[0:00] 12. Mark chapter 12. Actually, Angela. I need my glasses on the desk.
[0:14] ! I was using them the other day when I was over here.! Mark chapter 12. And we're going to look at the end of the chapter.
[0:30] Verses 41 to 44. Mark 12, 41 to 44. Thank you. And it says, beginning of verse 41, Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.
[0:49] And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which hath cast into the treasury.
[1:08] For all they did cast in of their abundance, but she, of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
[1:20] Let's have a word of prayer. Father, let's thank you for this time to be together this morning, Lord. We thank you for the chance we have to look at this passage of Scripture. As we continue looking at people whose names we do not know, Lord, here's a lady.
[1:36] Doesn't give us her name. Just tells us a little bit about her and what she did. And Lord, the lessons that we can learn because of her example. Lord, I pray that you would just continue to teach us that we don't have to have a well-known name.
[1:51] We don't have to have a lot of reputation. We don't have to have a lot of people knowing about us. We just need to serve you no matter what. And Lord, you can accomplish great things if we're willing.
[2:05] So Lord, I pray that you would help us to learn today from this poor widow and her two mites. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. So, nowhere else in the Bible has there been such a big deal made over so little.
[2:20] Jesus is going to make a big deal. It wasn't so little. She gave everything. She gave everything. But it was two mites. Two cents. Although today, that's a big deal.
[2:31] People are always asking you to put your two cents in. So, big deal. But, comparatively, it was a little thing. But, yeah, Jesus is going to make a big deal about it.
[2:45] He uses this event and this unnamed woman. And he's going to use it as a teaching moment for his disciples. He's going to use it in a way that shows them that the little things make a big difference.
[3:01] We look at our lives and stuff. We're in Hancock, Maine. What can we accomplish from Hancock, Maine? But, people's lives are being touched.
[3:13] We get a whole bunch of missionaries back there who are touching people's lives because of the gifts that we help give to them. So, we can accomplish some great things just by being here, doing what God called us to do.
[3:25] In 1 Corinthians 1, verses 27-29. 1 Corinthians 1, 27-29. It says this, He says, God has given different ones things to do.
[4:06] But, he says, He's using the foolish things. He's using the weak things. He's using the base things. He's using the ones that are despised. But, they're all accomplishing his will in his work.
[4:20] Doing what he wants to see done. Yesterday, a conversation with a sweet lady. She told me, she said, If all I have is just a little bit of change, if that's all I've got, I will put it in the envelope and put it in the offering space.
[4:38] And, I said, That's great. And, I was referring to this passage. And, it's all she had. It was from her need and her want. But, it's just a few points.
[4:48] And, she understood. And, that was really awesome. That principle still applies to her. It still applies. Margaret?
[4:59] I was thinking, as you were talking about the, just two pence. The mustard seed. The smallest seed that you find. And, look what it makes.
[5:11] The biggest tree you can imagine. Yep. So, yeah. Little things can become really big things. You know, people give to the Lord.
[5:22] It doesn't have to just be money. It can be of other, you know. It can be talent. It can be themselves. They may not think they're much. But, give unto the Lord.
[5:33] I always talk about the little shoe salesman. His last name was Campbell, I think. I can't remember his first name. But, he worked in a shoe store.
[5:45] And, another guy worked in a shoe store. By the name of D.L. Moody. And, he witnessed a D.L. Moody. Took D.L. Moody to Sunday school. D.L. Moody got saved.
[5:56] We all know who D.L. Moody is now. We may not know Campbell's name. But, we know D.L. Moody's name. But, the part that he had in that ministry. If he had not been faithful to being a witness for Christ.
[6:08] Where would we be? So, God uses the small things. Things that people don't pay attention to. Now, the question is.
[6:20] Are we willing to use our small things. So, that God can do his big thing. He's just asking us to be available. We talked about that a week or so ago. You know.
[6:30] Greatest ability is availability. Are we available to what God wants to do. What he has planned. There's a chorus to a hymn. I don't know the hymn all that well.
