DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY - 3 THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW. Part 2.

God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires. - Francis Bacon.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. - Acts 20:24.

The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do. Napoleon's massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church.

The Pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us." The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left. - Source Unknown.

Yesterday in Part 1, we discussed the first of the 3 things we NEED TO KNOW, number 1 being that ‘We Needed To Know Who We Are,’ and today we will study the second one...

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE

Most of us take for granted the things we have, the value of something is the absence of it, we don't really miss something until its gone. We are always reaching for something we don't have, which is not bad in itself, as long as we use what we have to its fullest potential.

The Kingdom principle of USE IT OR LOSE IT, is a principle that we must understand. God has given us all that we have, what have we done with it? Many have great visions of the future, but have no plans for the present; they have become visionaries, dreamers, with no substance. Let us be the people that know what we have, and use what we have to the Glory of God!

To correctly evaluate what we have, we must use the correct evaluation tools, God's perspective, not our's. Let’s look into His storehouse of treasures and find out what we have....

Moses Had A Staff
The LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." - Exodus 4:2. Moses had a piece of wood in his hand, yet God used that staff to work great miracles and deliverances for His people.

Samson Had The Jawbone Of A Donkey
And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. - Judges 15:15. Once again, deliverance came through UNEXPECTED means. We may be holding our deliverance in our hands!

David Had Five Smooth Stones
Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine. - 1 Sam 17:40. When David tried to use ‘man’s wisdom’ in putting on Saul's armour, ‘it would not work,’ but he used WHAT HE HAD, and God worked through it.

Elijah Had A Prayer Answered
And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'" - 1 Kings 18:44. The answer to our prayer might not be what we expect, but WHAT GOD STARTS, HE WILL FINISH!

John Wesley's father, Samuel, was a dedicated pastor, but there were those in his parish who did not like him. On February 9, 1709, a fire broke out in the rectory at Epworth, possibly set by one of the rector's enemies. Young John, not yet six years old, was stranded on an upper floor of the building. Two neighbors rescued the lad just seconds before the roof crashed in. One neighbor stood on the other's shoulders and pulled young John through the window.

Samuel Wesley said, "Come, neighbors, let us kneel down. Let us give thanks to God. He has given me all my eight children. Let the house go. I am rich enough." John Wesley often referred to himself as a "brand plucked out of the fire" (Zech 3:2; Amos 4:11). In later years he often noted February 9 in his journal and gave thanks to God for His mercy. Samuel Wesley labored for 40 years at Epworth and saw very little fruit; but consider what his family accomplished! - W. Wiersbe.

We need to begin to see what we have by using God’s eyes. If we are going to measure what we have, then use God's benchmark! But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. -1 Cor 1:27-29.

LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE AND REJOICE IN THE LORD!

Loving Father, Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remember who I am in Christ and who I belong too. Help me Lord, to realise that all I that have, I can use for your glory. In Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen.

GBYAY