STAY IN YOUR LANE! Do you know where you belong?

The very last words of Jesus on the cross were, "It is finished."  However, his work was far from done.  In John 14, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Another scripture I would like to tie into my thoughts as we begin is Acts 17:26 "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods of time and boundaries of their dwelling place."   The three ideas I would like to focus on has to deal with the idea that you were born to live in a specific place, given an allotted time to use all you gifts and talents in that place, for a specific task to be accomplished.

Recently, I heard a very prominent Christian leader say that he believed that most Christian's never succeed in life because they either don't know their place, have left their place, or moved to the wrong place.  So I got to thinking about this from a biblical perspective.  In the Hebrew Scripture we find that Abraham was called by God to leave his father's house and "Go to a land that God had prepared for him."  What's interesting to me is that the vision that God gave Abraham actually started with his father Terah. In Genesis 11:31 "Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son's Abram's wife, and they went forth from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, BUT when they came to Haran, they settled there.  It appears that God was leading Terah to move his family into the Land of Canaan but he settled in a place that God had not intended for the family.  This maybe why God told Abram to leave his father's house.  He was in the wrong place, not fulfilling what God had intended for them as a family.  What if Abram had disobeyed and just remained in a place that God had not appointed him. I have been so amazed over the years at how many people I know have left places seeking to find a place where they could be happy and end up never fulfilling their God-given purpose.  I am not convinced that you can just pick up and leave a place and go off to somewhere else and assume that God is with your choices or will bless you.

The problem is that too many Christians define success in terms of cash, assets, and accumulation of goods and services as a measurement of success.  They even think that when losses occur that somehow God has determined it's time to move. Throughout the Bible, you find people like Naomi (in the Book Of Ruth) leaving her "place" because of her losses and famine.  The Bible says she left and was "bitter."  In Ruth 1:8 she even tells her family to go away. Sounds like a lot of people I have observed who leave their place, their assigned places, and even throw they're church family away.  They end up in a bitter state because they have gone through a spiritual famine.  Then they tell you they are just "churched out"  On top of that they say things like "I Love Jesus, but I hate the Church."  The church is not a building, or institution.  It's people.  So what they are really saying is I hate people and I even hate myself (because they claim they are a member of the Body Of Christ). I Corinthians 12:21 states, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you" nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." Every part of your physical body is assigned a place in your body not someone else's body.  Last I checked my eyes were not seeking to be removed and placed into someone else's body. I have no spare body parts. I Cor. 12:28 clearly states "God has arranged the members in the Body, each one of them, as he chooses."  So just as our body parts have been assigned a place to dwell - and each of us have been born in a family - God appoints us to specific local congregations in an assigned place to exercise our gifts for the tasks. We (member of the body of Christ)  have been assigned together to fulfill God's plan in a geographic sphere and given a timeline to get the job done.  So if God wants you to leave a church in a geographical place -  then like Abraham you should consider leaving the area for a new assignment in another geographical place in another city or you might be just plain - out of the will of God. It's that simple.  Like Abram, God does call people to leave geographical areas to go and serve in. However, like Terah most people don't go all the way into the new location - they just try to settle down in another body (in their current city) - trying to be a transplanted eye or heart. That body may take to the alien heart or eye because it needs one but in most cases spare body parts get rejected. This is why so many the embittered Christians (who couldn't work through their issues) get mad and wonders why they can't just fit into another church.  Have you thought your rejected by other churches because you are not in your assigned place?  Or you haven't move to another geographical location you are being called to?  Too many won't move because they base their decision on "cash" or a "job" rather than step out in faith where God is calling them to go. If God calls you to another place he will provide for you, give you a new job your will love and place you into another church to fulfill your new assignment - because you've finished your job well where you've been.

However, most people who leave their assigned places leave because things didn't go their way. They didn't seek the Lord. They didn't follow God's calling. They just left - MAD! They held false expectations on others in relationship to them. They got frustrated, upset when things in relationship or direction didn't go their way so they divorce themselves from relationship and divorce themselves from the church God called them to.  One of my dearest friends, John Sandford has said, "Relationship is designed to grind."  As a member of the Body of Christ you are called to work through your unforgiveness, your judgements, vain expectations and bitterness. Even if you find people in the Body of Christ where you are assigned annoying  (and those you may just flat out don't get along with) you need to hear what Paul wrote in I Cor. 12:22-23 "...the members of the body which seem to be WEAKER (which means not as strong in areas as you are) are necessary; and those members of the body WE DEEM LESS HONORABLE, on these we bestow MORE ABUNDANT HONOR, and our less unpresentable members are treated with greater respect.  In other words, when certain people in the Body of Christ bother you- it's your job to treat them with honor and respect... you are called to work through your problematic relationships just like you would with any other member of your personal family. You just don't leave a church with relational problems left unresolved. In fact, if you go to another church with these issues unaddressed in your life - you will carry those same unresolved problems into you next relationships.  In Ephesians 4:29-31 takes it a bit further:  " Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up "ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS" (in other words you don't talk against the pastor or others in your house or with others - putting them down - instead you do everything to build them up according to their need) so that IT MAY BENEFIT THOSE WHO LISTEN.  Every pastor should be wary of anyone who comes into the church they serve when "new people" come to their congregation speaking against their last church or last pastor.  

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Talking about your offenses with others is learned behavior that your parents should have taught you not to do.  Ever heard your father say, "Young Lady!  You don't talk about you mother like that in this house!"  Well, too many Christians have taken up the habit of speaking against the body, it's members, and spread words around that tear down even "weaker" members of the body in order to puff themselves up.  Just remember, "If someone talks behind other's back in your presence, they will do the same to you."  It is so sad... how many Christians leave their assigned places and end up completely away from God and then bad mouth the church (People).  to justify their own actions and decisions to stop going to a particular church.  

