What is it? by Craig Groeschel (Hillsongs Conference 2009)

So… What is it? Have you ever wondered why some leaders/churches have it and some don’t? Why some are so much more “anointed” or “blessed” than others? Have you ever attended a church service of a small church that just had “it”? Or have you attended a mega church that just left you unchanged at the end? I don’t know what it is and I can’t really explain, but I want IT!

You see, IT is not something that can be classified. Is it passion? Is it the Holy Spirit? It could be. Well, it is unique because the Holy Spirit manifests differently though different people. Just like how everyone should have their own answers to their own spiritual needs, IT is personal and unique, and is NOT secondhand. It can’t be copied, can’t be manufactured, can’t be duplicated. It is not a system, it CAN'T be taught, but it CAN be caught. If we have it, doesn’t mean we can keep it. If we don’t have it, doesn’t mean we can’t get it!

Upside: It changes lives

Downside: It attracts critics (because people don’t understand it, so they start questioning it)

Churches/Ministries that have IT are: LASER FOCUSED – We must know what God is or is not calling us to do. We can have tones of ministries (e.g. worship, choir, bible study groups etc…). We CAN do many things, but we don’t HAVE to do everything. [We don’t have to do what other churches are doing]. We CAN, but is it Spirit led? There are 2 things that we should do however. 1. Reach people that no one else is reaching. 2. Do whatever no one else is doing. A fully functioning church is NOT doing whatever everyone else is doing. The body of Christ is made up of many different parts; all have unique/special functions; they do not do the same thing, however they have the same goal: the functioning of the body of Christ.

Question: What are we doing that we need to stop doing?

Churches/Ministries that have IT: See opportunities where others see obstacles – There’s always an excuse for every problem/obstacle, but God has given us or provided us with EVERYTHING to do His work (We look but do not see). It’s not about what we don’t have on the outside, but what we’re missing on the inside.

If I told you to come up with $100,000 in 5 days, can you do it? Maybe? No? Now let’s change the situation a little… A family member is terminally ill and needs an operation ASAP to live. He/she needs $100,000 within 5 days. Can you now come up with that money? Yes? Definitely? What changed? Passion? Urgency? Sometimes God guides us from what He withholds from us (Acts 3:6). It is not about what people want, it is what they need. In the same way, the bible doesn’t show us what we want, but what we need.

Question: What is God trying to show us in our limitations?

Churches/Ministries that have IT are: Willing to FAIL – Failure is not an option, it is a necessity! Matthew 25 – Parable of the talents: Do you not think that the ones with the 5 and 10 talents were not afraid when they risked/invested what they had? I bet they were scared as hell, and were probably praying and hoping that it all works out. We need to fail to learn (failing forward). It is worse failing to learn than learning from failure. Ecclesiastes 11:1 says: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” Investment is a risk, but how can you lose out when you invest in something that never fails? Peter was a BIG failure, but God still called him to preach. And who better to preach about failure other than the one who failed it big time? Who better to demonstrate the grace of God that was shown? We have to learn to shake it off and try again! Matthew 10:14 “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” Learn to shake it off and not let it get to our hearts.

Question: What is God calling me to do deep down inside that I’m afraid to do?

Churches/Ministries that have IT are: Led by people who have it – When we have it in us, God will take care of the outside stuff. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” When we “have it all”, be careful or we will become too dependent on these things. It can cause us to stumble. We need to learn to be dependent on Him who has provided for us, and not rely on “second hand” spiritual food. We need our own food.

We can be in full time ministry, but only a part time follower of Christ. We can preach/share the gospel for the sake of people, but not give God the glory. Do you have it in you? Did you have it, but lost it? Have you ever had it before? Do you have it, but want more?