Encounter God - How Big Is Your God?

The National Community Church in Washington D.C. was just getting off the ground, and the members started praying what many would call a ridiculous prayer. They prayed that God would give them a piece of property half a block from Union Station in Washington D.C. At that time, it was a graffiti-covered nuisance property. In fact, in its heyday, it was used as crack house. But the church leadership and the people could envision it becoming a first-class, fully operational coffeehouse and community center on that corner. So they started praying. They did prayer walks around the property. They laid hands on the building. And the leaders and members prayed for it every time they passed by the property.

This seemed to be a ridiculous … foolish prayer for many reasons:

·        The church could not afford to buy it. The original asking price was $1    
         Million.

·       The church did not yet have the membership, attendance, or giving to pay
         for or finance that kind of dream.

·        Churches build churches. They do not typically build coffeehouses or
          community centers.

·        They had no experience in the coffeehouse or community center business.

·        The owners of the property were courting Starbucks.

The odds were stacked against them!

But they dreamed a God-sized dream. They believed that God was big enough to handle that dream.

After six years of praying a ridiculous prayer, they purchased that property. And the coffeehouse/community center was named Ebenezers (the Lord has helped us). And that ridiculous prayer is now the largest coffeehouse/community center in Washington D.C.

Here is the truly amazing thing! Right after the property was purchased, four different neighbors informed the church leadership that they offered more money than the church did. Wow! Usually property gets sold to the highest bidder. But God had His hand on the property. One neighbor told the church leaders, “If it were not for me, you would not have the coffeehouse.”  He explained that he had lived in the neighborhood for more than 25 years. And long before the National Community Church was formed, when the former owners applied for a demolition permit, he had stopped them. He went to the historic preservation society and got the property put on the national registry of historic properties.

Long before the dream of having a coffeehouse/community center was conceived or prayed about, God had a contract on that property.

Does this story sound familiar? It is like the Sugar Grove story.

·        Two churches having a dream to become the church that Jesus built. 
          Dream for a new identity. Dream to purchase land that God would
          choose.

·        God gave us 37 acres for 1 Million dollars.

·        Tried to plan and build, but could not.

·        God brought a buyer who purchased our property for 6.1 Million
          dollars.

·        We bought current 14 acres and built the first phase with that money.

·        God gave us an expansion a few years later.

·        God paid off our debt.

·        All this was based on ridiculous prayer, impossible dreams, and
          foolish acts of faith.

How big is your God? Is He the God of ridiculous prayers? The Word says that He is. He challenges us to “put Him to the test, and see if the flood gates of blessing will not open up.”

This is the year of Cultivating the Joy of Generosity. This is the year of being a channel of blessing to others around us. Allowing the blessings that we receive from God to be channeled and multiplied to others. This is what Summer of Blessing is all about that Mark will be talking about shortly.

That will take some ridiculous prayers! It will take some foolish acts of faith! It will require a church filled with people who are willing to be broken before their God, and poured out on the altar of Generosity for one another, our neighbors and our community. How big is your God? How big is your faith? How ridiculous are your prayers? How foolish are your acts of faith?