Empty your hands…what is that in thine hand?
Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him (Moses), What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”
Here, in these chapters, is Moses’ call to the task he was to do. But the rod in his hand was not the task….but the means to bring that ministry to pass.
Exodus 4:1 “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.”
Fear and doubt are two enemies we must always subdue to God’s Word to us.
“They will not believe me.” Here Moses was sent of God…this he knew!
Yet, he was afraid of their reaction to him….and doubtful that they would trust and follow him.
(How often we forget that when God gives a ministry….or a task: even as large as delivering the children of Israel from Egypt….He will give His Word and the means of doing it,… to us.)
Exodus 4:17 “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.”
This was his shepherd’s rod,….that he had carried with him to tend his father-in-law’s flocks.
It was not a spear, sword, or axe. It was not a weapon of war…..yet, it was a defensive weapon to protect the flocks….and he, after years of tending, knew how to use it.
Yet, under God’s direction….he was to use this means before Pharaoh, next to the Red Sea, and all through the wilderness….till he had brought them to (not into)….but to the Promised land. (Deuteronomy 34:1-5)
Here was the means to use, to do the task, of delivering God’s people from Egypt and Pharaoh….but it had to be used. God would and did bless the means…but it had to be used.
As all the means God gives us, do. They need to be used…to bring about HIs Will and plans.
Once, we were told to “empty our hands….what it that in thy hand?” in our church. We were to empty our hands of the things we were so busy about…..and then see what the Lord had placed in our hands, the means that He wanted us to use for the work we were all called to.
Sometimes we can follow a set of plans….till we lose the Lord along the way.
Moses was now a shepherd….with a shepherd’s rod. But he was to pick up that rod, and go and deliver God’s people from slavery! Impossible! Yet, after bouts of doubt and fear….he went and did as God said….
….and God’s people were delivered.
Romans 12:6-7 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;”
And this continues with exhortation,…showing mercy…till….”continuing instant in prayer:” (Romans 12:8,12)
Is what you have in your hand the gift of prophecy, or of ministry, or of teaching, or prayer?
Well, then do it….according to the faith that you have…the proportion of faith that you have.
(It is interesting to note that “proportion” here, does not mean the amount.
It means the several words or speech that you have been given!)
Prophesying is not so much foretelling, as it is forth-telling. It is stating what is the mind of God for now….for this age.
(Read the letters to the churches in Revelation and see that each message is different….for that age, and the problems, persecution, or enemies of that age. He is always the answer….but the means of presenting HIm, and the things they should “empty their hands of”….are all different.
What is His mind for this age? Well, according to the Faithful and True Witness, we live in the rich, but in HIs sight…very poor church-age.
The “I have need of nothing…and knowest not” church-age.
And the means we need to use in this age?
Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
He is not giving up on this church….He is not giving up on HIs own!
The means is:
Be zealous therefore….”zeato”, which is boiling….and repent [empty our hands of those things He has told you of]
Plainly, we will either be burned out for Jesus,….or spewed out! Revelation 3:16)
There is ministering to those He has placed before us….or given us. Whether they hear, or refuse to hear….our ministry is to the Lord, and He will give us HIs Word.
Teaching….many rest on the promise….while never obtaining that promise. “Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)
Never letting go of what is behind….and reaching forth for what is before. Never using the means of grace to have the reality of the Word.
How much we need teachers who have in themselves the things they teach!
Exhortation….to awaken! We need to be awakened, often…. for we tend to “fall asleep”…and forget that we are to be ready,….with lights trimmed and shining brightly….when Jesus comes to take us home!
He that showeth mercy with cheerfulness. Not because we must….but because He shows mercy to us.
With cheerfulness…merrily, graciously. When we consider our great need of mercy from our Heavenly Father,….how easy it should be for the Lord to use us as instruments of mercy.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Mat. 5:7)
Here is a promise we can obtain!
But there is still to consider for each of us….”empty your hands”….clear up all that stands between us and the Lord.
Have we lost our way….been entangled in things…..put our plans ahead of HIs?
Whatever lies between us…..let us get zealous and repent…
………let us seek again the Lord and HIs Word, and put to use what He has given….obtaining what He has promised….in reality.
Revelation 22:11-12 “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
How will we stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat?
When He asks to see our hands…What will they be full of?
Will they be unjust…dishonest?
Will they be filthy….having played in the dirt of this world?
Will they be full of right works for Him?
Will they be hands which were set aside to Him in all our ways?
Well,….behold….the Lord comes quickly….and He is ready to reward every work, that used His means….and did His Word.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 