Lean in. I’m about to share with you the secret to church growth—the kind that leads to a movement that will sweep out the doors of your church, through the streets of your community, into homes, and into hearts. It’s something I’ve witnessed in Russia, where the number of churches has gone from 61 to 3,400.
Ready?
The secret is great faith.
Great faith, combined with power from the Holy Spirit, is the key to answered prayers of all kinds but especially prayers for revival.
This truth is at the forefront of my mind and spirit right now because I’m writing this week from the National Russian Pastor’s Conference in Moscow. A few days ago I listened along with 1,500 pastors and their wives as Dr. Young Hoon Lee from Seoul, South Korea, stated that their church, Yoido Full Gospel Church (which is one of the largest churches in the world), operates by faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. As he spoke, I began to think of Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” This statement is not just about individuals but churches and other ministries as well.
What overwhelmed my thoughts from Hebrews 11:6 is that there are two dimensions of faith. I believe the first part of that verse refers to faith, but the second part is talking about great faith. Faith brings life. But great faith results in abundant life. If you have faith that God is, you have faith, but that is not great faith. In every nation that has explosive church and spiritual growth, you see great faith, because these people daily, fervently and abundantly seek after Him. That is why the Russian church is massive and growing. They are seeking God and believing His Word when it says that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. They know faith can help you survive, but great faith can help you move in extraordinary victory.
There is a term that I hear used a lot in the United States, “The emerging church overseas.” As I watch auditoriums in other nations become jammed with people who are all shouting out the glory of God, hanging on every word that is spoken, it is an overwhelming delight. But it can be very difficult to talk about the emerging church when in many ways, churches around the world are leading what God is doing. The emerging church builds structure out of the move of God, but often times the American church builds a structure, a program, hoping that God will bless it.
God is calling people in the church to have great faith and do ministry outside of the church. The emerging churches around the world are commissioning communities. They are commissioning their people to do the work of the ministry outside of their church. When pastors and their congregations move from faith to great faith, our lives, our churches and our communities will never be the same.
I ask you today, where are you in your faith? Are you pleasing God or expecting Him to bless the plans you created? I challenge you: Trust God and know that when you have faith and when you diligently seek Him, He does reward you!
You are beautiful. I see Jesus in you. Have a great week!
