CHARISMATICA

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Many of you will probably wonder what I am thinking—after all the Reformation happened over 500 years ago with Luther nailing 95 theses on a cathedral door. Actually, it is my contention that the Reformation was a move of God that is still with us in some degree or another—the effects of the move changed Christianity forever. It wasn’t just the beginning of Protestantism but also brought major changes to the Roman church also.

Regardless of how you view the history of the Reformation that continued for several hundred years, Catholics view it different than protestants, nevertheless God was bringing something lost and something new to the church through this move and all Christianity has been changed for the better because of it.

Any of you who have ever read a history of this move can readily admit and agree that not everything that happened was from God—particularly the major wars that plagued all of Europe for centuries.

Now What About the Charismatic Move?

I started thinking about this issue after reading J. Lee Grady’s latest editorial: The Charismatic Movement: Dead or Alive?

The initial wave of the Charismatic movement is over but the effects continue on. And here’s where the confusion lies—no one would ever say that Pentecostalism is dead even though the original move that kicked it off happen in 1906. The same can be said of the Charismatic move that started in 1967. Though the original wave is over, the effects are still with us and it continues on.

What exactly did the Charismatic Move do anyway? What was the original function. So many today, 40 years after the beginning, look at a bunch of weird independent churches that call themselves ‘Charismatic’ and wonder if it was a real move of God after all. Believe me it was.

The real function of this move of God was not to found a new bunch of independent churches and associations/denominations, but to bring the gifts of the spirit and Pentecostalism into the mainstream. That is exactly what the move did—it broke down denominational walls and differences and spilled over into every denomination including the Catholics and Episcopalians.

This is another one of those—“I remember when” messages that I write every once in a while having lived through the whole thing! You see, I remember when all the Pentecostal churches were crummy little churches on the other side of the track in the worst parts of town and it definitely wasn’t socially advisable to admit that you were a ‘holy roller’. Not so today.

I can remember when I went to church with one of my buddies in 1965—it was a Southern Baptist Church. The moment I stepped into the vestibule I was greeted by a huge rack of tracts—with nearly half of them putting down Pentecostalism and particularly the gifts—did not make me feel all that welcome. Wow have times changed, last year I read an article in the Baptist Press that proclaimed that 50% of Southern Baptist Pastors believed in tongues. What happened—for better or worse–I think for better, the Charismatic move.

Today the vast majority of Christians are Pentecostal or Charismatic in their perspective and beliefs no matter what the denominational sign says on the church that they attend. This is particularly true in missional areas like Africa and Asia. This was not the way it was when I was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s.

Even those fundamentalist Christians that like to claim that the gifts ceased in the Apostolic period have been affected by the move. Most of those folks believe that God still answers prayer, still heals, and even still speaks to them through the Holy Spirit and through the Word. Read some of John MacArthur’s books, particularly on Jesus and see if you’re not surprised by the Holy Spirit gracing the work and blessing you in the process.

The initial ‘Charismatic’ move may be over but the church continues to build upon the foundation that God brought to us through it. Just like we continue to build upon the Reformation and Pentecostal moves. The real point and the best part of Grady’s article is this—God is not done with us and we need to be open to the next wave that he sends to his church. He closes with this thought:

“It really doesn’t matter what we label the next movement. What’s important is His renewing presence. Rather than worshiping God around a monument to the past, let’s find out where He’s going and follow the glory cloud.”

*Top 

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QUOTE: "The church has never been a building. Christ did not die for property. … The church—God’s family—is going to go on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever. If God has called you to serve in a local church … don’t you ever step down to become the president of the United States or anything else for that matter, because nothing matters more … [than] the privilege of guiding and guarding and shaping and sharing and encouraging and helping the flock of God. …

<<Guess who said this—and read the rest>>  Hint: actually I can see this pastor’s church on a clear day from my house.

The Iranian church has been in the midst of a revival in the last 5 years. However, the Ahmadinejad administration has been persecuting Christians lately and the entire community was hoping that the recent vote would bring a new President in Iran and greater freedom. Now that doesn’t seem to be the case regardless of how the vote actually turned out.

The Christians are among those in Iran who do not believe that the recent election results were fairly counted and it is said that some of the younger folk actually participated in some of the street rallies and protests.

