(Image-Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons-flickr)

Is Churchianity getting in the way of revival? I believe that it is.

We all have pre-conceived ideas about how God can move among us and bring revival. For most Christians it is confined to the 4 walls of a church building or maybe a special tent or conference. Even when we go to the streets we take our Christian culture, language, and music with us.

But what if God really wanted to do something different in our midst?

Well we have a myriad of ‘heresy hunters’ to take care of that unfortunate turn of events. After all, we might want revival but most American Evangelicals expect it to come during a 20 minute sermon surrounded  by 3 hymns and a couple of prayers with an offering in the middle. Plus it better be over in exactly on the hour cause the next service starts when the big hand strikes 12.

Of course I am being ridiculous but mix in your own form of worship and church structure or denominational traditions and see where God is really allowed to move.

What if he wants to move downtown on main street or in the neighborhoods, or maybe at your work or business? what would that look like?

Here’s a good article on this issue by Nicki Pfeifer: The Next Move of God

She writes about how God was moving unseen in the Greek and Roman culture of the 1st century and how Apostles like Paul responded to what they found and how a real move of God followed.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -South OC: Contemporary Revival Characteristics
2. -Revival Issues: America is Like Nazareth? It’s a Matter of Honor

        (Image via Wikipedia)

Happy Halloween –Happy Reformation Day!

I know. October 31st is known for witches, goblins, pumpkins, and trick or treat.

It is amazing to me how in the last 20 years or so Halloween has gone from a one night ‘celebration’ to become an entire season of it’s own with parties and decorations that span nearly an entire month. Plus it has become an excuse for every TV station to flood the air with the worst horror movies of all time -not a genre that I am particularly fond of.

However, this is also the anniversary of a real earth shaking -game changing- historical event that altered the face of Europe and forever changed the Christian Church. It happened on October 31, 1517.

On that day, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany starting The Reformation.

The enemy likes to use this day for propagating his dark agenda but it was also on this day nearly 500 years ago that a genuine move of God was initiated that still continues. The beginning of a revival right in the face of the enemy on his own day.

Let’s redeem this dark day and pray for God to continue to reform and revive his church.  Let’s also in remembrance of the original Reformation pray today for a new awakening to begin in America. May a new door of renewal and revival open in America that no man can shut.  In Jesus name, Amen             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Revival is In the Marketplace?
2. -Let’s Pray for Our ‘Dead Cows’

              (Image by shioshvili via Flickr)

Are the bells tolling for the American church?

From LifeWay Research comes the following trends which may soon affect American Churches:

1. Our nation will see the emergence of the largest generational mission field in more than a century. According to our current research, the Millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, will have a very low Christian representation. Our estimates now are that only 15 percent are Christian. With a huge population of nearly 80 million, that means that nearly 70 million young people are not Christians.

2. The dominant attitude of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent. Only 13 percent of the Millennials rank any type of spiritual matter as important to their lives. They are not angry at churches and Christians. They simply ignore us because they do not deem us as meaningful or relevant.

3. Senior adult ministries in churches will experience steep declines. As the large Baby Boomer generation moves into their older years, they will resist any suggestion that they are senior adults, no matter how senior they may be. Unfortunately, many churches are slow to adapt to new realities. If they do senior adult ministry the way they’ve always done it, it will be headed for failure.

4. The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the gospel. Our data is anecdotal for now, but we are seeing indications that the Boomers may actually become more interested in spiritual matters in general and Christianity specifically. If so, this trend will be counter to other trends where adults tend to become less receptive to the gospel as they age. The Baby Boomers have tried it all and found no joy. They may likely turn to the hope of the gospel.

5. Family will be a key value for both of the large generations. For the Millennials, family is their most important value. Nearly eight out of ten of the Millennials ranked family as the important issue in their lives. They told us that they had healthy relationships with their parents who, for the most part, are Baby Boomers. Some churches say they are family friendly, but few actually demonstrate that value. Churches that reach both of these generations will make significant changes to become the type of churches that foster healthy family relationships.

Read the whole thing: Five major trends for churches in America

Response: Many secular folks are anticipating a huge decline in membership for Christian Churches in America. As the Boomer generation gets older and begins to depart from this earth, many expect that the Christian influence in America will finally decline and go the same way as Europe.

The key to that expectation lies with the small number of Millennials that are actually Christians and involved in churches in America. The writer of the Lifeway article views this as a wide open domestic mission field opportunity.

In the next generation, will churches be closed up and shuttered all across America like Europe or will a new move of God bring an entire generation to Christ? The demographics are definitely against the church. I suggest that we pray for the later and participate in a new move instead. We obviously need a new awakening In America.             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Revival Issues: America is Like Nazareth? It’s a Matter of Honor
2. -Church Today Not What God Intended?

                            (Image via Wikipedia)

“And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.” -Mark 6:5  (ESV)

“…for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” -1 Sam 2:30-31 (ESV)

Is America like Nazareth? So much of the time we get excited when a few sick people are healed while blind eyes see and the dead are raised in Africa and the lame walk in other places around the world. It reminds me of the ministry of Jesus and all of the miracles he did except when he went home to Nazareth. There he was only able to heal a few sick folks.

