[0:00] I kind of want to continue faithfulness in small things. A little bit about the authority we do have in some areas and not in others.
[0:12] But there was a man, a German, that took a job in a business. And he was the lowest job entry.
[0:23] And he cleaned up the place, cleaned up the trash, and that was his duty. But one qualification he had, he was faithful.
[0:38] After a while, he got promoted. And again, he got promoted. And he thought, I better get educated. Now, since most Germans do that, when he told his boss what he wanted to do, his boss said, you cannot leave us.
[0:57] You're the only person I can trust. Stay with me, and I will train you to take over this business. And so that's, these are little things.
[1:11] I mean, I'm going to go very low. Because I think you should be convinced by now, I believe in living out this gospel in very practical ways.
[1:30] And if you thought I explained some of that, this is going to go deeper than that. You can train a person that is a doer of small things.
[1:42] If he overlooks the small things, he will also overlook what is important. Proverbs 20, verse 6.
[1:56] Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness, but faithful man you can find. You can find a lot of people bragging about their abilities, but where is a faithful man?
[2:13] Luke 16, verse 10 to 12. He that is faithful in which is least is also faithful in much.
[2:25] He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore you have been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, he will commit to your trust the true riches.
[2:42] We know these. But they're really, obviously they're really hard to follow.
[2:57] Because we don't see many that follow these. But here's one more verse I had. Luke 10 to 12. What small things has God entrusted you to compete, to complete or manage with integrity?
[3:21] You know, there's many things we can mention. But we have been died to ourselves. We have died to our old man. We're wrecking ourselves dead daily.
[3:35] We are his. We're risen with him in the resurrection of new life. So what isn't his?
[3:49] How does God look at us? Let's say, and it could be true, only thing he looks at you, are you faithful? And I believe that could be so.
[4:05] So, where do we go from here? Faithful. Faithful. You tell me to do something, I would do it. Many years ago, I had, well, I'll start in the beginning.
[4:28] We had a two-story farmhouse building, and I have four daughters and a wife in the house. And I stay out of the kitchen. I used to.
[4:42] And not just us too, so I still don't. But, too much. But, upstairs was our bedroom, and there was one bathroom upstairs, and that everybody shared.
[4:59] I would get so upset. I'm going to use some very basic language, and please, I'm making a point.
[5:14] when the toilet paper was all, and there was none in the bathroom, and I had to go down to the second floor, down to the basement, to look for toilet paper.
[5:32] I was upset. I said, why can't anybody, it happens every time, and why doesn't anybody fill this stuff up? My wife looked at me, what do you do when it gets old?
[5:55] Lord, yes, Lord, give me grace, because, why don't I, see, my own need?
[6:09] Okay, this is small things. Okay, get it? So, so I started, I committed to that, and I tell you what, I don't think anybody else filled toilet paper up ever since, because it's always mine.
[6:26] At work, I go to the, we have 60 employees, but I go in there, sure enough, they can't even hang it on right, they set it on top, and I walk in there, and say, Lord, it's my time again, and, and, and it changed everything, it did.
[6:58] Now, what do you do when you need, you have a runny nose, and you need tissues, and you come up here, oh, I need this, only one there, great, I'm glad I got the last one, what about the next guy that comes along?
[7:20] Oh, I never thought of other people, but it's me. And so, if you empty it, you replace it. Now, if you see, it's the last one, do not rub it on your pants either.
[7:38] This is so basic, that changed so much in my life, that I see the responsibility, and the authority that's given in my hands, has to start right here.
[7:57] If you can't follow this, men, and says, if you can't follow this, how much higher could I preach? And you, why would you follow that?
[8:13] And, I'm telling you, this is one of the greatest revolutions in my life. And it's kind of embarrassing preaching about it, but anyways, it's real.
[8:26] And so, so through that episode, and I'm still amazed, like I said, every time I walk in the bathroom, I look at it and think, how does God time this?
[8:44] Doesn't he know by now, I'm faithful? Anyways, so, you have that authority.
[8:57] You know, God didn't call me to change toilet paper. Yeah. He didn't. Believe me. Unless he only called me.
[9:08] I'm not sure. But, years ago, then, I went through a hard time in ministry, and, and some, a lot of stuff came against me, and, I was, not asked to preach for a while, for a long time.
[9:27] And I went my way through services, it was, I call my two years of weeping. But we did set up tables in church, and, for lunch, we always had lunch, so, a soup and sandwich.