Now the Iranian Christians may be in danger of being one of the groups that are singled out and targeted as scapegoats by Pres. Ahmadinejad. We really do need to pray for the Christians that this political upheaval will not bring even greater persecution for their community.            *Top 

Baseball All-Star Albert Pujols on ‘Evangelism’

Pujols tells what he does on the baseball field to witness for Christ. Great example for all of us–to find some way to witness during own regular daily activities.

Here’s the latest from Charisma Mag’s Prophetic Insight: by Kim Clement: ”The Manifestation of the Sons of God”

Here’s the conclusion:

And God said, "There is going to be a shaking during the summer, but the shaking shall be a sign that the earth is awaiting the manifestation of God’s sons and daughters. For there shall be a glory that shall come forth with unusual signs, unusual miracles, unusual manifestations—that shall come as a result of this shout that is coming from the earth," says the Spirit of the living God.

"Even though the earth shall shake, and even though the heavens may rumble, and even though the winds may blow and hurricanes may come," God said, "It shall be a sign that I am coming to this country like a mighty, rushing wind, about to raise you up and give you one sound, with one voice," says the Lord.

[America] is going to shake with the power of the living God.

<<Read the whole thing>>

Response: I post prophetic messages that speak to me in some way. In this one I see hope for the beginning of revival in America. We will not touch the controversial “manifestation of the Sons of God” reference which conjures up a variety of responses. Well maybe we will if some of you readers would like to comment.

I will say this about the message, I get somewhat uncomfortable when prophetic folk declare “and God said” or “says the Lord” or the traditional “Thus saith the Lord”—not knowing the mode in which the message came.

However, I have personally had at least a couple of occasions when I literally heard the voice of God and a number of open visions where that terminology might be totally justified. This might be one of those appropriate occasions.            *Top

  Here’s a great message and testimony from Ben Cerullo:

I will never forget that night. You could hear the astonishment in the people’s voices as they shouted with amazement. The woman they had known all their lives and referred to as “the deaf, mute woman” could suddenly hear!

It happened as I preached the message of salvation. This woman who had never heard, could suddenly hear the words from my mouth. All the people from the neighborhood were astounded. They knew her. They knew she was deaf. And now she could hear. It was a true miracle of God.

Not only was this woman’s life changed, but the entire neighborhood received hope by witnessing that miracle. In the worst neighborhood in Honduras, God poured out His hope to all those people—by healing that one woman.
That’s the incredible power of demonstrating the Gospel, that’s what we are all called to do—demonstrate the Gospel.

<<Read the rest>>

(Picture by Getty Images via Daylife)

NEW YORK (ABP) — “A former Southern Baptist Convention officer who on June 2 called the death of abortion provider George Tiller an answer to prayer said later in the day he is also praying "imprecatory prayer" against President Obama.”

Pastor Wiley Drake of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, California, confirmed in a radio interview with Alan Colmes that he was also praying for the death of the President. Here’s part of the exchange:

"Are you praying for his death?" Colmes asked.

"Yes," Drake replied.

"So you’re praying for the death of the president of the United States?"

"Yes."

Colmes asked Drake if he was concerned that by saying that he might be placed on a Secret Service or FBI watch list, and if he believed it appropriate to talk or pray that way.

"I think it’s appropriate to pray the Word of God," Drake said. "I’m not saying anything. What I am doing is repeating what God is saying, and if that puts me on somebody’s list, then I’ll just have to be on their list."

"You would like for the president of the United States to die?" Colmes asked once more.

"If he does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that are throughout the Scripture that would cause him death, that’s correct."

"I believe the whole Bible, Alan," he explained. "I don’t just preach part of it. I don’t just preach the soft, fuzzy, warm stuff where we’re supposed to be nice to everybody. I preach the whole Bible."

"This whole concept that we’re always to pray little, nice, soft, fluffy, prayers — that we’re not to pray imprecatory prayer — has been something that just, in all honesty, that Southern Baptists have lost, and we need to regain imprecatory prayer," Drake said. "It is in the Bible, and we are proud to say as Southern Baptists that we believe the Book. You’ve got to believe the whole Book, brother, or you don’t believe any of it."

