Small Ain't so Small

There was a new pastor in a small town. He decided it was a good idea to make a home visit to everyone in his church.

All went well until he knocked on the Jones’s door. It was obvious that someone was home, but no one came to the door.

Finally he took out his card and wrote on the back, “Revelation 3:20, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,’ ” and stuck it in the door.

On Sunday his card found its way into the offering plate. Below his message was the notation, “Genesis 3:10, ‘And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ ”

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This weekend I had the privilege of attending the AG Kansas District Council. I was a blessing to attend. There was great preaching, teaching, fellowship with other Pastors, and a wonderful time of worship.

The message I want to bring to you today is rooted in a portion of scripture that the District Superintendent of Kansas, Terry Yancey, has been talking about for many months, and preached about in the last session of the conference. It is a scripture that’s been on my mind for a while and I believe it speaks to the dream I want to propose for the remaining portion of this year and even beyond.

Before I read the scripture, I want to give you some context to the book of Zechariah.

The setting of this book in the history of the Jews was a difficult time. It was written after the Jews has returned to Jerusalem to reestablish their city and their temple. They had laid foundation stones for the temple, but after about 5 years the people were discouraged because it seemed as though the temple they were building would never measure up to the temple built by Solomon.

They didn’t have the same material, money, or workers that the builders of the first temple had and they were discouraged. God raised up two prophets named Zechariah and Haggai to get people working again to rebuild the temple.

We are going to focus in on one little part of the story. It’s a small part, but I believe it’s a big part! It can help us understand God’s will for this church and for our individual lives.

In chapter 4 in the book of Zechariah he was given a vision that had a message for the governor of the Jewish people, Zerubbabel. (I’ve always loved that name! Probably the coolest name in the Bible.) That message to him was that God wanted him to continue the work of building the temple. God promised to help him, and that even if people said it was impossible, God was going to prove them wrong.

Let’s read the scripture together:

Zechariah 4:6–10 CEV

6 So the angel explained that it was the following message of the Lord to Zerubbabel: I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. 7 Zerubbabel, that mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground. Then you will bring out the temple’s most important stone and shout, “God has been very kind.” 8 The Lord spoke to me again and said: 9 Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the temple, and he will complete it. Then everyone will know that you were sent by me, the Lord All-Powerful. 10 Those who have made fun of this day of small beginnings will celebrate when they see Zerubbabel holding this important stone. Those seven lamps represent my eyes—the eyes of the Lord—and they see everything on this earth.

Small Strength

What can I do for the Lord?

Church bus ministry

We can work really hard in our own strength, but the supernatural happens when we rely on God’s strength.

How can we operate in God’s strength? BY His Spirit.

Jesus himself was powered by the Spirit

Luke 4:1 CEV

1 When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert.

We have been given the spirit when we are saved!

2 Timothy 1:7 CEV

7 God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.

You might feel small, but that’s just the enemy lying to you to get you to stop dreaming big!

Our church might seem small, but we have the Power of God at our backs.

Like the people who have gone before us, we have a responsibility to dream.

Our vision for the future has three parts.

Local - Global - Future

We might seem small but God can use us to affect Eudora, the World, and future generations.

Just like in Zechariahs day, I believe the Lord is saying to us, not to rely on our strength, but on the Spirit of God.

Small Mountain

There are always going to be obstacles in life. Each one of us have different mountains.

Jesus told us how to move mountains. FAITH!

Matthew 17:20 CEV

20 Jesus replied: It is because you don’t have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.

Tell the story of moving to Eudora. Selling everything. Packing up. Living in KC. Mountain of disappointment. God finally brought us here.

Why does God allow mountains in our lives?

You know what I think? I think it’s because we are mountain climbers. And the more we practice, the easier it gets to believe in the impossible.

Mountains get real small when you know that God is great than any obstacle in your life.

Zechariah 4:7 CEV

7 Zerubbabel, that mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground. Then you will bring out the temple’s most important stone and shout, “God has been very kind.”

Our church has a mountain that we need to see leveled to the ground.

I want to reach the children of this town. I want to defeat the mountain of unbelief in God. I want to pursue the people who don’t feel loved. I want this to be a place where mountains are leveled to the ground in people’s life!

BUT we have to rise up and build. We have to believe that God is able to move the mountains that we see with our sight.

Small Beginnings

Is anyone in this room pregnant?

The miracle of life is amazing. God’s plan is to start us out so small that it’s impossible to see with the eye. We’d need a microscope to see the beginning of life.

People mock what they can’t see in US!

There are things that God has in your future that you can’t imagine. You’re pregnant with miracles that will never be born until you start walking in faith.

One miracle can change everything story.

We need to trust the Lord to do what He can do in our lives.

I was called to be a Pastor with I was 14 years old. It didn’t happen how I thought. People thought I was crazy. But my Pastor believed in me. He didn’t laugh. It changed my life.

Zechariah 4:10 (CEV)

10 Those who have made fun of this day of small beginnings will celebrate when they see Zerubbabel holding this important stone.

Right now, you are at your small beginning. Every single day is a new day of small beginnings because God wants to take you beyond your current circumstances.

What are you dreaming for in your life?

It all starts with a heart that is surrendered to the Lord.

Romans 12:2 CEV

2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

We have to start focusing on Him in our lives.

God has a plan for your life, but He has a plan for this church too.

My prayer is that you would pray for direction as to how you are supposed to be involved with this Impact dream for our town.

Small ain’t so Small. You can do big things for the Lord. Life is more than what we see in the natural.

Matthew 6:19–21 CEV

19 Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. 20 Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

The heart is at the core of all our motives. Let’s examine our hearts today.