[6:41] But, the chorus goes like this. Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame. It's a crown. And, you can win it.
[6:52] If you'll go in Jesus' name. Think about that. Little is much when God is in it. I mentioned this a couple weeks ago. Dr. Bob Sr. used to say.
[7:04] You and God make a majority. Think about that. You and God make a majority. You can accomplish so much. If you're going out.
[7:14] Doing what God wants you to do. Edward Kimball. Edward Kimball. What was the verses for 1 Corinthians? 1 Corinthians 27 to 29.
[7:25] I believe. Chapter 1. Yes. Chapter 1. Sorry. 27 to 29. So, the question is. We all want to do something big for God.
[7:37] Ah, I'd like to be, you know. Do something big for God. Something. And, it's really going to be noticed. Margaret? I'm sorry. I'm not superwoman.
[7:48] You're not superwoman? No. But, God's in it. You can be used. But, that's a good point. You know. We all want to do something good. Big for God. But, are we doing the little things that we can do?
[8:01] Ask the question. Are we doing the little things? Being a testimony and a witness for him. And, doing the things that God asks us to do. You know. The idea of sacrifice.
[8:14] Is probably not first place in most people's thinking. You know. I'm in a nice, comfortable life. I want to be able to do this. I want to be able to do that. You know.
[8:26] Sacrifice isn't usually on somebody's bucket list. How can I be a better sacrifice? But. What should we be doing? We should be. God sacrificed his son.
[8:38] Jesus Christ sacrificed his life. Can we give him some? Give him a little? Give him ourselves? You know.
[8:50] Are we willing to sacrifice for him? So, this little lady. This little widow woman. She is going to sacrifice. And, she understands what it truly means.
[9:02] She is going to give. As Fred said. Out of everything she had. So. So, let's look at this. Story this year. First thing you always see in this story.
[9:14] Notice verse 41. And, Jesus sat over against the treasury. Okay. Big deal. But, Jesus was there. Watching everything that went on.
[9:27] We need to remember. That everything we do. We do in the presence of God. The presence of God. And, when you think about that.
[9:38] I'm in the presence of God. All the time. How is that possible? Because of his omnipresence. Omni. All. Present. He's there. He's always there.
[9:50] God is always there. You ever needed to be two places at one time? Think of grandparents. You've been with my children.
[10:01] Two different sports teams. Yep. Two different sports teams. At the same time. Yep. And, I was thinking your grandchildren. You recital here. And, maybe a sports thing over here. And, it's like. Don't you just wish you could.
[10:13] I can go both places. I can do it. God does. God can be everywhere. God can be there. At all times. He can be anywhere. That we can possibly go.
[10:25] He's going to be there. He's. Nothing is hidden away from him. In Psalm 139. Psalm 139. Verses 7 through 12. Psalm 139.
[10:36] Verses 7 through 12. It says. In the beginning of verse 7. How can I get away from God?
[10:49] Verse 8. If I ascend up into heaven. Behold thou art there. If I make my bed in hell. Behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning. And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea. Even there.
[11:01] Shall thy hand lead me. And thy right hand shall hold me. You know. How comforting is that? God is everywhere. He says. He's going to lead you.
[11:12] He's going to hold you. While you're there. He goes on. Verse 11. If I say. Surely the darkness shall cover me. Even the night shall be light about me.
[11:24] Yea. The darkness hideth not from thee. But. The night shineth as the day. The darkness and the light. Are both alike to thee. Doesn't matter if it's. You know. The Bible says. Men love darkness.
[11:35] Because. Their deeds are evil. Doesn't make any difference. Darkness or light. God says. I see it all. I'm going to see. Know everything that's taking place.
[11:46] How does that affect us. In our life. You're thinking about sinning. You say. Oh. I sin. You know. You know. Man's thinking. We'll do it in the dark.
[11:57] Nobody's going to see. God sees everything. Jeremiah. 23. 24. Jeremiah. Jeremiah. 23. 24. Can any hide himself.
[12:09] In secret places. That I shall not see him. Sayeth the Lord. Do not I fill. Heaven and earth. Sayeth the Lord. He says.
[12:20] Is there any place you can go. That I'm not going to see. Any place you can do. Anything you can do. There was a. Student once. At a Bible college. And he's telling. A Bible college teacher.
[12:30] He says. I have a rule about sinning. Hmm. Bible college professor. Oh really. What's that. He says. Well. I always sin by myself.
[12:40] That way nobody can rat me out. You know what. God still sees it. God still sees. What's going on. Doesn't matter if you're that student.
[12:52] Or anyone else. God is always there. God. You know. You just say to me. And I kept in my feelings. And I said. I wasn't supposed to be doing. I said. Why did you do that?
[13:03] He said. I didn't. I looked at him. And I said. You know. You're lying to me now. And I said. Why did you do that? He said. Well. You can't know that. He said. You was a fan.
[13:15] And I said. Ah. But you was. And you did. Yeah. Mom had those eyes. In the back of her head. Huh? Funny. When I was a kid.
[13:25] My dad. Would say. When I came home from school. He'd say. Funny. Why did you say that. To that little boy. And I said. Say what dad? And he'd tell me. And he said. How did you know that?
[13:36] And he said. I have a magic mirror. Margaret. I was raised in a city environment. And neighbors loved to call my parents.
[13:47] And say. Do you know what your children did today? Mm-hmm. Yep. I grew up in a small town. But that still happened. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. Everybody kept tabs on everybody else's kids.
[13:58] That was a party phone. Party phone. Yes. Yep. Yep. So the neighborhood knew. Yep. So. You know. You think back to the very beginning. It was Adam and Eve.
[14:11] Cain and Abel. Maybe a couple other brothers and sisters. That's it. Nobody else. Weren't many people there. Cain kills Abel. Nobody saw.
[14:22] Nobody knew. Nobody knew. Nobody knew. What had happened. But God did. God saw the entire process. Hey Cain. Where's Abel?
[14:32] Am I my brother's keeper? Eh. Yes, you are, yes. Yes, you are, yes. Hebrews 4, 13. Hebrews 4, 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
[14:49] God sees it all and you know people are like well that's kind of creepy God sees everything we do and he's always watching you know you can think that but there's another way of looking at it his observation his observation God not only sees all the wrong we do he also sees all the good we do think about that one God sees everything do you only do wrong all the time well no you do good sometimes don't you notice what it said there Mark 12 verse 41 again Jesus sat over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury he beheld he was watching people was he seeing good things yes was he seeing bad things yes he was seeing some put in out of their abundance he said but he also saw the widow with her two cents you know when we were studying this passage in our baby bible study and we got looking into the other people that were there and how some of them would come in with great pomp and circumstance they'd have musicians they'd have all this stuff and then they'd go put their offering in one of those urns that would place the reception of the money and the pomp of that compared to that little widow who's over here just like just putting their money in so Jesus saw that too and he had a beautiful blessing yep so he saw it all he sees it all and that can be comforting to us you know most people take it as
[16:46] I gotta be good because he's watching I gotta do but it can be a comfort to us how many times do you do things to help someone else and nobody knows about it but God does God saw it God knows what's going on he sees every good work every good deed is done you know it may be overlooked by others completely but God knows what's taking place you know you may do something and the credit goes to somebody else but God knows the difference he was there when it happened he's fully aware of what you're giving and you offer he's fully aware of what you're doing to go the extra mile to help somebody he's fully aware of everything Proverbs 15 3 Proverbs 15 3 says this the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good the eyes of the Lord in every place beholding the evil and the good
[17:57] Ecclesiastes 12 14 Ecclesiastes 12 14 for God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil just catch that good and evil 2 Corinthians 5 10 in the New Testament 2 Corinthians 5 10 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ okay stop right there for a second we're all going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body according that he hath done whether it be good or bad see God sees the good as well never forget that we always take oh God's looking out he's up there and he's he's just got that lightning bolt in his hand and he's already to let her rip you know no he sees the good too and he'll bless you for the good you know it's easier to get frustrated when people do evil and we don't see them getting punished and we don't see things happening because of it and stuff but he's also watching the good and you know well how come he didn't take care of that evil give him time he gives time for repentance he gives time for people to acknowledge that oh you know what
[19:29] I shouldn't have done that I need to ask for forgiveness of that and it taken care of God has seen it all here in Galatians Galatians is in the next service in Galatians in chapter 6 verses 7 through 9 Galatians 6 7 through 9 it says this be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting let us not be wary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not don't give up keep doing the right thing keep doing what God wants you to do you may not see all the results yet but you will God will bless and if you don't see it in this lifetime how about the next one see God does things in his perfect timing God does things according to his schedule and his plan sometimes we forget to wait
[20:35] I may mention this in the morning service I can't remember sometimes they kind of flow together Fred how much thought you have to put into doing something good for someone I mean what I'm trying to get at is up here in my law might have those guys sitting on the media and passing a $5 bill well you think you're doing good he took that $5 bill I have that I have that battle too it's like okay he's there if I give him this money is he going to go buy something else to drink because a lot of them are doing that and stuff are they going to go take it and do that with it so one of the things we have talked about and I don't stop very often and do things for people like that once in a great while but usually if we do
[21:36] I try to give them something tangible which here's a gift card to McDonald's or whatever here's a give them something that they cannot use to buy the other stuff then they get mad yeah you give them something like that I don't want that okay fine you know drive off but yeah trying to do good for people you have to be careful yeah I agree I think I saw a fellow who was down by Walmart not Walmart not Walmart and I went up to the store on the run and got them some bread and peanut butter and a couple bananas and a piece of pizza and I told people there what I was doing and so they donated to pizza and I took it back and I gave it to him and he said what's that
[22:43] I said well your son said you're hungry I said so I got you some food something that will last you for a little bit I know he looked at the white bread and he said I don't eat that that's done he said I'll just throw this into the booklet and I said no you won't he said well I'll take the pizza and I said no he said take the pizza you have to do it all back to me so he passed it back to me and he looked at me and he said well why did you bother I said you said you were hungry and the son said I'm hungry and you have and I said if anybody is really hungry they will be grateful to have the bread the food and he said yes I do have a clue that's why
[23:46] I did it hear me I was told when I asked that question to a different pastor and he said it's God looks at what you did and your heart and then he can judge the other by what he did in his or her heart or whatever yeah God's going to judge you by your heart that you did it with but he also tells us to be wise as serpents or harmless as doves and sometimes you have to kind of like I know what's going to happen with this I know it's going yep so yep anybody else got comments about that okay so God's not mocked kind of goes along the way what you just said you know when a man sows that's what he's going to read you did it with the right heart you did it with a heart that says you know
[24:46] I'm trying to help okay God sees that he knows that he says don't be weary in well doing don't give up on people you know there's certain ones you know I just no I don't think that's going to be the right thing to do God gives you wisdom the Holy Spirit gives you guidance I'll talk about that some this morning the Holy Spirit will lead you so okay second thing about this woman the poverty the poverty of this woman God was always present in this woman's life it wasn't just this moment this instant Jesus was always looking out for her God was always with her every step of every day even in her poverty he was there helping her and this woman was poor in more ways than one stop and think about this for a second she has two cents okay how else was she poor well look look at verse 42 and there came a certain poor widow she was a widow she was poor in another way you know when you face poverty and face being poor and things it's not confined to our bank account there are so many other ways how many people in this world are lonely how many people in this world have faced things that you know some of you know have lost people in your lives we had a friend
[26:20] I remember telling you two and a half years ago when we went out west and then came back through Florida and Alabama and all of that we went to Alabama Dothan where we had lived got to see old friends and things and spent some time with them that was great on our way back up to Kentucky we were going to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum and everything I mentioned that we stopped at a Buc-ee's in northern Alabama and at Buc-ee's in northern Alabama out in the middle of nowhere a couple that we had known in that church in Dothan were there and they had moved they lived somewhere else but here we are we're connected in that Buc-ee's in northern Alabama and we got a chance to talk for a few minutes and stuff and kind of catch up Wednesday this last Wednesday the man was killed in an accident 49 years old three kids two of them old enough and out of home the youngest one senior in high school this year the other ones that are out home some of them had grandkids the man had grandkids he's dead gone his wife is left without him you think about the loss some of you like I said you've experienced losses one way or another the loss that she had does she have poverty right now she doesn't the fact that her best friend her mate is gone and what is she going to face in the days and weeks to come you know so she has a poverty situation
