Culture
BURNOUT! Are American pastors too busy?
According to Barna, one third of pastors are considering quitting.
One in five have considered self-harm or suicide within the past year.
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I'm writing this from the SonScape Retreat Center in beautiful Divide, Colorado. The solitude, rest and fun that my wife and I are having along with other ministry couples and the incredible ministry staff is good therapy indeed.
Hard driving, production minded, spiritual leaders often admit they are burning out, losing the passion and considering stepping out of ministry while, at the same time, refusing to stop, breathe and refresh. The idea of a sabbatical never even enters their minds, or, if it does, they are convinced their board would never grant such a request. The only option is to keep working until the fire eventually goes out and families are left emotionally destroyed.
Last night, a former pastor shared a story with me of his desperate need for a short, six-week sabbatical a few years back. Many in his church aggressively campaigned against it, presuming he wasn't worthy of such an extended “vacation.” It went to a vote and his request barely passed. Upon returning, the tide had turned against him in even greater measure, and he resigned on the spot. Forty years of pastoral ministry was over.
We must understand that pastors are often depressed, have high blood pressure, are constantly attacked, poorly supported, in counseling, on medication, suicidal and desperate to quit. Further, pastor's wives are often ripped to shreds by destroyed friendships, gossip against their husbands, manipulative parishioners and nonstop unrest. It quite literally is a pandemic.
Even after three decades of ministry and reaching 55 years of age, I know I have so much to learn. In fact, after a week at SonScape, I'm invigorated, not discouraged, by my past blind spots. The fresh perspectives and input by the leadership team is making me excited about healthy shifts to life and ministry.
The point? Pastors especially need to continually re-sign up, get healed and allow themselves to come alive with what the next season holds.
Barna reports:
Henri Nouwen famously characterized the role of a pastor as being a “wounded healer.” This perspective underscores the importance of congregants, church staff and others actively supporting their spiritual leaders. Such care acknowledges that a pastor’s resilience and well-being are fundamental not only to their personal lives but also to the health of the communities they serve.
We must rest and play.
Sabbath means rest. It also means celebration.
The New Covenant Christian should be living a Sabbath life, playing, celebrating, rejuvenating, and ensuring they are not burning out, fading and emotionally dying. This isn't a Sunday plan of action. It's every day.
Sadly, the families of pastors and ministry leaders are often strained due to the unnecessary and unrealistic demands of the church. Vacations, recreation, turning off the phone and retreating to recharge are fiercely frowned upon by many. Pastors, after all, must be fully available, dead to their own desires and crucified by the demands of the people, right? It's dysfunctional.
When we launched our current ministry, I made it clear that I'd be burning hot and working hard to fulfill the vision God has given me. I also clearly communicated that I would not apologize for tending to my own heart and to my family. Ministry is a major focus, but not the only focus. It's also not the primary focus. I know, that sounds sacrilegious to some.
I let my leadership team know they would have room to grow into key roles in the ministry. When we move out of the way and encourage them to advance in ministry, it's quite powerful. Additionally, I said my family and I would be involved in other ventures on a regular basis. Vacations. Retreats. Recreation. Fun. Rest. Other ministry. Personal growth. The baton of leadership would often be placed in their hands.
Our current trip to Colorado will last three weeks. We've been away from the church several additional weeks this year as well. Additional time away is coming next year. If the church is dependent on me being front and center at every service, my leadership is failing.
I won't apologize for the priorities, and I believe pastors will be well served to adopt the same demeanor.
Schedule rest and fun on your calendar.
Block out significant time every year to disengage fully from the church. No ministry phone calls, no church work and no pastoral responsibilities. Play with your kids, date your spouse and relax.
Do not apologize to anyone. It's time to confront the ridiculous burnout culture in the church.
Preventative maintenance is necessary
The threat of depression, fatigue, disillusionment, health issues, emotional crashes, relational crisis and more severe consequences like heart attacks and marital affairs demand our immediate attention.
If we delete the noise on a regular basis, become unreachable at times, delegate authority and responsibilities and tend to our hearts, the crisis moments will begin to diminish.
I strongly recommend scheduling retreats like the one my wife and I are currently enjoying as often as you can. Our lives have been dramatically impacted here.
Focus on the Family and many other reputable organizations provide preventative maintenance opportunities that focus on everything from your marriage to your emotional health, and so much more.
Classes, workshops, retreats and other helps will strengthen your heart, your family and your ministry.
Churches, invest the money in your pastor.
The church should be budgeting a significant amount of money for self-care. Pastors don't need the added burden of attempting to finance strategies to support their emotional health. Church boards, pay up.
Pay for a month of fun and rest every year for the pastor and his family.
Pay for retreats and workshops several times a year.
Pay for training for other ministry leaders so they can be ready to lead when the pastor is tending to his heart.
Create a culture of spiritual, emotional and physical health in the church. This will not only strengthen the pastor, but everyone that attends will experience the benefits and, hopefully, tend to their own hearts in a similar manner.
We need more pastors and leaders, not less. This burnout crisis must be dealt with and the hearts of pastors and their families must be tended to.
Revolution Resistance – Is the Cost of Revival too High?
People are excited about dramatic change in the church, until they aren't.
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Never has the expression of Christianity needed transformation more than now. I suppose one could argue the nailing of the 95 Theses by Martin Luther compares, but we are in the last of the last days. Shift must happen immediately.
People can get amped up about a shiny, new model of ministry that emphasizes what their spirits are crying out for. Reformation and an intense resolve to advance the Kingdom of God sound good. It feels good.
The current expression of the American church has become so ingrained in us that we presume it's orthodox. It's the default blueprint that can be improved upon, but not violated.
I propose it's time for violation. Tear it down and build it back up according to the paradigm God reveals.
The Struggle
Different ministries with visions unique to their location, the five-fold office(s) of leadership and the directives of God will determine the schematic of the church experience.
The City Church Paradigm
The revolution will result in different churches, within scriptural boundaries, functioning differently. Apostle-led churches will look very different than teacher-led churches. However, the various expressions of the church on the local level will be incomplete until they all come together on the city level. Kingdom-minded local churches will strategically unite, eliminate redundancies, share a common city-vision and encourage the people to connect in multiple locations.
This sounds smart, until pastors become threatened with losing “their people.” When tithes and laborers start heading down the street to another local church, support for this refreshed and strengthened church structure diminishes.
This is a much bigger topic than can be addressed here, but suffice it to say, there is a healthy method to facilitating the city church model. Flaky commitments and church hopping can't work. Sadly, even a healthy approach is too risky for many.
