IMPACT Recap

Little By Little

July 31, 2023 · 0:48:00

FaithObedienceBlessings

Recap

Pastor Travis Hearn preached a sermon titled 'Little by Little,' based on Exodus 32:20-29. He explained that God's promises and blessings often unfold gradually, not all at once, to protect us from spiritual desolation and to allow us to grow into the responsibility. The message emphasized that the secret to a successful life is found in faithful, incremental progress. Pastor Travis outlined three key principles for living a 'little by little' life: first, learning to celebrate the small wins and beginnings, as seen when the Israelites celebrated laying the foundation of the Temple. Second, we must learn to be faithful stewards with the little things God entrusts to us, proving ourselves trustworthy for greater responsibility, as illustrated in the Parable of the Talents. Third, we must understand the spiritual power of planting little seeds, whether through prayer, generosity, or kindness, knowing we will reap a harvest in due time. The sermon concluded with a call to exercise mustard-seed faith and to trust God's timing in every area of life, from personal growth to financial stewardship.

Main Points

  • Learn to celebrate the little wins and small beginnings, giving praise for progress.
  • Learn to be faithful with the little things God entrusts to you, as stewardship proves readiness for more.
  • Learn the power of little seeds, understanding that you reap what you sow in prayer, generosity, and character.

Verses Mentioned

  • Exodus 32:20 - "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." (NIV)
  • Exodus 32:27 - "I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites from before you." (NIV)
  • Exodus 32:29 - "But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land." (NIV)
  • Zechariah 4:10 - "Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?" (NIV)
  • Philippians 1:6 - "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (NIV)
  • Ezra 3:10 - "When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel." (NIV)
  • Matthew 25:14-30 - "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'" (NIV)
  • Psalm 24:1 - "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (NIV)
  • Galatians 6:7-9 - "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV)
  • Proverbs 11:24-25 - "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." (NIV)
  • Matthew 17:20 - "He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'" (NIV)

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