Marching Orders

Based on Psalm 81

What does it really mean to be dependent on God? We have heard it said that other gods are things other than God that we get our security and purpose from. Money, government and family are some good examples. But is there more to it?
In our methods as a church, are we dependent on God's counsel or our own reasoning?
Why is the church not ready for Jesus' return yet? What have we been doing wrong? Not the right doctrine? Not enough effort? Not the right methods? These are probably true, but are they the root problem?
What is God's solution?

I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Verse 10)
God is his own solution. We are not going to do this work by anything like our own righteousness, efforts or ideas. It will be obviously the victory of Jesus.
Alexander of Macedon is remembered as a great general because he was able to defeat great armies with his small army. If Alexander had a greater army, it would be thought that his superior army won him the victory.
In the same way, we know that Jesus will get the glory for his victory; so the source of the victory cannot be ourselves. We do not need to think up better doctrines, we need to be faithful to what Jesus has revealed. We do not need to mandate effort from our members, we need to change our lifestyles to match Jesus' counsel and our profession of faith in his coming. We do not need to think of new methods to do the work, we need to follow the methods that Jesus has given us.
As a people we have not done all these things in the past. It is not your responsibility or mine to make everyone do what is right, but to do what is right ourselves. Our generation may pass away without Jesus' coming, but if you have been faithful you will be saved. Our generation may witness Jesus' coming, but if you have not been among the faithful you will be lost. The second coming is conditional on the faithfulness of a group. Your salvation is conditional on your faithfulness as an individual.
Jesus will win the victory, he has sent you your marching orders: Have you read them? Have you obeyed them?
Take up the full armour of God and prepare for battle.