“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).
Some time ago I was studying how your gifts make room for you, and the Lord said several things to me. First of all, He said, “Son, you need to expand your capacity to receive.” This surprised me. I thought I already had a large capacity to receive. It seemed as though I could receive anything I needed or wanted, but that was not really so. The Lord said, “Not enough capacity causes waste.”
Second, the Lord shared with me, “If you need more room, then give bigger gifts.” Now I pastor several different churches in different states. I never desired to be a pastor of multiple churches, but the Lord had a different plan.
I pastor a church in Detroit, Michigan, called Word of Faith International Christian Center. That church has somewhere between 14,000 and 15,000 members. I also pastor a church in Atlanta, Georgia. That church has somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 members. And then I pastor a church in Phoenix, Arizona.
I minister at each church, every Sunday morning. I preach two services in Detroit, and then I fly to Atlanta to minister. After that, I go to Phoenix. I keep this schedule every Sunday. Then I preach a midweek service in Atlanta, a Thursday night service in Detroit, and then I head to Phoenix for a weeknight service.
God has opened doors of opportunity and has sent all kinds of people – Hispanic, Black, White, southern, northern, and western people! He wanted to provide us with the opportunity to minister to many. But in order to do this, the Lord told me that I had to expand my capacity.
I encourage you to expand your capacity to receive. God has windows of opportunity just for you to be a part of spreading the gospel to the world. As you expand your capacity, watch how God begins to open doors for you to witness to the lost. God opens doors. And He will open doors for you as you expand your capacity to receive from Him.
Scripture References: Matthew 9:37; Acts 1:8
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).