Intense Holy Spirit Activity
Yes, there are a handful of churches that do not temper the wildfire of the Holy Spirit. However, when the Spirit of God truly moves, the experience includes both discomfort and comfort, risk and reward, crushing and healing, surrender and freedom.
When this type of atmosphere is promoted amongst casual Christians who are not familiar with such supernatural activity, the resistance comes in full force. Visitors run away. Members complain. Half-committed people head for the door.
A Culture of Intercession
Possibly the most important and disruptive transition is a return to strategic prayer. Sunday mornings must be dominated by tongues of fire, groans of intercession and bold prophetic decrees. I'm not talking about hiding this in a lonely prayer room before the service begins. Prayer will be front and center in the sanctuary and will dominate the clock.
Pastors know the people will flee in terror should they implement such a thing, so, it doesn't happen. The revolution resistance is strongest when it comes to leading the people into the realm of the Holy Spirit via vein-popping, tear-inducing, fire-breathing intercession.
Sadly, many pastors know nothing of such a supernatural lifestyle and would be lost themselves in a culture of prayer.
No wonder Leonard Ravenhill said: Pastors who don’t pray two hours a day aren’t worth a dime a dozen!
Reduction of Pastor-Led Churches
I'd encourage you to read my article on this topic, The Coming Shift Away From Senior Pastoral Leadership.
Here's a portion:
The coming church will look so different than the church of today that we will find ourselves speechless. Everything man-made is going. Everything that God deems good but outdated is going. The coming church will be defined by fire and it will repel the lukewarm and religious—as it draws in the hungry and desperate.
Corporate leadership will shift from pastors to apostles and prophets primarily. Instead of merely relaying information, messages will be mostly challenging and directive with a clear expected response as the body is rallied to fulfill a corporate mission together. They will lead with the expectation that the entire unit will be moving in step with them as they fulfill the vision of the church in unity.
In the coming church, pastors will mostly be relieved of primary church leadership responsibilities and will be released to spend most of their time one-on-one with people and in small groups.
Of course, you can predict the resistance to this mega-shift in the church.
The burdens that will be lifted from their shoulders will cause them to wonder why they ever resisted at all.
There's More
Space doesn't allow me to address the many additional changes that are coming.
I cover a lot of it in my book The Coming Church. I'm making it available to you for FREE. No strings attached.
Download the book now at HERE.
5 Marks of “The New Normal”
The shift must come to every church –immediately.
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There are over 19,000 cities in the nation and not one is experiencing the biblical normalcy of revival. Yes, there are pockets of Holy Spirit activity, but when considering regions, there's no smoke, no fire.
Every church and every Christian must not only be ready for reformation, they must initiate a massive revolution. Our daily experience will soon look nothing like it does now.
5 Marks of the “New Normal”
ONE: A radical devotion to the local church
A casual “commitment” to the most important, catalytic and strategic vehicle for the advance of the Kingdom in our nation's cities will result in devastation.
Lesser activities, entertainment and endeavors must yield to the schedule of the church as we gather with extreme discipline several times each week.
No longer can we allow schisms, opinions, frustrations, offense or any Leviathan or Absalom influenced emotion to derail us. The fire on the altar must never go out and the laborers are needed to tend to it.
TWO: A troubling, challenging, fiery church culture
Even in the most Spirit-driven churches it's easy to spot disinterested, disengaged people who are more interested in clock-watching and the buzz from their phones than in going deep in God with their fellow warriors.
A seeker strategy in the church over the past decades has resulted in a babied, hyper-sensitive people who will refuse to return if the fire gets too hot or the challenge is too intense. Of course, there's a ready remnant, but they are the exception.
We need to get used to anointed preaching that is roared from the pulpit and a vision that puts a tremble in our spirit, troubles us to the core and awakens us to action.
THREE: Spirit-filled, prophetic intercession that consumes our lives
Church services must look nothing like they have, and leaders have to be okay with the masses heading for the exits. The church gathering is not for the lost. It's not an evangelistic tool. It's a Believer's meeting. It's a prayer meeting.
Decrees, declarations and an atmosphere filled with fiery tongues must overwhelm the sanctuary every Sunday morning. The prophetic charge will shock the meeting and shatter the heavens as we move beyond tired, predictable church services.
Leave the list of desires and expectations at the door when searching for a church. It's not about us. It's not about “good teaching, good worship and good children's ministry” like so many have on their church shopping list. It's all about sacrificial, tear-inducing, desperate intercession.
When our lives, night and day, are filled with prayer like this, anything less when gathering as the church body won't be tolerated.
FOUR: Repentance and holiness are non-negotiable
Wickedness in our culture has flooded into the church, and it's time for aggressive, ferocious preaching to return to the pulpit. It will offend the casual and will invigorate the remnant to move into deeper realms of holiness and intimacy with Jesus.
Those who are driven by an independent spirit, who refuse to relinquish control of their lives and who scoff at such a separated, consecrated life will cause many problems. Apostolic, prophetic leaders must be ready to confront the attacking demonic spirits that will manifest through gossip, accusation, lies, hatred and manipulation.
Yes, a focus on holiness and a call to repentance will result in a spiritually violent assault. This is evidence that it's a great threat to Satan.
FIVE: Ministry will dominate our priorities – and our families will thrive
Cindy Jacobs prophesied over my wife that it was time to start a school of the Spirit, and that it would dramatically impact our children and family. We responded, and our family is burning in the furnace of ministry together.
The end-time season we are in will absolutely consume our thoughts and our plans. While much of the ministry will happen as part of the local church army we are assigned to, our focus will also expand into the city and beyond.
Every moment of our lives must be lived in the Spirit, understanding the critical call to fulfill our unique mission. Whether it's marketplace ministry, leading small groups, training for missions or any number of other ministries, we have to be locked-in. Every Believer is a minister.
We must be careful not to underemphasize our role in the local church as it is the primary strategic company that God has ordained. The foremost emphasis is intercession, and from there you will discover what your future role will be.
We are living in critical times.
Don't allow recent political victories to lull you into a state of comfort. The enemy is ramping up the assault and we can't afford to take a break.
Everything in our lives and in our churches must dramatically and immediately shift if we hope to see revival come, the Kingdom advance and the darkness recede.
This is our new normal.
Will this Election Launch Revival?
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The fervor surrounding this election has broken the scale. The church seems to have been awakened to the responsibility to cast their vote. Lines of cars heading to polling stations led to lines of people willing to wait for hours in some locations. This is very good.
