What Do You Have

1 Cor. 1:18-31

This is the last sermon in the series, “What are YOU Holding On To?” We have seen that God doesn’t choose the high the mighty the strong but the lowly the meek, the weak.

It was a toll both attendant that spoke to Beverly Carradine, a little lady that came back and prayed for Uncle Buddie Robinson, Ever hear of Ed Kimball? Probably not, he was a normal Sunday school teacher that took the time to speak to and lead a shoe clerk to the Lord. The shoe clerk’s name was Dwight L. Moody. A young lady back in England who refused to give up in prayer for a John Newton, who gave us the hymn Amazing Grace. A mother’s love and prayer is was God used in my life. We can see over and over, Look at the Bible, Gideon, an unknown young man as far as rank and greatness yet God said I want to use him. Look at Esther, a little Jewish Girl who God put into place for “Such a time as this.” Others Look at Paul a big haughty religious leader God said, “No he’s too big I can’t use him like that” so he blinded him with light from heaven and gave him a thorn in the flesh. But look at the wealth of truth and light he left behind in the Bible for us today. A young man, we don’t even know his name, was the only one to bring his lunch to one of Jesus’ speaking engagements. It lasted so long they needed something to eat. The young man gladly gave his lunch and watched as the few fish and loaf of bread was broken over and over and over until there were 12 baskets full of the leftovers. Over and over I don’t want to run it in the ground but it is so true,

Not many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble are called. God has chosen the foolish the weak the base.

What is in your hand? A rod that can make a path across for someone else? A nail that will defeat the enemy in your life? Five smooth stones to bring a giant down? A pen to write a tract, a book, an article, a song, a poem?

Look at the gifts of the Spirit - 1 Cor. 12: 4 -11, Do you see yourself in there anywhere? Maybe it is the helps, what ever it may be lets grip what we have in our hand and go out and use it for the Lord.

David Ring- Born with cerebral palsy “Strike 1” Lived in near constant pain and humiliating public ridicule, “Strike 2” Mother died when he was 14 , “Strike 3” I won’t go in to all of his story but he finally got past all his bitterness and anger and found the Lord. A man who’s speech is still impeded by palsy stands and preaches to over 100,000 every year and ends with this statement, “ I have cerebral palsy, what’s your problem?” Now I don’t have his health affliction I can’t make a statement like that but I do ask myself that question, What is my problem am I holding on to something God wants to use to build his kingdom?

Fanny Crosby blind from a little girl once said, "It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."

If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind...for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour."

Just a normal person, yet God used Fanny to pen over 8,000 hymns.

That we wouldn’t be guilty of holding on to something God wants to use. It’s the little things. The kind words, the prayers, the small things. My mom used to baby sit for a couple who were pretty wild. Used drugs, alcohol. Partied hard, just lived it up, but they noticed when they would come to pick up their children that their baby-sitter’s house was calm and peaceful, there was an air of rest around it, no blaring T.V. or loud music vibrating the windows. The ladies own words were, “She thought all we did was sit around and looked at each other.” Oh that was far from the truth we had lots of fun growing up but she couldn’t understand. They often would come in and visit for a while and talk. One time getting close to Easter Mom invited the Jones’s to church. They half out of obligation came on Sunday morning. I don’t even remember the service, it was just another Sunday morning service not much going on, But God was working. It wasn’t long that the wife went to the altar and was saved. Just because Mom did what she could did what she did, babysitting kids. Oh what God could do with our little church if we will only let him.