America's Youth Don't Need Revival, They Need Obedience By Minister Speed

Youth Revival 

Key Scripture

1 John 1:5-7, 5 this then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The word fellowship comes from the word Fellow, meaning related by blood, marriage, or union.  And Ship meaning we are all going in the same direction or the same destination.

Youth – is defined as the time period between adolescent and adulthood. That means you are not a child but you’re not an adult either.

Revival – In my new book A Declaration to the Spiritual Soldier I stated that “The word revive in one sense means to restore to consciousness or life, to bring back from a depressed, inactive or unused state, but for Christianity this word has become an old worn out and archaic idea. 

The Christian definition for revival is a term that generally refers to a specific period of increased spiritual interest, or a renewal in the life of an individual, church congregation, or many churches, either regionally or globally, bringing AGAIN into activity and prominence the worship and spiritual influence of God.”

If you look at the word revival as I just outlined it then you will see a complete degradation of the very instrument which gives the church its influence and power. This instrument is the power of the Holy Spirit.

Without the Holy Spirit you have Spiritual sleep, spiritual death.  This proves conclusively that if there is a need for revival, then there must be a cataclysmic failure of the church to move, operate, and be led under the auspices of the Holy Spirit.  There is a breakdown of capacity and ability to walk and fellowship with Jesus Christ.

That is why you hear cry for REVIVAL……

The YOUTH today are under severe attack.  They are being overwhelmed without resistance, restraint, strategy, or vision

I am going to speak on and call out by NAME 7 Major spiritual attacks that the youth of today are facing.  Keep in mind if there is an attack it is because there are demons present.  

Keep in mind I am not talking about the youth of the world, I am talking about the youth in the Church house today.  The world is getting exactly what it CHOOSES by rejecting God.

Rebellion–To DIS-Honor the parents, Filthy communication w Parent, Teachers and each other.  God’s word said Honor thy Mother and Father that thy days may be long upon the earth.  This is why children are dying before their parents like never before.  You must learn HONOR and INTEGRTY.

Suicide – This is the spirit of DEPRESSION AND DEMISE. Suicide is a permanent to a temporary problem and is a direct result of not having faith in and walking in fellowship with Christ.  Suicide is the leading cause of death amongst Youth in America today.

Fornication – This is not just having sex outside of marriage but the forsaking of God and following after or depending on other gods and idols.  You open a door within yourself to demonic activity which can move through 3 to 4 generations after you.  The CDC states that 53% of all high school students have had sex. I’m calling it out tonight.  Let’s take the kids gloves off and say that this is against God and you will reap the consequences.

Abortions - The callous murder of one’s own unborn child.  This is satanic child sacrifice.  There have been 60 million abortions since Roe vs. Wade in 1971.  60% of these abortions are from black females age 16 to 25.  A lot of them from Christian homes.

Drug/Alcohol Abuse – Drugs and alcohol are mind and mood altering substances. Biblically in the Greek, the word for drug use is Pharmakia which when translated into English mean sorcery or witchcraft.  This includes marijuana and cigarettes. All drugs are a Spirit.  A Stronghold.  That’s why it’s hard to break any addiction.

STD’s – According to the CDC, About 9 million youth ages 13 to 19 contracts an STD each year. 10K youth contract HIV on a yearly basis. Of those 53% high school youth having sex, 77% of them do so without birth control.  We have an epidemic on hour hands parents.  Today is your Wake-Up call!!!

The Spirit of entitlement – Youth today believes they are owed something or are privileged to it JUST BECAUSE.  They are selfish, self-centered, dishonest, and full of fear.   The main reason behind this is the Country, the State, the City, and the Households are all out of order.   Children now run their household.  Listen what you want is not a RIGHT but a PRIVILEGE.

I know that I’m going to step on some toes here with what I’m about to say, BUT These pestilence, diseases, mental illnesses, addictions, delusions, and deaths have always been allowed by God for sinful acts in the bible.  

They are judgments.  

They are not just happening by accidents.  The Bible plainly teaches that our choices bear consequences. Whatever a man sows, that’s what he reaps (Galatians 6:7-8). 

