So it is with the Christian ministry. God has a master plan. We are not to rush forth and do whatever we think God might want.

Today there are unevangelized areas of the earth. Are we to plot how to go there and bring the Gospel or are we to ask the Lord what we are to do?

You say, "The answer is obvious. The Bible commands us to go forth and preach the Gospel to every creature."

I respond, "The answer is not obvious at all. Perhaps God has a young man or woman in mind who is going to evangelize the entire area and our job is to patiently train that person or persons whom God has called."

A mother may decide she is called to preach the Gospel. She pays minimum attention to her husband and children so she may go from meeting to meeting and preen herself in front of an audience.

What she doesn't realize is her youngest daughter is destined to be another Aimee Semple McPherson and the mother's role is to give her children the best possible upbringing.

Do you see what I am saying? For two thousand years the Christian churches, in many instances, have worked blindly, not knowing the Lord's will, murdering "heretics" and seeking their own glory.

The last-day revival will be clothed in sackcloth. No individual from this point forward will receive the fullness of God's power until the Meribah question is settled once and for all. There absolutely is to be no more presumption and self-will in the Christian ministry. We are to pray and listen; pray and listen; pray and listen until we know what we are doing.

This does not mean we neglect our daily responsibilities. We are to keep on where we are, faithfully performing our work with all our strength. But in the meantime we are to pray and listen; pray and listen; pray and listen to be certain we are not just being carried forward by momentum.

Momentum is a destructive force in a believer or a denomination. The winds of the Spirit blow where God pleases. The chariots of God go straight ahead wherever the Spirit of God goes. Momentum keeps you going straight ahead long after the Spirit has gone in another direction until you are so exhausted from your uninspired efforts you begin to plan on early retirement. You have burnt yourself out because your were not being refreshed and renewed by the Spirit of God.

Learn to live and move in the Spiritùthis is where the wonder and glory of the Christian life are. The bush burning with God's fire is never consumed.

Every Christian leader ought to stop from time to time and ask God if he or she is doing the Lord's will. Maybe it is just momentum, or the expectation of people, or retirement plans that are keeping you going. Maybe to stop and listen would be to enter the most marvelous of adventures with the Lord as He points out new and exciting vistas of opportunity that never will be seen until we lay everything down, at least mentally, and pray and listen.

Maybe you are doing the Lord's will or maybe you are just plowing along out of a sense of duty. What a drag! You have left your first love. You are just holding on until you can retire.

The Lord wants to dance with you on the mountains of spices.

Retire? When there is an army of young men and women coming up who need your example and wisdom? Never!

Do you want to know what the seven thunders are saying? Then tell the Lord about it. See what He says to you.

Jesus has keep the good wine of your life until now. He is ready to fill your waterpots. Are you available?

Whatever He says to you, do it!