It Only Takes A Little

I think it’s happened to all of us; we lay down intending to take a short nap, but we end up sleeping for hours. It only takes a little slumber for it to turn into a long sleep.

1. IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE SIN (I Corinthians 5:1-6)

Illustration: a student at a college who was allergic to peanut oil decided to eat a candy bar that had nuts in it. He didn't think it would affect him much. "I can handle it," he thought. But his allergic reaction was off the charts, and within a few short hours, he was dead.

Achan: stole a little (Babylonian garment, 200 shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold)

Samson: broke the rules a little here and there

Ananias and Saphirah: told a little lie

David: took a little look at Bathsheba

If you give the devil an inch, he’ll take a mile. If you give him a foothold, he’ll step into your life and make himself at home.

So what do you do? You’ve let a little sin into your life, what do you do now?

Pro. 28:13-- “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

II Tim. 2:22-- “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Jam. 4:7-- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Rom. 13:14-- “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Don’t let a little sin into your life. If you feed it and nurture it, it will grow to become an unstoppable monster that will rule your life.

2. IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE FAITH (Luke 17:5-6)

Faith is the most important ingredient in the Christian life. Faith is required for salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8) Faith is required in order to maintain the right walk. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

(II Cor. 5:7) Faith is required just to please God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6) How important is faith? Anything done apart from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23)!

The Christian life is like a roller coaster; it is full of its ups and downs. Every now and then there will be a straight path, a time of peace; but then the ride jerks you down and sideways again. My friend, the Christian life is not boring! If you go through life depending on yourself or anything else besides God, you will be let down; the ride will become painful instead of enjoyable. You cannot depend on your emotions; you cannot depend on your friends; you cannot depend on sheer luck; you must learn to depend on God! God is not up and down, He is a sure rock. “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.” (Psa. 62:2)

How much faith do you need to please God? Just a little. How much faith do you need to move a mountain? Just a little. How much faith do you need to make it through that trial? Just a little. Is it there? Do you have that faith? How difficult it is sometimes just to put a little bit of faith in God.

The disciples had this petition: Increase our faith. Christian, has your faith increased in the last year? If not, why? You only need a little faith, but God forbid that our faith should stay little.

It doesn’t take much faith to sit in the seat you’re sitting in. I wonder, do you have more faith in the seat you’re sitting in than you have in God? If you can’t trust God, you can’t trust anyone.

3. IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE SERVICE (Luke 9:12-17)

God has called us simply to distribute our talents; He will do the miracle. He can take a little and make it go a long way. If you are a member of this church, and you’re not involved in at least one ministry, I don’t think you’re right with God. God saved you to serve!

Eph. 2:10-- “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them.”

Faith without works is dead (James 2:20)

Phil. 2:12-- “...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Notice these key aspects of serving that you cannot ignore: