Of Big and Small Churches and the Presence of God

Well, visited a Church today, it was a small Church , slightly less than 60 in attendance... and after that, while on the way home, I was thinking, "So what if we've got a BIG Church, a BIG congregation? What makes the difference? What's new, what's attracting the people? Are we just going to Church week in, week out devoid of a touch from God? And just because we've so used to it? Or it's only right to go to Church? A ritual so to say.." ... Well, I've been to MANY Churches, and when I say MANY, it's MANY! Maybe more than what some people would visit in a lifetime! haha... Well, it's not that I don't have a home Church or a Church family, I'm just curious about what's going on in different Churches, what's God doing and how's God moving in different parts of our Nation especially among His people...
Well, I've come to a few conclusions...

1) Size is important AND not important. Sounds contradictory? let me explain, well, God desires that all be saved and none should perish. agree? in that sense, size matters, the number of people who come to Christ each week matters; the number of disciples 'made' matters; how we're reaching matters;how many disciples we're making every day/week/month/year/decade matters; each and every single one matters, because they matter to God. So why then is size NOT important TOO? ok, here's the tricky part. As much as God desires we make disciples of all Nations, many people in Church does not necessary mean many disciples. You can have a large Church, but devoid of the faithful, devoid of passion, devoid of devotion, devoid of true disciples, just "Church-goers" they're just there because the congregation enjoy the nice cushion seats in Church, laughs at the nice jokes and enjoy the preaching in Church.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

So does this verse describe your Church?
A Church resting on the Spirit's Power or the wisdom of man? Mind you, God's has created man with such creativity that you can attract a large crowd without the slightest help of the Holy Spirit. You can do so much with human wisdom but you can't do THAT much, God's 'much'... But mind you, I've also been to Churches with so much of the presence and anointing of God that tears will just start flowing down your eyes the moment you step into the auditorium/sanctuary where they're worshiping. And these are BIG Churches, very BIG indeed, and well, guess what, one of them, the biggest Church in Singapore, is one such Church. I've really gotta say that it's nothing more than the work of God, the presence and the anointing of God that draws the people there, the captives are set free, the lame walk and the blind see... all because of the wonderful presence of God. Yes, they're creative, yes, they're a BIG Mega Church, yes, the have lots of wisdom and the know how to run a Church well. But after all of these, they depend on the power of the Holy Spirit, they surrender to His leading and guidance and this is their attitude, " With man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible"... it's an attitude that says, "after all of these, I can't, I still can't, but God, You can, because I can't"...

So well, it's not about how 'happening' or BIG the church is, but how much they're doing what they're called to do...


2) It's about changes lives
I cannot emphasize enough, the purpose of the Church here on earth is for the redemption of the world, the redemption of communities and the transformation of Nations. And by the word Church, I don't just mean 'Church' Church, I also mean the gathering of Christians, of God's people, whenever, wherever and however they gather. Well, if people come to Church, come into contact with a congregation/gathering of God's people and are not touched by the presence of God, then it is can well be said meaningless, because God is in the business of changing lives.

Many times visiting a Church, I've received the healing of God upon me, of relationships, of breakthroughs, of a touch from God, and God doesn't favor Church, but He does choose to manifest His presence in a stronger way, in places where He is allowed the liberty to do so, in Churches where He is welcome to do what He desires to, to touch and change lives so that our lives will reflect His glory. Isn't that wonderful? To be in a place with open heavens, a place where miracles happen and a place where people enter in and say, "truely, God is in your midst!"

This is the place where i wanna be, this is the Church i wanna be involved in, a Church where the unsaved are saved, where miracles happen in the lives of the congregation, a Church where we're BIG not just because of what we do, but because of what He's doing, because God is in this place! An awesome place!

It's about changed lives, God changed lives!


so, how has Church been for you? O_o












A bit of a sidetrack (well, maybe not) but ya... this is a song I've enjoyed very much, comes from a BIG Church, but expresses their desire to be fully devoted to Him... may it be our desire too...

...I love You Lord, You rescued me, You are all that I want, You're all I need...

...In Your Freedom I will live... I offer devotion...