The Day Of Small Things

• One of the first steamboats took 32 hours to travel 150 miles from New York to Albany

• Wright brothers’ first flight: 12 seconds

• First automobiles traveled 2 to 4 miles per hour and broke down often

I I A Calf Ground SmallA Calf Ground Small

• Dt. 9:21

– Brook = the stream that flowed from the rock that Moses struck with his rod (Ex. 17:6; Ps 78:16-20; 105:41)

– The same water that gave them life also removed their idol out of their sight

• 1 Jn.5:13, 21

A decisive break w. the past

• Is.2:18-21 Is.2:18-21 – Learning the hardhard way: judgmentjudgment

• Ac.19:…18-19 Ac.19:…18-19 – Learning the easyeasy way: choicechoice

1. Repentance is costly 2. They burned the bridge behind them3. Only one way to go from now on:

forward in the way of Christ

II God’s Small VoiceGod’s Small Voice

• Jn.12:28

• A contrast: – Great wind (11) – Earthquake (11) – Fire (12). 1 K.18:38– Still small voiceStill small voice (12)

• Men's hearts are won to Lord, not by terrors and judgments, but by the gentle force of God’s word

If the Word cannot turn a person to the Lord, nothing can

• Ac.13:…46

• Elijah would not reform Israel by terrific outward displays of power, but by the quiet persevering labors of God’s servants

– Mt.12:19

Lk.17:20-21• Among youAmong you (cf. NRSV; ESV: NASB)

– Kingdom of God was not in hearts of Pharisees

– They desireddesired the kingdom, but discardeddiscarded the King!

• Lk.11:20

1. They looked looked for great external signsfor great external signs

2. They overlooked overlooked the slow spiritual progress at work before their eyes

• Jn.11:47-48

1 K.17:13...; 18:44

• 2 Sm.7:…19, a small prophecy… – For a Christian (or church) to be

successful, it isn’t necessary to build large machines

• UCMS

• If you can read, you can teach

• Col.1:23

– Includes legitimate methods

IIIIII Some Have Small StrengthSome Have Small Strength

• No one can know how strong he is until he undergoes trouble; trials test the character - 1 Co.11:19

• To faint is to give in to discourage-ment and despair in the day of trial (Ga.6:9)

• How to grow in strength?– Pray and study. 1 Pt.4:7– Realize what is at stake, 2 Co.4:1

IV IV Do Not Despise The Do Not Despise The Day Of Small ThingsDay Of Small Things

• Context: Ezr.2-6; Zec.4:6-10 • After 70 years in Babylonian captivity

(Je.25:11), about 50,000 return • ZerubbabelZerubbabel was their civil leader• Joshua, Joshua, their high priest • HaggaiHaggai and Zechariah, Zechariah, prophets• Zechariah’s eight visions were Zechariah’s eight visions were

designed to set a fire under Jews who designed to set a fire under Jews who had become lax in spiritual dutieshad become lax in spiritual duties

Opposition stopped the Temple construction

• The restraining order (Ezra 4)

• Result: enemies mocked; Jews became discouraged; site stood silent

• Zerubbabel felt like a failure

• Jews began work on other building project: their own wood-paneled homes

Zechariah’s fifth vision, 4:6-7, 10

• The Jews have despised the day of small things

• Zerubbabel has despised the early start

• In spite of all that, God was in those beginnings

• The project that was impossible for man was not impossible with God

God delights in small things to do His work

1. JochebedJochebed . . . a small basket (Ex.2:3)

2. MosesMoses . . . a rod (Exodus 4:1-9)

3. JoshuaJoshua; spies; Rahab . . . a small cord, (Josh.2:15; Heb.11:31; Ja.2:25)

4. SamsonSamson . . . a jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:14-16)

5. JonathanJonathan and one armor bearer . . . (1 Sm.14:1-6ff)

6. DavidDavid . . . small stone, 1 Sm.17

7. A handfulhandful of meal and jar of oil . . . (2 Kings 4:1-7)

8. FiveFive barley loaves and twotwo fish . . . (Matthew 14:13-21)

9. MustardMustard seed . . . (Matthew 13:31-32)

10. A basketbasket . . . (Acts 9:25; 2 Co.11:33)

Do we despise small things?

1. Kind deeds 1. Kind deeds

– Mt.25:35-37

– Jn.12

2. Bible classes2. Bible classes

– 2 Co.7:1

3. An invitation 3. An invitation

– Jn.1:35, 40-42

A “little” poem

• Little drops of water, • Little grains of sand, • Make the mighty ocean, • and the pleasant land. • So the little moments, • humble though they be • Make the mighty ages, • of eternity --Julia Fletcher Carney. 1845