Righteousness brings blessing and sin brings judgment and consequences:

It’s time to UNDERSTAND who you are and where you are in this life.  Many times it’s the adults giving teenagers permission to walk in darkness because in error most adults believe the youth cannot live the lifestyle God call them to live.

Let’s go to Bible Doctrine and see what God has to say.

Mary was about 14 years old engaged to Joseph when God birth in her Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.  She was willing to face the embarrassment she knew she would face to make a stand for God.

David was a 15 year old boy who had slain a bear, a lion and then Goliath by faith in God.  David was a youth acting like a man. Today that lion, that bear and that Goliath represent the enemies in your life. Our enemies today are spiritual. You’re going to have to make strong stand 4 God and you’re going to have to make a real choice 4 God. To not choose God is to make a choice to stand for the enemy.

The 3 Hebrew boys were about 16 or 17 when they made a stand for God and decided they would rather die than reject Him.  You see whenever you make a stand for God in this world you will have to go through your fiery furnace. But you won’t have to walk alone because just like Jesus walk with them He will walk with you.  

Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you.  The word of God is not locked into the Ancient of days nor is it conditioned by man.  His word is both timely and timeless.

All of these were youths were at the age of accountability. Accountability is the age when you are responsible for answering the call of God.  It when you are accountable for what you do or what you don’t do.  This is why there has been an unholy attack in America on kids in the last 20 years. There are killings in school, kids murdering their parents, babies having babies, and homosexuality is a rampant reality amongst the youth today.

 It’s time to make a stand.  Just because your mother & father ARE Christians does not mean you are automatically a Christian.  God is calling you.  His word does not change.  Pick up the Holy Scriptures, read then apply them to your life.  Repent & stop practicing sin.  Just because your mother and father are not saved does not mean that has to be your fate.   Listen up, Ignorance of Gods law is no excuse.

I have children that I am responsible for.  I held my younger child’s hand when we cross the street because she didn't know any better, but I don’t hold my youths hand because they are supposed to know better and it would seem strange if they needed me to hold their hands just to get across the street.

It is the same way in fellow shipping with God in His spiritual kingdom.  Youth, you are responsible up in this church.  I want the youth here to listen up.  As believers, you are expected to grow like a child does. When you are young in your faith, God only expects for you to get the "milk".  There’s always more room to make mistakes because you're growing, learning, just like a child does.

If you can say that you've been a believer for x-amount of years and you're still making the same mistakes, you haven't grown as you should spiritually. 

Just imagine if my 13-year-old Son Kadesh was still wearing diapers and eating jars of Gerber baby food: wouldn't that seem strange? How much more, then, should we grow year to year, glory to glory in our walk with Christ?

Acts 2:17 - And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

1. Last Days begin when Jesus died on the cross over 2,000 yrs. ago.  We are in the Laster Last Days

2. God’s Spirit is available to anyone who receives and fellowship with Him.

3. Don’t get it twisted.  Fellowship in God’s Kingdom does not come in words or just deeds but in Power. You can come to the church house every day and not be in fellowship with God.  Just look at most of the youth in regular church service.  Texting, talking, stoned faced, no praise no worship.  NOTHING!!!!!

4. For too long the church has lived in old archaic traditions, treating youth as if they are not able. They are more than able.  They must… make a stand & A choice…NOW!!!

5. For too long the church house has been longing for revival, for a makeover.  God has instructed us to walk in the New Man on a daily basis.  God has commanded us to be new, to actually have nothing to do with the old man. 

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

That’s now, you’re new right now. New is a condition that exists now that has never existed before.  Stop crying out for revival and walk in Victory and Power.  Revival is not a New Testament word given to us.  Christ paid and finished it all!!!

His spirit is available to anyone. Today we are here for the purpose of you answering that calling. You see it’s already done.  It’s finish.  Jesus did it all.  It’s time to run the race now.  It’s time to take a stand and draw a line in the sand of your life and make a choice.

In closing, in the book of Joshua 24 verse 15 God spoke through Joshua and said, “Choose today whom you will serve”. 

