What’s Next?

So, what’s happening next?  I was asked this recently in relation to what is going on at Church and to my horror I could not give a clear and definite answer.  If you know me you will know that that is not like me.  You see, I am an organizer, a planner and a strategic thinker.  I love to pre-plan months in advance.  I love to sit and organize what to do, how to do it and when to do it.  I see things as a series of strategic choices to be made to get us to a specific goal.  That’s how I’ve always done it, especially when it relates to my main ministry of preaching and leading CityWest Church.

But recently something changed.  God ruined me!!!  He started breaking off me my controlling nature and the fact that I had been holding on too tightly.  He messed up my plans and replaced them with His…I mean, c’mon, how rude! (Thank you Jesus)  He began releasing me from the need to want all of the details and want them far in advanced so that I could make strategic decisions.  Now that I think about it…I was a sick man!  Not only that but what I held on to so strongly was my ability to organize around a sermon series and make sure all issues were addressed and everything in place before it even began.  But then it happened, God knocked the wind out of me and stepped in as if to say, “Hey Mark, let’s try it a new way.  Let’s try it with you letting go and Me leading you one step at a time.  No more painting the future how you see it, let’s try you trusting Me, depending on Me and waiting for Me.  How about you step out in faith, expect Me to show up and watch what I’ll do.”  Well, can you imagine my response?

Thankfull I could say nothing else but, “YES LORD, Not my will but Yours be done”, and I have never felt so free.  How stupid of me to think that by holding on to this Church and ministry so tightly would give me joy and fulfillment.  How ridiculous to think that I could do God’s work in my way by my wisdom and my strength…wow, I really was an idiot!  But He woke me, shook me and changed me and I am not the same man I was even 4 months ago.

So as some of you would know, our sermon series “Incarnate” was put on immediate hold and replaced with our “Invasion of God” series which is really just a response to what God is doing in us and through us.  I have not planned for this series nor have I outlined what will be preached months in advance.  I literally have no idea what God will do or lead me to preach this coming Sunday.  I am just waiting on Him to plant within me His message and I simply obey.  It has gotten to the point where last Sunday the sermon I had spent hours preparing during the week never got preached because during that morning God said, “Mark, you will not preach that sermon today, instead just read My Word.”  So after a bit of a wrestle with God about who’s idea was better, God won and I just read Ephesians 4,5 and 6. Hey, that is not me and even know I freaketh out!  What is God doing?  I thought the process of wrecking me was drawing to a close…yeah right!  I have said to God, “Lord, You still have so, so much work to do on me, thanks for being patient.”

Interestingly today God confirmed to me that this is His preparation for revival.  I just started reading Rick Joyner’s detailed account of the Welsh Revival which occurred in 1904-1905 titled, “The World Aflame”. It is truly the most amazing and breathtaking revival ever to hit this world.  But in this book Rick writes, “A true move of God is not fueled by money, organization or advertising.  True revival only comes when the pillar of fire, that is the presence of God Himself, picks up and moves.  To try to organize, promote or sell a move of God is profanity in its lowest form”.  Then further on, using the example of Evan Roberts and the others who were used by God in the Welsh Revival, Rick writes, “Those with the humility that comes from knowing they do not have the answers, which stimulates a holy desperation for God in them, seem to be the only ones who can ever be responsive to the Lord when He wants to do a new thing.”  Um, did you get that?  Is God messing us up for a reason?  My shock didn’t stop there.  He goes on to write, “During times of a dynamic outpouring of the Holy Spirit, such as the Welsh Revival, the Lord can only use those who will yield themselves completely to Him in order that He might do something entirely new.”  Yes, dear reader, God is up to something new.

Are you being prodded and nudged by God too?  Is He dealing with you more forcefully than ever?  If so, don’t reject His move, embrace it because this could mean the start of the greatest revival this world has ever seen, the harvest before the return of our precious Jesus.  Could we be that generation that will see prophecy fulfilled and be used of God to do His will?  Yes we could be, but let’s make room for Him so that we don’t miss Him.

So, what’s next?  Don’t ask me anymore, I have no idea.  But one thing I do know, Jesus is in charge and in control and is leading the charge!  Let’s follow.