BRING WHAT YOU HAVE?

Reese Shaffer

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How do I begin to fulfill my purpose?

Backstory giving God all I had…

1- Moses

“And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?””

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.'” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.””

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A. What Moses had was nothing until he used it

for God.

“So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

B. As long as Moses used God’s instrument, he

was victorious.

1) The Ten Plagues

2) The Crossing of the Red Sea

3) The Battle with Amalek

4) Water From The Rock

C. Was Moses’ rod a lucky charm? No. But God

was able to use what Moses had to reveal His

power.

2- A little boys lunch

“After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6:1-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A. What the boy had was nothing until he gave it

to God.

B. The boy gave all he had, and Jesus multiplied

it and used it for His glory.

C. Was five loaves and two fish enough to feed a

multitude? No. But he gave what he had to God

and God was able to use it despite its size.

3- Poor widows mites

“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A. What the widow had was nothing until she gave

it to God.

B. Is two mites (2 cents) a whole lot of money?

No. But God used her gift from her heart more

than the rich men’s gift of show.

4- Peter and John

“And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God,”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:4-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

1- Christ has already given us everything we need to give away!

You will not fulfill God’s will for your life accidentally. It doesn’t come to pass through fate or the “sovereignty of God.” You have to have a revelation of God’s will and pursue it in order to fulfill it. It takes effort to accomplish God’s will for your life. And

until you know God’s for you it is impossible to achieve it. – ANDREW WOMMACK

Be careful and understand all things of God are good!!

But not all good things are of God!!

YOU CAN GET BUSY DOING GOOD AND MISS GOD!!!!

Sow where you want to go!

CONCLUSION: What do you have to offer to God? Is it much? The point of the lessons behind these stories is not about a magic rod, a multiplied lunch, or an amazing two cents. The focus is on the majesty of a mighty, all powerful, God who can use whatever you have, if you give it to Him. Have you made that commitment? Does God have all of you, and all you have? Imagine what God could do with what you have. Give it over to Him today.