Excerpts from sermon… “The 1%”
In my hometown of Springfield I lived just off of Franconia Road, which is also called Old Keene Mill Road. I don’t know if this is true but numerous people told me that at a time, although this road is only a few miles long, it was in the Guinness Book of World Records for most churches on a road. It is ridiculous how many churches there are. You can be standing in one church and a church would be right across from it, then a school beside it in where a church would also meet, and you could look down the road and see another. Churches are everywhere! Every denomination is represented and many multi-cultural churches as well.
So you would think this road would be blessed, right? So many Christians! So many Christian events and clubs. On this road are also two high schools, including the one I attended. Sadly, both of these schools were and still are filled with drug use, pre-marital sex, fights, and complete worldliness. The shopping mall on this road became so well known for rebellious teenage kids, gang fights and even murders that they are closing it down. I don’t get it. Where is the revival? All these churches. All these Christians. But the community is rotting. There is barely any good fruit to be found. What is wrong???
Let me explain. If you were to visit my children’s home you would find that a lot of my kids are particularly short and skinny. For a lot of them their growth is stunted. Because of the trauma from their past and because of lack of love in their lives a lot of them have little appetite. Don’t get me wrong, they do eat. But they don’t eat like they should. They eat the minimum and prefer to just snack. Skipping a meal is not a problem.
Sadly, my kids are a representation of the church today. The church overall is thin and stunted. Most churches have prayer, the Word, and fellowship in some measure, but there is a lack of depth. There is a lack of appetite for the Lord. The prayer is limited. The Word is skimmed over. The fellowship is fun, but skin deep.
2Chronicles 16:9 – The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Its no wonder why so many churches are barely getting by, because sadly there are few hearts that are fully committed.
And I must be honest, while directing the orphanage ministry Jerusalem Ministry here in Seoul, there are times I get discouraged by the lack of numbers. We hold monthly prayer meetings but only so many people attend faithfully. But God continues to encourage me. The Lord reminds me of Gideon’s army. His army started with 32,000 men, but God whittled the number down to 300. Less than 1% of the original army. The Lord didn’t need numbers. He only needed a few faithful.
And the same is true today. God doesn’t need a million churches on one road for revival in that community. He just needs one church striving after him in prayer, wanting to sincerely know him through the Word, and being honest, open, and accountable in fellowship. He just needs a few people who are sincerely seeking Him, especially when they are alone and no one is watching. God can take just a few and conquer nations.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Merry Christmas!
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