I'll never forget the day in 2009. I gathered together all the students of the Bible Schools into one room. It was packed to the back wall with over 150 Pastors and Ministry. My message was brief and to the point. There was chaos in the Bible Schools. Clearly a spirit of rebellion, confusion, contention and cunning had crept in and taken hold. I wasn't exactly sure what was really going on behind my back, but I knew it wasn't good. In fact, it was openly demonic. And I was very sure what God had told me to do.

"Everyone who has been in the Bible School for a year or more, please stand."

45 Pastors and Ministry Leaders stood up and quietly waited for my next instruction.

"I have taught you all that I have to teach you. Now pick up all your things. And go home."

They were shocked. Caught entirely off guard. Their reaction confirmed the rebellion. After some contention, they filed out. The remaining students sat in stunned silence. Their turn was next.

"We are closing the Bible Schools. For an undefined period of time. At least several weeks. Please go home. Pray about whether or not God wants you to be here. If so, you may come back. But please don't come back unless and until you hear Personally and Directly from the Lord. We will post a banner announcing our reopening date. Now please go home. And get alone with God."

The spirit was exposed. The rebellion was crushed. The infection was lanced. This was Spiritual Enforcement at its highest level. God was cleaning His house. I had never seen anything like it. I had no idea what I was doing or what would happen. I only knew that what I had just done was exactly what God had told me to do. Without notice, and without preparation. To have delayed or done otherwise would have been outright rebellion on my part.

God imposed a mandatory Idleness. No one knew what to do next.. .especially me. I sat at home for nearly 3 weeks. Initially I thought it was time better spent teaching in the Bible Schools. God thought otherwise. I thought the Idleness would drive me crazy. God knew it would bring Change. I thought souls were being lost every day we were closed. God knew He was gathering more than ever before. I thought 6 years of ministry were lost and gone forever. God was breaking up the fallow ground and sowing for a Harvest such as we never imagined. When we reopened several weeks later, we had the largest enrollment ever.. .adding another 75 brand new Pastors and Ministry Leaders in one day!

Idleness exposes Idols. We are not inclined to "be still and know" God. We are much more comfortable with spiritual busyness than with prayerful stillness. We are inclined to think that "more" is always fruitful. More programs, more serving, more members, more teachings, more ministries, more churches, more money, more outreaches, more, more, more. If we are brutally honest, we already know that much of what "the Church" is doing these days is "wood, hay and stubble." How else can we explain the alarming divorce rates, dropout rates, entertain-me attitudes, the obvious apathy and chronic carnality within "the Church" for many decades? It's not hard to discern God saying in a sudden, stunning and straightforward manner to our generation...

"Sit down. Everyone. Right now!" And to the Church.. "And Yes! That includes YOU!"

At least, it shouldn't be hard to discern that. But I suspect many will disagree, disapprove and deflect. I'm not here to defend what God has shown me. I'm just here to share it. Unpolished, unapologetically.. with fear and trembling. Fear of God. And trembling because I know it all applies to me first and foremost.

As we plod through this Divinely Imposed Idleness, let's embrace the obvious. God is grabbing everyone's attention. From the atheist to the monk, everyone is essentially under onerous constraints beyond their control. It's not God's Wrath. Clearly not one bit. Rather, it is God's Chastisement. And chastening is not God's Wrath...it is God's Mercy.

No one is imagining things feel joyful now. Chastening is painful. But it's high time we let God be God. He is doing something. Something huge. Something many of us failed to do: Cleaning out our Idols. Don't imagine wooden statues (although they need to go as well!). The more insidious Idols involve our habits, attitudes, patterns of life, leisurely pursuits and carnal perspectives that are clearly unbiblical, unholy...and yet uncomfortable to jettison. We carry them around year after year, avoiding the hard work of Sanctification, Self-denial and Submission. We imagine God is “understanding” because, after all, “I'm not Jesus"...and “He made me this way”...and “God's Grace is sufficient.” We've twisted fundamental biblical principles into the doctrines of demons, while singing “| surrender all!” on Sunday morning. It is by God's Grace that He steps in...sends us into captivity and makes us all sit down. Forcefully. When all else has failed.

It's not just about the Church. It's about the Unbelievers as well. While the world is largely Idle right now, God Himself is entirely engaged. He is directly intervening in the affairs of mankind. He is exposing everyone’s Idols. He is breaking up the fallow ground. He is preparing the field. He is sowing His Seed. And when this virus thing passes (and it will), we will not be going “back to normal” in the church, in evangelism or missions. Something will have permanently shifted. There is going to be a Great Harvest from this Season of Sitting. Idols will have been targeted...and toppled. Both inside and outside the Church. In the “Believers” and the “Unbelievers.” A Great Harvest is coming. And no one will be able to take credit for it except God Himself. Most Unbelievers don't understand it quite yet...but the Holy Spirit is wooing them with Mercy and Compassion right toward Jesus’ outstretched arms. As prophesied long ago, it will again be fulfilled in our generation...

In the interim, let’s humble ourselves before God. Thanking Him for our now Idle idols. Not asking for an end to the virus. But for removal of our spiritual infections. Not praying for a vaccine. But for removal of our generation's immunization to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Because one thing is for sure. If this is God’s Mercy (and it surely is), heaven forbid we wish for things to “go back to normal"...and blindly stumble right into His Wrath.