Response: According to Drake, imprecatory prayer — words of judgment in the Psalms prayed back to God – is a practice he said that the American church has lost. My question is this—are ‘imprecatory prayers’ for today? After all some folks are always questioning if gifts are for today, what about this type of prayer? Is this really Christian?  -or- Are Christians called to pray for their enemies like Jesus said? What do you think? Is this really justified or just wrong?

I have been praying for President Obama and other leaders even though I disagree with them. Am I wrong to do that? I don’t think so.

Also, this interview was on a secular radio talk show—what kind of witness do you think this is for unbelievers?     

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Found this on Monday Morning Insight-an article on Guy Muse’s blog: “How to Change Traditional Churches into New Testament Churches”

Here’s a list of 15 suggestions that does certainly sound like the NT church alright –some of which may be the direction that the American church needs to go in the future or maybe not:

1. Replace professional clergy with Priesthood of all Believers with authority to baptize, break bread and equip fishers of men. (1 Peter 2:9)

2. Replace Church building with "House of Peace." (Luke 10:5-9; Matt. 10:11-13)

3. Replace programmed Sunday service with daily informal gatherings. The Bride of Christ must have intimacy with her Lord every day and not just for a couple of hours a week lest she become unfaithful. (Acts 2:46-47; Hebrew 3:13)

4. Replace tithing with sharing the enormous financial resources and goodwill available in Christian homes. (Deut. 8:17-18; Acts 5:32-34)

5. Replace the “Crumb and Sip” Holy Communion with simple “Community meals” eaten together with gladness from house to house. (Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 11:20-23)

6. Replace loud music with speaking to each other in psalms and spiritual songs making melody in your heart. (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16)

7. Replace the spectator church to participatory, interactive, prophetic and Missionary sending church. (1 Cor 14:26-31; Acts 13:13)

8. Replace organizational and denominational churches with citywide network of house churches. (Romans 16:3-15)

9. Replace barren church with multiplication. The Bride must not remain barren, but reproduce and fill the earth. (Acts 1: 8; 1 Cor 9: 19-30)

10. Replace submitting to one man – by submitting to each other. We must encourage, comfort, exhort, edify and serve one another. (Galatians 5: 13; Eph. 4: 2, 15)

<<You can read the other five here>>

What do you think?            *Top 

  Here’s another prophetic word by R. Loren Sandford:  “Recovering Our Lost Influence“

Loren has some right-on counsel for the church here and points out that Christians lost their political and cultural influence in America because of hypocrisy in high places(failing Christian leaders) and because of a ‘religious’ pharisaic attitude towards unbelievers:

I don’t see judgment falling on the nation yet but rather on the church—God’s people—and it has only just begun. 1 Peter 4:17 clearly indicates that judgment begins with the house of God.

The first stage of judgment—already in motion—is that we have lost both our power as a voting block and our cultural influence. We have lost these things (1) because we have presented ourselves to the nation in the religious spirit rather than the Spirit of Christ and (2) because our integrity in high places has been badly compromised.

The second stage of judgment on the church in days to come is that the culture of this nation will continue in the direction it has been choosing to take for the last 40 years. The judgment is that we can do nothing to stop this slide into lawlessness and immorality because we’ve sacrificed our moral authority.

Sandford ends with good counsel for the American church—well worth reading.            *Top

(State Seal via Wikipedia)

The battle between the State of Connecticut and the Roman Catholic Church started in March with the surprise introduction of a bill in the state Senate that would have reorganized the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in the state. This bill was sponsored by advocates of same-sex marriage.

Then after the church headed up a successful campaign against the bill, the State of Connecticut ruled that the church was in violation of state lobbyist laws and was subject to a $10,000 fine and criminal charges since the Diocese of Bridgeport had not registered as an official political lobby.

Now the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport has filed a federal lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court contending that the actions of the State in requiring them to register as a lobby organization are in direct violation of the church’s constitutional rights.

Response: It has started and this is just the beginning. If the State of Connecticut gets away with regulating the involvement of the Catholic church in political issues than there is nothing to stop that state and others from coming after the rest of us and muzzling all Christians, particularly when in comes to issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.