Rhema Ehiemere - When Small Is the Strategy

On your way, you say, «Look at your neighbor and tell them: 'Small is my strategy. Small is my strategy. Small is my strategy.' You may be seated.» Small is my strategy. You know, sometimes the greatest limitation to revelation can actually be your own experiences, your own education, your own environment, and your own exposure. These can actually be your greatest limitations to revelation. You know, if I say, «Look at that dummy,» what comes to your mind? The first thing that comes to your mind is a person acting crazy, right? But that is because I am in the U.S. If I go to the U.K. and I say, «Look at that dummy,» they are not thinking about just a person; they are probably thinking about an object. You know, what we call a pacifier in the U.S., they call a dummy in the U.K. So you can see how what you call something differs by location. Your language is affected by your location. This was a big problem for me, a big challenge for me when I moved from the U.K. In America, we call it an elevator; in the U.K., we call it a lift. In America, we call it an apartment; in the U.K., they call it a flat. In America, we call it pants; in the U.K., we call it trousers. I told my daughter, «Bring me a trouser,» and she was like, «What are you talking about?» In America, we call them attorneys or lawyers; in the U.K., we call them barristers. I mean, on and on. In America, we call it a flashlight; in the U.K., we call it a torch. I can go on and on to explain how—but you get the gist of it: your language is influenced by your location. So in order to be an effective communicator, it’s not just about using the right words; it’s about understanding the context and culture of the people you are relating to. That’s very important. This is why Jesus was a very prolific man, a masterful communicator. He knew his art. He went to call Peter; he didn’t say, «Follow me, and I will make you bakers of bread.» He said, «Follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of men,» because that’s what they could understand. Jesus understood that, and that’s why he would use parables sometimes. And what is a parable? A parable is simply a relatable story about a deeper truth. So Jesus did not just use stories and parables. One of the things I loved about Jesus is that he also used analogies and similarities. I feel the power of the Holy Ghost here! He would say things like, «The kingdom of heaven is like yeast,» because we understand what yeast does to bread. He would say things like, «The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,» because we know and understand what a mustard seed is. He would say things like, «The kingdom of heaven is like a woman seeking pearls,» because we understand what it means to look for something that is lost. «The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure.» You see, Jesus used all of these analogies because he understood it’s not just about using the right words; it’s about communicating the truth so that they will be able to understand. Even God, when he had to describe his dealings and his relationship with us, would use similars, analogies, and comparisons. For example, when he wanted to describe his love for us, Psalms 103 says, «As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for us.» So now you begin to understand that God’s love for us is so high it can’t even be explained. What is the distance between the heavens and the earth? God is trying to explain that you cannot understand how much I love you. Look—God is a masterful communicator, letting us know that he can use concrete examples to explain concepts. When he wanted to explain his protection for us, he explains it in Psalms 125: «As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people.» Now it makes sense, because once you get to Israel, you can see that the mountains surround Jerusalem. So God is saying, «The same way you see the mountains surround Jerusalem, that’s how I protect you.» I love God! Everything about God is detailed. In Psalms 103, he begins to tell us about his forgiveness: «As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed your transgressions and sins from you.» You are not guilty! Look at somebody and say, «I’m not guilty!» Oh, I feel the power of the Holy Ghost here! Say, «I’m not guilty!» In Jeremiah 18, he begins to explain our purpose in life: «As clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in my hand.» All through scripture, we see God using concrete examples to explain concepts. All through scripture, we see God using analogies to explain ideologies. All through scripture, we see God using the environment to explain our assignment. We see God using familiarity to explain our destiny. We see God using things we can relate to in order to explain things we cannot connect to. And that’s why God would always expose you to environments because he wants to show you what he can use to explain concepts to you.