It would seem the passion for righteousness is suddenly spiking and hopes for a mighty move of God are trending upward. Then again, maybe not.
Five Reasons Revival Should Not Be Expected – Yet.
ONE: Where are the lines?
I'm not talking the lines to pull the lever and vote. I'm referring to the lines to the prayer rooms. While intercession has been on the increase over the last several years, a culture of fervent, strategic prayer has not overtaken most of our churches. Fiery prayer must be the primary activity of every Believer. The pastors and the leaders who promote this in their churches will be key catalysts of authentic revival in the nation.
TWO: Who cares?
I hear more about how the election will effect Bitcoin than I do revival. I've been a raging, desperate revivalist for nearly three decades, and I'll never forget the sad epiphany I had near the beginning of my ministry journey. I discovered almost nobody cares about revival. It's not something they think about. It's not on their grid. They don't pursue it. They don't care.
THREE: Why would it?
I agree that having a wicked leader leading a nation can result in a weeping church that cries out night and day for God to intervene. In that regard, yes, a national election can impact revival. Aside from a negative stimulus and other nuances in the grand scheme, we have to understand that secular politics have little to do with spiritual awakening. Spiritual awakening, on the other hand, will have a mighty impact on the politics of America.
FOUR: Is it a priority?
Obviously, if few care about revival, why would we presume strategic pursuit of it would be a priority? For too many, the focus is not on awakening. People are paying close attention to other important yet lesser issues such as the economy and national security.
Of course, some of the policies we are campaigning for like the ending of abortion are at or near the top of the list. I do not mean to minimize desperately critical issues. What I am attempting to communicate is simple. For most, revival is near the bottom of their list of priorities, if it's on the list at all.
FIVE: Have we paid the price?
It's clear we haven't prayed the price. Sadly, few have paid the price either. They have not counted the cost and shifted their life sufficiently to have any expectation of revival coming to America. The price is too high.
The benefits of revival are nuclear in power, invaluable beyond measure. Any price is worth what this nation, our churches and our families would experience should a supernatural outpouring visit us. Dramatic miracles, healings, encounters, freedom from demons, moved mountains and a massive harvest of souls is held back by a quasi-interested church.
REVIVAL IS ON GOD'S AGENDA
As many have said, we aren't waiting God. He's waiting on us.
Let me make it clear with a shout from the rooftops! I believe a planet-shaking, supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit is coming. I sense it can come much sooner than later should the remnant church take it up about a hundred levels.
Revival is simply defined as biblical normalcy. We are supposed to be living in revival at all times. Jesus has done all that needs to be done for us to initiate revival, to live in it, to minister in it and to invite a dying world into it.
Winning an election does little to cause a sleeping church to start doing what must be done for revival to break out. The prerequisites are nonnegotiable and few have even started on them.
Intense prayer, determined growth, active faith, radical surrender and locking into a church that is giving itself to nonstop advance toward city-wide and national revival are critical first steps.
A politician can't do that for us.
Yes, a righteous leader can promote righteousness in a deeply wicked nation. There is much good that can come which is why our vote is so important.
But the day after election day, our responsibility shifts. It's time to fill the prayer rooms, to contend for revival and to cry out for God to move powerfully in America.
The level of our celebration or depression following the election is directly related to the level of our pursuit of revival.
If we prioritize a move of God more than the appointment of a politician, we'll be as invigorated and focused after the votes have been tallied as we were before.
Trump: Democratic Party is ‘Demonic’
DEMONS ARE MANIFESTING
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On the heels of my article released two days ago titled, "Demons aren't Hiding this Election Season," former President Donald Trump made quite a remarkable declaration. As reported by Newsmax, Trump said, "This is a group of people, large group of people, larger than people think, but it's a very demonic party."
He distinguished between the party and the Democratic voters, clearly stating that the party was the target of his comment. However, one could argue that "guilty by association" may apply here, at least in part.
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ARE COMPROMISED
It must be said that you can find wickedness and corruption on both sides of the divide. A secular political system, sadly, is not a holy institution.
That being said, it doesn't take much analytical prowess to see exactly what Donald Trump is seeing. As I wrote in my previous article, "Whether it's God causing the veil to be lifted between the natural and the supernatural or if Satan has just upped his game, the truth remains. Demons have come out into the open."
The paradigms of the left boldly embrace some of the most demented wickedness our nation has ever known. These atrocities are strategically, directly inspired by the most unholy forces on earth. It's not difficult to arrive at the conclusion that Satan is advancing an end-time scheme to destroy people and our nation.
Time and time again, the Democratic party is campaigning for the cause of darkness to take dominion.
No, Republicans aren't as pure as the driven snow, but the policies and ideologies put those of the left to shame. While perfection is no where to be found, it's obvious to many that the advance of righteousness drives the agenda of most right-leaning American citizens.
A GODLESS PARTY
I'll never forget a story from a ministry friend of mine who was attending a pastor's meeting in Detroit several years ago.
When asked if anybody had a prayer request, my friend stood up and requested intercession for the ending of abortion. He was stunned when a prominent pastor rose and confronted him. He told my friend that he needs to understand that many in the room were proponents of "a women's right to choose." Yes, these were pastors. Professing Christians. Spiritual leaders in our nation.
Yesterday I saw a church sign with a message shaming anybody who would vote Republican.
Not only do we have a godless political party, we have a crisis of godless churches.
Any political or spiritual leader who would so aggressively promote the barbaric act of infanticide (abortion) as a right has been fully baptized by murderous demons.
Any who would endorse drag queen indoctrination of children in our nation's libraries and schools have been seduced by a perverse spirit that is determined to destroy our kids and families.
The unbridled hatred that many spew when even the scent of a Republican enters their safe place is a picture of demonization that's taking place all of the nation. The fangs are out and the venom is injected all over social media. Our nation is manifesting demons at a record pace.
Yes, I know, there's weakness on the right in regard to these and other dark topics as well. I pray Donald Trump and others discover the depths of God's heart and rise up as prophets in our nation. However, as it stands, the difference between the left and right is stark. The contrast is sharper than in any time in history. The left is dark and getting darker by the day.
PRAY AND VOTE
The demonic anointing that has saturated so much of the Democratic party demands the church hit its knees and pray with deep passion. Repentance must shatter the atmosphere of our nation.
In a state of fervent intercession, cast your vote for righteousness, and then pray again. Don't stop. Let the echo of rended hearts crying out be felt from coast to coast. It's time for the church to rise up and the political system to yield its position of national leadership to those who live holy and surrendered lives.
