"The Two Mites" -- He Will Turn It Into More Than We Could Ever Imagine

May 13, 2005
 

"The Two Mites"
He Will Turn It Into More Than We Could Ever Imagine
by Nathan Shaw
Heart of David Ministries
www.heartofdavidministries.org

 

Jesus said the harvest will be gathered at the end of the age. During this period more souls will come to know Him as Lord and King than at any other time in history. To bring in this harvest God is going to mature the Church to a condition of such unity of purpose and vision that the world will marvel. What part do widows, divorcees, and the fatherless have to play in this end-time harvest?

"Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.'" Mark 12:41-44 NKJV

"What do I have to offer?" a widow may ask. "A couple of mites. A life of brokenness and pain." Such precious souls have as much if not more to offer than anyone else. God looks for only one type of vessel: the yielded. If we give Him what we have, no matter how little, He will turn it into more than we could ever imagine. What He is able to do through us is described in Ephesians 3:20 as being "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think."

This widow gave everything she had. Despite the fact that it amounted to little in the natural, Jesus said she gave more. How could this be? I believe there are two reasons. First, she gave sacrificially and, second, she gave in faith. By giving out of her need she demonstrated faith in God that acknowledged Him as her source.

Building the Temple Not Made with Hands

This poor widow gave to the Temple treasury. The Temple represented a religious system that had become corrupt and was about to be destroyed. After Jesus' death and resurrection, the Church became the Temple -- God's dwelling place. When you give with faith toward God, you are investing in and helping to build the Temple not made with hands.

The first Temple was built with an enormous amount of sacrifice, always with the vision of providing a dwelling place for God. In this hour God is building a spiritual Temple that will likewise require much sacrifice on our parts along with hearts that are focused and determined to provide Him a dwelling place. Paul comments on this in Ephesians 2:22:

" . . . in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." NKJV

I believe widows and the fatherless are going to be instrumental in building the Temple not made with hands. They are going to be an integral part of the end-time army God is raising up. Many of them will remain unknown on earth, but they will be known in heaven as some of God's most faithful and courageous overcomers. I believe the day will come when the Body of Christ will realize the debt we owe to such as these. There are four ways in particular I see God using these champions of faith:
 

1. Intercession. As we have seen, Anna serves as a shining example here. Having no husband or children, she was able to devote herself unreservedly to prayer and fasting.

It is also interesting that when the Holy Spirit looked for an illustration about tenacity and persistence in prayer, He used the example of a widow. Why is this? Because widows have had to learn to do this just to survive.


2. Giving. Widows and the fatherless, more than most, have been tested in the area of trusting God for provision. They have had to learn to give in faith, believing that God would provide when they had nothing. Their two mites could have more impact from heaven's perspective than someone else's millions.

I believe that during the harvest many widows are going to show uncommon faith toward God in the area of finances and actually end up financing entire missions and teams by their faith. They are going to be a testimony of God's overwhelming resources for those who trust Him. I believe many of these widows are going to teach others how to break through financially and that people are actually going to come to them and inquire concerning this. Jesus and His disciples were supported by women from their own means (see Luke 8:1-3). Elijah was supported by a widow (see 1 Kings 17) and he is also representative of the end-time ministry God is raising up (see Malachi 4:5-6).


3. Teams. God's intention is that the work of ministry be a team effort. The fivefold ministry listed in Ephesians 4 is to work together in teams to equip the Body of Christ for ministry. I believe widows and the fatherless will be integral parts of ministry teams. They will bring a wealth of experience to the teams of which they are a part and will have powerful ministries of restoration. They will be able to relate to a world devastated by the ravages of sin, having the keys and strategies, understanding and wisdom to help them. In a world where increasing darkness and turmoil will exist, these champions will shine as beacons of hope to multitudes of helpless souls. They will also play an integral part in teaching the rest of the Body of Christ to minister in like manner.


4. Children. For some, the most important ministry they will have is the raising of children who will play an integral part in God's end-time army. Although many widows may not be known for anything else, they will reap eternal reward through their children.