[9:47] and, and, just, well, they're not going to ask me to preach, and they don't want me to preach. But you know what?
[9:58] I found out, I can set up tables, and set up the chairs, and they're all talking, I'm busy over here, I'm picking up dirt, and taking care of things, and, I never, had a complaint.
[10:18] Find, the place, where you can serve, and then serve, and let God, raise you up, if he wants to. I tell you, I did that, for a long time, and I still do it.
[10:34] I remember, a couple of brothers, I preach a message, and, right after that, I'm back in the end, and getting right in. A couple guys said it to me, oh, you preach, and now you do this.
[10:46] Yes, I'm a servant. I'm not saying you have to, if you have other people, because they should, and most people, most times, there's a lot of people, that do it now, that everyone helps, and, we're not a big church.
[11:05] But, what it taught me, is so valuable, to me, it really means, a lot to me, that those basic, little things, I learned, and I hope I did, a valuable lesson, that is, I have authority, do I want to take it?
[11:26] You know, I was tired, of all these, the, complaints, I got against me, and I owe up, to the ones, I deserved, and all that, I'm not belittling, that moment, but, it was always interesting, I never got a complaint, for taking out the trash, first, first, Samuel 17, verse 17, to 22, this is talking, about David, when he went out, saw the battle, there was Goliath, I'm going to go, through this portion, and show you, something, maybe you missed, over the years, first, Samuel 17, verse 17, that's where we start, and Jesse said, unto David his son, take now, for thy brethren, he fought, a parched, corn, and ten loaves, and these ten loaves, and run, to the camp, of thy brothers, and carry, these, ten,
[12:45] Jesus, I mean, cheese, ten different, I don't know, one point, or ten blocks, for his brethren, he must have been from Ohio, but, unto the captain, of their thousands, and look how, thy brethren fare, take their, pledge, and Saul, now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elod, fighting with the Philistines, David rose up early in the morning, and led the sheep, with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him, and he came to the trench, and the host was going forth to fight, and shouted for the battle, Israel and the Palestine, Philistines, had put their battle in array, the army against army, David left, his carriage, in the hands, of a keeper, of the carriage, and ran, into the army, and came, and saluted his brethren, before all this,
[13:59] David knew, so he did that, but what I want to point out here, is, the details, that are in here, of little, insignificant, things, he carried, it says, ten, G's, blocks of G's, probably, he left, the sheep was a keeper, and he left, his carriage was a keeper, why did he mention that, before all this, David knew, to hear from God, and depended upon him, when alone, he did put, it to good use, David left, a lot of little things, on the way, to the greatest happening, in David's life, by little stuff, he got there, at the right time, and nothing, was neglected, along, the way, the Goliath story, does not start, with a lot, does start, with a lot, of little things, we want to be,
[15:21] Davidson, fighting Goliath, yes, we love that image, we love that image, I want to be a man, like that, do you, did you, take care, of the sheep, did you take care, of your carriage, I know, you left it, set somewhere, in Michigan, but anyways, but, he left, everything, in the hands, of a keeper, he carried, the things there, and he went out, and fought Goliath, and killed him, that's the story, we remember, but there's a bigger story, before the big story, and that is all, these little details, that were put, in the story, for us to remember, but we're so eager, to rush, to the big one, we forget, their details, Joseph, was similar too, but, you know, there's a lot of details, in the Bible, when you read about,
[16:31] Bible characters, find out who he was, before some of these, bigger stories, and so again, it's the little things, he did the little things, he took care, of everything, his brothers, actually accused him, of leaving his, few little sheep, and, but he didn't, so where are you, that today, because, where do you start, becoming, there was a foolish statement, I made years ago, I said, I hope, I become, I could, could become, a man of God, like some of these, great men did, but, I hope, I don't have to walk, the road they did, and, I call that, a foolish statement, there is no shortcut, shortcut, I found out, I found out, there is no shortcut,
[17:36] Colossians 3, 23, whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, again, we do it, unto the Lord, not unto men, like the, steamboat racing, paddleboat race, that was unto man, they lost everything, but, you know, we don't do it, we work heartily, we do everything, that God gives us, to do heartily, and joyfully, because, if I do something little, somebody else, doesn't have to do it, if I can bend down, and pick up a piece of trash, does it mean anything, if that would hinder, or make somebody stumble, yes it does, I don't think this does, but,
[18:40] God, I would need to clean up more, to really make a story, out of that one, so we see, that be faithful, in the small things, that then, maybe you have a Goliath story, in your life, but it will not happen, unless, you're faithful, in small things, you're faithful, in small things, I think much about stories, in my life, and, I like missionary stories, but I didn't like to make them, but I sure like to tell them, they were painful, do you, do you, do you ever treat, small things, and large things differently, differently, they're all important, so keep doing them,
[19:44] Proverbs 25, 25, 19, that's, we read that yesterday, also, to have confidence, in an unfaithful man, is like, trouble, is like, is, in a, in a time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint, it doesn't work, Song of Solomon, 215, take us, the foxes, little foxes, that spoil the vine, for our vines, have tender grapes, they're just little, furry little critters, nice, little foxes, look cute, I used to trap, I was a trapper, at one point, in PA, not in Montana, but, you imagine, this cute little, fuzzbow, and he is ruining, our tender, lines, what is ruining, our young generation, something that looks innocent,
[20:51] I'm sure, you think about that, Pastor James, was a man, that had three little boys, and they wanted, a puppy so bad, they begged for a puppy, and one day, a little dog, runs in their property, a complete black dog, with three white hairs, on his tail, they were so happy, the little boys, took the dog, and asked if they can keep it, yes, and nobody comes, to find out, then they saw, posters up, somebody looking for a dog, and, he had three white hairs, so they dyed his tail, the dad, helped him, he was a pastor, and, the people, found out, about, they had found a dog, they came and looked, and, here he is, they thought it was their puppy, but they checked the tail, and it was all black, if you know your history, these three boys, were the Jesse James, bank robbers, their dad, was a preacher, because he helped them, do a deceptive thing, and, they became, notorious, for their train robberies, and bank robberies, the Jesse James, the James brothers, because they learned, a valuable lesson, sadly, that they can get, what they want, 2 Timothy 2.2, and the things that have been, the things thou hast, heard of me, among many witnesses, the same commit, to faithful men, who shall be able, to teach, others also, that's what we're looking for,
[23:46] I want to see, yes, young men, older men, but, there's a need, who's going to carry on, this gospel, not overlook, the small thing, because, they all lead, to bigger things, the little, three white hair, on a tail, became bank robbers, little things, did matter, we cannot, do that, to hide little things, and hoping, we don't have to, we don't have to, reward, that we have to, reap the reward, for that, so we're looking, for faithful men, men that don't, overlook small things, I'm serious, so, where can you start, today,
[24:50] Romans, 12, 3, for I say, through the grace, given unto me, to every man, that's among you, not to think of himself, more highly, than he ought to, think, but to think, soberly, according, as God has dealt, to every man, the measure, of faith, what small thing, can you do, by faith, it will be more, than you ever, thought of, do you have the grace, to clean up, the floor, or, opposite of that, I think, would be lazy, no, I, I guarantee you, if we do it, with all our heart, and do it heartily, unto the Lord, it's a blessing, and the Lord, is watching, he's also watching, if we do nothing,
[25:57] Zechariah 410a, the first half, of that verse, for who has despised, the day of small things, small raindrops, can bring on a flood, Jesus came as a baby, and he's king of kings, he won't be coming again, as a baby, he'll be coming as, Lord of lords, king of kings, John 6, 9, there's a, there is a lad here, which has five barley loaves, and two small fishes, but, what are they, among so many, we know what happened, that's thousands of people, do you have a small fish, no you don't, sing spiritually, so a small thing, in your life, you know God, work with that, start there, what happened, what did God ask you, to do, never forget, those details, in life, he will lead you, according to what he has begun, and what you allowed,
[27:32] I want to see again, men, I'll be happy, to watch it, or I'll be happy, if God uses it, men, that are not afraid, to lay everything, on the line, I have two small fishes, I'm not much, I don't think, too highly, of myself, I know, I'm not much, but I'm going to give, oh I got, and God, can give the increase, I want to see that, I want to see, that type of revival, again, that it moves us, that it brings us, to the fullness, of Christ, that it brings, others to Christ, one night, in Africa, you know, to do my duty, faithfully, to serve the people, and be a preacher, and, lead and pastor, the church there, one night,
[28:44] I knew it was my duty, I was tired, I couldn't think, of anything, to preach, I was busy, that day, and, we were in town, and came home, I was worn out, I got to the, service started, and I said, Lord, I don't know, what to do, and I got up front, I still didn't have, one word, I thought, well what do you say, I said, opened my mouth, and said, Jesus, Jesus, and I preached, when I was done, I opened it up, and a packet of cigarettes, came flying at me, the guy didn't make it, to the elder first, I never saw, anything like that, then, and since that, but, I was just thinking, how powerful, that message was, but I was, committed, to trust God, and he did, the increase, and I took, the cigarettes home, and, crushed them, so, nobody gets, wrong ideas, they were destroyed,
[30:02] I mean, I didn't ask for that, I wasn't talking about that, but that's one experience, I'll never forget, I would just, look at the congregation, zoom, plump, right out my feet, okay, we start there, that would have been, expensive for him, to do that, but, he did it, you didn't see, many people, carrying packs, didn't have money, what happens, when a man, is given, a big, responsibility, is he okay, then, to let the little things, slide, I'm now, too big, to change, the toilet paper, rolls, God has bigger things, for me, he will never have, bigger things, for you, it will always, start there, to do, your God given, responsibilities, in life, you're never too big, you're never too important, in marriage, in children, in church, vision, we need, we need that vision, it starts, with the most things, it creates a structure, some people, that we come out of, rules and regulations, the Amish, and Mennonites, and, don't hear me wrong, but vision, creates a structure, there's a way, to walk this life, vision, does make structure, no structure, no vision, for an example, broken homes, we, know a little bit, about those things, because of, our entering into, foster care, and, the world, neglected children, a broken home, that has no structure, that's why, creates a broken home, but, if there would have been, a vision there, to raise the children, for the Lord, it would have actually, created a certain, structure, and so, don't be afraid, of structure, because, we all need structure, and, it's a gospel, it's a bible, it's the structure, that we have, it's not man-made, it is there, follow the word, and you will see, exactly, what he promised, be consistent, be orderly, be peaceful, those are little things, that go a long way, if I promise you something,
[33:02] I want to, if I can't keep it, for some unusual reason, I would let you know, consistency, that means much, to me, when in Africa, when the Africans, wanted to go with me, to town, they warned each other, if Ed says, he's going to pick you up, at five o'clock, in the morning, be ready, 15 minutes earlier, they figured out, my structure, because I was not, going to fail, my promise, at that time, I might be early, but I'm not upset, if you can't be, ready at that time, I keep my promise, but if you're five minutes late, you're late, I, I mellowed a lot, in that, my grandpa, from my mom's side, did not have mercy, on nobody, if they were, late, he would sure, let his feelings, be no one, and I think,
[34:16] God helped me a lot, and put me, in a more, right way, the word, doctrines, small, or great, you know, some people say, oh, that's just a small doctrine, really, how do you look, at the great ones, don't do that, it's all the same, be faithful, in staying consistent, be faithful, in being on time, you know, be reasonable, be honest, you can't make it, let somebody know, at our work, there's some, that we had, they had to deal with that, there were a certain percentage, of them, that were always late, they were supposed to be there, seven in the morning, to remind them again, be faithful, and putting in the effort, everybody, appreciate, appreciates you for that, you know, a janitor, is not a lowly job, it's most people, appreciate them, but we think, it's not good enough, for us, do you have power, to do small things, well, do you believe, that doing the small things, well, will make a big difference, if you don't believe that, you won't do it, are we quick, to help somebody, somebody, that's handicapped, somebody, that needs help, and can we be there, for them, little convictions, can lead, can lead, to big ones, if we, if we can stop worrying, about big things, and just do the small things, and one day, you look back, and say,
[36:16] I'm doing big things, I never thought, I'd get here, we don't mature, on the minors, but without minors, we wouldn't have, the majors, you know, we want, this major happening, but these little minor things, that are not, so important, but without, the minors, we don't have, the majors, God is a God of order, his creation, is operating, by his order, God is very detailed, in everything, he created, how do we know, what time the sun gets up, years, I guess, as long as you, want to look at it, you know exactly, they publish a time, that the sun gets up, they publish a time, when the sun goes down, it's order,
[37:26] God has order, when we follow, his small things, and do it well, and are faithful, God is also faithful, that's order, we can't force him, he has a pattern, and we can just, submit to that, and surrender, to the ways of God, and he will fulfill, what he wants, for our lives, the biggest thing, you have right now, is whatsoever, is in front of you, it's not over in China, I can guarantee you that, it's right here, some people say, I wish I could go to China, experience God, moving, would be nice, but, what about here, God moves, in the hearts, of humble men, have you ever, started something, but not finished it, quit, halfway through, sometimes we need to, because it's not of God, we must do all, we must all do something, here in the local church, we're not here, sitting in the stadium, stands, and watching the others, do their work,