We send missionaries to India and they lay hands on folks and the blind see and the lame walk but the minute they come back home it no longer works in the same way. Why it that? It is obviously a different faith atmosphere and jurisdiction.

We live in a secular culture that no longer honors Jesus and it even rubs off on those of us who are Christians. The church in America thinks we know all about Jesus and we even have him clearly boxed up and defined in 1,000’s of books that have been written over the years.

There are even many Bible teachers here that have taught and have theologically concluded that miracles ended in the first century when the Bible was completed and the Apostles died out since they personally never saw any. Since they rarely happen here we have concocted all sorts of theological reasons for it. The only problem, around the world for nearly 2,000 years folks continue to be healed in the name of Jesus and in every generation the miracles have continued.

Intellectually we think we know Jesus and what he can do and in our case not do. We even pray- “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth” and have no clue what that might really involve.

Whereas major healings and miracles seem to be a natural part of the Gospel in the 3rd world here in America and much of the West we assign them to the separate category of  the ‘supernatural’. Then Western philosophers seriously argue over whether there is even such a thing or not.

However, any evangelist or minister that travels to India, Africa, or the 3rd world will confirm that major healings and miracles still take place all the time even if they cannot duplicate them when they get back to the states.

It is all matter of expectations and world view –but ultimately it is really about faith and honor. Jesus is no longer honored in the public square in America – guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in our schools and colleges -guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in our businesses –guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in our neighborhoods –guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in many of our homes in America –guess where revival must start.

Jesus is honored in our churches for a short time on Sunday –guess when revival must happen in America –Monday through Saturday.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Revival is In the Marketplace?
2. -Japan: A New Opportunity to Spread the Gospel and Bring Revival?

(Charles Finney via Wikipedia)

What is it about the marketplace that makes it an important venue for Revival? What is the marketplace anyway. Really the word in the context I am using it involves where we spend the majority of our waking hours. Our occupations, jobs, schools, businesses, markets, and shopping malls.

American Christians have looked for revival in all of the wrong places. Churches, conferences, special tent meetings and etc. The church bound forms of revival are really church renewals- They are wonderful, I love them, and they are life changing and ‘body of Christ’ renewing. However they seldom if ever touch culture and the greater society as a whole. Nothing like the ‘Great Awakenings’ in the past. We really need to look for something greater and expect to be surprised.

It is time for a revival in America to touch the very culture and places where we spend our days. What if the Holy Spirit descended at the office where you work – would it make a difference. What if people found themselves on their knees praying (unplanned) in a mall and everyone passing by was also touched and joined them –even those who don’t know what is happening to them and have never really prayed before? What would you call that?

It has happened before in America in the 19th century when Finney went into the factories and businesses of NY City and 500,000 inexplicably came to Christ. It is said that as Charles Finney merely walked through businesses hardened workers fell on their knees and responded to the Holy Spirit flooding the whole place. The whole culture of NY City was changed.

We are now in the midst of a recession that is touching every business in America. I read yesterday that unemployment is now at 10.3% but that doesn’t include the other 9-10% that didn’t get a job in a year so they statistically dropped them from the rolls. The unemployment figures in the USA are really closer to 20% if not over.

A lot of the prophetic folks I know and listen to are saying that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better? Meanwhile the media and the politicians keep trying to put a good face on the economic and political mess we find ourselves in since they really don’t have a handle on it and don’t want to do the hard stuff that it will take to get us out of it.

The problems we face economically are in the marketplace but what if revival came to the marketplaces in America would it make a difference? Would it change America for the better? I believe that the answers are obvious. Americans spend most of their lives at work and in the marketplaces and if God is really going to bring a Revival today in America that is where it has to go.

Come Holy Spirit.

Related Posts?:

1. -Revival is In the Marketplace?

                        (Image via Wikipedia)

In the first century at the founding of the church the marketplace was a major point of growth for the church. This came before all of the permanent churches and ecclesiastical structures that would characterize the church 3 or 4 centuries later and beyond.

So much of what went on in the first century church actually happened in the street. The Holy Spirit fell upon 120 folks in the upper room on Pentecost but it wasn’t until they got down into the street below with everyone else that over 3,000 came to Christ that day—the first Christian revival.

In the past 100 years or so we have come to view ‘revival’ as something that happens in a church. Sometimes that has been the case in the past when the culture was such that the majority of everyone in a town would be together in a church on Sunday morning then the spirit would fall and change the entire community. I’m thinking of the Welsh revival or the Great Awakening in America. Those revivals emanated from the church.

However, there have been other revivals like Wesley’s that weren’t allowed in the church as such but happened outside the ordinary ecclesiastical structures and buildings.  Some like Finney’s New York City revival actually took place in the factories and marketplace.

What about today? If the Holy Spirit fell in one of Europe’s great cathedrals today on any given Sunday only a couple of dozen seniors would be touched.

