2020 Daily Devotion - Day 104
When I was a freshman in college, I went with some friends to see a Christian musical called Tell it Like it Is by Ralph Carmichael, at the 1st Baptist Church of Van Nuys in Van Nuys, California. At the time, this was the largest church in the United States, with 10,000 members. The musical was being performed by their high school music department. My jaw kept hitting the floor as I saw 300 high school students performing this contemporary Christian musical, with choreography, a full band, along with brass. In addition, the building looked like a major performing arts center with lights and sound equipment, which was very impressive.
At my home church, we had a youth choir of nine students, who would sing from the balcony from time to time in church. However, the next Sunday I saw the pastor’s wife, Mrs. Gloria Blacka, who was a music teacher. I told her about the musical I had just seen and suggested that she and Pastor Blacka go and see it, too; which they did. Then we had a meeting at my family’s home. Pastor and Mrs. Blacka as well as others attended the meeting, where we listened to other Christian musicals. We all thought this was something we might be able to do, however, we only had nine students in the youth choir. I asked Mrs. Blacka to be the director, and she said she would. I headed up a team who contacted every student who had been confirmed in our church in the last ten years. Six weeks later at the first rehearsal, we had sixty students, and the next week; sixty five. We called the group The Life Assurance Company. We advertised our first performance to every church in the San Fernando Valley. And on the day of our first performance, one thousand people were in attendance. The next summer, we hired a couple of chartered buses to take us to Northern California, where we performed in churches every night for a week. The group lasted for twenty-five years. After every rehearsal, we would gather in a very large circle and pray. Kids would be crying and supporting each other, and hundreds upon hundreds of students came to Christ during this time.
I tell you this story, because of what I learned in this experience. I learned God can do far more than you or I could ever dream – He can take what looks impossible, like a youth choir of nine, and turn it into an evangelism crusade that transformed more people than we could have ever imagined. I learned I could be used by God, if only I would allow the Holy Spirit to dream a big dream, and then in faith, step into it. I learned the Great Commission of Jesus could be fulfilled. And I believe this is still true today.
Matthew 28:18-20 RSV
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Pray with me:
Holy Spirit, would You give each of us a big dream of what You want to do through us, fulfilling this command of Jesus? And then, help us to step out of our “comfort zone” so You can actually do it through us. It is truly amazing that You want to use real people, like us, to fulfill Your mission in the world. You want to use us to bring others to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
At my home church, we had a youth choir of nine students, who would sing from the balcony from time to time in church. However, the next Sunday I saw the pastor’s wife, Mrs. Gloria Blacka, who was a music teacher. I told her about the musical I had just seen and suggested that she and Pastor Blacka go and see it, too; which they did. Then we had a meeting at my family’s home. Pastor and Mrs. Blacka as well as others attended the meeting, where we listened to other Christian musicals. We all thought this was something we might be able to do, however, we only had nine students in the youth choir. I asked Mrs. Blacka to be the director, and she said she would. I headed up a team who contacted every student who had been confirmed in our church in the last ten years. Six weeks later at the first rehearsal, we had sixty students, and the next week; sixty five. We called the group The Life Assurance Company. We advertised our first performance to every church in the San Fernando Valley. And on the day of our first performance, one thousand people were in attendance. The next summer, we hired a couple of chartered buses to take us to Northern California, where we performed in churches every night for a week. The group lasted for twenty-five years. After every rehearsal, we would gather in a very large circle and pray. Kids would be crying and supporting each other, and hundreds upon hundreds of students came to Christ during this time.
I tell you this story, because of what I learned in this experience. I learned God can do far more than you or I could ever dream – He can take what looks impossible, like a youth choir of nine, and turn it into an evangelism crusade that transformed more people than we could have ever imagined. I learned I could be used by God, if only I would allow the Holy Spirit to dream a big dream, and then in faith, step into it. I learned the Great Commission of Jesus could be fulfilled. And I believe this is still true today.
Matthew 28:18-20 RSV
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Pray with me:
Holy Spirit, would You give each of us a big dream of what You want to do through us, fulfilling this command of Jesus? And then, help us to step out of our “comfort zone” so You can actually do it through us. It is truly amazing that You want to use real people, like us, to fulfill Your mission in the world. You want to use us to bring others to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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