When we refer to waiting on the Lord we are not promoting passivity. Rather we are speaking of praying and waiting until we are pretty sure we know what God wants. Even then we can be deceived and so we must move cautiously, watching carefully to see what kind of fruit our action is bearing.

Joshua's one mistake was not to seek the Lord in what seemed to him to be an obvious decision. There is no such thing as an obvious decision. The Christian who takes something for granted without asking the Lord will soon wish he hadn't.

And so here we are, waiting patiently on the Lord while others rush about working the moves, applying the principles of "church growth."

Our church is small enough that I know everyone by name, even the little children. This is the best part of being a pastor. How could you do this if you had two thousand people? I expect the Lord would make it work somehow.

The Lord said He would build His own Church. Either He will or He won't.

I'm betting He will. Others can play church politics if they want to. They can slander, cause division, seek their own glory. They certainly prosper while doing this.

But I like a church regardless of its size where there is simple down-home integrity and love. Others can make a big splash but I have decided to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

I wonder what He will do!

For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (Psalms 37:9—NIV)

There are so many voices in the land today. There is this program, that concept, the next set of videos to watch—no doubt there is some benefit in all of these.

But what is Jesus saying to us today? I think He is telling me that He is about to judge America severely, and then to make America a fountain from which the Gospel of the Kingdom will flow to every nation on the earth.

I believe the following will be true in America:

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14—NIV)

Do you suppose I am hearing from the Lord? That America would be the source of the Gospel of the Kingdom seems impossible at the present time.

But if I actually am hearing from the Lord, America will be brought low and then raised up in Christ to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.

I certainly hope what I am hearing is from the Lord, because right now America, a nation that bears the name of Jesus Christ, is pouring forth moral filth to the rest of the world.

But Christ is greater than all!

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. (Psalms 37:10—NIV)

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (Psalms 37:11—NIV)