Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Cloud

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare [thy chariot], and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (I Kings 18:44)

Prior to this passage, Elijah decreed, “There is a sound of abundance of rain.” A spiritual precedent ensues. What you hear, God’s Word, will precede what you see…the miracle! The “sound” meant that rain was on its way. After 7 failed attempts at seeing the incoming precipitation, Elijah’s servant finally came back with news of a “little cloud.” It wasn’t rain, but it contained the rain.

This “little” cloud represented faith to a prophet who knew the 3-year-long drought was about to end. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The cloud contained the substance, or evidence of the unseen rain. That’s why as Christians, we walk by faith, not by sight.

Sight says, “That’s just a cloud.”

Faith says, “That’s no ordinary cloud, that cloud contains the tangible substance and evidence we’re hoping for…rain!”

Don’t underestimate the worth of a “little” cloud, it could be saturated with a deluge of promised life-giving rain! If God plants His Word in you, no matter how long your drought, don’t stop looking for rain. For those who love God, His Word is enough. If God has spoken it, listen for and anticipate the showers of abundant rain!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Sparrow

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:29-31)

Sparrows, seemingly inconsequential creatures, make their nests virtually anywhere they please, even being presumptuous enough in David’s day to nest on the altars of the Lord (Ps. 84:3). If one didn’t know better, they’d think their “Daddy owned the place!” Oh wait…He does!

Sold at a bargain price of 2 for a penny (farthing), sparrows were used in ceremonial cleansing of lepers; one was killed, the other set free. It may have been arbitrary to men which was killed, or set free, but not so with God. He took discriminate interest in both.

Our finite thinking dictates, the sheer magnitude of God’s responsibility, the survival and existence of the entire universe, interferes with His ability to account for one single human life; let alone the number of hairs on our head, or the life of an insignificant sparrow…NOT SO! Omniscient, God has the capacity to infinitely know everything that can be known about everything!

You are the hallmark of God’s creation, the apple of His eye, made in HIS likeness and image. Robed in flesh, God Himself became the ransom for your soul. Considering the ultimate price He paid to redeem you, your worth to God is immeasurable!

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“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute.  One Minute Spiritual Sermonettes and Sermon Ideas  for Busy Christians, Pastors, Teachers, and Bible Students!  Visit our ABOUT PAGE  for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you.  Rev. RD Mangold


Memorial Day 2011 – Our Unsung Heroes

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isa. 53:3-5)

Sadly, soldiers aren’t ever adequately paid for what they’ve done. Their sacrifice seldom, if ever properly recognized. The soldier is often the “unsung hero” of every freedom and liberty we so often take for granted. Soldiers, we may never know the price you’ve paid, and the sacrifices you’ve made, but if anyone can relate to a sacrifice unappreciated…Christ can!

As soldiers, you too can appreciate just a little of what Christ faced in His day as an unsung hero. Much like our soldiers, Christ’s supporters could easily be found when He was going about doing good for them, but when the guards came to drag Jesus away, His supporters scattered like dust in the wind.

It’s my hope, you don’t allow the work at Calvary, and the sacrifice Christ paid for your redemption to go unnoticed and unappreciated. I hope you’ll no longer scoff or sneer at the idea that a couple thousand years ago, there was a man who paid the ultimate price for an even greater freedom than we enjoy as Americans…That’s the freedom from SIN, and the penalty and punishment that was rightfully ours.

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold