OPEN YOUR EYES!

From Flickering Lamps by Henry Blackaby:

OPEN YOUR EYES! 

Paul prayed for the church at Ephesus that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know … what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength … And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as Head over everything for the church, which is His body …” (Eph. 1:18-19, 22). The problem is not that small churches have few resources. The issue is that many churches fail to recognize the enormous power that is readily at their disposal. If churches would open their spiritual eyes to see the immensity of God’s power that is fully available to them, we would experience revival in our day. 

Our church had spent too many years focusing on what it could or couldn’t do. I taught our people to watch for God’s powerful working in our midst. Whenever we recognized God at work, we would join Him. (pp. 76-77, Kindle version)

Last night gave me a classic example of this. 

Mark and Cherry Brumbelow shared how God had stirred their hearts in a small country church—Grace Baptist—in Wild Peach, Texas. 23 members, mostly senior adults, with no big money givers sensed that God was leading them to pack 500 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. It had been a challenge for them to pack 43 the previous year, along with the money it took to ship them. This would require a miracle—and God came through as they did 532!

The church has not seen mission support drop in other areas, and they have seen the tiny flock grow to around 55 in attendance—not a megachurch, but having a mega-impact! Last year they surpassed 100,000 shoeboxes, and now have their sights set on 119,000!

It is not about making a child happy with Christmas toys—though that happens. It is not for giving some basic provision to a family, though they do. It is about sharing the Gospel. Operation Christmas Child estimates around 10 people are impacted by every shoebox. If 1/4th of those respond to the Gospel, then this small flock in rural Texas has been responsible for around ONE MILLION souls coming to Christ!

Humanly, that is impossible—BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!  Let us seek His direction and then trust His provision. Who knows what might happen in Bethel, Cruso, Dutch Cove, or some other location that people outside of Haywood County have never heard of before!

Will we stop looking back at our traditions, stop looking around at our imitations, and look up for God’s direction?  I am praying the Lord to give us an audacious faith!  Seek the Lord. Listen to His voice. Do not come up with your plan and ask God to bless it, for He is not obligated to do so. Find out what His plan is and as you pray and respond with faith and obedience, He will bless and accomplish His will!