Today if God really wanted to reach out to a whole city or community on any given Sunday he would probably have to visit a football game or mall? Then there are the Chinese Christians who continue to show us how a revival can touch 100 million or so one at a time in a house church and marketplace movement.

What is destined for America? I believe that the revival we are about to embark upon involves the home and the marketplace in a major way like no other revival movement before. More later.             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -South OC: Contemporary Revival Characteristics

  (Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr)

Rom 15:5-7
5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  -ESV

Last weekend was spent at a men’s retreat up at Big Bear, CA. I always look forward to the time spent together with other men from my home church- VCC Laguna Niguel as a high point of every year and was not disappointed.

The best part is the encouragement that I always receive and the clarity of vision for ministry that I usually come away with.

Pastor Dave gave the keynote talk and the scripture above was one of the references. Interestingly at least twice when he was pointing out the importance of supporting one another with endurance and encouragement he mistakenly (?) combined the two words together and said- ‘enduragement’. It became a running joke for the weekend. However, I found the new word to be especially helpful in remembering and applying the message. Now I am not all that sure it was really so much of a mistake.

The best part of the weekend was when we got into small groups and prayed over each other’s families, jobs, and ministries and the Holy Spirit fell on everyone there. There is nothing like having other brothers pray with you over the most important and intimate things of your life. Then feeling and receiving not only support from brothers in the faith but also encouragement to endure and live out your faith in such a way that it actually makes the world around you a better place to live.

So I submit this to you:  I pray that all of you will receive the same kind of ‘enduragement’ that I received last weekend from my brothers in Christ. If so, then Revival could become a reality in your everyday experience of living.

Come Holy Spirit and bring new vision and enduragement to all who read this and let them be touched with fresh fire that ignites their lives and touches everything and everyone they come in contact with- families, neighbors, workers, store clerks. Let the light of the Holy Spirit in them leap out and touch everyone. Let it be a surprise and let it be revival- not in tents or churches but everywhere.            *Top

(Image via Wikipedia)

Happy Halloween –No Happy Reformation Day!

I know. October 31st is known for witches, goblins and trick or treat plus the Catholic Church tried unsuccessfully to redeem it all by calling it ‘All-Saints Day’.

However a real earth shaking game changing event happened on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany starting the Reformation of the Christian Church.

The enemy likes to use this day for propagating his dark agenda but this is also Reformation Day.

This is a great day to pray for God to continue to reform and revive his church. Also pray for revival to break out in America once more and let Europe rise up and remember their great heritage and the foundation of it all which is in Christ Jesus.

(Image by SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent) via Flickr)

Here’s a good article by Don Finto: “Gifting and Character” 

Here’s the ‘money’ quote from the middle of the article:

“Character and gifting are different. This is why we can sometimes see extremely gifted-of-God men and women who fail morally.

Remember the mightily gifted Samson whose character never matched the gifting. Do not forget David, the murderer-adulterer. Was David anointed? Yes. Gifted? Yes. Did he fall? Yes. Was he restored? Yes. Were there consequences of his failure? Yes. Yet God later described him as "a man after my own heart (Acts 13:20)."”

Response: We have seen a lot of gifted major ministers failing and falling in the last couple of years within Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. I won’t bother to name any since I am sure anyone reading this article probably thought of a couple of them immediately.

‘Gifting’ is so emphasized and such a major part of the Charismatic and Pentecostal moves of God that it seems to almost over-ride character at times. Then the problems come.

We have seen just in recent years alone how certain major charismatic leaders and healers have been protected and their failures hidden from view by those in awe of their extraordinary gifting. Then comes the ‘train wreck’ and everyone who knew better comes out of the woodwork.

You would think that we would learn from the past but it doesn’t seem to work that way for some reason. For example, just after WWII there were a whole slew of major healing ministries that went from town to town in America and did some incredible miracles. They were gifted in a major way but there was no accountability and character was a major problem.

Nearly everyone of those incredible ministries ended up failing and/or teaching weird or false doctrines. It was a major setback for the American church and kept healing and spiritual gifts out of the mainstream for nearly 15 years.

In the same time frame God rose up Billy Graham, a man of extraordinary character. There were a dozen or so ministers from the same time period that were far more gifted than Billy but he excelled in character, was faithful, and God honored him and we all honor him today after a whole generation of incredibly fruitful ministry.

The point is –character matters.

We need both gifting and character for the American church to rise up and become the culture changing agent that it is called to be in bringing on a new era of revival and awakening.            *Top

(Image via Wikipedia)

Thousands of African Christians  gathered on Saturday (10/16) at the National Mall in Washington DC to pray for a spiritual awakening—in the U.S.

The event was sponsored by the African Strategic Leadership Prayer Network (ASLPN), a coalition of African church leaders in the U.S. and in Africa.

Many in this country are unaware of the 100,000 plus African Christians who have immigrated to the US in the last few years. Many believe that God brought them here as ‘missionaries’ to this country.

Now thousands of these immigrants plus their associates back in Africa are praying for revival to come once more to America. Praise God!