ITS A TIME TO THINK SMALL - Yes apply the "raindrop principle" in the Kingdom
The ways of the kingdom are opposite to the ways of the world. The world says get a vision, think big, set goals, use techniques to build your kingdom (or church).
As individuals He wants us to act small – but together as a corporate body.
It’s the raindrop principle; an ocean is made up of billions of connected rain drops, so with the kingdom of God – you are like a rain drop so do rain drop stuff, to refresh & bring life to others!
Yes the words above is the essence of one of the thoughts that Garry share about Kingdom living. (I will include Garry's text at the bottom.)
This thought still keeps me busy and the Holy Spirit, constantly reminds me of it, the last few months. If this happens I knew there is more to it, than what meets the eye.
It is the same idea, when Uncle Angus at MMC 08, asked us to "start small", in your family, with your children. Then we read here all the testimonies especially when a grand child phone her Granny and say that "Dad let them read bible every night". Yes a small but important principle, like maintaining the "house prayer altar".
After asking the Lord why He keeps on reminding me about this "raindrop principle", I was reminded about what Jesus did as our master teacher. It is old news that He spend his Ministry "life" discipling "only" 12 men. But at a stage He send out 72 in pairs... and then afterwards He still concentrate on the 12 and NOT on all 72.
That is when I realised Jesus was not in the "number "game. He was in the small "Quality" game, only 12 in the team, to start changing the whole World.
Making a difference in the life of an orphan, a widow and a stranger (refugee) is not that difficult, and actually is quite do-able... One must just renew our minds towards how Jesus did it in His "raindrop".
I am still asking the Lord to confirm this and in a way I am scared and relieved...
Below the original text of Garry.
THOUGHTS ON KINGDOM LIVING
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JESUS PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THEREFORE WE NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY SEEKING TO DISCOVER WHAT THIS MEANS AND HOW WE ARE TO LIVE IT OUT. (Mt.4:23) (Mt.6:33) (Mt.7:7)
1) ITS A TIME TO THINK SMALL
The ways of the kingdom are opposite to the ways of the world. The world says get a vision, think big, set goals, use techniques to build your kingdom (or church).
The way of the kingdom is different; act in small ways, walk in faith, listen to the voice of God, let Him build His Church. Most Christians are so busy thinking big that they have ‘big paralysis’ because they are overwhelmed by the bigness of big church and big ministry. Consequently they actually end up doing very little for the kingdom of God as they become passive & leave everything to the professionals (pastors/clergy). The Lord wants to set us free from this wrong thinking & passivity. As individuals he wants us to act small – a but as a corporate body, to lots of. It’s the raindrop principle; an ocean is made up of billions of connected rain drops, so with the kingdom of God – you are like a rain drop so do rain drop stuff, in Jesus’ name, refresh & bring life to others!
* Love your neighbours as yourself ( Mt.22:37-40),it’s a small thing, we all can do & Jesus’ commanded it.
* The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed and like yeast (Mt.13:31-35) - we start by doing small kingdom focussed (instead of church focussed) stuff and God will spread it supernaturally from person to person.
* Forget the big church mentality and the international or big ministry prophesies, these pander to our self life , the need to be significant and seen, instead love one or two people around you. If every believer obeyed Jesus’ teaching and just loved one or two new people the world would be transformed in weeks.
* Small leads to intimacy, big leads to control & requires professional to make it work.
* Many people shun small, intimate groups because in this kind of church one become emotionally vulnerable and one’s true lifestyle & belief is exposed (1Jn.17). We can no hide in the masses any longer. We really get involved in other people’s lives instead of focussing on our own (self) life.
Re: Raindrop Principle
Hi Johan
It is so great to read what is written here. A few brothers and sisters and myself have felt this for a long time. We are not called to put, as one of our congregation used to frequently say "bums on chairs". Their focus was so frustratingly on this 'principle' that they barely had time to hear the Lord, never mind listen to Him. So many churches are people focussed instead of God focussed and as Gary says above, they pander to our self-life and the need to be significant and be seen, and the resulting tragedy is that there are many immature Christians out there, who never move forward in the Lord and never eat more than Milk because they are never fed more than simply just that. Milk. God wants us to grow in the small things daily. Our cry as a child of God should be to not be the same in Him tomorrow as I am today. We need to grow - not in intellectual things with our heads, but things of the Spirit in the heart because that is where He works. And more often than not, the things of the Spirit are almost undetectable by anyone else. So there is no "show".
Gary is right by saying that small groups make you vulnerable. THey certainly do, but the most incredible thing is that with the same group you are all in the same boat and if Jesus is at the helm, then there is Love and where there is Love there is no fear. I have been with a small group for three years and we have loved, laughed, cried, supported, got cross, forgiven and grown together. We are a complete support for one-another anytime and Jesus is at the centre of it all. It is a wonderful way to walk.
Perhaps it is time for us to step out of the boat with both feet? Take a leap of faith? He will catch us. He promised.
Bless you
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