Look at this verse:  Jude 1:6 "and the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgement of the great day!"  Could this explain the dilemma of so many Christians who have left their assigned place, callings, and tried unsuccessfully to go fit in somewhere else?  If God keeps Angels in chains and brings spiritual darkness upon them for leaving their assigned places what makes you think you're exempt.  Matthew 18:34-35 says: " His master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart." You don't get to leave the Body because you're offended (Matthew 18:15-17).  You are not called to leave the assigned place you're called to be in because your offended.  If God has called you to leave a place- it's because there is another geographical assignment and body you are called to go and become a part of. However, you are not called to leave because you just disagree, have difficulty with others, and are tired of others you just don't like.  You have been called to be in an assigned geographical location in a particular body of believers.  God places you in the body as He wills not as you will! (I Cor. 12:18) You are not called to withhold yourself from relationship with others, talk behind their backs, speak bad words around the community, or even try to get others to leave the church God has placed them in.  To do so only brings problems on yourself.

As a pastor for over 40 years,having served 5 churches I was called by God to serve, I have seen church splits, people fight, disagree, flee, and never speak to one another again.  As a result of their poor decisions, I have also watched these same people end up on the front pages of newspapers, jailed, strung out on drugs, become drug dealers again, have affairs, divorce, end up in bars, giving themselves to prostitutes, killing others, embezzling their companies, and entering into all sorts of darkness that results in destroying their own marriages and families.  When someone wants to leave their assigned place other than because God leading them to do so - you need to asking what is the condition of their heart?  When people do not resolve their conflicts and leave relationships in bad places - it's because they are not right with God. (I John 4:21) When your relationship with God is on the rocks - your relationships with others is right behind.  Don't leave your assigned place... or settle for something less than God's best for your life.  I have never left a church in my life just because I wanted to.  I was called, sent, and even moved geographically to an assigned place. I also kept my relationships in tact with every pastor I served in the past. I could always go back and visit the church without conflict. I honored them, held them in high esteem and spoke well of them after I moved - even if I didn't see eye to eye with them, the elders, or other members of the churches I served. I do not want to leave or abandon the place I have been called to serve.  The only prescription for leaving a place other than God calling you to do so is found in Matthew 10:14. Jesus said, "If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust from your feet as you leave."  Notice the word "leave."  This implies if your not received in a town then you go to another assigned place (City or Town)!  Not another church.  God has not called you to leave your father's house (John 14).  "In my father's house (the church) are many dwelling places... I go to prepare a place for you.  Robert Schuller once remarked an important truth... "Bloom where you have been planted."   So, if you find yourself (staying at home) not giving yourself to a local body, faithfully financially supporting it, and using your gifts and talents to fulfill it;s mission - then you out of the will of God and out of relationship with him. Jesus and his body are one (this is a corporate experience).   A true New Testament community is designed to call you out of yourself self life and redress your old nature, habits, and bring your self life to death.

Psalm 92:12 "The righteous will flourish...planted in the House of God - they will flourish in the courts of our God!"  What is the spiritual condition of your life?  Still love Jesus but hate yourself and the rest of the Body of Christ?

FRAMED In An Age Of Labeling Disdain

    Okay, so over the last twenty years I've listened to GenX and the millennial generation tell me how much they hate being labeled.  Yet, now what I am observing is the trend that people in both age groups spend time policing each other's words, activities, and actions. Then they label you and have no trouble telling you what they think is wrong with you, your relationships, or how they think you're failing in your world.  I love the infamous statement "I hear what you say but I don't like how you said it."  Or, "I don't think it's right how you treated that person..." "You're not a very good friend." "You're a Brut... you're a loser." I think what's worse is the people who make the most rudest comments but do it politely, talk behind each other's back and then think it's okay because of how politely they said it. Then if you turn the table on those who do this to others they get angry at you and challenge you for the things they do,  It's amazing how many people spend their time trying to trap others and frame them.  They even set you up to be framed and held captive to their views of you. No one likes it but yet it's become a popular sport these days.  It's mystifying to me as to who gave authorization for anyone to police any of us.  I like Pastor Bobby Schuller's new confession of faith on Hour Of Power.

"I'm not what I do. I'm not what I have. I'm not what people say about me. 

I am the beloved of God. It's who I am. No one can take it from me. 

I don't have to worry. I don't have to hurry.

 I can trust my friend Jesus and share his love with the world."

How we see God, How we see ourselves, affects How we see others and How we order our lives.  We determine who's in, who's out and exclude those who don't measure up to those unexpressed expectations in our relationships that they didn't even know about.  I've heard too many say "screw them."  I'm moving on... without resolving or working through the relationship- writing them off. Have you ever been framed?  Have you ever been bullied?  How does it feel when you've been lied to? Betrayed? Or misled?  Who taught this generation to act like this? 

Here's what the Bible says straight up!  Slandering, labeling, and framing others is a reflection of your lack of relationship with God!  It also says a lot about who you are.

Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 11:13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Proverbs 20:19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Proverbs 26:20-22 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.  As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Jeremiah 6:28 They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron;  all of them act corruptly.

Jeremiah 9:4 Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, or every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. 

Now, it's important that you understand that I am not giving these scripture so that you can point out the "failures" of others.  Our job is to police ourselves.  That's it. The only thing in my mind I should be asking myself is "How am I treating the "others" in my life?"  How am I treating myself?  How does God view me? We are not called to police anyone else but ourselves.  Have a look at these verses:

Psalms 41:7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.

Proverbs 25:23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Romans 1:28-32 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

There is nothing new about all this. The evidence is found in the bible itself. People are the same as they were thousands of years ago.  The evidence of a God pleasing life is how you work through the problems within yourself and learn to define yourself and take time nurturing your own relationship with God.  Then instead of being so fixated on how everyone else around you sucks and doesn't measure up to your expectations you might begin to see your world a bit differently.  God is the one who framed you, defines you, and works in you to gives you the ability to see yourself.  If God framed your world then how does what does he see that you don't?

Hebrews 11:3 says "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God."