[38:54] I want to know, what I can do here, and then, he might have something, outside of here, that he has me to do, it starts here, it starts at your home, it starts here, it goes from there, to something else, are you filled, with the Holy Ghost, do you walk, in the spirit, and gifts, spiritual, divine, because that's what we need, to enable us to do, what God has given us, the power that we need, of the Holy Ghost, to be consistent, in our small things, and give us the grace, to do it, if you don't believe it, I don't think, I ever got mad, I mean, I'm, I'm a soft guy, but, I don't think, since that moment, of that, telepaper conversion, that I ever, was angry at it, and I did, my, more than my share, because,
[40:11] God, gave me the grace, to do it, I allowed him, if you want to see miracles, start with the small things, to be faithful, in the very, small things, don't overlook it, don't overlook it, if you get, ten blocks of cheese, to deliver it, to somebody, make sure you don't, eat one of them, you were given ten, thing, it doesn't matter, it does matter, what God gave us, to deliver, to the end, he is looking for that, because he trusted you, it's not the option, that he shouldn't have, trusted me, maybe he shouldn't have, but if he did, you get a great responsibility, and seek out God, what he has for you, because what did he trust you with, what is his ultimate purpose, in your life, what does he have for you, you can think of some things, you're in right now, and think about it, but what is it, that he's really looking from you, from your life,
[41:32] I want to keep looking that way, until, they announce, I'm no longer here, I don't believe, in retiring, I believe, in doing all, I'm capable of doing, at all times, and sometimes, it's harder, than it used to be, but, I'm still, here, and every small thing, counts, every step, how can I be a blessing, to you, by not thinking, too highly of myself, I'm not too high, to do the lowest, tasks possible, sometimes, you wish, you see something, well now I saw it, now I got to do it, sometimes,
[42:52] I wish other people, would see it, there's a banana peel, right here on the ground, it isn't, but somebody, I see it, and somebody comes along, steps on it, and doesn't even see it, you know, where is our love, for our brethren, are we willing, to make the past, easier for them, like tissues, good, I got the last one, let the next guy, worry about it, I preached this years ago, in the city church, there in Lancaster City, and there was a couple years, just a year, a couple, not long ago, we had, in that tissue setting, on the women's zoo, and one of the young men, that hurt my preaching, the original one, and, I changed it, some sense, but, we were there, in the audience, I was preaching that morning, but, we hadn't, I hadn't preached yet, but, he got up, walked over, to the tissue box, looked in, and it was empty, he looked in, and took a complete, you turn, and just look right at me, he knew, he didn't forget,
[44:12] I guarantee, a message, some of those, small things, you will never forget, when you see, a tissue box, or an empty toilet paper, you want to walk away, from it, I did it, a couple times, when I was, just tired, walking in there, and, I kind of, wanted to avoid it, but there, nope, this is a commitment, between me and you, me and God, okay, do it carefully, and, I'm serious, this will bless you, it will, I'm not saying, you're not doing that, at all, I think there's, but, if you aren't, look for ways, to do some things, and if you are doing a good thing, also look ways, where, where can I do something, that would, it's not just about me, it's the guy following me, okay,
[45:25] I made it good, I don't have to worry about that, but it's the person following me, that, and so that is how it is, in your Christian life, you take up the cross, and the person following you, has courage to do it too, let's all stand, let's all stand, Lord Jesus, we just come before you this morning, thank you, for those experiences in life, and, keep my eyes open, keep our eyes open here, that we don't think ourselves, too, important, that we think, we cannot serve, the lowest, lowest people on earth, because Jesus, you came, from heaven, for the lowest, the sick, the needy, and Lord Jesus, you live within me, through me, and why wouldn't it work, the same way, but Lord Jesus,
[46:34] I surrender again to you, there's much more, but make us all here, faithful men, and women of God, as you will lead us, and guide us, and direct us, into every detail, of life, that you have for us, we pray this, in the name of Jesus, amen, okay, we'll take a, little break again, and then, when we get back, I have a short message, and then, we want to, enter into a time of prayer, as we wrap this up, this week, tomorrow morning, we have church service, but, this portion is probably, coming to an end, in sketch on time, but it's not ending, you got a lot, of responsibility, for this, and, obviously, the three, there's, the, the fly,