By Dr. Terry L. Thompson, Apostle
I recently was
returning from the Northwestern part of the United States. As we approached the Houston airport the
pilot announced that we were going to be delayed due to inclement weather. We circled for approximately 30 minutes
before receiving clearance to land. This is what is known as going into a HOLDING PATTERN. Funny thing about a holding pattern, you
fly in circles; most of the time you are in the clouds and cannot see a thing
and everyone is wondering what is going on. Holding patterns are out of your control
and at the discretion of the control tower.
Many are
describing the condition of the church the same way: IN A HOLDING PATTERN. There is a sense that very little seems
to be happening. The church is
going through a cycle of lull and spiritual inactivity. Vision seems to be
minimal and even scarce in many churches. Yet there is much talk, but very little substance is coming forth. There
have been pockets of renewal but nothing of lasting value. What is going on? Doesn’t the control
tower know that we are up here and want to land?
The Bible describes many of these “HOLDING PATTERNS”:
*Genesis 1: 1-3 describes how “…the earth was without
form and void; and DARKNESS was upon the face of the deep.” This was part of the creation
process. It seemed as if nothing
was happening. The latter part of the verse gives us a clue to what God is doing
today. It states: “ and the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the deep…” When
there is no apparent spiritual activity the Holy Spirit of God is doing an
unseen work that is not recognized by man.
*Genesis 6-9 is the account depicting the condition of the earth
before God. “…God saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth…” Sounds similar to the time we are
living in today. But God found
grace in the person of Noah. The
result was a man and his family were saved from destruction.
*Exodus 2: 23-25 is the account of the children of Israel in
bondage. The children of Israel had
been in a holding pattern. For
quite some time they lived under the oppression of the Egyptians. Then they began to take action to change
their situation. The children
of Israel did three things to express their situation. (1) “…they sighed because
of bondage…” The idea was one of relief from the oppression of Pharaoh. This is a very similar cry today, one of
RELIEF from situations and not a cry of RELEASE from our bondages. (2) “…they cried…” Sometimes all we can do
is cry about our situation and not see a way out. The truth is, when we begin to cry out
to God, He will begin to prepare our deliverance. (3) “…God heard their groaning…” Groaning gets the attention of God.
Groaning is when deep calls out to deep. Groaning causes God to
remember His covenant, causes Him to look upon us, and causes Him to
respect us.
*Matthew 3-4 is the account of John the Baptist coming from the
wilderness declaring the way of the Lord. The people were in religious and
political bondage and had heard very little from God… until John the Baptist
comes preaching in the wilderness and declaring, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at
hand.”
These are just a
few accounts of those who were in HOLDING PATTERNS, waiting until God began to
move again. Let us look at the
state of the church today and see why we are in a holding pattern.
The Church of
Jesus Christ at the beginning of the 21st Century is enjoying a
prosperity unlike that of any prior generation in history. Our buildings are often new (and
expensive), our brochures and magazines are slick and colorful, our music is
contemporary and professionally orchestrated. Never in history has the Church in
America been better funded, its staff better paid or its attendees more
affluent. And never has the
organized Church been less effective than it is today in its
primary Commission to win the lost and to turn them into disciples.
According to
Christian sociologist and trend-watcher Dr. George Barna, in recent years a
majority of the people who made a "decision" for Christ in one of our
evangelical churches "were no longer to be found in a church context within
eight weeks of having made such a decision." Contrast that with the Great Welsh
Revival of 1904 when approximately 5% of the population of the nation of Wales
professed Christ for the first time and united with the Church. According to
critics of the revival, of the 100,000 people who professed Christ and joined
the Church in the first six months of the revival, seven out of ten
(70%) were still in the fellowship of the Church after five years.
What is the difference between losing converts after eight weeks or keeping them
in fellowship after five years? Perhaps it is the difference between the work of
the Holy Spirit in genuine renewal and awakening rather than the work of man in
some new evangelistic program.
Evangelistic
programs are good, but a movement of the Spirit of God to awaken the masses and
to convict them of sin, righteousness and judgment (Jn 16:8) is better by far.
How far? By the difference between 8 weeks and 5 years.
What should we be
doing during this holding pattern? The hardest thing for many Christians is to keep a proper perspective of
the times in which we are living. Let me give you a few things to consider during this time:
A. Not every difficult time,
lull, stagnation, or non-activity means something or someone is wrong. We must
learn to be content in the place and position we have been assigned. Be willing to get a SPIRITUAL CHECK UP,
but not an autopsy.
B. I need Christ no more in the
tough times, than I do in the good times. I need Christ at ALL times.
C. Don’t rely on inadequate
resources - I Cor 4:3-5 states in part, “Lord examine me…come bring to light things hidden in darkness and
disclose the motives of men’s hearts.”
DON’T:
v Lean on your OWN appraisal of
situations.
v Seek for the popularity vote or take a
poll. Remember the majority are often wrong.
v Count your funds or material
resources.
v Rely on your friends to bolster you. They are usually biased.
v Listen to your critics. This is their opportunity to
ATTACK.
D. Remember the WORLD, THE
FLESH, AND THE DEVIL always exaggerate.
E. There are fewer against you
than you imagine, more for you than you realize.
F. Persevere until: God clearly
moves or speaks again
Wait for the Victory
to come. AND it will COME.
Historically, times of spiritual
decline in the world and desperation in the Church are two characteristics of
the periods leading up to times of great revival. Why desperation? Perhaps God
waits until we have exhausted all of our own strength and means so that the
renewal which follows cannot be attributed to human effort and ingenuity. God is
jealous and will not share His glory with anyone.
Keep in the HOLDING PATTERN,
for surely our time will come and we must be ready.
