASURE OF FAITH? THE ANSWER IS PRETTY CLEAR… WHY ASK FOR MORE FAITH WHEN YOU DON’T USE THE FAITH THAT YOU HAVE? WILL WE TRUST AND REALIZE LITTLE SEEDS CAN BRING BIG HARVEST…
You will always reap more than you sow… If a tiny virus can create a big impact, imagine what a mustard seed of faith can do… The question we don’t seem to answer is what does a little faithfulness bring? What does a little unfaithfulness bring to our garden?
Luke 16:10 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.
Luke 16:10 (NLT2) “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
SOME PEOPLE WILL BE A LOYAL FRIEND AS LONG AS THEY NEED YOU… ESAU DID NOT REALIZE LITTLE THINGS CAN HAVE A GREAT POTENTIAL. ESAU’S BIRTH RIGHT WAS A LITTLE THING TO HIM…
Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
SOME PEOPLE REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW BIG LITTLE THINGS REALLY ARE. 2 TIMOTHY 4, PAUL HAS A GREAT LESSON ABOUT 4 FOUR KINDS OF CHRISTIANS…
1. John Mark the quitter, but he came home to stay. 2. Luke the always faithful. 3. Demas the quitter. 4 Alexander the Coppersmith… did much harm. Little things?
2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
LOT COULD HAVE HAD A LOT? LOT COULD NOT VALUE FAITHFULNESS. I CAN’T, I AM TELLING YOU, I CAN’T…. LOT HAS POOR VISION… GOD SAYS FOR HIM TO THE MOUNTAINS… LOT REFUSESS? LITTLE THING? LITTLE DEAL? BIG DEAL?
Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
CAN MY MENIAL DAILY CHOICES MAKE A DIFFERENCE? DOES MY LITTLE PART MATTER? I AM A NOBODY IN A NOWHERE SPOT?
There is a story from World War 2 that illustrates how little things can accomplish more than you ever dreamed. ELMER BENDINER told a lesson about one little story that saved lives. ELMER and the crew flew a B-17 BOMBER over Germany. They flew many missions. On one mission near the end of the war their B-17 Bomber was hit by explosive shells. Upon impact the shells would explode. The Bomber had been hit several times. The Bomber limped its way back to the base and landed safely. The crew could not understand this miracle.
When the plane safely landed the crew discovered 11 twenty millimeters shells were removed from the fuel tank and the plane. 11 twenty millimeters and not one exploded? HOW? WHY? When the ground crews dismantled the shells none of them were loaded with explosives???
Inside one of the shells was written in a SLAVIC LANGUAGE (CZECHOSLOVAKIAN) NOTE. They called for a translator. The note read: “THIS IS ALL WE CAN DO FOR YOU NOW!” See Germans were forcing the CZECHS to work in munition factories. This worker made a difference by not loading the twenty millimeter shell with explosives. THE WORKERS NEVER KNEW THEY HAD MADE A DIFFERENCE. The pilot, copilot, navigator, radio man, bombardier and gunners --- TEN MEN IN THE USA AIR FORCE WERE SAVED BECAUSE OF ONE UNKNOWN PERSON MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
CONCLUSION: YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE MY FRIEND…DOES LITTLE MATTER? Your little field? Your little seed? FAITHFULNESS MAY SEEM SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT TO MANY PEOPLE… WE MUST REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT OUR LITTLE GARDEN CAN BE…
READ ABOUT SHAMMAH UNDER ATTACK FROM THE PHILISTINE’S ARMY… WHEN EVERYONE ELSE RAN AWAY AND WERE ABSENT. SHAMMAH WAS SO TIRED AND WEARY… SHAMMAH BACKED UP TO THE LENTIL FIELD AND SAID NO MORE… THIS FIELD OF LENTILS WILL FEED MY FAMILY THIS WINTER.
2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
Never forget God honors those that honor Him… Be faithful and sow your seeds… the Lord of the Harvest will bless you. IF OUR PRESENCE MATTERS, THINK ABOUT: DOES YOUR ABSENCES MATTER?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
