Fear Not, Little Flock

Luke 12:31-32; Revelation 3:7-13

What kind of congregation will Golden Springs be in 40 years? Heard a brother ask this of the congregation he is a part of, and it isn’t a bad question for this time.

It will be one of these 5 things:

A large faithful congregation

A large unfaithful congregation

A small unfaithful congregation

A small faithful congregation

Might not be here at all!

Consider some positive, optimistic examples for our benefit. We need to concern ourselves for the future of the work here.

It Pleases God to give us the Kingdom. Luke 12:1-48

12:1-12 - You are of more value than many sparrows.

12:13-21 - Our Priority is to lay up treasure in heaven, to be rich toward God.

12:22-34 - Do not get wrapped up in minor concerns; the true need is to seek the kingdom.

12:35-44 - Wait for the Master’s return with all readiness. Stay busy in the work!

12:45-48 - There is no excuse for lack of preparation.

Small churches of the Past were Given an Open Door. Rev 3:7-13

Why does Jesus open the door?

“for”... Means BECAUSE. Amazing that Jesus opens a door of opportunity for them.

He opens this door because:

They have a little power/strength - A small congregation with little resources.

Have kept His word - They have followed His commands as a group and as individuals. They did not let these things slip because they were a small group (v.10).

Have not denied His name - They have proudly confessed Him to the world around them. Still a challenge today!

NOTE: Just being small did not give them an open door. They had to be FAITHFUL.

God can do wonders with small things.

Yoda - “size matters not... Only difference in your mind.”

1 Corinthians 1:25-31 - God tempers the Christian’s individual ambition to His own will. We don’t have to be “important” in the eyes of man to succeed.

1 Corinthians 1:25–31 NKJV

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

God allowed David to fell a giant with only one stone (1 Sam. 17:49 ).

1 Samuel 17:49 NKJV

Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

Luke 13:18–19 NKJV

Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

What could God do with this congregation in this area, if we stopped doubting our effectiveness and embraced His work?

“Because you have kept My command to persevere...”

Faithful service to God CAN protect and shield us from the tribulations of the world.

Implied that this church is under Jewish persecution (v.9).

Jesus promises that their persecutors will be made to worship at their feet.

Literal or figurative, we are reminded of the vision that Joseph had.

Genesis 37:5-11 - Joseph started as a disliked and unappreciated brother. How did he rise to prominence in Egypt after being sold into slavery?

Genesis 37:5–11 NKJV

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Genesis 39:2-3, 9, 20-23 - Joseph was faithful to God, even when no one else was looking. He didn’t resist Potiphar’s wife for Potiphar’s sake, but for God.

Genesis 39:2–3 NKJV

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.

Genesis 39:9 NKJV

There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Genesis 39:20–23 NKJV

Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

Even though Joseph faced troubles all through his life, he was faithful to God. We can be the same way, and benefit as richly as he did.

We must “hold fast” what we have.

The threat implied is that someone might come along and take our crown.

The common possibility for ALL these churches: their candlestick might be taken away.

This church HAS a crown, but if they do not hold fast, it can be taken.

James 1:12 NKJV

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

The Successes at Antioch - Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3

Founded by refugee disciples who were scattered abroad after the stoning of Stephen.

Thus, born out of “worldly failure” / spiritual success

These disciples united themselves to accomplish the work.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Can we agree to be more unified in faith and practice this year?

Jesus was preached in the city of Antioch.

Those who had never known the gospel received it.

There is a great need for teachers today!

Hebrews 5:12 NKJV

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Can we agree to work harder at teaching each other, our children, and outsiders this year?

The Lord’s hand prospered them.

Common key here - we will not be prospered unless the Lord does so with us. Ps 127:1

Psalm 127:1 NKJV

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

We must allow God to prosper us by not getting in His way. Mark 9:42

Mark 9:42 NKJV

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

We must encourage that growth within in order to see growth without.

Antioch cared about more than their own congregation. They concerned themselves with evangelism elsewhere.

It STARTS with our own internal growth. How are you doing on yours? I have a long way to go!

Can we agree to help each other grow this year?

Benefits of a Small Congregation of Saints

Easier to know everyone 3 Jn 14

3 John 14 NKJV

but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Face to face interaction was important! And it is still important today.

It is hard sometimes to greet everyone, but I see so many good examples here of a strong effort to do just that. It’s impressive and encouraging. It helps me to follow these good examples!

This would be a much harder challenge if we had even 160 steady members.

Stronger sense of family 1 Tim 5:1-2

1 Timothy 5:1–2 NKJV

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

It should be easier to care for one another here. To exhort, to encourage each other.

There shouldn’t be any reason to avoid each other. Like a physical family, we are all we have!

Consider how “lonely” we are in this county. The thought should not depress us, but should bring us closer together, to spend more time and effort to be close.

We are not just a congregation of church members, but a family of believers!

More inter-generational ties Mk 10:28-30

Mark 10:28–30 NKJV

Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

Think if your family legacy in this congregation. I do not mean blood kin here, but rather - what will your effect on the work be here, in the grand scheme of things. If you stopped going today, would anyone know you went here 40 years from now?

We have received so much from God. It only makes sense to put in the effort to be a stable family member here.

More opportunities to serve Gal 5:13

Galatians 5:13 NKJV

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

In larger congregations, they have “small groups” or “committees” to coordinate cards, flowers, benevolence, etc. They do this because it’s harder to accomplish when you have 100+ members.

Can even get crazy (a committee to organize the committees - Dad)

With such a small number, it should be easy to coordinate assistance, check on people, etc.

It doesn’t really take a lot of organization for this group. Just love and affection.

Greater tolerance towards one’s efforts 1 Tim 4:12

1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

In a large congregation, there may be more pressure to be more “professional” in appearance.

Some congregations go so far as to encourage some brethren not to lead singing, etc. if they are not particularly skilled.

This could lend itself to discouragement!

With a small group, it is “all hands on deck!” Everyone that can be used will be used.

The only question is each member’s willingness to work.

In such a scenario, we overlook our missteps and “unprofessional” aspects. We can be thankful for every person here. If they weren’t here, we would feel it!

More likely to be missed 1 Thess 5:14

1 Thessalonians 5:14 NKJV

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

We should be able to more easily notice the absence of a member.

When my Dad started working at Helton Drive in Florence, there were around 250 members. It was bizarre for a kid who grew up in congregations that were never much more than 60-70 in number.

As a small congregation, we should be noticing when someone isn’t here.

This is why it’s such a benefit to have members record attendance. We should be monitoring these records and encouraging those who are not consistently making it here.

They may be UNRULY, FAINTHEARTED, or WEAK. Let us be patient with ALL.

More likely to grow 2 Tim 2:2

2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

The Gospel spreads the best not with major events, but with the still small voice of the Scriptures.

1 Kings 19 - God was not in the wind, earthquake, or the fire; but in the still, small voice.

We may have times of large victory.

We may arrange events where we have gospel preaching, singing, bible studies, etc. There may be “big” victories that sometimes happen.

But the real victories, the spiritually BIG ones are the ones that happen on dinner tables with Bibles open and 2 or 3 people.

We must commit the Apostle’s Doctrine to each other; be faithful disciples who will be able to teach others also.