My One Pursuit

“The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” authored by Malcolm Gladwell is a study in shifts that happen in cultures. From music, politics and even revivals. What interested me to investigate this further is a teaching on Tipping Points by Lance Walnau and a segment in Malcolms book on how revivals create tipping points in cultures.

Tipping-points are “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.” They are moments when critical mass is reached and a shift takes place. The Azusa Street Revival is the ongoing result of a tipping-point. The current move of God today is a result of a tipping-point that reached critical mass in the middle 90′s.

Surprisingly, tipping-points are released through a small percentage of people. We see how this can work as we look at the parable of the sower and the seed found in the gospel of Matthew. Mind you, this is a completely different look at this parable viewing it in the context of a tipping-point. I don’t have the room to develop this fully in this blog post so what is referenced is Jesus explanation of the parable to his disciples. I then broaden the tipping point reality to other events found in the early church.

Matt. 13:18-23  “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

According to the parable, 100% of the harvest comes from 25% of the people.

•    From the 25% there is 100 fold, 60 fold, 30 fold people.
•    100 fold believers make up about 8.3% and contribute to 53% of Kingdom results. These are your tipping-point people.  These are the Warriors, the Revivalist, and the Revolutionaries.

Nearly 91% of believers are not pursuing what these 8.3% are.

Tipping-point people are the change agents. They are culture-shifters. For example, revivalists like Martin Luther, John Wesley, William Seymour, Aimee Semple McPherson, Oral Roberts, John Wimber and more were past tipping-point people. I would say that tipping-point people today are Bill Johnson, John Arnott and Heidi Baker, Mike Bickle and Lou Engle and of coarse Billy Graham, just to name a few. These people influence others to be tipping-point people. The instill a confidence to see cultures change.

Jesus was a tipping-point person for the 12 (he was the 8.3% in His core group of disciples)  Peter James John made up the 25% his core.

•    The 12 disciples were the tipping-point for the 120 found in the upper room in Acts 2. (the 12o is approx. 25% of the 500 who Jesus appeared to in Acts 1)
•    The 120 were the tipping-point of the 3,000 that got saved in the later half of Acts 2.
•    The 3,000 were the tipping-point for the 30,000 living in Jerusalem. These literally “turned the city upside down”.

What is encouraging here is the fact that it doesn’t take a lot of people to create a tipping-point. What it does require is absolute focus and resolve. The 8.3% are hardcore! They will give their life for His Kingdom cause. They work tirelessly and give themselves completely.

What would happen if a city, your city, reached a critical mass of these types of tipping-point people. What if there were a company of 8.3% people that had the resolve and focus to see a move of God in their city. I believe that this is happening currently in some cities today. Critical mass is becoming a greater reality as these cities are closing in on a tipping-point.

Let’s become a people with this kind of resolve! We might not see the full results in our lifetime but we will be blazing a trail for our children and grandchildren and others that we have the privilege to influence!

Your thoughts?

Num. 32:5 If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”

Num. 32:6 Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here?

Num. 32:7 Why do you discourage the Israelites from going over into the land the LORD has given them?

The Reubenites and Gadites are an example of those who are part of a team but apparently choose to not commit with the others. Here, Moses initially feels that the men of  these 2 tribes will not cross the Jordan and help their brothers take the land. He and the nation  have been wandering forty years in the desert as a result of a people not willing to conquer Canaan (i.e. the ten spies with no faith). Moses is ready to send Israel in and these two tribes make their request. Ugh. Can you imagine what Moses was feeling. As the leader, Moses refuses their initial request because it will discourage the Israelites from going over. The result could be another forty years in the desert or more!

What is he saying here?  As a leader, Moses feared that the people would not obey the Lord and choose rather to settle outside of Canaan. It’s been hard enough to get them to believe. Now he gets this request right before Israel is ready to enter the land “flowing with milk and honey” for the second time. This is bringing back nightmares. Moses probably cringed, thinking to himself, what is the Lord going to do upon hearing this request.

As a follower of leadership your actions speak volumes. When we don’t fully participate, we can discourage others around us. In this case, it can set back a whole generation. This sank the heart of Moses. Everyone has to be in. Moses knows this. When everyone is in it brings faith and even momentum. Now, these 2 tribes are asking to “pull out”. Moses fears that everything he gained over the last forty years will be lost.

The good news is that the men were not done with their proposal. Here is what they said;

Num. 32:17 But we are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land.

Num. 32:18 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his inheritance.

Here is what they proposed:

• We will arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites until they have been brought in to their place.

• We will not return until the Israelites receive their inheritance.

They solved the potential discouragement problem by taking the lead in war and committing to stay with it till the end. They would be the first to stick their neck out and risk their lives and commit to their word until everyone had what was legally theirs by promise.  I don’t think Israel had a problem with this. They were going to fight for Israel’s full inheritance as if it were their own by taking the lead. Now that is taking ownership and leading from your inheritance for the inheritance of others.

Moses agrees with the plan knowing that their action to participate and actually lead in war will further give faith and encouragement to Israel. This is so key to leadership. Take the lead! Fight for your brother and sisters!

These tribes led and gained ground for others and at the same time were rewarded. They “went first” to take territory. This ensured their own.

Getting a vision from God is all about seeing. Without a vision, our life splinters into so many different directions. It’s true, that our focus does determine our reality. And we become what we behold. I am learning the more I behold the Lord the more I become like Him. And the more I become like Him the more focused His purpose and vision becomes in my life . There is really no substitutes for getting a vision from God. Ongoing encounters are mandatory (and amazing I might add)!

