A LITTLE MEANS A LOT

Mark 6:38 - He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 

1.       Mark 6:38 - Jesus fed 5,000 with 12 baskets left over with 5 loaves and two small fishes. 

a.       It is interesting that the disciples did not even know how much they had until they checked. 

b.       When they found out how much they had, Christ used their little to produce a lot. 

c.       Christ did not ask them to produce more than they had, but asked them to use what they had. 

2.       I Kings 17:8-16 - God fed Elijah, the widow and her son with enough oil and meal for two for one meal.  God can make a little go further, and a lot go less. 

a.       Haggai 1:6 states, Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 

b.       God can provide the impossible. 

3.       Acts 1:15 - There were 120 gathered in the upper room.  These were supposed to take the gospel to all the world. 

a.       Acts 17:6 - The Jews said the Christians had "turned the world upside down".  The influence of Independence Baptist Church is very wide-spread. 

b.       Wider, I think, than the members of this church realize.  [1]

4.       I Cor. 1:26-31 - God has chosen the unwise after the flesh, the lowly, the foolish things of the world, the weak and base things and things that are not. 

a.       II Cor. 12:7-10 - Paul was glad to be weak, for then he was strong in the strength of the Lord.

b.       I don’t like to be weak, I had rather be strong, but the only way I can be strong is to be weak! 

4.   Gen. 12:1-3 - God made a great nation out of one old man and woman who were past the age of bearing children.  Aged Christians have wisdom to teach younger Christians.

5.   Eph. 3:20 - God can do more than we ever ask or think.  If we don't ask, seek, and knock, we won't receive.

5.       Examples of "little faith".

a.       Matthew 6:30 - An everyday faith - God will give us what we need, "O ye of little faith".  (concerning material necessities)

b.       Matthew 8:26 - Faith during a time of trouble - Jesus asking His disciples in the storm, "Why are ye so fearful, O ye of little faith". 

c.       Matthew 14:31 - Faith in the midst of troubled service - Jesus asking Peter when He was walking on the water, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" 

d.       Matthew 16:8 - Faith to Believe the doctrine of Jesus - Jesus asking the disciples where their faith was because they couldn't understand His teachings. 

LITTLE EVILS, so called

1.   Proverbs 6:10,11 - A little sleep brings poverty.

2.   Ecclesiastes 10:1 - A little folly ruins a reputation.

3.   Song of Solomon 2:15 - The little foxes (sins) ruin the tender grapes (young Christians).

4.   I Corinthians 5:6 - A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.