Free Land And Free Labor! Our National Foundation In Slavery and Racism

Many years ago, while working on my masters degree,  I began researching a story at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia that I had been told about Rev. Robert Hunt and the beginnings of the English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.  As the story goes, Rev. Robert Hunt planted a cross at Cape Henry, Virginia and dedicated the land for the glory of God and the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  However, little did I realize that my findings would lead me to a different conclusion from this Christian myth. In fact, there could be no greater falsehood than what has been written, filmed, and told by Christian story-tellers.  Rev. Robert Hunt was an Anglican minister who was solicited by the Virginia Company Of London to assist them in claiming the land, now known as Virginia, under a charter granted from England's newly crowned king King James I. Robert Hunt had only joined this expedition after accusing his wife of adultery and abandoning her and his new born son. So, our nation was neither founded as a Christian endeavor nor was it the mission of the Virginia company to make a covenant with God or bring the Gospel to the shores of America for the purpose of establishing a Christian nation.  One only has to read the Charter given by King James I to gain insight to the purpose and mission of this endeavor.  But what gave the right of the King to give a charter to anyone in the first place?  He didn't own the land.  There were over 17 million inhabitants of the land already here.  Who gave him permission to just issue a charted to a group of venture capitalist and say," Here, by my authority I grant you real estate in America!" ?

So, Rev. Robert Hunt left England along with  Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers, Knightes; Richarde Hackluit, Clarke, Prebendarie of Westminster; and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, Thomas Hannam and Raleighe Gilberde, Esquiers; William Parker and George Popham, Gentlemen; and divers others after being given a charter to make habitation, or plantation into that part of America commonly which are not now actually possessed by an Christian prince or people. So, according to the charter itself The King Of England and it's government knew that the land was possessed by inhabitants who did not share their religious views and because they were not Christian believed they had the right to take away their land because they were not Christians.  A modern way of thinking about this is to say, because I am a Christian and my neighbors aren't I am entitled to take their land, houses, and property because I'm entitled to it for being a Christian. Where did these notions come from?

Amazingly, The Papal Bull, known as "The Doctrine Of Discovery." issued by Pope Alexander on May 4, 1493 played a central role and provided foundation for the charter issued to The Virginia Company by King James I. This papal decree basically said, "Go to heathen, pagan, and unchristian lands, dispossess the inhabitants and bring them into perpetual slavery." Sounds exactly what the disciples were charged by Jesus to do - right? This "Doctrine Of Discovery became the basis of all European claims in the Americas as well as the foundation for the United States' western expansion that led to the "Trail Of Tears" and the genocide of the indigenous people of the land on the American continent. So, the purpose of the planting of the English Cross at the shores of Cape Henry was to let the Portuguese and Spanish know that this land was being claimed by the English. Rev. Robert Hunt's role was to Christianize the people of the land so that they would become the free slave labor of the plantation owners. When the native populations on the Chespaeake Bay began to fight back, eventually the governor of Virginia said, "Forget the native, bring in the African." This is how slavery in America began!

So the intent of the founding fathers of what is currently The United States was to disposses the land and make it's inhabitants slaves in the name of their king, their European capitalistic ventures, and their church. Land-grabbing and free slave labor was the foundation of a country supposedly that held Christian values. No where can we find any justification for this kind of behavior. The problem with most Christians today is that they do not recognize that all their affluence, opportunities, and positions of power today - were provided to them by the ancestors who stole the land and held people in slavery as a cheap labor force. To make matters worse, our entire legal system is embedded with outdated laws which only reinforce the dehumanization, dispossession, and apartheid system our euro-centric forefathers passed on to us. Now, after many years of ignoring this past, America is at a crossroad. We are in a time of re-defining who we are as a people, fighting for an understanding of what we are called to do, and how do we redress a governmental system built on the principles of land grabbing and slave trading. The importance of how the American church responds will determine how God responds towards us.

We cannot invoke the prayer of II Chronicles 7:14 and ask God to forgive us and heal our land because the land was stolen from the native people. As a nation, our founding fathers never made a national covenant with God, nor were they ever given a promise of a land of opportunity. Only Israel can make that claim. This was not a continent of free land and labor. It was land that was stolen after dispossessing its inhabitants and using Africans and their descendants to cultivate it. The American Church as an institution was used to solidify these racist positions and needs to repent. We were called to "preach" the Gospel - not steal land, dispossess it owners, and create an apartheid system of Indian Reservations or build beltways around inner cities to keep African American's contained in hopeless situations. If we live in a land of opportunity then why are those trapped by the "legal systems of the past" not given the same benefits and opportunities afforded to the descendants of the European "Doctrine Of Discovery"? American Christians need to learn the truth of the our national history. It is not a pretty one either. America is not a Christian nation nor has it ever been. The best thing American Christian's can do today is to get on the right side of history and do the work of Justice. Micah 6:8 says "What does the Lord require of you? To do Justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." America has dirty laundry in the closet! God is exposing these hidden works of darkness so that we can take responsibility for our national sins, get right with God as his people, and come alongside of those who are oppressed and find ways for healing and reconciliation!

Conversations On Mute? The Day When Written Language Becomes Obsolete

So, recently I attended a conference in Florida where my dear friend and mentor Dr. Len Sweet addressed some 850 or so pastors regarding the use of "words" and how to present the stories of the Bible through alternative creative ways without the use of words.  It was a very fascinating presentation and probably the best talk I've ever heard Len give.  He is a remarkable futurist.  The basic premise of his talk was that new media and marketing groups are presenting "stories" in video without the use of words - just music and images. It drew my attention to what I know Len was thinking and that is that the screens that we all use from flatscreens to the hand held devices are use the new stain glass windows. Len refers to our hand-helds as our "community" in a pocket.  He has pointed out that in the use of massive screen in contemporary church settings congregations now have a new form of the church stain glass window. He has been concerned with, "what are our images on those screens portraying."  These and other emerging questions are good for both leaders and churches to engage in.  But, for me there is an underlying question that is being posed by these discussions.  Are we in a time when people are reading and using written texts less and becoming more dependent on images? Some seem to think this is the wave of the future of communicating the Gospel.

