I felt that even if the surfer had seen the wave in time he could not have ridden it - he would have either had to quickly paddle into the beach, or out beyond where the wave was going to break to watch it go by. Like this surfer, the present church is in danger of getting nothing more than a good beating and a good lesson out of the impending move of the Holy Spirit. Even though the church has been hearing from the Lord about the impending ingathering, we have not been acting on His words and actually taking practical steps to be ready for what is coming. But this beating will immediately bring a wisdom and resolve to be ready for the next one, and to have the proper vehicle for riding it. To ride the wave that is coming we will also need to be much stronger than we are now.
Strength comes from exercising.
When the surfer returned to the beach he had the physique of a body builder, but one who had built himself up for strength and not just show. Every muscle was perfectly formed and powerful. The body of Christ must likewise be built up. Every muscle and every limb, or every individual part of the body, must be properly exercised and brought to full strength. For decades we have been preaching on Ephesians, chapter four, concerning the equipping of the saints for the work of service, but it is now time that we start doing it.