01 June 2005 International YWAMer

Going On, After 50 Days

From Easter to Pentecost we have enjoyed an intense period of worship, waiting on God and intercession, often while fasting. These 50 Days of coordinated action in every time zone have been a necessary part of the renewal of Youth With A Mission in our forty-fifth year, like the description of bones aligning and an army arising in Ezekiel 37. Now what?

Having removed the scaffolding of a program, the substance remains. That is, an addiction to God's presence and an attentiveness to His direction.

What I see is an army deployed and ready, people of faith and obedience who will not bow to discouragement. What is the greatest danger at this time? I believe the Lord has been speaking to me out of the life of David in 2 Samuel. After a protracted period of national worship ". all the people departed everyone to his own house.and the Lord gave him (David) rest from all his enemies all around."

What did David do with his new authority, this period of stability? He came up with a creative project, a virtuous-sounding plan that was even confirmed, temporarily, by the prophet Nathan. They were both deceived.

God intervened and sent Nathan back to David with correction. He didn't want a "house of cedar" to dwell in. He said, "I will make of you a house" (2 Samuel 7:11). God didn't want a material house (an institution). He wanted a relational alignment that was multi-generational and understood its purpose. God spoke of the holy dynasty that would rise eternally from David's descendants (2 Samuel 7:12-16). David was humbled and bewildered by God's mercy, however he went ahead and received what God had said, "Let the house of your servant David be established before you."

Following this, David turned to two things. First he renewed his campaigns against evil authorities and brought captive peoples under his protection (Philistines, Moab, Edom etc.), and put garrisons in many places. Then he began to show kindness to the remnant of the house of Saul.

This speaks to me. Let's not forget the basics. YWAM and movements like it are to set our eyes on the captive peoples of the earth and call people to the difficult task of evangelism and church planting unapologetically. David called out the army when survival was no longer the issue; the unfinished plan of God was the issue. There will always be a need for works of restoration, equivalent to reconciling with the house of Saul, however today's inheritance could hinder tomorrow's victories unless we continue to move forward.

YWAM is a forerunner movement, restored and multiplying and headed towards its 50th year. It could be said that the first of our values is encapsulated in one word: Go! "Go means a change of location," Loren keeps pointing out.

I'm going to New Caledonia soon to meet with missionary leaders from the Pacific region. They have big plans for evangelization and they need a lot of help. I want to know the plans of people like this, and then to put pressure on everybody I know to give, go, pray and encourage such people. They need our help, but we also need to be strategically engaged, every one of us.

Our response to the Great Commission delivers us from ourselves. That's the lesson we learn from the life of David. 2 Samuel goes on to record that David, having seen great victories, stayed at home and delegated leadership in the battle to his subordinates. This is when he saw Bathsheba from his roof and entered into a shocking season of failure.

So let's go. Put on your armor and report to Jesus. Rescue the perishing, encourage the downhearted, take up spiritual ambition and a heart of adoption towards everyone in your circle of influence. Crush Satan's head with your bruised heel. After all, that's the end of David's story. It's how you finish that counts.

--John Dawson is YWAM's President