A Word for This Moment
I remember vividly the night in prayer at Cross Points Church in December of 2010 when the Lord spoke to me about the 7 things that would mark 2011. I posted that prophetic word right here on this blog, for anyone to see, and sat back to watch. The year unfolded exactly as He said it would. At that time I was amazed that God would speak something of that caliber and importance to me… not to a big name minister who could share with the masses. But as I’ve continued in my walk with God I’ve realized something: God speaks to those who listen.
This week I’ve been on a business trip to Tulsa along with our Business Manager and Lead Pastor from our main campus. We came looking for Rhema graduates who wanted to take what they had learned in their training and come build with us in full time ministry. What we found at Rhema was a disappointment, however God has more than come through on this trip in revealing some things to us, and it has been a trip well worth it for all three of us.
Then last night, back in my hotel room after an exhausting day of running, interviewing, searching, praying, and seeking, I spent time talking to an old friend who is going through a very difficult time. As he shared the struggles in his personal life I was heartbroken and angry all at the same time. What has happened to my generation? What has happened to those who were ready to advance the Kingdom? Some how, some way, we’ve succumb to the mentality and expectation of the world. Jesus posed the question in Luke 18:8 “when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?” (NIV). I have to admit, I’ve found it more and more difficult to be optimistic about the answer to this question.
And then, this morning, going through my daily routine, I ran across this simple devotion from a devo app I frequently use:
Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. (NLT) ( Isaiah 58:12 )
Living in a broken world means bad things happen to us. We have the choice of allowing those bad things to take shape in our heart and become deserted ruins. Or we can choose to pick up the pieces, confront, forgive, extend grace, and heal. Through a relationship with Christ, you have the power to rebuild families, overcome hurts, and restore relationships. Will you choose to be a rebuilder or be owned by bitterness?
Suddenly, my mind was flooded by the Spirit of the Lord, and this is what He shared with me:
This is a generation accustomed to desolation. It has become expected that things will change in the blink of an eye and everything will be different. From 9/11 to the uprising in the Arab world to the bombing this week, things are happening all around that have left many feeling like life itself is spinning out of control. On top of the acceleration of the decay of the natural world, the acceleration of the decay of the church has become noticeable. Ministers falling away from faith or into sin, “churches” springing up preaching many ways besides My way, and the acceptance of sin in the name of tolerance at the highest levels of leadership. The world is broken. It has been broken since the Garden and it will be broken until I return. The issues being faced today are nothing new, they are just being faced on a different scale, and through the use of modern technology peoples whims change more quickly than ever before.
The issues before My church today are no more daunting that at any other period of time, they are just focused upon more. As such, too many look at the giants before them and decide it is too much to handle, there are too many. So they walk away and go to what is comfortable, blending into the crowd instead of standing out, being the light. It has caused a great many to enter into despair. Like the Disciples after the Crucifixion, many believe in me but seeing what appears as defeat they are left dazed and confused-unsure of what to do, how to act, or where to go.
My church has become as a deserted ruin in a world full of hopelessness and ruin. But it shall not always be so. There are those who are being called even now, being stirred, to come out of modern Babylon and rebuild. They will not all be the ones you would expect. They won’t all be the most highly trained or the most qualified. Many will not be the ones with years of experience or all the connections. But that is OK. I will change the guard, and in so doing I will replace the old regime with a fresh wave of leaders who don’t mind believing Me to do something different than what has been expected. They will not confine Me to their boxes of “Grace” or “Word of Faith” or “Charismatic” and they will not try to define what the move of My Spirit will or should look like. They will seek they will expect, and they will obey. They will rebuild what has been broken down and torn down both internally by the Church and externally by the World, but what they rebuild will not look exactly the same as what once existed, just as what was build through the Charismatic Revival and Faith movements didn’t look like what had existed before. The roots will be there, the foundations the same, for there is no other Rock to build upon.
So do not be afraid to call forth the builders. I’ve always said to pray the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers. There is a ripe harvest ready to be brought in, and there is a new addition to the Kingdom to be built here, so that My Kingdom may indeed come and My will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And this is the time of transition. Look for what is to come, and look for those who are called to build it, and do not resist the change, as some will, for it is the Next Wave for this moment.
So all I can say is this: I am on the lookout and I am ready to build, God! Send those who are called to help, and let’s see it done!
DK
