Mosaic Baptist Church
All Rights Reserved 2020
All Rights Reserved 2020
Resources | Studies | Insects of the Bible
The Locust (Exceeding Wise)
Proverbs 30:24-27
Raleigh L. Campbell
Introduction
1.The locust and grasshopper are the most mentioned insects in the Scriptures.
2. The locust is also the most dreaded, because they migrate in vast swarms settling on grain fields or other cultivated areas and devouring everything before them.
3. There are still locust plagues in the world today. They can strip large areas in just minutes.
4. Though dreaded and feared the locust still has some characteristics of nature that make it a wise little fellow. Let us consider these.
I. Wherein are the locust wise?
1. You can catch a single locust and he is a harmless little creature. One single, little locust offers no threat or danger to your lawn, garden or fields. So its wisdom is not in being a locust.
2. It is when the small creatures band together that fear of them goes out to all who are in their pathway. They become devastating!
3. Their wisdom lies in their banding together and going forth to a single purpose.
4. They do this with no king to muster them together. It is completely a voluntary act, but oh so wise, for they are so feared when they band together and go forth. They accomplish so much when they band together.
II. Wherein do the locust interest us?
1. There is wisdom in unity.
A. Some folk count unity as simply overlooking or forgetting differences. Now it is wise to forget and forgive but unity is far more than this. It is more than harmonious existence!
B. Unity means we are bound, cemented together, to the accomplishment of a given purpose.
(1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 1:27; 1Peter 3:8)
C. There is wisdom in unity because there is strength in unity.
Illustration: Remember the story of the father asking his sons to break a bundle of sticks. All fail but one. He broke the bundle stick by stick.
Illustration: There is strength of prayer when many come together for prayer as when Peter was imprisoned (Acts 12:5). See also Matthew 18:19.
Illustration: Strength in missions when several gave to Paul for his personal support.
Illustration: Strength in church unity as many were saved. (Acts 5:12-14)
Illustration: Strength of souls being won as they went everywhere preaching gospel. (Acts 8:1-3; Mark 2:3)
D. Unity encourages to overcome weakness and gives courage for conflict. (1 Samuel 14:6-7)
E. Unity gives strength to carry through great tasks. (Nehemiah 4:16-17)
F. For this reason Jesus prayed we be one! (John 17:21)
2. Wisdom in volunteering. “yet having no king.” No one to make them go forth.
A. God made man with the power of choice. There are many things that influence our choices such as the necessity of life influences us to be in our job, the law enforcement of state influences us to be law-abiding citizens in small matters.
B. But there are some areas the decision is left entirely up to us, and our service for the Lord is one of them.
C. We are commanded but not compelled. We are persuaded but not forced. We are expected but not pulled into the Lord’s work. It is entirely our decision.
D. But God's cause in any area will succeed only to the degree we volunteer. No more souls will be saved than we put ourselves out to win. No more people will attend than volunteer to come. No more truth will be accepted than we voluntarily accept. This is true of the whole picture of Christ's service.
E. It will succeed or fail to the extent that having no king or no one to make us, we go forth on our own. (Note Jesus’ words to disciples Matthew 20:25-28.)
III. We see a powerful drive or incentive built in the locust.
A. We have many natural drives such as self-preservation, adventure, etc.
B. When God saved your soul He did a lot of things for you. You were given some spiritual drives. Salvation is a package plan.
C. These incentives are built right into the plan of salvation. We now have desires and capacities we at one time did not possess. (Hebrew 6:9-12) Look at the Hebrew Christians (Hebrews 5:11-14).
** The great danger lies in our quenching or stifling these desires by fears, by loving the world, by refusal to yield to the Lord's authority and refusal of truth.
D. It is this incentive that sent out every saint until it was said of them, “They turn the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6) It moved the church in Thessalonica to send mission money and spread the faith.
It moved house of Stephanas to be home missionaries in hospitality and service. (1 Corinthians 16:15-17) It moved Aquila and Priscilla to never grow cold but always have high regard for the church of the Lord.
E. This incentive or spiritual drive is built right in us.
IV. The locust go forth in bands. When they go forth they are a dreaded thing for their destruction.
A. When God's people go forth in bands, all are moving to the same objective and things happen!
B. The impact of the early church was because they knew they were called to witness and they went forth with a witness.
We can learn from locusts.
Added page: Team player or participation
1. Practice, practice, practice so you can always perform with excellence.
2. Support your other team members. It takes all exerting their various responsibilities to cause a team to win.
3. Be humble in spirit, especially in your success.
4. Be helpful and supportive of other team members.
Visit Mosaic's Blog to Join the Conversation!
