Little is much when God is in it.
Have you ever utter the words, "It is
enough." Maybe the children have continued to be argue and finally
you said, "It is enough." Maybe you have repaired and repaired an
appliance and finally you uttered, "It is enough." Maybe you have
been hunting and you just have not had any luck, and you say, "It
is enough." Maybe you have been working at the same job for some
time and putting up with the same old boss, and you reach a point
where you say, "It is enough."
Enough is only enough when God is in it.
I.
John
19:30 IT IS FINISHED:
this speaks of the SUFFICIENCY on which my faith is
asked to LOOK
IT IS FINISHED- the ancient Greeks boasted of being able
to say much in little - "to give a sea of matter in a drop of
language’ was regarded as the perfection of oratory. What they
sought her is found. IT IS FINISHED is but one word in the
Greek, but in that one word is wrapped up the Gospel of God, in
that word is contained the ground of the believers assurance.
IT IS FINISHED - it this is a divine declaration so
glorious that, ever since Jesus spoke it, the devil has been busy
trying to hide its real meaning frm the human race.
When Jesus uttered these words, there was remained nothing more
for the Savior to finish. It is true that there still remained
prophecies to be fulfilled such as the piercing of His body with
the spear, the preserving of His bones unbroken, and the placing
of his body in the rich man’s grave, but nothing remained more for
Him to finish.
The great task of the ages - the redemption of a lost world-
had been fully accomplished. Every obstacle between God and man
had been removed, every demand of the law satisfied, the sun
question fully dealt with. All the types and shadows of the old
covenant had been fulfilled in him. The work of God which he came
to do was complete.
This is not the words of a victim, but of a victor. This is not
the sob of a victim, but the shout of a victor. It is not I am
finished but it is finished.
Several years ago a Christian farmer was deeply concerned over
an unsaved carpernter. The farmer sought to set before his
neighbor the Gospel of God’s grace and to explain how that the
finished work of Christ was sufficient for his soul to rest upon.
However, the carpenter persisted in his belief that he must do
something himself. One day the farmer asked the carpenter to make
him a gate, and when the gate was ready he carried it away on his
wagon. He arranged for the carpenter to call on him the next
morning and see the gate as it hung in the field. At the appointed
hour the carpenter arrived and was surprised to find the farmer
standing by with a sharp axe in his hand. "What are you going to
do?" questioned the carpenter.
"I am going to add a few cuts and strokes to your work," came
the response.
"But there is no need for it. The gate is alright as it is. I
did all that was necessary to it."
The farmer took no notice, but lifted his axe and slashed and
hacked at the gate until it was completely spoiled
"Look what you have done!" cried the carpenter, "You have
ruined my work!"
"Yes," replied the farmer, "and that is exactly what you are
trying to do. You are seeking to nullify the finished work of
Christ by your own miserable additons to it."
II.
MATTHEW
4:4 - IT IS WRITTEN:
this speaks of the SURETY on which my faith is asked to
LEAN.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.
I’ll stand on His unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For though all things should pass Away
His Word shall stand forever.
-Martin Luther
Psalm 119: 123
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth
understanding unto the simple."
The Word of God gives light, and light reveals dirt, disorder,
and direction.
Psalm 119:105
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
One of the most practical benefits of
the Word of God is its guidance in the acts of daily life: it is
not sent to astound us with its brilliance, but to guide us by its
instruction. It is true the head needs illumination, but even more
the feet need direction, else head and feet may both fall into a
ditch. Happy is the man who personally appropriates God's word,
and practically uses it as his comfort and counsellor, __ a lamp
to his own feet.
C. H. Spurgeon once said, "In prayer let us plead nothing but
the word of God; for there is no plea like a promise, no argument
like a word from our covenant God."
Someone has said that there are exactly 7,487 promises from God
to man in the Bible. Plead the promises of God in prayer.
Psalm 119:28 "My
soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according
unto thy word." The word which creates
can certainly sustain.
When we dissipated with weakness, God can make His word to be
the bread of heaven to strengthen us.
III. Mark
6:45-50 - IT IS I: this
speaks of the SERENITY with which my faith is asked to
LABOR.
There was a great storm that confronted them, but there
was a great sight which calmed them.
It may be in the valley
Where countless dangers hide
It may be in the sunshine
That I in peace abide.
But this one thing I know
If it be dark or fair,
If Jesus goes with me,
I’ll go any where.
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear thou not...."
God is with us.
Matthew 28:18
"And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying, "All power...."
B. He that is with us has all ability to guide
C. He that is with us has all mightiness to guard
Almighty One! I bend in dust before Thee;
Even so veiled cherubs bend;
In calm and still devotion I adore Thee,
All-wise, all present Friend.
We can labor for God with a calmness because He is with
us. See Mark 16:20.
Conclusion:
It is enough - only if God is in it.
It is finished – sufficiency enough for my faith to
look. It is written - security enough for my faith to lean.
It is I - serenity enough for my faith to labor.
Yours because HIS
Bro. Jimmy Chapman