A New Network for a New Day

David W Palmer

Jesus’s apprentices had been on a steep learning curve of breathtaking speed, as they followed him and learn to work with him in his ministry. Having dealt with fasting, Jesus now forays into some very deep and profound revelation about new anointings and ministries that he raises up:

(Matthew 9:16 NKJV) “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.”

As Head of the church, Jesus is talking about introducing new ministries—his original one, and then others that will operate in his name. His first illustration is that of a garment—an old garment patched with new, or “unshrunk” cloth. The fact that it can shrink means it is probably a woven material made of wool. This implies a network of threads that make up the fabric of a covering. The maker of this garment designs it for a particular person—boy, girl, man, woman, etc.—and makes it flawlessly to keep out the wind, rain, heat, cold, and to look attractive.

Jesus is telling us a lot in a short illustration; the covering mantle or garment is woven of many strands to fit the person it is designed to serve. When Jesus introduces a new ministry, he calls, equips, and sends a key leader with an anointing. To that person, he imparts the vision of what he wants. Then he draws other people around that anointing to participate in its ministry, and he knits them together into a network or body. (Note: our human body is also a form of clothing—physical clothing for the spirit man (2 Pet. 1:14).)

(Ephesians 4:15–16 NKJV) … the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

(Colossians 2:19 NKJV) … the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

(1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

Those Jesus knits together are called to: work with the new anointing, cover the leader, support financially, and supply for the ministry. Jesus then takes of the same spirit he put on the leader, and puts it on those appointed to form this new network (See: Num. 11:17). This way, they work in agreement with the vision, and Jesus combines them, their gifts, personalities, and callings to fit together into a working body. Its function is to fulfill the head’s God-given vision for that local church or ministry.

When any new structure is first put together, the master-builder will test everyone in it. Hopefully, most pass their tests … but some will not. (That’s precisely why he tests them; a wise master-builder wants to know who will fail under extreme stress and pressure. Remember that even in the original 12 disciples that Jesus called to be part of his ministry, there was one who fell away and betrayed Jesus.) During this process, the network “shrinks” a little before settling into its designed function. A new network has so much oil of anointing and flexibility that it can adjust to the shrinkage, but an old one cannot.

The “old garment” Jesus mentions speaks of a well-worn mantle. This is pictured in the one Elijah passed on to Elisha. It was perfect when instituted by God, and it fulfilled its purpose in that season. But by the time Jesus came, it was old and had gaps in its function—like holes in an old garment. It was no longer able to meet the demands of what God needed in this next season; it could no longer protect and serve the ministry it was designed to cover. So, two options presented themselves: patch the old with some of the new, un-shrunk network; or make a completely new one.

Jesus, however, warns against trying to patch an old leaky mantle with something new in an attempt to make it complete. Instead of being a permanent remedy, because of the usual shrinkage, the new patch causes a tear, which ultimately makes it worse. Now the hole has a greater diameter: more people are being affected; more are being torn away from the old system.

We have to allow Jesus to knit together new structures and networks around the new anointings and ministries he raises up. How does this apply to us? Two ways:

First, new churches and ministries are popping up all around us. If this is something Jesus is doing, unless he is calling us to be part of the new networks he is knitting, we should simply stay in the function he has placed us in without comparison, complaining, or feeling left out. Just pray for the new network.

Second, if Jesus is calling you to operate in a new anointing or ministry, allow him to raise up a new network around you for your next season. He will do this by calling and drawing his selected people to the anointing he has placed on you. Your role is simply to let go of the old, and to recognize what he is doing. Then, like Elisha, take up that new mantle, use it to strike the impediment blocking your way, and then move forward. Note: the mantle you are to pick up is not falling from Elijah; it is designed especially for you, and it comes from Jesus.

(2 Kings 2:14 NKJV) Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

(Ephesians 4:11 NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

(Acts 2:33 NKJV) … He poured out this which you now see and hear.