I recognize that in the vast readership of this blog, I have people involved in so many different forms of ministry. I try to write with that in mind. But, for the past few days, I have felt an urgency to do something that I rarely do. I want to target just a small portion of the readership ...
One of the greatest mistakes that we can make as Christians is to limit the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. We can be honest, right? We all are guilty of doing this ...
I know that the following statement will challenge some people's theology but I'll share it anyways. While Vickie and I lived in South Florida, I remember a time when God clearly spoke to me while we were sitting in a movie theater (some people will stop reading after that statement) watching the seemingly endless coming attraction previews. I will never forget Him telling me that I was to start announcing at the opening of our services the coming attractions for that service. When I heard this directive, I had been in the ministry at least 25 years and had never, ever heard anything like this before. In my early days of ministry preparation, there was no class at my Bible college called Ideas Gleaned from a Movie Theater nor was it taught at any children's ministry conference. Heaven was directing me to walk into the service with a confidence that I had heard from heaven and, at the beginning of the service, boldly announce what was going to happen during the service. Here is what you can expect to happen when you make coming attraction preview announcements. First, this will build faith in your spirit as you confidently proclaim what God has shown you in your quiet time with Him throughout the week. Your spirit will feel like a Texas cowboy sitting in a rodeo chute on top of a bucking bronco waiting for the chute's gate to open. You can be confident that something memorable is about to happen! Second, it will build anticipation in those in your service because Jesus is both the author and finisher of our faith. God always delivers what He promises! So, if you are preaching about healing, confidently announce at the beginning of the service that the Healer is in the room and will heal all the sick and infirmed. Then, preach/teach and flow in the anointing. The results will be Jesus being what you have previewed and then preached Him to be. One more note ...
Before I share a single thought, let me go old school (whatever that means) and tell you to put on your shouting clothes. You're gonna' need them because this blog post, if applied, is guaranteed to bring about a time of shouting and rejoicing. Here's the thought ...
I know that the readership of this blog is very diverse. From Google Analytics, I can see that it is being read in countries literally around the world. From readership feedback, I know that the readers come from varying church/denominational affiliations and ministry involvements. The one common denominator is that the blog is connecting with people who have a passion for the Holy Spirit and long to see Him manifest His presence just as He did in the Book of Acts. You the reader have connected with my "TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost" and are joining with me in making this declaration as you welcome Him into your daily walk with Christ. I shared about the diversity of the readership to give the following explanation. This is week number 12 in a blog series that has focused on insights for ushering in a much-needed move of God in children's ministries. And, while Revolution: Settling for Nothing Less Than a Joel 2 Generation blog series is perhaps far from being a total, complete list of needed changes, I do recognize that the readership is far more than just children's ministry leaders and volunteers. Because of this diversity, I will end this series with this blog post and move on to subjects needed by the total readership. This final insight is ...