It's time to route the nation of the demonic influence and see life and righteousness return. That's how you make America great again.
Demons Aren’t Hiding In This Election Season
The demons are here, and I'm not talking about Halloween.
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It's November. The haunts of October are gone, and visions of joy and merriment are upon us as Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near, right? Not so fast. Imps and evil entities are very much among us as America is getting close to matching the supernatural climate of many third-world countries.
Disturbing demonization is openly visible in many places such as Haiti and parts of Africa. The enemy doesn't hide there.
Last night I was flicking through Instagram and was bombarded by not one, but many, videos of left-leaning liberals erupting with animalistic growls and curses. Some of you may have seen similar behavior as it seems to have become fairly normal in this political season. People ripping Trump signs out of the ground and spitting verbal assaults at any who would confront them is happening from sea to shining sea.
Of course, we know about the riots and fires and looting that have been on the increase over the past several years. This is most certainly wicked, evil behavior, but what we are seeing now is different. Manifestations of actual demons have become commonplace.
EXPOSURE
Many prophetic voices have declared our recent spiritual history has been one of exposure. God, who is as just as he is good, is out to cleanse and purify his glorious church. While this has certainly happened, and has revealed terrible wickedness, I believe it was only the beginning.
The devil is being exposed as well. Whether it's God causing the veil to be lifted between the natural and the supernatural or if Satan has just upped his game, the truth remains. Demons have come out into the open.
Students are identifying as “furries,” crawling on hands and knees. Drag queens have infiltrated public libraries and are indoctrinating the next generation. Twisted demons are among us and it has nothing to do with October 31st.
Many years ago, I felt strongly that we would soon see actual demonization become quite common in the streets, schools, businesses and parks of our nation. People don't know what to make of it other than to accept it as the new normal. To their unrenewed minds, supernatural beings inhabiting people isn't within the realm of possibility. At worst, they might need a mental health check. At best, these are their new crusaders, people who have had enough and who are responding in hatred and rage against the machine.
My wife, two young daughters and I were coincidentally in Philadelphia the day of the Presidential debate. We were greeted with brash signage, high fences, strange individuals and more SWAT and tactical police than you could imagine, walking the streets with assault rifles and body armor.
It was daylight and we felt safe as we passed through to see the Liberty Bell. On the way back, someone yelled out at me. After brief small talk, he began hurling accusations, calling me a homosexual. He then confronted my daughters, asking if anyone ever accused me of being gay. It was time to move on, and when we did, he started shouting loudly through the square, “He's a homosexual! He's a (expletive) homosexual!”
The devil is not hiding.
WICKEDNESS INCREASING
The church in its current state is nearly hopeless against this bold, new advance of the enemy.
We don't need any more supposed political pundits in the pews. We must have prophets! It's time to equip fire-breathing intercessors, prophetic messengers, deliverance ministers and others who will expose the darkness (though it's exposing itself without much help) and confront the spirit of the age.
All sorts of wickedness is on the rise. We shouldn't be surprised if it becomes culturally acceptable to take abortion to the next level. A spirit of Herod has no problem killing children under the age of two. Why did Herod endorse this? To protect his throne. Don't doubt for a minute that today's demonized political system would affirm such a strategy. Politics is one of Satan's primary vehicles to deliver it's wrath.
The devil is not hiding.
Fiery, strategic prayer meetings must take over as the primary gathering. Sunday mornings must become furnaces of intercession where groans and cries echo. A righteous President will help a little, but that cannot be our focus. It's time for the church to repent, to pray, to rend its heart and to get equipped to fight a hoard of demons who have boldly emerged from their dens.
Is Kamala Harris the Enemy?
HATRED WILL FUEL THE ENEMY'S PLANS
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The political spirit in the church just may be doing more damage than any of us realize. I'm often stunned at the cold, heartless retorts and accusations that are hurled by professing Christians at those who endorse opposing political views. This is more than a political spirit. It's a spirit of witchcraft.
When Christians vomit curses on political figures (or anyone), the enemy's power is supercharged and wicked schemes become strengthened.
In our ministry we often contend in fiery, strategic, life-giving intercession for the world's influencers, including people like the Pope, LeBron James, Taylor Swift and, especially in this season, individuals like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
Quite often, especially when inviting people to join us in prayer for Kamala Harris and others on the political left, I hear the cold, heartless retorts. Supposed blood-bought Believers come out of their skin, shocked that we would ever pray for them. Many refuse to pray at all. Others pray for God's severe judgment. I've heard others predict their soon-coming torment in the fires of Hell. These national leaders are being assaulted by the enemy and cursed by the Christians.
Pray for a dramatic encounter with Jesus? Not a chance.
Contend for the Holy Spirit to wrap them in love? No.
Intercede with passion understanding that Heaven would not be the same without them? For many, it's laughable. For others, offensive. They don't want Kamala Harris anywhere near them. They certainly don't want her mansion next to theirs in Heaven.
A SPIRIT-FILLED FEMALE PRESIDENT
I'm not prophesying or predicting the results of the upcoming election. My educated guess is that Donald Trump just may win it. I'm simply suggesting a glorious, nation-sharking possibility that would be felt around the world for generations to come.
What if our love for Kamala Harris was so deep, so moving, that we prayed relentlessly for God to transform her life?
What if Kamala trembled under the weight of God's glory, hit her knees, wept uncontrollably and cried out for Jesus to flood into her life?
Should that happen, and should she be elected, she'd be the first female, Spirit-filled, passionate lover of Jesus to hold the highest office in the nation. The earth would quake.
Sadly, the alternative approach is being employed by many Christians. They take careful aim and fire off curse after curse in an attempt to destroy Kamala Harris (and other "enemies"). They spiritualize their hatred as sanctioned holy warfare when it's nothing more than sinister witchcraft.
Gossip. Cursing. Accusation. Hatred.
That sounds like the battle-plan of Satan. It is.
It's also the blueprint for many Christians in this political season, and it's grieving.
CHECK YOUR HEART ON ELECTION NIGHT
At Revival X, our ministry in Branson, Missouri, we'll be going deep in intercession and worship on election night. We'll pray for the Holy Spirit to move supernaturally and for both candidates to be drawn into an authentic encounter with Jesus. We will give no room for curses, anger, finger-pointing or shaming. The devil is not allowed to attend our prayer event. Kamala Harris is not the enemy.
