From the desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Hwy 78
Bremen, GA
Correspondence Address:
56 Taylor Cir
Carrollton, GA 30117
Email: tjpowers@gfb.org
DON’T BANG YOUR HAMMER
I KINGS 6:7
THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON WAS QUITE A FACILITY AND TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF LABOR TO COMPLETE. SOLOMON EMPLOYED:
30,000 MEN CUTTING TIMBER IN LEBANON
80,000 MEN CUTTING STONE
70,000 LABORERS AND MANY SUPERINTENDENTS
THEY BEGAN WORK IN APRIL (HEBREW MONTH OF ZIF)
BUILT THE TEMPLE 105 FT. LONG, 31 FT. WIDE AND HIGH, PORCH- 31 FT. LONG, 16 FT. WIDE
WHEN IT WAS BUILT NOT THE SOUND OF A HAMMER WAS HEARD ON THE INSIDE.-V.7 DON’T BANG YOUR HAMMER!! I WANT TO USE THIS TO ILLUSTRATE TO US THAT THERE IS NO PLACE IN THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD FOR GOD’S PEOPLE TO BOAST IN THEMSELVES- JUST DON’T BANG YOUR HAMMER!
SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER CONCERNING BOASTING IN YOURSELF.-
I. SPIRITUAL CHRISTIANS DON’T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT AS LONG AS GOD GETS THE GLORY.-MARK 10 (JAMES AND JOHN)
II. THE MORE YOU BLOW YOUR OWN HORN, THE MORE THAT PEOPLE WILL HEAR THE FLAT NOTES YOU PLAY!-EXAMPLE. - PETER TALKED A LOT, BUT HE OFTEN STUCK HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH.
III. GOD APPRECIATES HUMILITY NOT ABILITY!- LUKE 18 (THE PHARISEE TOLD THE LORD HOW GOOD HE HAD BEEN AND WHAT A FINE PERSON HE WAS, BUT THE PUBLICAN SMOTE HIMSELF ON THE BREAST AND CRIED, “LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER!”) MARK 12 (MANY GAVE MUCH, BUT A WIDOW GAVE ONLY A SMALL GIFT. STILL JESUS SAID SHE GAVE MORE THAN THEM ALL, FOR SHE GAVE OF ALL HER LIVING- SHE GAVE OF THE HEART). GOD IS NOT INTERESTED SO MUCH IN YOUR ABILITY AS HE IS YOUR HUMILITY AND AVAILABILITY. HE DOES NOT NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN DO THE JOB; HE NEEDS PEOPLE HE CAN DO IT THROUGH!
WORK FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE LORD, NOT BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE PRAISE YOU MIGHT RECEIVE FOR DOING WHAT GOD REQUIRES!!! DON’T BANG YOUR HAMMER!
