Don’t Despise Small Beginnings

Welcome to the first week of January and the first snowfall of the new year! We had communion yesterday which brings to mind Psalm 51:7 ….wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. How amazing is the precious blood of Jesus!

Pastor Nathan’s message this week was entitled “Don’t Despise Small Beginnings – God Is Rebuilding His Church. Some years ago, Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin prophesied that in the last days that revival would not break out in the coliseums or the stadiums, but the glory of God would come back into the local church. As we enter a new season, God is calling us to be more faithful than ever. We cannot put off into the future what God has called us to do; we must start where we are. God has called us to be His temple as well as laborers in the great end-time harvest.

In Zechariah 4:6-10 we see a man named Zerubbabel who was appointed governor of Judah. Through the prophetic authority of Zechariah, God called Zerubbabel to rebuild His temple. “Then he said to me, this is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it! Then another message came to me from the Lord: Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

God’s Word to His people was to not despise these small beginnings of building the foundation of His House. Despise means to hold in contempt or scorn. While their enemies mocked their efforts, many Jews underestimated its possibility. God’s Word through His prophets is a call of faith to do what seems hopeless or insignificant to the human eye. God was doing a new thing, by raising up a leadership through Zerubbabel. “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. Luke 1:37 AMPC.

Pastor Nathan reminded us that a church cannot be built without a proper foundation. It is the most important part of any building. You don’t have much if the enemy can come in and knock it all down. When foundation is in place, then you are ready to go out and get the harvest. God has called us to reach the lost and we must be ready for the people God will send, for God loves all people. He encouraged us to prepare for the need ahead of time. When the foundation is laid, God will prove Himself faithful. Even Jesus started from a humble beginning, but we cannot allow ourselves to believe we will remain small. If we do so, there will be no faith to do greater things for the Kingdom of God. When you are called to build, it doesn’t matter how small you are, just get it started. The LORD’s eyes and favor are on the work! He rejoices to see it begin, progress and be completed. God delights in those who will, by faith, build His House even when the assignment looks meaningless. When God’s people will obey His Word and flow with His Spirit, not even a mighty mountain can stand in our way and God will bless it! Walking by faith requires trust. God does not tell us everything. He gives us a step to take, and when we obey, we will find that all things are possible with God!

God declares that our future will increase and there will be greater glory! “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” Job 8:7. “The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” Haggai 2:9 (NLT)

What a great message! I look forward to seeing where God will take us in 2025!