## What’s That in Your Hand?

## Exodus 4:1-5

· God had a WORK that needed to be done, and needed a WORKER to speak for Him both to Pharaoh and to the Israelites. (3:8-9)

· Moses did not "seek the job", the job sought him, he didn’t even think he was qualified for the task. (3:10-11)

· He doubted whether his own people would respect and believe that God had sent him. (4:1)

· To answer Moses’ doubts and questions God asked this question, “What is that in thine hand?” (4:2)

· God gave Moses a demonstration of great power to assure him that He would be with him. (4:3-4)

This evening, the question for each of us is this, “What is in our hand?”

I. Where did it come from?

A. Paul said we received it from God.

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7)

B. James said it came down from the Father.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

C. David said the same thing.

“Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.” (1 Chr 29:12)

D. The Scriptures teach that we are entrusted with the management of what God has given us.

1. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Cor 4:2)

2. Jesus taught that we will give an accounting of our stewardship to Him.

II. Who is being glorified by what is in our hand?

A. King Nebuchadnezzar was glorifying self. Dan. 4:30

1. He forgot that it all came from God. Dan. 4:32

2. God gave him the MENTAL and PHYSICAL, ability he had and was about to take it from him for seven years to teach him this truth.

B. Herod gave not God the glory for his accomplishments and God took his life. cf Acts 12:21-23

C. Jesus told of a wealthy, successful farmer who failed to consider God in his thoughts even though God had blessed him with an abundance. Luke 12:13-21

D. Paul dedicated all to Jesus. cf Phil. 1:20-21

1. What about us?

2. What is our purpose for being?

3. What are we doing with what is in our hand?

4. With what God has entrusted to our care?

E. We are instructed to glorify God with our all.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31)

III. What has God has placed in our hands?

A. Life:

“Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” (Acts 17:25)

1. How are we using our lives?

2. For ourselves or for others?

B. If we are saved, we have a light.

1. Where is it?

2. Under a bed? (Too lazy to work?) -

3. Under a bushel? (Too involved with material interests to serve God or care about the lost?)

4. On the candlestick? (An active part of the local church and its ministries?)

C. If saved we have a testimony.

1. If we think that we can do nothing else, at least we can share our testimony.

2. We can tell others what God has done for us.

3. Paul seldom missed an opportunity to share what God had done for him. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Tim 1:15)

D. We have the Word of God.

1. I know of no other country or people who have such access to the Word of God.

2. What are we doing with this?

3. Are we allowing the Word to change our lives?

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Psa 119:130)

E. We have the privilege of prayer.

1. What would you think if the president of the United States gave us a personal invitation to come into the oval office and make any request that we would like?

2. We have a greater invitation.

3. God has invited us to come into the throne room and ask Him what we would.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16)

4. This is not a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it is ours every moment of every day!

5. What are we doing with it?

F. We each have some ABILITY.

1. We have some talent which has been entrusted to our use.

2. We are all gifted by the Spirit of God to minister in some capacity in and through the local church.

3. What are we doing with what God has given us?

Perhaps we, like Moses, think that we can’t do anything for the Lord. Listen tonight to what God has said. He has given us much. What are we doing with it? God doesn’t expect us to do what someone else may do, but He does expect us to do what we can with what He has given us!