Robin McMillan once told me that he could "smell a breakthrough." I
thought that was a funny way to put it, but I had to admit that I could
too. It was as if there was a special energy in the air, and you could
actually smell a coming release in the Spirit. For about a year we had
been in a holding pattern with many of our projects, and sure enough,
soon after Robin and I had this conversation, there seemed to be a
breakthrough on every front.
Of course, when you are advancing it is important that you not take more
land than you can hold. I was recently in a meeting with the head of the
largest bank in America. He told us how they had been asked by the
government to provide about five hundred million dollars for inner city
projects. This was to enable those who had successful small businesses
in the inner cities to expand them. However, the result was that all of
this money ended up hurting these small businesses more than helping
them. By giving them so much money, they were able to take a huge leap
in size, but these people were not given the training on how to run a
large business. Many of those who were successful on one level went
bankrupt on the next level because they were given resources for which
they were not ready. Has this not also been the reason for the failure
of many churches and ministries?
It is good to have a big vision, but many who are vision-driven are
prone to take on responsibilities for which they are not yet prepared.
There is an old saying that "Any job can be accomplished if it is broken
down into small enough steps." It is good to have a clear vision of our
ultimate purpose, but if we are overly focused on the ultimate purpose
rather than the next step, it is likely that we are going to be
stumbling over some things. It was for this reason that the Lord made
Israel conquer their Promised Land one battle at a time. He told them
that He was not going to let them do it too quickly because the beasts
of the field would take it over (see Exodus 23:29). He did not want them
to conquer land until they were strong enough to hold it. The same is
true with us.
The most encouraging thing to me about what is happening at our local
congregations is that many of the spiritual exploits are not coming
through the full time leaders, but through individuals and small groups
who are hearing the Lord's voice and responding. Every week I hear of
remarkable things that are happening completely without orchestration
from our office. The church office is not supposed to be the head of the
church, but Jesus is. To me this is real Christianity, with the Lord
moving through the different members of the body as it pleases Him. As
we read yesterday from Ephesians 4:12-13, let's look at the next couple
of verses.
* but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects
into Him, who is the head, even Christ,*
* from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that
which every joint supplies, *
* according to the proper working of each individual part, *
* causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in
love (Ephesians 4:15-16).*
One of the main things that the Lord is doing now is forming the
"joints." A joint is not a part, but it is where two parts come
together. This will ultimately enable the *"proper working of each
individual part."* This has to happen for many to go to the next level
of their visions. Just as Barnabas had to go get Paul before he could be
released in his own ultimate calling, there are joinings that must take
place between the members of the body before we can all go to the next
level. The Lord has so composed His body that we all need each other,
and none of us are going to get there alone.
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