A couple of years before John Wimber passed away, I attended  a conference that he led for Vineyard pastors. The cover of the notebook that we received at registration is pictured above.

This was John’s challenge to the Vineyard as we approached the end of the Millennium (2000):

TAKE THE BEST (from the past) and GO!

His vision was to establish an organization that was continually being renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Part of John’s vision involves continually pressing into intimacy with Jesus. Not willing to live off of old encounters with Jesus, but seeking to continually experience the presence and activity of Jesus in our lives.

Another part of what John was trying to emphasize was to continually ask the question, “What is the Holy Spirit doing in the CHURCH at this time?”

In John 5: 17 Jesus says, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”  Jesus went on to explain his complete dependency on the Father by asserting that he only did what He saw the Father doing. 

As I look back, I realize that all too often my tendency has been to be too influenced by what I see others doing, especially if it seems to be working. I have also tended to get stuck. If something has worked for me in the past, I keep doing it over and over.

The world around us is always changing. In fact, it is changing faster and faster because of modern technology.

What worked last year may not work this year.

BUT GOD IS NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD – HE IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE!

So, as we all move into 2017, let’s encourage one another to keep pressing into relationship with Jesus, keep seeking His face, keep asking Him for revelation of what He wants us to do next.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

AND MAY THIS YEAR BE EVEN MORE BLESSED IN ALL OF OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THE CHURCHES WE LEAD AND SERVE!