Ask God to search your heart on election night. If you feel yourself despising either candidate, campaigning for their demise, turn off the news broadcast you are watching and take time to repent. Don't allow a wicked spirit to convince you to align with its war plans. This nation needs a surrendered, love-driven church to contend for a move of God unlike any we've ever seen.
On the other side, I know there's energy surrounding Donald Trump unlike any we've ever seen in our nation's history. Again, check your heart. The answer for our nation isn't the election of Donald Trump. While God can certainly use him in a profound way, the intercessors cannot come down from the wall presuming ultimate victory has come. The war will only rage hotter, and the enemy will take its plans of destruction into the next phase.
A righteous President will benefit our nation a little. A righteous, praying, repentant church will benefit our nation more than we could ever measure.
Over Half of Christians Consume Porn
BARNA REPORT REVEALS DISTURBING TREND
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No naked people. For Believers, the clear, biblical standard is to live pure, holy lives free of forbidden sexual imagery. No naked people in our sexualized thoughts unless, and only unless, it's our spouse. Sexual lust steals, kills and destroys in ways few other sins can.
A disturbing recent Barna report reveals that 54% of practicing Christians are consuming porn. Seven percent view porn daily. Fifteen percent weekly.
Possibly even more troubling are the arguments I've heard on the topic. Some Christians have challenged me by saying it's not possible for a man to avoid lust, as if it's an expected part of our make-up. Others proclaim Scripture doesn't forbid all sexual lust, only lust about married women. The deception is widespread.
After writing an article on the topic several years ago, I was contacted by a Christian sex-therapist. In his long letter he vented his frustration and firmly renounced the idea that lust is inappropriate. In fact, he proudly revealed how he actually prescribes sexual fantasy about strangers and other people to those who are struggling in the area of sexual intimacy.
SEVEN DANGERS OF PORN AND SEXUAL LUST
ONE: No Intimacy with God
The authentic Christian life demands intimacy with Jesus. The parable of the virgins clearly reveals how intentional our pursuit of God must be. It wrecks my heart to know that people live outside of an all-consuming, loving relationship with the Lord.
When counterfeit intimacy takes the place of the authentic, only despair remains. Praying in the Spirit is not possible. Faith fades. Love dissipates. Hope is gone.
TWO. Shame
When the serpent told Eve, “You will not surely die,” he knew the result would be fig leaves. Shame. Adam and Eve did die, spiritually, and their innocence was gone. How often do people make that late-night decision to enjoy some sexual entertainment with the thought that, “I will not surely die?”
Of course, the “repentance” rarely works and, according to Barna, many will be back at it again the next day or later in the week.
THREE. Demonization
The Bible reveals that “the curse without cause shall not come.” Well, the counter is true as well. When there is cause, when we open the door to the enemy, all sorts of wicked schemes are initiated. When we view porn or lust, we open the door to the devil.
Demonization is when evil spirits attack, torment and refuse to stop. There is a license, a permission, that allows them to remain. Sexual lust is one such permission, and unless true repentance occurs, deliverance cannot be experienced.
FOUR. Wounding our Loved Ones
There are women (and some men, I'm sure) who worry continually about their spouses falling into porn. If it happens, it rips through their heart. The pain is extreme and difficult to heal. Further, parents often fear their children falling into this vice, knowing how spiritually and emotionally deadly it is.
FIVE. Failure to Fulfill our Calling
We are all ministers and we all have a ministry. I'm convinced that my failure to fulfill my ministry directly impacts people's eternities. When we view porn, when shame overwhelms us, when demonization is deep and when there is wounding all around, any thought of advancing in ministry is shot until we repent.
SIX. Living in Adultery
Scripture reveals the true impact of inappropriate sexual lust. Adultery. When we watch porn, we are committing adultery with every person on the screen. When we lust, the same is true for every person in our thoughts.
SEVEN. Eternal Separation from God
Many Christians will be shocked to find themselves in Hell one day. When we live in sin, devoid of true repentance, we cannot presume to be saved. An eternity of torment awaits. This truth grieves me like no other.
FREEDOM
If you are struggling with lust, don’t despair. Don’t quit contending for intimacy with God. You can absolutely find freedom! God loves you with a passion that’s deep…and he is longsuffering. He will be with you in your journey to freedom.
Wiser Than The Witches
This Halloween season we must be aware of the enemy's schemes.
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When planting our first church in one of America's darkest regions in the Rocky Mountains, where witchcraft and paganism saturated the atmosphere, it took us three years to learn how to fight. We were not wiser than the witches.
Over the years in that Spirit-driven, prayer-fueled ministry, we experienced many supernatural attacks, visits from witches and organized efforts to stop us.
Shortly after we planted the church, our oldest son was admitted to the hospital with a severe asthma attack. It was October 31st. One year later, on Halloween, he was admitted again with yet another asthmatic episode. Finally, when he was rushed to the emergency room and admitted for a third straight year, on the 31st of October, it hit me. This is no coincidence. It was an organized, strategic, deliberate witchcraft attack.
“so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” (2 Corinthians 2:11, ESV)
SCHEMES AND OPEN DOORS
To be wiser than witches requires us to level up in our authority. While, of course, we don't wrestle against flesh and blood (people), witches and others who embrace demonic ideologies do allow themselves to be used by the enemy to curse God's people.
Awareness of schemes and open doors will give us opportunity to interceded for the witches who have been so terribly deceived so we can focus our assault on the devil. Of course, it's quite common to open doors to the enemy with no human mediator like a witch involved at all. We are all at risk.
Especially during the month of October, when the activity of the enemy is extreme, it's imperative that we stay alert, repentant, full of grace, with our lamps filled with oil.
ONE. Christian Curses
If, according to Scripture, “the curse without cause shall not come,” when there is cause we can be sure curses will hit with great and terrible force.
It's possible Christians are hurling more curses into the atmosphere than all the witches in our nation.
Though we are commanded to bless and not curse, gossip is rampant. Shaming and cursing political opponents, especially this time of year, are non-stop. Villainizing all who disagree with our spiritualized opinions on social media flood our streams. Speaking death over our own lives and the lives of others is common.
The Bible reveals that, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
There's power of life and death in the tongue.
Our unholy, unconsecrated thoughts will ultimately make it out of our mouths, often as curses that have devastating impact.
TWO. Celebrating Halloween
Dabble with the demonic, party like the pagans, dance with the dead and come dressed for the occasion.
The world's largest coven meeting is about to commence, and shockingly many Christians will be in attendance.
