What Happened?

One of the most difficult acknowledgements for anyone who cares is to admit that what they are doing is not working. The path they are on may have produced the desired results in the past but today, going forward, it is not going to be fruitful. In churches this often results in stagnation, depression or even resignation.

Stagnation is that mediocre level of “yah, we used to be somebody. We used to do, we used to see, we used to…” It is never intentional. The level of excitement and heavenly intervention that brought the fellowship to such a heightened sense of the presence is still available. But it will not manifest without expectation. When the Holy Spirit ceases to flow as the ministry grows the result is stagnation. Sin and selfishness are often direct causes. Seeing salvation, repentance and healings excites and motivates believers to spend time with the Lord and take heed to their ways. Unfortunately many people quickly get used to the outpourings and come to see them as more commonplace than miraculous. That which is normal requires less attention and that which is taken for granted requires none.

Depression sets in when the realization hits home that you are not getting the same results with the same effort. It wasn’t easy before but the reward was equal to the effort. Now it seems not to be so. Yet there is another aspect to the equation which often gets overlooked. Attitude is a huge factor in whether or not a thing is right or wrong. Depression comes when we don’t get what we expected and we blame God for not doing right by us. Depression is the result of rejecting the response from God and selfishly anticipating more. Maybe not more in quantity but something more, different, exciting, like Luke 7:32. Depression often follows stagnation.

Finally the state of a soul or even the soul of the congregation can turn to resignation. They are resigned to their fate. They can do nothing more but die. They have had their day, their moment, their 15 seconds of fame. They feel like God is through with them. They have been used and rejoiced in His purpose and glory. Now they feel like they are unfit.  It is not about the reality but about the feelings. Resigning to the apparent circumstances means there is nothing else God can do. After all it wasn’t you or they that did the good thing in the first place. God does good. In the good that He does He chooses to use us as it pleases Him. Then if He chooses to wait a while we get upset. He may just be giving us time to grow up. He may want us a little more mature before He begins what is next.

If you used to be His, you still are. If you used to pray you still can. If you used to sing and praise and tell others of His greatness, you still can. The smile on the face and the twinkle in the eye can do as much as a mighty voice when God is the source of its joy. If you have slowed down into a stagnant pool, kick the wall out on one side and let the flow begin again. He will fill it back up as you let it out to affect others. Falling into depression isn’t the worst thing that can happen. It is certainly not as bad as staying there. Climb out, crawl out, jump out, just get outta that thing! His plans for you are still in His mind and He’s going to see it through.

If you want to be resigned to your fate, remember as a servant of the Most High God your fate is to walk on golden streets, pass through pearly gates, feast at the table prepared by Him and praise Him around His throne for at least the next million years or so. You are a joint heir, a chosen generation, a blessed people. You are His; of His righteousness; worthy of His name. Resigned to mediocrity is not in His plan. He does all things well. You are created in His image. He said He loved you enough to die for you and you said you loved Him enough to give up the wicked evil attractions of this world to spend eternity with Him. That’s not resignation, that is rejoicing. His hand is not slack. His heart is not heavy and being His child in His presence is not depressing, it is Divine! Get a grip on the reality of His word. He has never said get stagnate but He has said get started and sometimes He says get started again. Do you still feel like your back is against the wall? Maybe you need to get back up on your knees, back down on your face, then back away from fear and doubt. Back that evil doubter into the chains of darkness while you step into the light of God’s glory. How?  Say Yes Lord, YES Lord, Yes LORD, YES LORD, until nothing else can be heard but the sound of a mighty rushing wind as He pours out His Spirit upon an obedient and restored people.

Not stagnation, not depression, not even resignation. Those things weren’t working. Being in His presence, believing and working at His will when He calls is the revelation of His power. The effectual fervent prayer of the Righteous…

He IS our Righteousness.