Be Social and Share!
Proverbs 30:24-27
Raleigh L. Campbell
Introduction
1.The locust and grasshopper are the most mentioned insects in the Scriptures.
2. The locust is also the most dreaded, because they migrate in vast swarms settling on grain fields or other cultivated areas and devouring everything before them.
3. There are still locust plagues in the world today. They can strip large areas in just minutes.
4. Though dreaded and feared the locust still has some characteristics of nature that make it a wise little fellow. Let us consider these.
I. Wherein are the locust wise?
1. You can catch a single locust and he is a harmless little creature. One single, little locust offers no threat or danger to your lawn, garden or fields. So its wisdom is not in being a locust.
2. It is when the small creatures band together that fear of them goes out to all who are in their pathway. They become devastating!
3. Their wisdom lies in their banding together and going forth to a single purpose.
4. They do this with no king to muster them together. It is completely a voluntary act, but oh so wise, for they are so feared when they band together and go forth. They accomplish so much when they band together.
II. Wherein do the locust interest us?
1. There is wisdom in unity.
A. Some folk count unity as simply overlooking or forgetting differences. Now it is wise to forget and forgive but unity is far more than this. It is more than harmonious existence!
B. Unity means we are bound, cemented together, to the accomplishment of a given purpose.
(1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 1:27; 1Peter 3:8)
C. There is wisdom in unity because there is strength in unity.
Illustration: Remember the story of the father asking his sons to break a bundle of sticks. All fail but one. He broke the bundle stick by stick.
Illustration: There is strength of prayer when many come together for prayer as when Peter was imprisoned (Acts 12:5). See also Matthew 18:19.
Illustration: Strength in missions when several gave to Paul for his personal support.
Illustration: Strength in church unity as many were saved. (Acts 5:12-14)
Illustration: Strength of souls being won as they went everywhere preaching gospel. (Acts 8:1-3; Mark 2:3)
D. Unity encourages to overcome weakness and gives courage for conflict. (1 Samuel 14:6-7)
E. Unity gives strength to carry through great tasks. (Nehemiah 4:16-17)
F. For this reason Jesus prayed we be one! (John 17:21)
2. Wisdom in volunteering. “yet having no king.” No one to make them go forth.
A. God made man with the power of choice. There are many things that influence our choices such as the necessity of life influences us to be in our job, the law enforcement of state influences us to be law-abiding citizens in small matters.
B. But there are some areas the decision is left entirely up to us, and our service for the Lord is one of them.
C. We are commanded but not compelled. We are persuaded but not forced. We are expected but not pulled into the Lord’s work. It is entirely our decision.
D. But God's cause in any area will succeed only to the degree we volunteer. No more souls will be saved than we put ourselves out to win. No more people will attend than volunteer to come. No more truth will be accepted than we voluntarily accept. This is true of the whole picture of Christ's service.
E. It will succeed or fail to the extent that having no king or no one to make us, we go forth on our own. (Note Jesus’ words to disciples Matthew 20:25-28.)
III. We see a powerful drive or incentive built in the locust.
A. We have many natural drives such as self-preservation, adventure, etc.
B. When God saved your soul He did a lot of things for you. You were given some spiritual drives. Salvation is a package plan.
C. These incentives are built right into the plan of salvation. We now have desires and capacities we at one time did not possess. (Hebrew 6:9-12) Look at the Hebrew Christians (Hebrews 5:11-14).
** The great danger lies in our quenching or stifling these desires by fears, by loving the world, by refusal to yield to the Lord's authority and refusal of truth.
D. It is this incentive that sent out every saint until it was said of them, “They turn the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6) It moved the church in Thessalonica to send mission money and spread the faith.
It moved house of Stephanas to be home missionaries in hospitality and service. (1 Corinthians 16:15-17) It moved Aquila and Priscilla to never grow cold but always have high regard for the church of the Lord.
E. This incentive or spiritual drive is built right in us.
IV. The locust go forth in bands. When they go forth they are a dreaded thing for their destruction.
A. When God's people go forth in bands, all are moving to the same objective and things happen!
B. The impact of the early church was because they knew they were called to witness and they went forth with a witness.
We can learn from locusts.
Added page: Team player or participation
1. Practice, practice, practice so you can always perform with excellence.
2. Support your other team members. It takes all exerting their various responsibilities to cause a team to win.
3. Be humble in spirit, especially in your success.
4. Be helpful and supportive of other team members.
Visit Mosaic's Blog to Join the Conversation!
Be Social and Share!
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