I wonder if that is because it is only when things are really bad that we truly trust and rely solely on Him. If that is the case, how good would things be if we just relied on God from the start? What blessings would He be able to bring if we just set aside our self-reliance and trust in earthly things for good and trusted only in Him? How different would life be if we were perfectly obedient and did nothing out of our pride? After all, one of God’s complaints was that the people so trusted in their own strength they had made a god of it.

Look with me at one of Paul’s benedictions in Ephesians: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20,21) God is still able today to do more than we can ask or even imagine. God still seeks to bring glory to Himself in the church.

Looking just at the numbers might cause us to despair for this congregation. Attendance is down from previous years. Giving is not enough to meet our expenses. There seem to be so few people here that we cannot see how we can do the things we are called to do.

Yet if we look below the surface we see lives that are being changed by the word of God. We see people that are filled with faith and growing in it. We see a church that is starting to reach out to those around us in new ways and to cooperate and work with the community in ways that were unthinkable not too long ago. Even though we have fewer people in attendance, we are having a greater impact than some of the churches around us. I am impressed by you in that, while we have the same number, or fewer, on Sunday mornings, we have more people ready and able to serve in ministries like Angel Food and Family Promise. Other churches are coming to us for help with their ministries. That is impressive. Most of all we see here a church with a new and growing focus on the mission God has given us instead of our own desires, heading in a new direction, and seeking to be led by the Holy Spirit. We are not called to compare ourselves to others. Doing that will never end well. But we should look back from where we have come and look at the changes God has made in us because that is evidence that He can and will continue to grow us in faithfulness and health, and that growth will open the way to the power of the Holy Spirit working through us. God still calls us to step out in faith and obedience to Him. He is able to do things that will amaze us if we will just watch for Him.

The call goes out to our nation and to our church. Today is Independence Day for the United States. It is the celebration of the day a group of leaders chosen from the colonies declared that we would no longer be subject to the British crown. They took a bold step on the belief that God was with them. Time and again they referred to their dependance on what they called Divine Providence. They relied on it. They called people to pray for it. They sought to carve out on this continent a new type of nation and they expected God’s help to do it. The United States of America is the result. While we have our problems and are far from perfect, it is true that people from all over the world have watched the development of this nation and been amazed. While God brought an amazing amount of destruction on His people through the Babylonians, He has brought an amazing amount of good through this nation. We had best remember that He is the source of all good things and that we have Him to thank for all the blessings He has given us and brought through us. Because of God’s amazing grace and blessing on us as a people, like the ancient Israelites, we are tempted to believe we deserve it, or even worship the country instead of the God who has allowed us the privilege of living in it.

If God could bring about the downfall of Habakkuk’s nation, if God could raise up our nation, if God could take a couple hundred frightened people hiding in an upper room, turn them into His church and change the world through them, what do you think God can do with us? All we have to do is be faithful to what He calls us to do. We have to be faithful to reach out to those around us. We have to serve others in His name. We have to tell others about the grace and mercy we have found, and about the punishment for sin that remains for those who are not in Christ. We don’t have to strive for greatness, just faithfulness. He will do the rest. It is up to us to watch and be amazed.