AYAC 2025

Date: 20th August, 2025
Session: Day 2 – Evening
Topic: The Power of Small Beginnings
Speaker: Bishop David O. Oyedepo

Introduction

Every golden future begins small. From the womb to the world, from seed to tree, from vision to manifestation—God always begins in seed form.

Zechariah saw a golden vision: a lampstand, a bowl, and seven lamps, all of gold. When he asked the angel for understanding, the Lord answered:

Zechariah 4:6,10
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts…
For who hath despised the day of small things?”

God Values Small Beginnings

God cherishes the days of smallness because it is in them that character, vision, and faith are built.

Hebrews 3:4
“For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.”

Yet, He invites us to build with Him. You have a duty to build toward the future God has prepared for you. Vision without responsibility is spiritual daydreaming. Every builder must first lay a foundation—and no foundation is laid hastily.

Even Jesus Began Small

Though He was the Son of God, He came as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Luke 2:40
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”
Luke 2:52
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Greatness is never instant—it’s gradual. Growth must be embraced as a process, not skipped as an inconvenience.

Biblical Examples of Small Beginnings

• Noah’s Family: After the flood, only eight people remained. From them, the earth was repopulated. “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”
• Abraham: Left everything familiar with only a promise. Genesis 12:1
  “Get thee out of thy country… unto a land that I will shew thee.” Later, he defeated kings and was blessed by Melchizedek: Genesis 14:14,18–19
  “He armed his trained servants… And Melchizedek… blessed him.” Through Christ, we share in that blessing: Galatians 3:14
  “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ…”
• Joseph: From pit to prison to palace—he reigned in Egypt for 80 years because he remained faithful in the silent years.
• Daniel and the Hebrew Boys: Though captives, they chose consecration. Daniel 6:3
  “An excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

Jesus’ Teaching on Small Beginnings

Mark 4:31–32
“It is like a grain of mustard seed… when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs.”

If God works through small beginnings, they must never be dismissed.

Vision and Purpose

Vision is about what God wants us to do—not just what we want to become.

Genesis 12:2–3
“I will make of thee a great nation… and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Blessing comes on assignment.

• Moses: Called by God to deliver Israel. Exodus 3:10
• Gideon: Sent to save Israel. Judges 6:14
• Paul: Called and separated. Romans 1:1

Vision is God-assigned, not self-generated. Faith must be matched with responsibility.

Building with God

Acts 20:32
“The word of His grace… is able to build you up.”

Build capacity to contain what you’re asking God for. Don’t chase pleasure at the expense of progress.

Proverbs 21:17
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man…”
Proverbs 24:27
“Prepare thy work… and afterwards build thine house.”

Building always precedes comfort.

Promotion Comes from God

Psalm 75:6–7
“Promotion cometh… from God: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

Psalm 131:1–2
“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother.”

Wait for God’s timing. Move at His pace.

Build in Stages

Deuteronomy 7:22
“The Lord… will put out those nations before thee by little and little…”

You don’t go from bicycle to airplane overnight. Master each level.

This ministry began with four people. Then ten. Then twenty. Then forty. Never despise the day of small things.

Spiritual Stamina and Silent Seasons

Giants aren’t born—they’re built. Build your prayer life, Word level, and library.

Silent seasons are sacred seasons:

• Joseph waited 13 years.
• Moses waited 40.
• David was anointed at 17, crowned at 30.
• Jesus began ministry at 30.

Luke 3:23
“Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age.”

God works deeply in obscurity.

Matthew 5:5
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Philippians 2:8–9
“He humbled himself… Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him.”

Personal Responsibility

You are responsible for 75% of your growth.

Galatians 1:16–17
“I conferred not with flesh and blood… but went into Arabia.”

Private disciplines shape public fruit. Vision has a time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
“To every thing there is a season…”

God may show you a plane, but say, “Your time shall come.” Don’t launch prematurely.

Closing Exhortation

Receive grace to stay planted.
Receive grace to remain faithful.
Receive grace to build without applause.

Your small beginning is not your final destination—it is the foundation of a future that will last.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.