The New Generation

Finally, let me give the following exhortations to widows who are alone, widows who have children at home, and to the fatherless.

Dear widow, if your children have left home or you do not have any children, do not let the enemy lie to you and make you feel like you no longer have a significant contribution to make with the rest of your life.

Your prayers for the next generation can have a huge impact on their destiny. You can achieve this by praying for children and their parents. Your role as a grandma for your own grandchildren or for other children can help provide security and identity for a largely fatherless generation.

Titus 2:3-5 exhorts older women to be godly role models to younger women. Being critical of the next generation is not helpful (see I Timothy 5:13). A role model is someone who can be looked to or followed because of her positive influence.


Wisdom to Raise Champions

Dear widow, the children you are raising are destined to be the champions of tomorrow. You may say, "I'm not qualified to raise champions." Who is? Do not let failure or inadequacy stop you from asking for God's wisdom to raise and prepare your children for their God-given destiny.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 NKJV

God wants you to see your children's spiritual inheritance and destiny. You may know your natural children in the flesh, but ask Him to show you who they are in the Spirit and how you can best nurture and train them.

For some, this avenue of help and wisdom seems blocked off because they are overwhelmed with guilt at the wrongs they have done. We have all made mistakes. Plenty of them.

"For we all stumble in many things." James 3:2 NKJV

Don't let condemnation prevent you from seeking the help you need now. You cannot change the past but you can change the future. Your worth does not come from your parenting. Your worth comes from being a child of God, wonderfully and fearfully made. God loves you; to Him you are beautiful. The Bible says He loved you while you were a sinner; how much more now that you are one of His own children!

It is really tough parenting alone. That is reality. But remember, God plus one is a majority. God will use your struggles to inspire faith in your children. You can be a testimony to them by succeeding against overwhelming odds. Instead of being victims, they can become champions who have a testimony imprinted on their hearts from a mother who chose to have courage even when she felt like the least courageous of all.

Widow, you have a lot to offer. Do not let the enemy rob you. His plan is to render you ineffective through condemnation.

A Significant Role

If you are part of this fatherless generation God wants you to see yourself through His eyes. The struggles you have had to go through are possibly greater than those of any previous generation. It is obvious that Satan has tried to destroy you through abortion, rejection, and family breakdown before you even got a chance. The biggest lie he has sowed into the minds of your generation is that you have no purpose or destiny. He has tried to preoccupy your minds and wear you down with the struggle of twenty-first-century living -- a struggle that involves above all else a quest for significance.

Champions come out of the midst of difficult circumstances and situations. Satan's biggest fear is that this fatherless generation will see the awesome call of God on their lives and rise up with vengeance to destroy his works and deceptions. Like the widow with only two small coins, what you have may seem small, but it is significant -- very significant. Because of what you have missed out on you will be entrusted to carry revelations of the Father.

The reason God is able to do this is because He knows you will treasure and esteem these revelations above all else. You play a vital part in His end-time strategy and are called to reveal to the world that God is "a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows" (Psalm 68:5 NKJV).

Surely you will be able to say with David, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me" (Psalm 27:10 NKJV).


by Nathan Shaw
Heart of David Ministries
www.heartofdavidministries.org

Excerpt from the book Unto the Least of These, chapter 17, "The Two Mites" by Nathan Shaw. See below for more information.
 

Nathan Shaw, Heart of David Ministries: The initial thrust of Heart of David Ministries has been to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Nathan first went to Vanuatu in 1994, working with Raynold Bori who leads Every Home for Christ Vanuatu. He has returned many times since then and has seen foundations laid and considerable fruit from the ministry. He has also gained valuable insights, understanding and experience as the Lord has opened doors for ministry and relationships with people and pastors. In Solomon Islands his main ministry has been speaking at regional Churches and leaders conferences. In 2003 he went to Uganda at the invitation of Miracle Crusade Ministries. In Uganda he held revival meetings and taught on living beyond poverty and lack. He spoke at both open air crusades and in churches. There were many salvations, healings and deliverances.

Heart of David Ministries aims to reach a generation of people by calling forth and equipping key people who will take their nation for Jesus.

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