Certainly, many European people during the middle ages couldn't read written languages which gave rise to the use of Stain Glass windows throughout the great Cathedrals of Europe.  These wonderful arts of work uniquely told the stories of the bible, the works of Jesus, and portrayed the stories of great Christian leaders down through history were all portrayed in glass. It was designed to keep people engaged in the services of worship and liturgies of their time.  Many of Christians would never know the story if it were not portrayed in the windows and art throughout the ceilings and windows we all so admire today. However, I think we would be mistaken to assume that with the emergence of image rich stories and artistic expressions in film, television, and pop-culture that the use of "words" is on a decline. We are not going back to the golden age of silent movies.  In fact it's just the opposite.  According to Forrester Research, 2.2 trillion text messages are sent throughout the USA alone each year.  Globally, 8.6 trillion text messages are sent each year.  So, writing and reading (the use of "words") is on the increase.  The number of books being published has exploded every year since the turn of the century. Over 3 million books have been published in the USA since 2010.  2.7 million "non-traditional" titles were also published, including self published books, reprints of public domain works, and other print on demand books. Certainly, J.K Rowlings, "Harry Potter" series raised up an army of new readers who became comfortable reading 300 to 700 pages or so in her books.  Despite, all the claims I personally am not convinced that the advocates of film and future of communication is going to be without the use of words  as some may claim.

Early in my twenties, I completed a broadcasting degree in radio and television production. I have also been focused in on the images our films, television series and videos portray. I have worked in productions that choose music, lyrics, and bring artistic expression to the screen.  I find the millenial obsession to music, videos, and reading as important to telling the story... especially when it comes to the future use of holography which will include holodecks like in the TV series Star-Trek.  Images are all around us and the use of written and spoken language cannot be minimized.  But what disturbs me is the increasing claims that there is a decline in reading the Bible (a book that uses "Words" to tell the story).  In a recent study by the Barna Group, over half (61%) of all Evangelical Christians have read the Bible cover to cover.  Though some may be surprized,  Barna notes: "One in five of ALL American adults have read the Bible from start to finish.  Keeping this in mind, a study conducted by the US Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, has shown over the last 10 years,  32 million adults (14%) in the USA can't read.  21 percent of adults read below a 5th grade level and 19 percent of high school graduates can't read.  So this may accocunt for the 39 percent of the Christian community who have not read the scripture.  "Words" and other various forms of communication recorded down through history have and always will be with us and I don't think advocates for "New Silent Picture Films" will become the rage for communicating the gospel. I think it's a passing fad. In Job 31:35 Job prayed,  "Oh that one would hear me! Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary (who was God in Job's mind) had written a book. Why would God give a book, called the Bible, if "words" and spoken language were to become obsolete?  In fact, it is those written words that gave rise to the creative arts in sculpture, paintings, stained glass windows, and other forms of telling the story that has contributed to what we have in Western culture.  The oral traditions of God invading the human story down through the ages were recorded in written words for the stories to be continued. Its the best book of stories I've ever read and continue to be a source of inspiration for me.  

The most important thing Jesus said was, "IF you continue in my "word" then you're my disciples indeed."  To neglect and make excuses that you were a poor student or have difficulty reading the scriptures are nothing more than an excuse of laziness or that other things have clouded your relationship with Jesus.  There are plenty of CD programs used to listen to God's word being spoken and you can go through the entire Bible if you wanted to.  The Spoken and written word will never become obsolete... everything else avant garde!

WHY RELATIONSHIPS FAIL

   Over the last 40 years of ministry, I have observed a lot about how emotional growth and spiritual growth are linked together.  In my early studies at college I was focused on reaching children and youth for Christ and was introduced to core studies on childhood learning and development. Most of these studies were based on Erik Erickson's growth models. In particular this was used as the basis on how to teach young people, pick out curriculum, and effectively reach children and youth for Christ. What this introduced to me was the idea that each person has been designed by God to go through various of personal growth and maturity in every stage of life.  As my I continued my academic studies I was introduced to a book entitled "Stages Of Faith" by James Fowler in which he introduced the idea of a developmental process in "human faith."   Another great book I was given was Gail Sheehy's book, "Passages" which outlines the stages of adulthood that are as common as "childhood development" stages of growth.  It is very normal to think about how each stage of life has a developmental rhythm in both men and women and how these "passages" can bring predictable crisis in relationships. 

     In the early 1980's I met and spent a great deal of time with an awesome, insightful, prophetic pastor, Glen Foster, of Sweetwater Church Of The Valley in Phoenix, Arizona. As we became friends he introduced me to the idea, "If you don't grow up emotionally, you cannot grow up spiritually."  It was not a new idea to me but the way he taught this within his own ministry context was very fascinating.  Other important authors within the early Charismatic movement who taught and wrote books on spiritual growth and maturity included Dr. James Beall, Gerald Derstine, Bob Mumford, Juan Carlos Ortiz and Kenneth Hagin Sr. based on Hebrews 5:11-6:3; and I John 2:11-13. I had all of these literary works in my personal library.  But, Glen offered some new and interesting insights that were new to me.  He took two passages of scripture, II Corinthians 6:11-12 and Philippians 3:17-18, to provide the foundation that all spiritual growth can be hindered by our lack of growth emotionally.  In the 2 Corinthians 6:11-12 passage, the Apostle Paul had been trying to introduce teaching into a group that had a hard time embracing what he taught. He said, "We have been very open in speaking to you Corinthians... however your negative emotions have hindered you in receiving the spiritual truths we have been trying to relay to you."  In Philippians 3:17-18 Paul states that not only our spiritual growth can be hindered, but when we make our negative emotions a god in our lives it destroys our lives and makes us enemies of the Cross Of Christ.  Why?  Because the cross has to be applied to our lives to bring our self life to death in every stage of life. It is not a one time event!  

