A Staff, a Jawbone and a Mustard Seed: God Uses Small Things
Dr RJ Sing, 27 min, Part 2 of The Divine Ability of God
Originally preached as “The Divine Ability of God, Part 2”
Sermon outline
God's divine ability enables Him to take weak, small and foolish things, including you and the little in your hand, and use them to accomplish great things.
Main text
- Ephesians 3:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
Opening
He introduces Part 2 of the Divine Ability of God, reminding viewers that last week he opened Ephesians 3:20 in the King James, NIV and Amplified versions and shared nine references to God's divine ability, starting with the fiery furnace in Daniel 3. He asks viewers to hold on to 'God is able to do superabundantly' as an anchor, and announces this week's theme: God uses weak instruments to accomplish great things, even when you think God cannot use you.
1. God used a rod: the staff of Moses
When Moses feared the people would not believe him, God asked what was in his hand. The staff became a snake and turned back into a staff, and that ordinary rod was used to convince Pharaoh and Egypt that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was with Moses.
Illustration: Moses ran from the snake, then took it by the tail at God's word and it became a staff again.
“I want you to look at a small and a foolish thing that was used for the glory of God.”
- Exodus 4:1-5
2. God used the jawbone in the hand of Samson
Through Samson, the Lord used a jawbone, something small, to slay a thousand men. The place was named Ramath Lehi, which means Jawbone Hill.
“The Lord used via the hands of Samson a jawbone, something that was small to kill and slay a thousand men.”
- Judges 15:15
3. God used a smooth stone in the hand of David
The whole army of Saul was afraid of one giant, but God brought a young shepherd with five smooth stones from the stream. David used just one of them to bring Goliath down.
Illustration: A little boy with just a little stone standing before the giant that terrified an army.
“God had brought just a little boy in front of Goliath with just a little stone in his hand.”
- 1 Samuel 17:40
4. God multiplied a handful of flour and a little oil
The widow of Zarephath was preparing a last meal for herself and her son before they died. When she obeyed Elijah and made him a small cake first, the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry.
Illustration: A widow gathering sticks for her last meal, sustained right through the drought.
“The little became much, and it sustained her throughout that drought.”
- 1 Kings 17:8-16
5. God used a cloud the size of a man's hand
Elijah kept sending his servant to look towards the sea until a cloud as small as a man's hand appeared. That small sign became heavy rain across the region, and the power of the Lord came on Elijah so that he outran Ahab's chariot to Jezreel.
Illustration: Elijah tucking his cloak into his belt and running ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
“But it all started from a small cloud.”
- 1 Kings 18:43-46
6. Do not despise the day of small things
Zechariah asks who despises the day of small things. However small your beginning, your latter end can greatly increase, because your help comes from the Lord.
“And remember, small things end up big in Jesus' name.”
- Zechariah 4:10
- Job 8:7
- Psalm 121:1-2
7. God uses a mustard seed
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, that grows into a tree where the birds come and perch. If you exercise your faith and start using the little you have, God can multiply and increase it.
“So do not despise small beginnings.”
- Matthew 13:31-32
8. God used five barley loaves
Before this point he briefly recaps the first seven. A little boy's lunch of five small barley loaves and two fish fed five thousand men, besides women and children, as much as they wanted, with twelve baskets left over. He adds that signs and wonders still follow believers today.
Illustration: Some say the loaves may have been large, but he points out the Bible calls it a little boy's lunch.
“We serve a God of multiplication and we serve a God of plentiful.”
- John 6:1-13
- Mark 16:17
9. God's resources: the foolish, weak and lowly things
God chose the foolish things to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong, and the lowly and despised things to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. This is how God uses small things to do great things.
“So here we see God taking foolish things and small things to do great things.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
Putting it into practice
- Stop making excuses about having too little or not being qualified.
- Say 'Yes, Lord' and release yourself to be used in the kingdom of God.
- Start using the little that is in your hand and trust God to multiply it.
- Do not despise small beginnings.
- Do not be afraid, and go and do all God has called you to do.
Closing
He urges viewers to stop making excuses, reminding them that God has not given us a spirit of fear, and asks them to raise their hands towards him as a point of contact. He releases miracle power, binds the spirit of infirmity over cancers, rebukes migraines and prays for backs to be straightened, then speaks a word of knowledge over a man named Mike with a painful back injury and tells him to stand and move. He asks viewers to write, email or phone with their testimonies before signing off until next week.
In his words
- “God always takes the foolish and the weak things and he uses it for his glory.”
- “If you exercise your faith and start to use the little you have in your hands, God can multiply it.”
- “The days of supernatural signs and wonders are not over.”
- “You need to stop making excuses.”
- “Just release yourself and just say yes Lord.”
Every scripture in this message
- Ephesians 3:20
- Daniel 3:17
- Exodus 4:1-5
- Judges 15:15
- 1 Samuel 17:40
- 1 Kings 17:8-16
- 1 Kings 18:43-46
- Zechariah 4:10
- Job 8:7
- Psalm 121:1-2
- Matthew 13:31-32
- John 6:1-13
- Mark 16:17
- 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
- 2 Timothy 1:7
