By God's grace, I have journeyed with Christ for 47 years across five continents and 32 countries. Throughout this time, I have witnessed many things. One truth that has become evident over the years and miles is this—God is actively working all around the world to bring forth a pure, spotless bride for His Son, while the enemy counters this movement by fostering a bias against genuine biblical Christianity. Various religions and sects have emerged that seemingly enhance people’s lives, yet they prevent them from encountering the real thing. Growing up in a religious environment lacking knowledge about what God has accomplished for us through the death and resurrection of Christ skews our understanding. We mirror the Superman comic stories of Clark Kent, with Kryptonite encircling our minds, obstructing our insight into who we are in Christ and the power available to us. Every believer in Christ possesses extraordinary power at their disposal, but many fail to realize their potential in Him. This lack of vision acts as a tactic of the enemy, designed to keep God's people from living in the power of our identity in Christ. When we do not grasp our authority as God's children, we forfeit that power and settle for lives significantly less fulfilling than what we could be experiencing.
We are like the landowner in Texas during the Great Depression who endured years of poverty only to discover that vast oilfields lay beneath his feet. However, I don't think his name was Jed Clampett (from the popular American sitcom Beverly Hillbillies). Great wealth and resources were on his land; he was unaware of it, but all he needed to do was dig deep. As a pastor, I encounter individuals I believe could be utilized far more than they currently are. Untapped potential is widespread in America. I have frequently contemplated how beneficial it would be to take ordinary Christians to countries where God is actively moving by His Spirit. I envision many being launched into desperate situations where, like eaglets, they are pushed out of the eagle’s nest by circumstances and compelled to rely on God’s Spirit to soar. What incredible stories there would be!
When I was a young believer in my twenties and leading a house church, a pastor from a regular church 30 miles away was encouraged to invite me to speak at his evening service. When I arrived at his doorstep a couple of hours before the meeting, he was visibly shocked by how young and small I appeared. His jaw dropped when he realized I was his guest speaker for the evening service. He expressed surprise at my youth, saying, "But you are so young!" I replied, "I am trying to get older, but it takes time." Don't be discouraged thinking that God cannot use you because of your youth or lack of experience. Walking with God is about taking one step at a time, and He can use anyone He chooses. David, Jeremiah, and Timothy were all young when God began using them. We tend to believe that God only uses the wise and knowledgeable, but that isn’t true. God wants His power to flow through us, regardless of age or background. It's not about what we know or how much wisdom we have accumulated; it’s about Who we know. God loves to use those who are just starting their journey in faith. Jesus said,
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11, Emphasis added.)
I believe that the least in the kingdom of heaven refers to someone who has just begun a relationship with Christ. This person knows very little about their identity and to whom they belong, yet within them dwells the Spirit of the Living God, the creator of the Universe. The one who is least in the Kingdom of God has incredible potential but does not yet realize what they can do with that potential.
My prayer for the New Year is that we dig deeply into God and His Word and that God's Spirit will flow abundantly, using us powerfully, much like the analogy of the Texas landowner. Keith Thomas