[28:12] Bonnie I was just going to say when she lost her spouse the woman in that day and age that was really good back in that day and age yes it was really because you had no yeah you had no financial input back then you didn't have social security and insurance and all that stuff like we do now alright sometimes and I pray that I'm never in this position we're going to come to it I almost wonder if divorce or separation is worse than losing a spouse in death because in death you have no choice but in divorce and separation they did have a choice and in divorce and separation there's the issue of rejection it's the issue of rejection and so you have to deal with that yeah Bonnie lost the husband after three months of marriage he was killed in an accident so you know you can have loss in your life more than just financial and here's this woman she's a widow you know we don't know how old she was you know we assume she was up there in years maybe but we don't know that doesn't say whether she had children or not it's just that she was a widow loss comes at different times in our life we can face loss at any time in our life you know maybe it's the loss of a job sometimes we lose jobs and we hurt because of that or sometimes we lose friends or relationships and you can hurt because of that you know sometimes you lose health some of you dealing with those things and you can suffer loss sometimes it's the loss of a spouse so there's all kinds of loss and when we face that loss we get discouraged we get doubtful we get depressed we face all kinds of things and you can count on Satan especially if you're a Christian
[30:23] Satan's going to be coming in there and letting you have it he's going yeah what did God do there huh how did God take care of you there how did God meet your need there how did you know all those questions are going to come Satan's going to be right there pitching in we have to fight the temptation and we have to face that God knows what he's doing you know you ever stop and think Adam and Eve sinned okay why didn't God right then and there send Jesus right then and there Bible says in Galatians again we studied already 4-4 but in the fullness of time God sent forth his son God knew what he was doing he knew what needed to happen and he knew when it needed to happen we have to trust him Ephesians chapter 4 verse 31 you'll hear this one again in the morning too let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice let it go we tend to hang on to things and hang on to things hang on to things he says get rid of it let it go
[31:40] Hebrews 12-15 Hebrews 12-15 says looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness bringing up trouble you and where many be defiled he says you have God's grace available to you you have God's love available to you you have he says look don't let any root of bitterness spring up why is that so important because many be defiled you're not the only one being defiled when you hang on to bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking and all those things you're not the only one being defiled you're affecting the people around you you're affecting people who you come in contact with every day he says don't let it happen be careful you know sometimes when those unexpected loss comes into our life we need to remember
[32:43] Job Job Job had been blessed abundantly you know you read that first chapter Job Job had ten kids he had all kinds of animals he had all kinds of land he had all kinds of things and he lost them all in a very short time and you know Job's hurting and the only thing Job has left is his wife who says curse God and die not a big help Job it's interesting Job 120 and 21 Job 120 says this Job rose rent his mantle shaved his head fell down on the ground and complained and complained and complained oh no that's not what it says he rent his mantle shaved his head fell down on the ground and threw a hissy fit nope that's not what it says either it says and he worshipped think about that he just lost everything the kids are gone the animals are gone the land is gone everything is gone and he worshipped everything but his wife yep
[34:08] God really no sorry Paul had his thorn yes that's true yep what was it so we don't know Job 121 says this he says he worshipped and said naked came I out of my mother's womb naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord wow I don't picture myself doing that but he did he says he worshipped and he said blessed be the name of the Lord wow stop and think about that Ephesians Ephesians oh sorry Ephesians 431 yep and I'm going to stop there it's quarter past we'll pick up next week talking about not only she had lost her spouse but she had a lowly substance we'll talk about that next week let's have a word of prayer
[35:24] Father thank you thank you