Start Where You Are and Use What You Have

TEXT:1 Pet 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Pet 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

For far too many children of God, ‘someday’ is used as a labor saving device;
Some day when I gain more knowlege-
Someday, when I get the money--
Someday, when I have more time-
Someday-------
Suppose you were stranded in a wilderness area. Would you begin to work toward survival or would you sit down and wait for someone to build a freeway to a supermarket and give you a car?

I. Some Old Testament Examples of the Principle we wish to explore.
A. Israel at the Red Sea. No army for defense and no place to turn, but God had the answer.
Exo 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Exo 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

B. A shepherd lad faces a giant warrior. No armor that will fit, no time for lessons in swordsmanship. He had faith in God and five smooth stones.

C. Sampson found himself surrounded with enemy and nothing to fight with but the jawbone of an ass. It was enough.

D. Gideon saw himself as an insignificant little man in a job much too big, and most of his assets taken away. But God gave a victory.
Judg 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
Judg 6:16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
That promise was worth more than a division of well trained soldiers!

II. Examples from the New Testament.
A. The loaves and fishes.
Mat 14:15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
The disciples wanted to send for supplies, Jesus said just go to work. However inadequate we perceive ourselves to be, we can meet the challenge if we but place ourselves in the Master’s hands.

B. Consider the Gadarean Demoniac.
Mark 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
He had not had time for a course in theology, but was sent home with a personal testimony! If that’s all YOU have, use it while learning more.

C. The Ethiopian Eunuch.
Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Just a few minutes earlier, he had to have a simple scripture explained to him. Now he has salvation, and baptism and the joy of the Lord and he heads to Africa with it.

D. The first disciples, Peter and Andrew; "Follow me!" not, ‘Sit down until you are well prepared" Christian education is something to be desired by all children of God, but God started the ‘earn while you learn’ plan. Study to be a workman, but work while you study!

III. Application of the Principle
2 Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2 Pet 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2 Pet 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Use your strongest virtue to increase your own power and to be a blessing to those around you.
2 Pet 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. When faced with a ‘perceived’ lack of power, learn to thrill to answered prayer and share THAT with others.

B. If you have no knowlege of deeper things but desire to see souls saved, use that desire to reach out to those around you.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE AND He will bless your efforts and add to them. You will grow through exercise.

A More Excellent Way

I wanted greater wisdom
and so, I asked the Lord.
He said,"Take this gift I give,
It’s called, The Love of God!"

I wanted to show I loved Him.
For ways I began to search.
He said, "Take up your cross and follow
and serve me in My Church."

It will strengthen you when tempted,
and comfort when you’re sad.
It will change your fears to boldness,
There"s nothing greater to be had!"

My love caused Me to die for you
and shed tears in Gethsemene.
In your heart let it be shed abroad,
It’ll help you to live for me!

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