I have been listening both interactively (Zoom) and passively (Facebook) to many Christian leaders in the kingdom of God, from various denominations and independent churches. They are all saying almost the same thing when asked, “what will the church look like after this (the quarantine)?”, they reply with something like this: “I don’t know! I am seeking/asking God”. 

One thing we all have in common is that whatever it looks like we all know it will be different, as 9-11 made air travel different. I believe that most churches will try to go back to just the way it was prior to the quarantine. I believe this will cause a new level of frustration for both the members and leaders. One pastor friend thinks his people might want to retreat even farther back then to just before the quarantine.

God has given the people of God and the world a reset.

Most of the leaders are praying/asking God for His instruction, God what we are to do after the quarantine! I believe a better pray lies in the questions that are being asked: “what will it look like”. They are not asking how will the church function on Sunday morning and beyond, but what is the direction our church is going.

We need to ask God for his direction, not instruction! By definition the word instruction includes direction but the word direction does not include instruction.

Direction noun
1. a course along which someone or something moves.
2. the management or guidance of someone or something.

Instruction noun
1. a direction or order.
2. detailed information telling how something should be done, operated, or assembled.

The word “direction” refers to how it is to look, where “instruction” refers to the step by step plans. God will give us direction before instruction but most of all He wants us to pursue His direction.  

We should be seeking direction before instruction.

God gave Abraham direction to leave his land, his family and his father house. In this exchange God gives Abraham a great vision of who he was.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God first gave Moses the direction he was to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt into the Promises land. When they the in the desert God directed them to their next provision with a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. While in the desert, God adds instructions to go along with the direction. Joshua and Caleb really grab ahold of the direction (vision) and was not content with wandering in the desert or head back to Egypt. There was only one direction!

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Exodus 13:21-22 ESV

Jesus also gave direction to his disciples as God did with Abraham and Moses. Jesus, in Luke chapter nine, first told his disciples the direction to go “proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal”. Once they received direction, then he gave some instruction, “Take nothing for your journey”, and what to do if they are received or not received. You have to get ahold of the direction before instruction.

1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Luke 9:1-5 ESV

Jesus gave limited direction to his disciples, he did not tell them, what towns to go, what people see, if they should walk, ride a donkey, or take a ship. They could have executed Jesus’s directions in whichever way they desired as long as it fits within His directions.

Once you have God’s direction and you begin to walk in that direction, God may then give you some added instructions, but not all the time. The church at large is hung up with how to do church and not what church should look like or the direction God wants the church to go.

Earlier this week I sharing this post with some pastor friends. Pastor John shared that direction is by faith and instruction is by sight, in 2 Corinthians 5:7 states “for we walk by faith, not by sight”. It takes a great level of faith to follow a direction then it does following a step by step instruction.

I can imagine that some of you reading this might be saying, those were Jesus’s disciples they walked with him all the time. Jesus in the next chapter did the same thing with seventy-two other people.

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Luke 10:1-12 ESV

Jesus sent others into the harvest by giving them direction “appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him”. This could have included the disciples if it did then Jesus gave direction to sixty regular people. You have the ability to received God’s direction for your personal life.

Whatever direction God gives you for your personal life, it will never supersede the last direction he gave his disciples and ultimately us. That is to Go and make disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to obey.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20‬ ‭ESV

APPLICATION

• Take time this week to seek God for His directions for your life.
• Once you receive that direction step out by faith toward that direction.
• Align yourself with the direction of you church and kingdom pursuits.