Large Lessons from the Little

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

Let me learn from the creation of God, that as one made in His image, I can be a better servant. Large lessons from the little, coming up from the International Gospel Hour, stay with us.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:16

Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:41

Well, thank you to our J-Web. Greetings and hello, everyone. I am honored every time someone tunes in to our broadcast to spend time studying the Word of God. How grateful we are. Throughout the world, whether by radio, by podcast, whatever the tool is you’re listening to us, we thank you for choosing International Gospel Hour Radio. Proverbs 30, verses 24 through 28 says, There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer. The rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags. The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks. The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings’ palaces. Although little, these creatures are exceedingly wise, and not just wise, folks, but exceedingly wise. And you know, there are definitely some lessons to learn from these little creatures. Large lessons from the little, just ahead on the International Gospel Hour. But first, we want to take a moment to share with you a free online publication.

SPEAKER 02 : 2:03

For over 30 years, the Gospel Gleaner has brought forth sound biblical articles for your reading and study. It is published online four times a year and subscriptions are free. Just go to GospelGleaner.com and sign up and let them know you heard about it from the International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 2:21

That’s GospelGleaner.com How about large lessons from the ant? Their strength is in work and preparation. And think about the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25, 1-13. How the foolish virgins failed to prepare and what was the end result? The door was shut. They were not ready. for the wedding feast. In 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 2, the Bible says, For he says, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored or aided thee. Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. And how Jesus said in John 9, For I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work. Not one ant would be caught saying the words from Jeremiah 8.20, The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. Why? Because they prepared. So the question is spiritually, are we prepared, friends? Are we saved individuals? Are we taking advantage, if you will, of the summertime season? when we can store up or do what we need to do. That’s a large lesson from a little ant. How about large lessons from the rock badgers, sometimes called conies in other translations, how their houses are made in the rocks. That’s a place of safety. It’s sufficient in their building. And I love to think about how wise they are because we learn from them that we are in need of a place of refuge, a covering that is certain. It is the Lord to whom we go who has the words of eternal life, John 6 and verse 68. Psalm 91, 2, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Him will I trust. Even the wrongdoers in the book of Revelation, they were aware of a proper hiding within rocks and mountains. When they said in Revelation 6, 16 and 17, Say unto the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? But seeing the good refuge, friends, we must make certain we avoid false refuge. In Isaiah 28, verse 15, Because you have said we have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement. When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. Well, obviously, friends, their refuge, their place will not stand. The commandments of men are the wrong refuge. In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, Matthew 15, 9. And such refuge is undependable. Jesus said in Matthew 15, 13, it would be rooted up, and in verse 14, would go into the ditch. Friends, one’s refuge must be in Christ, to be safely in Christ, and solid in the rock which is Christ, 1 Corinthians 10, verse 4. on the rock, the foundation, which is Christ, 1 Corinthians 3 and verse 11. Oh, a large lesson to learn from that little rock badger, who makes their places in the rocks where they are secure, and we must make certain we are on the rock, Jesus Christ, where we are secure. Let’s notice number three. Large lessons. The locust. How they work together in unity as a whole. And yes, friends, now we know why they were one of the plagues from Exodus 10, verses 4 and following. To see how they worked together in unity to impact the people in Israel. You know, friends, we are reminded of the tragedy and weakness of division. Paul, in writing to the elders, the overseers of the church of Christ at Ephesus, in Acts 20, verses 28-30, reminding them of how division could affect them to be aware, to take heed unto themselves and unto all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers. And through Jesus Christ, we find where one is to be brought all into one body. That’s Jew and Gentile. The unity that is there. As Paul talked about in Ephesians 2 and verse 16, the one body, Ephesians 4 and verse 4. And how Jesus is the head of his body, the church, Ephesians 1, 22 and 23. The same Lord that prayed for unity to be among all, John 17. Think about what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 10 of how God’s plan of unity is there. That we are to forsake all things of all teachings and to come as one into Jesus Christ. You know, he was talking to the one of division. He was speaking to those in the church of Corinth that they were battling their division. And he told them that they need to come together as one. When we think about that verse and just simply to do well to read it. I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing. And that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. Dear friends, that is so true. And how, friends, we need to speak the same. And Paul, or rather Peter, talked about to speak as the oracles of God. To have the mind of Christ, Philippians 2 verse 5. To walk according to the same rule, Philippians 3 and verse 16. Dear friends, again, we must not allow false teaching and misguided doctrine to take us away from the one walk that God has prepared for us. that we need to make certain that we are walking in unity, and if we are walking together in the Word of God and doing His will in His way, then may it ever be. Large lesson from the locust, how they work together in unity as a whole. How about large lessons from a spider? You know, when we read this, a spider will build a web anywhere they can. I know that I have some bushes in a certain section at the end of my yard. And every year there is a certain spider that will come and will build a web. And actually a very beautiful spider, kind of yellow. It’s a yard spider of some type. And I checked it out to see if it was harmful. And they said that it will build a web and lives about three weeks. And that’s it. So I didn’t want to tear the web down. I wanted him to do what he needed to do. But you know, a spider will build a web anywhere, even in kings’ houses. And you think about it, just not everyone can live in the king’s house. But a spider can build a web anywhere. You know, it reminds me, the gospel of Christ goes everywhere. Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20. How the Great Commission was brought forth. How preaching the gospel would come forth from Jerusalem. And then we even look in Acts 8 in verse 4. How they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. And dear friends, I love it that we call our program the International Gospel Hour. For we are amazed of those that will send us messages of where they listen to our broadcast. There is no bind, there is no bounding of the work of the Lord. Isaiah 55, 10 and 11. The word of God is not bound. 2 Timothy 2 and verse 9. How thankful we are. So here’s a lesson from the spider of great interest. Dear friends, we’ve learned a lot of good things today. Some large lessons from littles. We’ve got one more thing we’d like to send you. We’d like to send you our Bible study, our booklet, God and Man, How to Be Saved. Here is our J-Web, how you can receive that booklet.

SPEAKER 02 : 10:57

An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and Man in the message box. another Bible study that is free from IGH, and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. god-and-man.com We’d love to hear from you.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:06

Well, dear friends, we hope that our study of God and man will be of great help to you. We trust that it will. So again, let us hear from you. And thank you for joining us today on Our Studies Here from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.

SPEAKER 03 : 12:23

God be with you till we meet again.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:29

Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.