    In the early 1990's, I met and spent a huge amount of time with John and Paula Sandford who wrote 19 books on healing and wholeness.  They often came to our church to minister here in Annapolis and taught the congregation I've served that our "spiritual growth" is blocked because of our unfinished business with our past.  The Church world spends a great deal of time teaching on "Justification" which means, that because of the finished work of Jesus on the Cross, my sins have been forgiven and I can now stand before Father God "clean and justified" because of the blood of Christ. However, what the contemporary church does not teach today is what "sanctification" is.  (See I Thess. 5:23)  Sandford's rightly pointed out, that much of the contemporary church has done exactly what the Prophet Jeremiah spoke to the religiously leaders of his day, "You have offered superficial treatments for my people's mortal wounds as though it is not serious. You have given assurances of peace where there is no peace." (Jer. 6:14)  People who come to Christ today, come from all kinds of dysfunctional relationships, just as they did back in the early church.  Ezekiel 34 gave stern warnings to the leaders who shepherded Israel.  The indictment made in this passage could so easily be made against the church entertainment industry today.  Ezek. 34:2-4 "Son of man, prophecy against the Shepherds Of Israel. Prophecy to these Shepherds, 'Tell them, This is the what the Almighty says, How horrible it will be for the Shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of themselves. Shouldn't shepherds take care of the sheep?' ... You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured." This is how many churches operate today.  

     The unfortunate thing is that many church leaders have not understood that Jesus gave us the mission of the Church in Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of The Lord is upon me, He has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor, He has SENT me to set the captives free, heal the brokenhearted and to restore sight to the blind, and to announce the year of the Lord's favor."  So, where is healing the brokenhearted and setting free captives happen if the church is not engaged in this work? If we claim we are followers of Jesus (Mark 16) we are to heal the sick, cast out demons, and lead people into incarnational experiences that transform their lives. My concern has never been trying to please or measure up to my peers or people dysfunctional expectations of ministry today.  I am concerned about healing and real life transformation - the things within you that trouble you and trouble your relationships.  Embracing the gospel is not only about "justification" but it is also about sanctification or "making peace with your past."  It's about getting your relationship with God and others on a path toward wholeness.  Acts 16:31 promises that if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ he will save us and our household. The Greek Word for :Saved" is "sozo" which means to be healed body, soul (seat of emotions), and spirit.  God wants to heal us emotionally and spiritually if we will let him.

     The problem most people who come to Christ is that have difficulty redressing their past because they are bound in shame. Unfortunately, many churches have developed a nature of shaming people rather than healing them.  As a result of not addressing our past and truly repenting of our sins and the iniquity within us we cannot grow up emotionally or spiritually. As we go through our twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties we are continually faced with developmental challenges we must master. We cannot move forward without doing the work of each stage of life and it is important to apply the work of the cross in each of these adult development stages because of our inheritant need to continue to prop up our destructive self-life. (See Romans 7:11-25)  Gail Sheehy rightly points out that throughout each adult developmental stage of life there are common works and changes that are required within us. The Apostle Paul wrote "When I was a child, I thought like a child and did childish things, but when I became a man I put away these childish things." (See I Cor. 13:11)  Too many Christians, who are harboring bitterness and resentment toward their parents, and/or rehearsing their childhood hurts within themselves, or numbing it and and its memories too often get stuck in a stage of life developmentally and don't move on to the next stage of adult development despite the fact that their bodies are aging. As a result, they are emotionally arrested.  As a result, people encounter failed relationships with others in marriage, family, and friendships because their lives are unsynchronized as Gail Sheehy puts it.  Those who have worked in the "recovery" movements know that most people are emotionally arrested from the day they start using substances to "self medicate" their hurts and emotional pain. I just am perplexed why most Church leaders remain in ignorance (See Hosea 4:6) and refuse to do the task that Jesus assigned us.  In light of the crisis of faith, failures in marriage, addictions to alcohol, pain medications, and drugs within most congregations today,  most churches and Leaders wash their hands of those in their congregations who came for help and ignore the responsibilities to "heal the borken-hearted." The they wonder why problems emerge in the church when the predictable crisis in life emerge. It's because the church is not addressing the real issues that emerge from "life challenges." God has called each of us to bring our unresolved issues of the past to be healed by the Lord. If we refuse to do so we will experience "strains" in relationship and departures from the congregations.  Even those who get offended and leave the church are mostly wounded people who refuse to address the "unrighteous roots of their lives" and attempt tp go from congregational setting to congregational setting not getting what their real need is - healing from their past (Sanctification).

     Recently, I was ministering in another local church, teaching on leadership, over a ten week period. I found it shocking how broken the lives of the congregation were. I shouldn't have been surprised but I usually have not spent so much time with a group outside of my own congregational setting teaching on this subject. What I dawned on me was, "Every congregation in the world" has dysfunctional people coming into their midst who bring this brokenness into congregational life. We are not living in the 1950's version of church anymore!  Too many church groups have held out some strange view if they just get saved, read their bibles continually, and pray fervently these dysfunctions will automatically disappear.  No one has ever taught these people how to overcome these dysfunctional behaviors.  Just because we once smoked dope, slept around, had abortions, and been married three times and then get saved should not lead us to assume people will get it right without instruction. Who is doing the work of healing and teaching people "How to put off the old nature and put on Christ" like Ephesians 4:17-22 discusses?  What I've concluded is that, "relationships" fail in the church, in the home, and in life with people who come into the life to Christ because "their Dysfunctionalism has never been addressed and they find themselves attracted to similar dysfunctional people in the congregation. It's a fatal attraction and leads to co-dependant churches. Corporate Strongholds take captive entire congregations because people have not learned how to live a new kind of life.  When this dysfunctional "group think" is left unaddressed  chaos and group behavior breaks down. It finds its whole foundation in "dishonoring our fathers and mothers."  Hebrews 12:11 states that "... Peace comes from doing what is right." Jesus does not fix our lives for us - that's the work he has called us to do.  Twelve step programs teach that we are all called to "Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs" so we can be healed.  This comes right out of James 5:16!  I've watched relationships, marriages and churches fail because "people do not address their past," and end up reverting to a former developmental stage they did not complete a former stage of life properly they and refused to address the nature of their wrongs. In the recover model repentance includes "making a list of all the persons we have harmed and became willing to make amends to THEM ALL."

