by Jason Watford
Psalm 81:10 says, I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
When I was thirty-three years old and about to begin my first pastorate, I was in my car driving around the town of Seven Springs, NC. As I looked around, I saw several farms, many animals, turkey houses, hog farms, but not a great number of people. In fact, the population of Seven Springs, North Carolina, according to Google is only one hundred twelve people. I had always dreamed of having a church with a school, preschool, teen choir, junior choir, and staff. However, on that day when I was driving around and getting familiar with the area, I was convinced that I would never receive those things in such a rural and little country town. The devil began to work on me tremendously. I have always been a “go-getter,” and seemingly there was not much to “go get.” I remember telling my wife that if we ran one hundred fifty in years to come that it would be a miracle.
God began to convict me through the Holy Spirit because of my attitude. I was looking for “bigger and better” and that was absolutely the wrong spirit. The good people of Seven Springs and Spring Creek Baptist Church did not need a preacher with one foot out of the door. I stumbled upon this verse in Psalm 81 and realized that I do not build a church. I realized that I could be in a small area or a well-populated area, and that it truly did not matter. God would send those to whom He wanted me to minister, and I needed to allow Him to do His work. When I began to realize that God could do something even in a little town, things began to happen very quickly. I began studying on how God worked miracles with “smaller” things and objects in the Bible, and my heart began to realize that God can do it here and now!
For instance, at the feeding of the five thousand, God used a “little lunch.” At the falling of Jericho’s walls, God “just” had the people walk around the city. The list of biblical examples of how God does not need anything big could continue from there. God does not need all of the right conditions; He just needs me to want to be used. He wants me to have a vision and to dream big. I am convinced that many churches could grow extremely well if we would BELIEVE that God would grow us. Allow me to give some thoughts on this subject.
I want a big mouth with my church.
It may seem that a church in little Seven Springs should not have several hundred people attending it, but God is big enough to make it happen. God wants people to get saved. God would love for churches to double in size. We must open our mouths and ask God to fill it as He said He would. Let us have big dreams for our churches.
I want a big mouth concerning my children.
I understand that not every boy can preach and be called into the ministry, but I would love for my boy to surrender to be a preacher. I know that not every girl will marry a preacher and work for a church, but I hope my girl does. I am asking God to use my children, and I believe He will. Let us have big visions for our children. Let us dream big for them.
I want a big mouth concerning my marriage.
Yes, I know this thought may seem elementary; however, I want to be married forever. That is my goal! Kelli, my wife, and I got married when we were young in life. I truly believe that we can hit fifty years of marriage together. Let us dream big in our marriages. Let us not settle for ten, twenty, or thirty years. Let us go bigger!
I want a big mouth concerning the ministry.
Why would God not use me to bring a revival to my area? Why would God not use each of us? He wants to use somebody. Nobody is perfect or sinless; however, God is looking for people who believe that He is big enough to make things happen. Let us step up, open our mouths, and allow God to use us in the way that He wants to in our Sunday school classes, children’s churches, and other ministries.
I want a big mouth concerning church members.
I want to believe that God can use each of my church members. When our church had our first graduate go to Bible college, I wanted to believe that God would change the world with him. Sure, every member may not fulfill God’s plan for his life, but I want to dream big for my Spring Creek Baptist Church members. God wants to use them so badly. Preachers, let us have a bigger vision than just, “Come to church and tithe,” for our members.
Psalms 81:10 teaches us that the bigger we dream, the bigger we make God, and the bigger I believe that God can make us. Let us all have big mouths for God!