1. What Is In Your Hand?

2. Exodus 4:1-5
[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. [2] And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

3. [3] And he said, Cast it on the ground
[3] And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. [4] And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

4. [5] That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee

5. I. Destiny of souls

6. Your own soul
Mt. 16:26
[26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

7. Rom. 14:12
[12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

8. We have a choice
Become a Christian and serve God
Live for self and do what we like
REMEMBER – Gal. 6:7
[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

9. Acts 2:40
[40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation

10. Through our influence and teaching we can have an affect on the souls of others
Our children – other family members – friends, etc.

11. Prov. 22:6
[6] Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it

12. Eph. 6:1
[1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right

13. Mt. 18:6
[6] But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea

14. Mk. 16:15
[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature

15. 1 Tim. 4:16
[16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee

16. II. Time

17. 168 hours per week Work – 50 hours Sleep – 56 hours Eat – 10 hours
Some 52 hours left
Recreation – ?
The Lord’s work - ?

18. Col. 4:5
[5] Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

19. Eph. 5:15-16
[15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

20. Redeeming = to buy up, i.e. ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss -- to redeem
You cannot kill time, you cannot store time, all you can do is use it!

21. Eccl. 3:2
[2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted
Between these two we have life --- this is in our hand now and we must use it wisely

22. III. Talents

23. Mt. 25:15
[15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

24. NKJV
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey

25. If we use our talents they will increase
WHAT CAN YOU DO?

26. Teach, preach, visit, extend kindness, benevolent works, lead singing, lead prayer, serve the Lord’s Supper, take up the collection, make cookies, call on the phone, send a card…….

27. Titus 3:1
[1] Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work

28. IV. Means/Money

29. Stewardship = manager
The first item in our budget should be how much we return to God

30. We must provide for our family – live within our means, etc
We must provide for our family – live within our means, etc. but always put God first

31. 1 Cor. 16:2
[2] Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come

32. 2 Cor. 9:6-7
[6] But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. [7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

33. Eccl. 9:10
[10] Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.