Yesterday we worshipped with a total of just 19 people, including two children. Not very impressive when we usually worship with 175 or so. Not very impressive when we have attended a church service with 4, 000 and others yesterday met with perhaps 10,000 people or more.
Numbers are important to God. I've argued that many times from the book of Acts. God does want thousands to come to faith, not simple dozens. He is pleased when His church reaches many, not just a few at least that is what I read as Acts records the growth of the early church.
Yet on the other hand, God does not always act in large, impressive ways. We don't always find God where things are most impressive in human eyes. Sometimes God's Spirit is doing His work where people hardly notice. So God indicates through His prophet Zechariah as his people begin rebuilding the temple. It was not nearly as impressive as the temple King Solomon built. So God reminds them, lest they get discouraged.
"‘Not by might nor by power,but by my Spirit,’says the LordAlmighty."
“Who dares despise the day of small things," Zechariah 4:6 and 10
So Jan and I rejoiced to worship at the very first service of The Well, a new International Church started in Ho Chi Minh City with legal, official status. How wonderful to see this answer to hopes and prayers of many years. It is the congregation we had hoped to start 18 months ago. Now it is a reality. Small, yes. However faithful Christians are committed to growing this church. Only God knows what He has in mind. Only He knows how He will use this small beginning for His glory. Where His Spirit is at work, power and might don't matter.
Numbers are important to God. I've argued that many times from the book of Acts. God does want thousands to come to faith, not simple dozens. He is pleased when His church reaches many, not just a few at least that is what I read as Acts records the growth of the early church.
Yet on the other hand, God does not always act in large, impressive ways. We don't always find God where things are most impressive in human eyes. Sometimes God's Spirit is doing His work where people hardly notice. So God indicates through His prophet Zechariah as his people begin rebuilding the temple. It was not nearly as impressive as the temple King Solomon built. So God reminds them, lest they get discouraged.
"‘Not by might nor by power,but by my Spirit,’says the LordAlmighty."
“Who dares despise the day of small things," Zechariah 4:6 and 10
So Jan and I rejoiced to worship at the very first service of The Well, a new International Church started in Ho Chi Minh City with legal, official status. How wonderful to see this answer to hopes and prayers of many years. It is the congregation we had hoped to start 18 months ago. Now it is a reality. Small, yes. However faithful Christians are committed to growing this church. Only God knows what He has in mind. Only He knows how He will use this small beginning for His glory. Where His Spirit is at work, power and might don't matter.
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