Look at these verses:

Hab. 2:1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me…“
Hab. 2:2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

What is so significant for us here is that the Prophet looked to see what he (God) would say. See what He will say! Weird, isn’t it? That’s a big part of what a vision from God is all about, seeing what He is saying.

The Message Bible (I know it is a paraphrase, but it works) says it like this,

Hab. 2:1 ”I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon.
I’ll wait to see what God says“

“Scan the horizon” to “see what God says”. Getting a vision from God is to look out over the horizon of your life, beyond your present circumstances and day to day life, praying, scanning and looking to see what God will say about His vision for your life. Look to see! Lean in to see His voice!

When the Lord delivered Israel from Egypt, He had the nation scan the horizon. He said, ”I will bring them up out of that land (Egypt) into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8).  What do you think that meant to a people who were entrenched in over 400 years of slavery. It meant everything! Their hearts were filled with purpose and hope. He gave them a picture of their destiny. God is the ultimate visionary!

When we see what He is saying it’s important to write the revelation down (Hab. 2:2). Make it as plain and clear as possible. Write every detail you see so you can run with it. I know the verse says that the herald may run, but I think it totally applies to the one who gets the vision as well.

So what can you do next:

•    Begin asking the Lord for His vision for your life. Ask Him for greater clarity. Find a place that creates the setting to encounter God. I suggest our Prayer Room
•    Pay attention to what you see. For me, God usually rolls out the vision a step at a time. For you, it might be different. Most times it comes as a picture or a prophetic word, act, painting etc   (it comes in many different ways)
•    Pay attention to your hearts passions and interests. What would you do if time, money or failure were not an issue? This is a good starting place to determine your passion.
•    Write this stuff down. Journal! You can draw pictures or cut out things you see or have read. It is amazing to look back over time to see what He is saying.
•    Lastly, as God makes things clear…make sure your motivation is true. A vision from God always serves.

Share what you are seeing God saying?

Moses had a day that would change the course of His life. He was just minding his own business on Mt. Horeb, shepherding  a bunch of sheep when He had an encounter with God who was speaking from a  burning bush.  From Moses encounter we discover a God of vision. A God who wants to partner with people to see his purposes achieved. But with the vision comes an internal struggle. Moses had to face the reality of God’s vision against his perceived weakness.  Here is a summery of each weakness and God’s gracious response to move Moses to His purpose and assignment.

The Struggle of Insignificance: Exodus 3:11-12.

Moses felt:  unqualified, unimportant and simply not worth God’s consideration.
God’s response: “I will be with you”

Believe that you are important and worthy to receive a vision from God and complete it.

The Struggle of Ignorance: Exodus 3:13-14

Moses felt: inexperienced and uniformed
God’s response: God gave Moses information of who is sending him and what he will do

Believe that God will give you the understanding, knowledge and information to complete God’s vision.

The struggle of Influence: Exodus 4:1-9

Moses felt: he lacked credibility or proof to get God’s people on God’s agenda
God’s response: release miracles to convince people that this is His vision and Moses is His leader.

Believe that you will be anointed to lead others in God’s vision.  People will believe you and run with you when they see miracles as the vision unfolds. Expect miracles.

The Struggle of Incompetence: Exodus 4:10-12

Moses felt: he lacked the ability, gifts and the skill set needed to complete the purpose of God
God’s response: He would empower Moses, helping him overcome his weakness

Believe that God will increase, or give you, the skills, gifts and anointing to fulfill His vision.

The Struggle of Insecurity: Exodus 4:13-17

Moses felt: fearful, unsure, anxious and overcome with doubt
God’s response: I will put people around you to help you

Believe He has called you.  Trust that He will put people around you to strengthen you in your weak areas.

Here is part two in a series on the importance of encountering God as a leader. Please read pt. 1 to get the full context of this post. Click the blue link above to view it.

• The Encounter of Leadership (Exodus 24:9) – Moses is now entrusted to bring others up with him into the presence of God. Seventy-four leaders ”saw the God of Israel“. Finally, he can share with others what he was experiencing himself. Your personal breakthrough as a leader leads to corporate breakthroughs to those whom you lead. Moses now leads others up the mountain to a place of encounter where they actually see God.
• The Encounter of Friendship (Exodus 24:18) – Moses again ascends up through the thick cloud of God’s presence for 40 days and 40 nights. What happened up there? I mean 40 days and 40 nights in the glory cloud. I believe that he became a friend of God, consumed by love and understanding His ways. Moses now follows out of passion instead of discipline, from the identity of a servant to that of a friend. He is moved by God’s heart, not just God’s law. Moses is now an intimate friend.
• The Encounter of Glory (Exodus 34:29) – Moses comes down from the mountain and he is ”not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord“. Can you imagine that? That is what glory does. It is revealed as a result of an encounter. It’s displayed on our faces and through our lives. From that day forward Moses wore a veil over his face. The only time he took it off was when he was alone, when he was being used as an oracle of God to the people and when he met with God personally. Moses is now reflecting the Glory of God as a direct result of encountering Him.

In 2 Corinthians 3:10 it says,

• 2Cor. 3:7-11 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Encounters with God are life-changing defining moments. Today, there is even a greater glory for you and me. We are to carry a glory of increase that comes out of our encounters with the Lord through the Spirit. It’s a surpassing glory!

Moses moved from purpose to glory through a series of encounters with God. Find time to really know God. He is waiting!

How have encounters with God impacted your life?