It's stunning that blood-bought, Spirit-filled Christians would ever slap the label, “innocent fun” on this most wicked of days. Most would argue that we are saved, covered by the blood and that we have no fear regarding simple costumes, candy and parties.
However, the blood of Jesus doesn't grant us immunity. It grants us authority.
If we are participating in, enjoying and affirming death, demons, darkness and witchcraft, we have lost our authority against the wicked entities behind it all.
We are opening doors that give the enemy direct access to demonize our children and those we love when we celebrate this most wicked of days in any manner. Evil isn't innocent just because we invite children to the party.
Instead of harvest parties, trunk or treat or other Christianized alternatives, let's teach our children about exposing darkness.
How's this for a Halloween alternative? A fiery, Holy Spirit-filled prayer meeting. And, yes, bring the kids.
THREE. Emotional Crisis
In nearly three decades of ministry, I've witnessed, time and again, solid, anointed, amazing people “swirl out” emotionally. All sorts of feelings overwhelm and overtake them. Rejection, fear, depression, anxiety, despair, sadness and other emotions, at the least, can cause people to retreat into their caves, ready to surrender.
We must be wiser than the witches, ready to go to war against the devil and discern the season we are in.
Instead of retreating into a cave, run to others who can stand with you, pray with you, love you, challenge you and, if necessary, cast some demons out.
FOUR. Media and Entertainment
Whether it's impure music, horror movies, sexual immorality, foul language or unrighteousness promoted on screen as entertainment, doors fling wide open and the enemy can quickly and easily demonize.
If there's one idol that must be destroyed in this nation, it's entertainment. Specifically, media. It's a killer.
And no, as already discussed, you can't “handle it just fine.” You lose all authority to stand against the wicked schemes of the enemy if you are enjoying them.
To those who say, “nudity (or other sins) in movies doesn't offend me,” who cares about what offends you? The Holy Spirit is offended and I'm certain a large portion of your troubles in life come as a result of not understanding that.
FIVE. Prayerlessness
One of the greatest weapons against the schemes of the enemy is fiery, Spirit-filled, prophetic prayer. Tongues of fire will help fill lamps and strengthen us in ways that little else can.
Those who aren't absolutely consumed with a spirit of prayer will typically struggle, especially during the month of October when the enemy is so active.
WE CANNOT TAKE THE ENEMY LIGHTLY
Humility, non-stop prayer, intimacy with Jesus and the Word of God exploding in and out of us all work as guards against demonic attack. Holiness, forgiveness, grace and love will further your strategy and enable you to stand in the face of occult activity.
I've heard it said that we need to put on our armor every day. I disagree. I would question why they are taking it off every night. Put it on. Keep it on. Pray continually. Fight the devil. Close open doors.
27 Points of Revolution in the Church
This Reformation Thesis is a call to massive shift in the church and in our nation.
God has given the church every resource and opportunity necessary to initiate a fire of revival that will burn our cities, nations and planet.
We can all agree this fire is not raging–and the current structure in the church can neither initiate nor sustain a move of God of this magnitude.
It’s time for a radical and momentous change in the church. It’s time for reformation. It’s time for revolution.
APOSTOLIC CENTERS
Glenn Bleakney writes:
In this critical hour, Holy Spirit is revealing the significance of shifting churches away from conventional gathering places towards Apostolic Centers. These Apostolic Centers are not merely physical locations; they are communities where God’s people assemble to encounter the tangible presence and glory of God, and be equipped to advance His Kingdom.
Apostolic Centers are dynamic hubs where the Holy Spirit is actively moving, transforming lives, and empowering believers for kingdom work. In these physical environments, the gathered people of God experience His manifest presence, receive prophetic revelation, and are trained and mobilized as effective ministers of the gospel to advance the kingdom of God into the marketplace, cities, and nations.
Rather than focused solely on weekend services, Apostolic Centers foster a culture of ongoing discipleship, ministry training, and missional living. They equip believers to operate in the fivefold ministry gifts, and send them out as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to impact their communities and the nations.
This shift towards Apostolic Centers is a strategic move of the Holy Spirit to prepare the Bride of Christ for the harvest and the return of Jesus. As the church aligns with this vision, it will experience a new level of authority, anointing, and impact in the earth.
The “family-style” churches must quickly shift and embrace a governmental paradigm. We must gather laborers, pray with passion, equip a holy military and advance into the darkness as we pursue full-blown revival. An outpouring and a city-structure that can withstand the weight must consume our thoughts.
27 POINTS OF REFORMATION AND REVOLUTION IN THE CHURCH
The following was written originally in the mid-2000s to the church of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and then to the cities of the earth. While I don't know the current landscape of the church of Colorado Springs, I've heard rumblings about the lack of five-fold, apostolic, governmental order in the city. If true, this shouldn't come as a surprise as this is true in most cities.
The verbiage in the Thesis was adjusted to address our current city, Branson, Missouri, though any city could most probably be substituted. These 27 points are simple yet critical to consider. I address the problem and then share the benefits of extreme course-correction:
1: We must repent of prayerlessness.
A call is being made for every believer to pray with hunger and passion to an extreme degree. Spiritual leaders of this city must model such a lifestyle of prayer on a daily basis. It must be our primary activity.
Pastors and leaders–let’s agree to developing a furnace of intercession in every local church and a weekly city-wide prayer event that shakes the region to the core.
Keep in mind, your primary call is prayer and study of the Word, not visitation, program development, administration or other focuses that steal time energy and focus.
Leonard Ravenhill said, “Pastors who don’t pray two hours a day aren’t worth a dime a dozen”
“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”” (Acts 6:3–4, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Literally everything changes when we adopt an intense, strategic, continual lifestyle of intercession.
The supernatural increases, miracles happen, intimacy with Jesus skyrockets, pretenders are exposed, the corporate mission is strengthened.
I’ve counseled pastors to incorporate deep, fiery prayer meetings to set the culture in their leadership team. These supernatural meetings will quickly reveal those who are resistant, opposed to the mission, apathetic, given to a spirit of control or who have embraced an Absalom spirit.
2: We must repent of competition.
It’s time to promote the city church ahead of our local church. Are we willing to lose people, money, our ministries and our reputations for God’s corporate dream of city-wide revival to explode? The “sheep stealing” myth must be exposed for what it is: insecurity, personal kingdom building and a spirit of competition. The truth is it's impossible for someone to steal what we don't own. We don't own the sheep.
As Bring Ming said, “God forgive us for building kingdoms of man on doctrines of demons in your name.”