     After 40 years of ministering as a pastor, I have observed that people have not been healed, and may refuse to go through a sanctifying process like the "personal ministry" processes developed like the Sandfords offered. They refuse to go through a discipleship process as the early disciples did (3 years). Because of this, emotional and spiritual healing becomes hard for "dysfunctional church people" and ministering to them becomes difficult  just like Paul encountered in the Churches at Corinth and Philippi.  Pastors and leaders all across the world celebrate those who go through recovery process like the twelve step program but too often don't even see or want it in that same healing process for themselves. As a result, I've listened and watched major leaders defile others (See Hebrews 12:15) in their congregations, rehearsing their bitterness and unforgiveness in their pulpits, on TV, and in their books teaching people that its okay to not address what's wrong within you. Some have even overemphasized Grace to reinforce that you don't need to address your past.  Noah got drunk, One son exposed his drunkenness to others and it resulted in generation curses his family; the other two sons covered their father's nakedness.  Why is this story important?  Because I am not called to uncover other people's sin, especially my own parents sins - I am called to address what is under my own spiritual fig leaves and get out from hiding myself behind the bushes. (See Genesis 2) We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23)  There are none righteous!  Your childhood hurts, disappointments in life and relationships, and unresolved sin can stop your personal emotional and spiritual growth.

     When leaders and congregations make the decision to not engage in the work of Sanctification - dysfunctional Christians become "dull of hearing" (Heb 5:11; II Cor. 6:11-12) and no longer apply the work of the cross in their lives through each stage of life (Phil 3:17-18).  It results in "destruction" like failed marriages, broken relationships in churches, unbelief and brokenness.  And if I can make an important point here - leaving a church because you are offended and going to another church will not solve your problems. Because where you are - your problems go with you.  Relationships are designed to grind and bring forth the issues in your life that need to be healed. 

    The word Of the Lord to all of us in church life today is this Hebrews 3:7 "Today if you hear the Holy Spirit, do not harden your heart!"  Hebrews 3:11 states that if you harden your heart toward "what you have heard the Holy Spirit speak to you" You will NEVER enter into a place of rest. (See Isa. 30:15)  Instead, you will probably continue in more drama,  chaos and dysfunctionalism because you have not been healed.  Are you just addicted to Chaos? John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, once said, "Maturity (Perfection) begins with the sanctifying process."  The day you are born again is the day that healing and wholeness is released to free you from your past - if you want to be healed.

Thoughts about Prophets and Prophecy

As many of you may know,  I have been known for having a somewhat prophetic ministry. I have been invited and traveled thorughout the nations and been invited into various cities for the sole purpose of ministering "prophetically."   So, after 40 years of ministry and giving thousands of prophetic words, I thought it was time to start writing on this subject from time to time, share what I've learned, mistakes I've made, and offer assistance to others on "how" to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Who knows? Someday there might need to be a book on the subject since there are so many fallacies out there on the subject. Let me be very clear that this is just a brief musing on this topic and is designed for beginning a thought process. Maybe you can assist me in writing more by commenting and asking questions on this blog if the subject interests you. I certainly am eager to learn more about this subject. I am also interested in what a “false” prophet is since there is little teaching in the church today on that subject but we will save that topic for another time.

A cursory reading of the scriptures demonstrates that there were diversity kinds of prophets.  Hebrews 1:1 says. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.” Isaiah was different from Amos.  Micah was different than Jeremiah the prophet. Throughout the scriptures. there were prophetic voices that held out hope in times of trouble and those who stood in opposition to the cultural trends of their day and called for repentance. There were prophets who gave hope for reconciliation and restoration and those who gave warnings if their words were not heeded.  Prophecy is a funny thing.  Scripture shows “prophetic words” as being centered in a local context, historical contexts, national contexts, and also a personal contexts (I.e. Samuel, Nathan, and Agabus). Prophecy can be about the ancient and yet future. It’s quite a difficult task to give a comprehensive view on what “prophecy is.” One thing for sure is that the scripture say that ALL prophecy is to be judged. 

I Cor. 14:29

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

But how do you do that? Is there examples in scripture where “prophets" spoke and then there was some prophetic judges panel (like American Idol) who discern together whether it was a true word from God or not? Who selects those who are to be called upon to judge the word?  What are their qualifications?  Who has developed the discernment and ability to judge the prophecies?  All-important questions.  Of Course, there are those who would simply say, “Well we have to use scripture to judge a prophetic word.”  But, what if the prophetic word has to do with the future movements of Russia or China and nothing is said in the scripture about those two modern countries? Are we suppose to blindly just dig through the scripture and string together a few verses to support our prophetic notions on Russia (Gog/Magog) or on China as the great people of the north?  What if you actually see no evidence of that the word as being current or relevant in your own context – do we dismiss it and say it’s not a true word from the Lord. How do you know? I remember back in early 1989 when one of my friends and mentors in the prophetic, Rev. Glen Foster (Senior Minister of 3000 member Sweetwater Church Of The Valley in Phoenix, Arizona) stood up in a church in Virginia Beach and prophesied that the walls in Berlin would come tumbling down by the end of the year and we would find ourselves preaching the gospel on the streets of Moscow.  At that time, this was considered impossible and people thought Glen was out of his mind.  How do you know if that was a word from God when you are asked to judge it?  There was no scriptural basis for such a word.  Unless, you held that Ezekiel prophesied Russia would invade Israel by 1982 then you would have judged his word as a false prophecy.  However, by November 1989 the walls of Berlin came tumbling down. Glen's prophecy came to pass just as he prophesied it and many of us have preached in the former soviet union. So when St. John sat on the Island Of Patmos and wrote a prophecy called the book of Revelation was it meant to be a word for the time he wrote it?  Or was it a word concerning the future?  Can prophetic words today spoken in our own time be meant to come to pass in about 100 years after our death?  That’s’ what happened in the Bible.