Further, our aim is not to grow our local church, but rather, as a simple, small department of the city church, we must promote connection in various ministries in the region.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3, ESV)
BENEFITS:
We have no idea the nuclear-level strength we’ll have if the churches of the city became the church of the city.
Everything is stronger, healthier, more precise, better equipped. Additionally, self-centered kingdom building and other idols are torn down in favor of a city-wide altar of worship.
3: We must repent for being mindful of man ahead of God–and then resign our positions as salespeople. We are to once again lead with a bold prophetic mantle.
As a leader, the primary role is to hear God in prayer and to declare his Word to the people. The body must renounce consumerism in the church by asking not what our church can do for us but what we can do for our church.
We must stop attempting to make our church more desirable, attractive and popular so as to attract the crowds. The prophetic messages we are called to shout will repel most.
“But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Matthew 16:23, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Allowing God to give supreme leadership will offend many and will upset those who have built a “family-style church.” However, the resulting remnant will be firebreathers who are ready to lay down their lives and expose the darkness.
4: We must repent for forsaking the house of prayer.
There is a call for every church in the city to maintain prayer as its primary ministry. It is to be modeled and led by senior leadership.
The primary purpose of the church is not teaching, visitor assimilation or fellowship. It is undeniably night and day prayer for the nations. Lengthy prayer should be taught and modeled as the dominant activity of every believer. Those who refuse to buy into this mission must not be allowed to dictate the level of passion in the ministry.
As I've often said, “I refuse to tone down the activity of the Holy Spirit out of respect of those less hungry.”
“these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”” (Isaiah 56:7, ESV)
BENEFITS:
When prayer is not the primary activity of everyone in the church, the entire mission is compromised and underpowered. A culture of intercession results in unity, strength and ever-increasing passion for Jesus.
“Prayer is the highest activity of the human soul, and therefore it is at the same time the ultimate test of a man´s true spiritual condition (there is nothing so much as prayer life that tells the truth about us as Christian people). Everything we do in the Christian life is easier than prayer.”- Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:11–12, ESV)
- Fervent: hot, boiling
“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,” (Romans 15:30, ESV)
- Fervent, urgent
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)
- Fervent, To be active, to be mighty in, to work
5: We must repent of pride.
God resists the proud, and this city can’t afford for God to move away from us. We must repent, humble ourselves and cry for Jesus to come!
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” (James 4:6, ESV)
BENEFITS:
God literally stands opposed to those who are proud and the same is true for churches that are formed in pride. Renouncing this alliance with a wicked spirit of pride will result in deep intimacy with Jesus, great favor, a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit and a grace that is immeasurable.
(Scripture + commentary) Matt 23:12 Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor.13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces; for you neither enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are about to go in to do so.14 [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you swallow up widows’ houses and for a pretense to cover it up make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation and the heavier sentence.15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are.
6: We must repent for quenching the Holy Spirit.
Our cry must be, “Come as you are and do what you want!” Sunday services should be marked by significant and earth-shaking supernatural moves of the Holy Spirit.
“Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Where do I begin?! When the Spirit is not quenched AT ALL, the entire place erupts in fire!
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)
Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, faith, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation; the benefits are immeasurable.
A church that is not moving in the supernatural must be scrutinized. The mission we have been given is impossible to accomplish without signs, wonders, miracles, dreams, visions and supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
7: We must repent for resisting the prophetic.
Now, more than ever, we need to hear the Word of the Lord. We must teach every believer how to hear God, how to steward that Word and how to take responsibility in the fulfillment of that Word.
“Do not despise prophecies,” (1 Thessalonians 5:20, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Leading a church without a vibrant prophetic culture is an experiment in futility. God has absolutely critical revelation to reveal to us.
We need the 100 prophets to emerge from the caves!
Obadiah hid them, Elijah was accused of being a troubler of Israel, the fire fell, the prophets of Baal were defeated. This scenario must play out again in Branson and the cities of the earth!
“And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)” (1 Kings 18:3–4, ESV)
8: We must embrace and teach on the experiential reality of the presence of God.
If someone were to be on the moon, would he want to learn about air or experience air? Branson must experience the fresh flowing air of the Holy Spirit again.
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:1–2, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Revival. When the Kabod and Shekinah come, and demons flee, and the anointing overwhelms, people are literally transformed forever.
Check this out:
“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” (Acts 7:54–8:1, ESV)
Saul watched this! This was an experiential reality for him.
Saul would soon become Paul. The entire world would soon be turned upside down!
9: We must be willing to forsake programs and policies set in place by the demands of man in favor of the divine vision of the Holy Spirit.
Today people expect a vibrant worship ministry, children's ministry, youth ministry, singles ministry, coffee shop, small groups and much more. While any of these ministries are not inherently wrong, they quite often are not what God desires for a particular church.
Gather “pavement people.” Those who don't care about comfort, about the biggest and the best, about their own satisfaction are the remnant you are looking for. They are happy hitting the pavement and declaring the goodness of God.
“As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”” (2 Chronicles 7:1–3, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Our energy will be reserved for what is most critical.
The vision will drive the ministry instead of what people presume to need or want. The trajectory of the entire church will be wildly different than if we were need-driven.
10: We must release control of our services.
We should expect to stay late, burn hot, experience much, cast out demons, prophesy, proclaim the Word, worship intensely and enjoy a wonderfully messy but Holy Spirit ordered event. The first church was birthed supernaturally in such a way that many marveled and many mocked. It must continue now as it started then.
“And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”” (Acts 2:12–13, ESV)
BENEFITS:
The unexpected must be expected. Limits to God need to be torn down and passion for the unknown, supernatural manifestations of God must overtake us.
11: We must raise the bar of expectations and do now what we will be doing when revival breaks out.
Pray continually, burn hot, be in the House of Prayer daily, cry out for justice, establish the 24-hour church, give, serve and enjoy God with other believers.
“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?” (Luke 18:7, ESV)
“and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” (Luke 2:37, ESV)
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46–47, ESV)
BENEFITS:
We will be crushed and sharpened, disciplined and ready when the weight of revival hits the region.
God will be able to use us in a leadership capacity and as stewards of the outpouring. We will be ready.
12: We must repent for surrendering to culture by canceling services, closing the church doors and lowering the expected commitment.
We have submitted to a deadly and apathetic American culture, and it’s time to lead the way and bring reformation to that culture. The church must dominate our calendars again.
BENEFITS:
The church will shift from cowering to culture to shaping it.
Our families will be stronger, full of fire and deeply intimate with each other and with the Lord.