Another important aspect that needs to be explored is - Is there a difference in a Old Testament Prophet and a New Testament Prophet?  How did the work of the cross change the work of the prophet?  We know that “Prophets” are for today!  Ephesians 4:11-17 says, that God gave prophets “until” we have come into complete unity and to full maturity in Christ. That has not happened yet that I am aware.  If I’m wrong someone please enlighten me!  What does the New Testament say about “prophets and prophecy?  First, I Cor. 14:31 says that EVERYONE can prophecy! “For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.”  What is the purpose of prophecy as described here in this passage?  SO THAT everyone may be instructed and encouraged.   Let’s look at that word “instructed.”  The Greek word used here is mantháno, which means "to learn how to be a disciple by experience, with the implication of reflection or coming to realize.”  So prophecy should be a part of our spiritual formation and discipleship process.  Secondly, the Greek word for “encouraged” is parakaleó, which means, “to be called up, close and personal.” In other words, a prophetic word is to bring us into a closer relationship with the Lord.  It’s an invitation to come closer to God.  There is nothing in this description of “prophecy” that is condemning of another. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Romans 2:4 states “…it’s the goodness of God that leads you to repentance- not douncing and calling judgement on others.” According to I Cor 14:31 everyone should prophecy with the motivation to encourage people to come into a closer relationship with the Lord and be discipled. 

Rev. 19:10 states, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”  What does this mean?  Does it mean that “prophetic words” are to reflect the character and nature of Christ? Does it mean that when the prophecy is given that it should be done in a way Jesus would prophesy and minister to others?  Or does it simply mean that Jesus speaks today through the testimony of His people? It could mean all three aspects above.  The NIV says, “Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."  The Holman Christian Bible states, “Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The Weymouth translations puts it this way, “Testimony to Jesus is the spirit which underlies Prophecy.”  Each English translation adds another dimension.  Guess it depends what the word “is” means!  Lol   Certainly, a major component to understanding this passage is John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” In this text Jesus without apology insists that the Holy Spirit would not speak from himself.”  Who is the Holy Spirit going to speak about? What should a prophecy point to?  You?  Or Jesus?  This opens up a lot of questionable practices in “prophetic-led” settings. Remember, my intent in writing this blog is to open up our thinking and ask questions.  Also keep in mind I Cor. 14:39 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.”  Prophecy is something we should be a normal pratice in the life of a church.  

My favorite verse in the New Testament on the purpose and use of prophecy is I Cor. 14:3 which says, “But he that prophesies speaks unto men (and women) for edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”   To me this means that anyone who exercises the “gift of prophecy” or ministers  in the prophetic office of Eph. 4:11 with any other intent than to edify (build up), exhort (encourage), or comfort others may not be hearing the Lord at all and maybe prophecy out of their own negative spirit.  We should never seek to minister to others out of a negative spirit. I lean heavily toward the idea that Jesus took ALL of our judgments and penalties for sin to the cross and has offered the gift of prophecy and “prophets” like Ananias (Acts 9) and Agabus (Acts 21) to encourage, edify, and exhort others rather than to pronounce doom and gloom over people. People today need encouragement and comfort. Just saying…  but what do I know? 

Are We At The End Of The World Yet?

Micah 6: 9

The voice of the Lord cries to the city – and

It is sound wisdom to fear His name.  “Hear, O tribe.

Who has appointed it’s time?

Any student of the history of Euro-centric revivals has taken great interest in the stories of George Fox, William Penn, Jonathan Edwards, John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Charles G. Finney, and Evan Roberts. Each of these great leaders made massive impact in the cities they served and were used by God to bring about significant cultural transformations in their time that still influence our time.  Each of their stories demonstrates how God incarnates Himself into our histories demonstrating that if we were to really open ourselves up to His plan and activities we could see the transformation of our cities and land (See II Chronicles 7:14).  It has been said, “Find where God is working, join Him in his work and you can become an agent of change too!”  This has been true for my life but we need more than just experiences.  We need a scriptural foundation to understand God’s purpose and work of restoration. 

Acts 3:19-21

Times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord.

He will Jesus, whom he has appointed to be the Christ.

Heaven must retain Jesus until the restoration of all things is complete

as God promised through His holy prophets long ago.

This striking verse proclaims that Jesus will not return until the restoration of all things has been completed. When does this happen?  What is the restoration that God promised through the prophets? I’m convinced that so many scriptural promises about the “restoration” has been overlooked and caused a great spiritual blindness to grip the heart of the church and has resulted in the neglect of it’s assigned task - discipling the nations.  Today, much of the church’s eschatological mindset, emerging from the paradigm shifts surrounding the agricultural period, the industrial revolution and now the technological age, dominate the evangelical perspective. The sources of this post-modern dilemma are in part from a Persian religious view known as Manichaeism that crept into western theological thought through the Gnostics. This philosophy held to a dualistic cosmology, which described the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness.  Through an ongoing process which takes place through human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of light whence it came.  In this view, Jesus would have to come back to complete the task that he assigned to the church (Matthew 28:19-20). What we believe about the future determines how we view and order our worlds.

Human history has always been replete with groups of all shapes and sizes convincing themselves that end of all ends was imminent and that they alone were on God’s side (or vice versa) in the coming cataclysm. It’s the same story dressed up in contemporary headlines, and although the expression of this trajectory of faith may vary from group to group, they all bear the hallmark of eschatological escapism. These views can become a very poisonous spiritual malaise for both the individual and the collective church. Rather than the church bringing the nations to Christ, many churches hold that the church will be rescued from this hopelessly evil world through a neo-Manichaean flight into the realm of spirit leaving the world imperiled in darkness. This Gnostic view is an underpinning of a myriad of negative eschatological perspectives, which emphasizes the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit from the earth.  These views were found their way into evangelicalism during the early 1800s.  They were immediately denounced by major “revivalist” as eschatology of heresy.  However, these views gained significant inroads through the Scoffield Reference Bible notes and were adopted by many churches at the dawn of the 20^th century.

Although this edition of my blog is not focused on eschatology,  it is important to understand that how we see God, how we ourselves, how we see others, determines how we order our world.  As a result of the myriad flawed eschatological perspectives, many believers have been misled to believe that their cities and nations cannot be reached and will be relegated to their present darkness.  However, the prophet Isaiah, as a semiotician, dug into the archeology of the future, during a great period of darkness in his time and prophesied a future filled with hope… long before Luke ever penned his words in Acts.

Isaiah 60:1-3

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory

of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold,

darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will rise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

So, instead of seeing darkness as an evidence of the end of the world; we find Isaiah stating that the purpose of a period of darkness is for God to show off His people to the nations so that the nations themselves are drawn to Him.  This passage of scripture was written during one of the most fascinating periods of darkness in Israel’s history.  My dear friend and mentor, Dr. Leonard Sweet shared with my cohort (#5) at George Fox University his theology of darkness.  "Darkness to many Christian believers represents the devil, doom and gloom. However, think about the night.  If it wasn't for night-time we couldn't see the stars, the moon, or creatures like bats, possums, sea turtles, owls, etc.  Night has a beauty of all its own."  Night time sounds are even different from the day.  In my own perspective "night seasons" are a good period for reflection, writing, and preparing myself for the next move of the Holy Spirit.  Psalm 30:5 says, "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning!"  Sure God may be displeased with any of us, at any time, but the scriptures declare that His favor is for life! Not death and destruction. I get so tired of hearing negative prophecies about the destruction of nations because "former sinners" think its their job to express how angry God is against their pet sins and how His wrath is coming upon us.  I'm sorry but I think all that pent up wrath that God supposedly had was nailed to a cross two-thousand years ago.  Jesus paid the penalty for everyone's sins and made salvation available to the whole world.  Another one of my dear mentors was the late Dr. Glen Foster of  Sweetwater Church Of The Valley (one of America's first mega churches) in Phoenix, Arizona. He pointed out, so rightly, that "prophecy is for the edification, exhortation, and building up of the church." (I Cor. 14:3)  He also, rightly pointed out, that Revelation 19:10 states that the "spirit of prophesy is the testimony of Jesus."  John 3:17 states very clearly that God did not send His son, Jesus, to condemn the world but to save it!  This is not universalism - this is about God's plan of salvation.  So, anyone who prophesy'ss out of a negative spirit is not operating under the "Testimony of Jesus."  Romans 2:4 states clearly that it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance.  Not judgement, plagues, or destruction.  It simply amazes me how many "former sinners" become the temple police of other believers and cry out against everyone else's sin as though that's what brought them to Christ.  Maybe it did. But, hell, fire and brimstone was not the appeal that brought me to Christ.  It was his Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...

There a many God-given promises of restoration found in the prophetic promises in the scriptures that have not been fulfilled yet - The Hebrew Scriptures are loaded with them.  Students of both scripture and church history know that since the early days of church history, each time of refreshing recorded throughout history contributes to us a bigger and bigger picture for personal, corporate, and national transformation. Romans 1:17 says "we go faith to faith, glory to glory!" Churches revived have changed the course of history. It has been said, “As the church goes, so goes the nation.” The great German church historian, Philip Schaff, once asked a very vital question, “How shall we labor with effect to build up the church, if we have no thorough knowledge of her history, or fail to apprehend it from the proper point of observation. History is, and must continue to be, next to God’s word, the richest foundation of wisdom and surest Guide to all successful practical activity.” 

People left to their own spiritual devises, misinterpretation and negativity rarely occasion the faith needed for believing that whole cities and nations can come to Christ.

Isaiah 66:8

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this?

Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?

Yet, no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

I would like to challenge Christian people to explore the history of revivals and the transformational results they brought into their own time and cities.  Each revival provides a foundation for faith for us to believe for “times of refreshing” in our own time, in our own generation.  Every revival of the past also provides a picture of what God wants to do in our generation.  If ever there was a time in our history that we needed both revival and transformation, it is now!  But, our understanding of both revival and transformation needs to be scripturally defined, explored, and evidenced through the church’s journey of faith. Hosea 4:6 states, “My People are destroyed for their lack of knowledge.”  When today’s leaders talk about transformation we need to be asking transformation of what, from what, to what!  Too much of the church’s teachings on transformation remain undefined and vague.   But the scriptures are clear that God has something in mind for our cities and nations.  None of these prophetic promises have been fulfilled and may be the reason the heavens are still retaining Jesus from returning in our time. 

Numbers 14:21

But, truly, as I live, the earth shall be filled

with the glory of the Lord

Psalm 102:18

This will be written down for the following generation;

That generation which shall praise the Lord.

Isaiah 40:5

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

and all flesh will see it together.

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea.

Jesus words were very clear in Matthew 24:14 “And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the whole world to set the evidence before all nations; and then the end shall come.  Many 20^th Century leaders have felt they have accomplished this job. However, 88% of GenX and 98% of GenY has never been presented with the Gospel let alone discipled into our faith.  Psalm 145:4 states that One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.  It is imperative to understand that just because the last generation of leaders felt they have done their job,,, the evidence remains that less than 4% in America alone has now made America the greatest mission field in the world.  As we look at the scriptures and revival history we need to re-examine our responsibility in bringing our neighborhoods, regions, cities and nation to the Lord. I believe the Best Is yet to come.  In the 1980's God spoke to me that a day was coming when we would see stadiums become church facilities.  That has now happened.  But along with those prophetic words he also said to me... "The Day Is Coming when I will visit whole cities and nations and in an instant they will be saved!"  God is coming for a glorious Church not a weak, defeated one. (Eph 5:27)  He's coming for a praising generation to come.  This is not going to be a left over group of distraught Christians... whole nations and cities are going to be transformed by unpresidented moves of the Holy Spirit. ( Here's an example http://www.godencounter.org/hebrides-revival )  God is a God of Restoration...  but he's not coming to restore religious systems to prop up old religious regimes. He's preparing the nations for one of the greatest visitations of His spirit before he allows Jesus to return. (See Psalm 110:1; Joel 2:21-28)  A question we must ask ourselves, "If God were to pour out His spirit and our entire city were to be saved in an instant would the church be ready to disciple all those new converts?  Is that what Matthew 25:1-13 is about?