Prayer meetings, prayer walking, equipping, worship and so much more should be our primary activities, not T-ball, ballet, movies or other lesser things.
“And day by day, attending the temple together…” (Acts 2:46, ESV)
13: We must cry out for the love of God to weigh on His church in the form of both mercy and judgment.
Pray for God’s judgment to rest on you, your church and this city so as to ensure wrong things are made right, holiness prevails and God reigns supreme.
“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Judgment is simply God making wrong things right. God will use the least severe method to get the greatest results.
When we trust God to judge and crush and break us, everything changes. The church is stronger. Our families are stronger.
14: We must teach Acts chapter two style–experience a move of God and then teach on it.
Experience an overpowering move of the Holy Spirit to such a degree that highly anointed biblical teachings penetrate hearts. What God does in the moment is then taught and explained from a supernatural perspective. Instead of teaching about revival to come, we need revival to break out, providing us the opportunity to explain the other-worldly invasion that shocked the city.
“But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:14–21, ESV)
BENEFITS:
We get to experience God!
A full-speed ahead pursuit of supernatural visitation should consume us!
15: We must admit there are demons and that they must be dealt with.
Not through programs and projects but through prophetic proclamation. A unified assault on the kingdom of darkness will result in mass deliverance in our city.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, ESV)
BENEFITS:
The freedom will be immeasurable!
Demons will finally be forced out of hiding and we will be free and full of life.
The freedom will spread like wildfire as demonic strongholds are destroyed in the city.
It will be normal for demons to manifest on Sunday mornings, right in the middle of the service, as people pray, contend for freedom and witness supernatural deliverance.
16: We must be available for repositioning and do away with the redundancy that a church on every corner invites.
Many churches in our city should close. Those pastors would then assume more appropriate positions of service in other churches. Teachers would lead centers of teaching, pastors would lead small groups, and other leaders would serve in a variety of physical locations within the city church. The goal is one city church, many departments, unified leadership and individualized roles.
BENEFITS:
Huge unnecessary burdens will be lifted from leaders as they are released to focus on what they are called and wired to do.
The power of a city church can’t be understated.
17: We must again become Holy Spirit sensitive instead of seeker sensitive.
People aren’t looking for something worth living for, but rather for a cause worth dying for. Show them the cross.
The normal New Testament church experience is one of extreme manifestations of God, death to self, prophetic preaching and an unapologetic invasion into the culture which results in momentous change.
I believe the “seeker sensitive” movement has been the most destructive model of church in recent history. The devastation won't be fully realized until people enter into eternity.
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34–35, ESV)
BENEFITS:
The pretenders will leave and the remnant will be free to advance with great unity and strength.
The anointing will skyrocket and those “seekers” who are truly hungry will run to the altar. It will be more about God’s invasion into their lives than their assimilation into an affinity group.
18: We must again embrace dreams, visions, praying in the Holy Spirit and extreme encounters with God.
“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” (1 Corinthians 14:39, ESV)
BENEFITS:
The mission of the church will be strengthened as people are receiving revelation.
Our personal lives will become powerfully effective as we are led by supernatural guidance instead of staggering around in confusion.
19: We must repent for presenting a watered down, socially acceptable gospel.
Salvation requires death, surrender and commitment to the plans of God.
“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21–22, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Authentic salvations will result in a powerful church.
The Rich Young Rulers won’t be affirmed, the Money Changers in the temple won't be coddled and the truth won’t be compromised.
20: We must repent for emphasizing what people can get instead of what they are to give.
To enter a church with the expectation of leaving with more than you entered with is to embrace the same spirit the money changers did. We must again, with fear and trembling, enter the House of Prayer with the expectation of making a sacrifice and giving an offering.
“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”” (Matthew 21:12–13, ESV)
BENEFITS:
We will have clarity on our devotion to Jesus.
During the Triumphal Entry, Jesus was “worshiped” by people crying out “Hosanna!” That word, Hosanna, translates as, “save us now.” The focus was on self.
The moment they determined Jesus wouldn't give them what they hoped for, they turned on him. Their next cry was, “crucify him!”
People will attend our churches as long as we give them what they want. Instead we may need nearly empty churches with the few who have the guts to gather around the cross.
21: We must encourage every believer to grow intentionally, rapidly and independently.
And then, to step into their assigned ministry role.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12–14, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Strong leadership teams will develop as will strong, devoted people.
22: We must call for the fear of the Lord to return to our churches and city.
“Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:17–18, ESV)
BENEFITS:
We will be calibrated with the reality of who God is. Both the love and the severity of God will be made known.
23: We must repent for rebellion, self-government, lawlessness and an independent spirit.
This is evidenced through church hopping and by leaving a church without being sent out by the leaders. This results in compromised missions, a divisive spirit and a splintering of the body. Accountability and submission to authority must again return to the church.
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17, ESV)
BENEFITS:
We will shed demonic influence that has brought ruin to people, families and churches.
24: We must repent of gossip, complaining and other forms of witchcraft.
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16–19, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Alliance with demons will be eradicated.
The church will be much stronger and full of Holy Spirit activity.
25: We must repent for embracing a religious spirit.
Religion is this: “man’s attempt to use God to get what he wants.”
It’s time to cry out for God to remove our man made structures and advance his Kingdom in our city!
BENEFITS:
A spirit of religion killed Jesus. This same spirit resists the Spirit of God today.
When eradicated, the Holy Spirit will come in like a flood and give supernatural, divine leadership to our churches.
26: We must repent to the nation for misrepresenting Branson as a significant Christian center of Holy Spirit activity.
It is not. We have wrongly stewarded this responsibility. We hear a lot about “God and country,” and there is much that is very positive happening here. However, we can't stop the analysis of the spiritual condition of our region with what seems to be healthy.
There are altars that must be torn down, wicked spirits that must be exposed and repentance that must overwhelm us all.
BENEFITS:
The humility repentance would bring will be a catalyst for a massive move of God.
It would also recalibrate the church of Branson and make it possible to effectively steward revival.
27: We must repent for not praying intently for our leaders.
Their failure is our failure.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1–2, ESV)
BENEFITS:
Leaders would be undergirded, their arms lifted and covered. Failure would decrease and the mission of Kingdom advance would be strengthened.
Pastors and other ministers would not be as susceptible to failure.
The people would not be as susceptible to disillusionment and falling away due to the failure of leadership.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As we pray, unify, preach the cross, love God and the people of our city with passion and embrace the present Word of the Lord Branson will be a propellant for revival around the world.
Written trembling in the fear of the Lord,
John Burton
Revival X