Joshua was stating here that if serving God is troublesome, a burden, embarrassing, and not a pleasure and delight: if you have found a better master, and whose service will be more pleasant and profitable to you then make a choice.  But choose.

When it comes to me and my family, we shall serve the Lord.  Listen, God is saying here if this is something you choose not to do then I break fellowship with you and I give you your leave.

God is not obligated to bless you if you are not in order or fellowship with Him.  You cannot have fellowship with God and walk in darkness.  This is a lie and Satan not God is the Father of the lie. 

No man can serve 2 masters.  

To the Youth that are here tonight I charge you to choose Jesus Christ, walk in and acknowledge Him in all your ways. 

Amen

The Rejection of God and parents by American Kids By Minister Speed

I've been hearing from a lot of parents whose teens are rejecting their faith.  The stories are all terrifically painful but are becoming a daily occurrence.  The sad fact is most children under the age of 30 have no God consciousness whatsoever.  

The sad part is America has turned into a soulless and spiritless bunch of atheist and agnostics who have turned away from the God of their forefathers and the children are paying the price.

American kids today are selfish, self-centered, sadistic, cruel, disrespectful, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, boastful, unforgiving, incredibly brutal and possess very little self-control whatsoever.  They feel entitled to everything, but they don’t want to work for any of it.  

They are absolutely addicted to entertainment, and they know very little about self-sacrifice.  Disciplining children is not considered to be “politically correct” in America today, and with each passing year these little hellions get even worse.  So what in the world is our country going to look like when all of these out of control kids grow up?

I wrote this blog to educated parents and those children willing to turn around and bring honor to their parents as God has commanded.  

The key scriptures are from the Book of Genesis Chapter 2/3.

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God created man just as with His permission he gave your mother and father permission to create you.

:8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

God created a home for his child (Adam) to live in with every good thing that would nourish him, Body, Mind, Spirit, and Soul.

9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Even in the midst of the home there will always be along with that which is good for food, that which is the knowledge of good and evil.  God will always give you a choice.  Behind every choice there is a reward or a self-imposed consequence.  God always gives you a choice.

Joshua 24:15 (KJV) 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Here Joshua is stating that is serving God is troublesome, a burden, weariness, and not a pleasure and delight: if you have found a better master, and whose service will be more pleasant and profitable to you then make a choice.  But as for me and those who dwell here under this roof, we shall serve the Lord.  If this is not something you choose not to do then I break fellowship with you and I give you your leave.  

LIGHT AND DARKNESS CANNOT FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER. 

Genesis 3:1, Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

The word serpent here in the Strong Concordance in the Hebrew language is Dragon.  In reading the bible we can see that Satan was presented from the beginning and came to Eve as she was the weaker vessel to kill, steal, and destroy her and then Adam. 

The first mistake eve made was what?  She listen to and then went further and starting speaking with Satan concerning the very things God had already said.  

He spoke the word that God had said Yea, hath God said, “Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? “  You see Satan knows the word (Bible) that God has spoken to you.  He understands the power inside of God’s word and He also knows who the weaker vessel in the house is.  Those are the ones like Eve who obviously already have a problem with the word spoken in the first place. 

In Genesis 2:9 we can see that as a good parent God provided everything that was needed.  9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food.  If we use our Sanctified Imagination we get a glimpse of how weak minded and selfish Eve was.

 

You would think that “Every Tree” pleasant to sight and Taste would be good enough for her.  You would think that she would turn from A DRAGON which looks outright and obviously wrong for her and turn to her husband that God created for her, but No.  She engaged in a full blown conversation and in doing so had already been deceived because if you think that you can speak against the word of God and not engaged Satan the Dragon then you are already heading toward a speeding train wreck with horrific ending.

Again we see Eve’s mistake in verse 3 where she Mis Quote the word of God.  God said you must eat of the tree in order to receive the consequence of death.  Eve in her resentment stated God said she couldn't even touch it. I relate this to having thoughts of sin.  It’s one thing to think sin, but it’s another thing to fully participate in sin and think nothing is going to happen to you.  

While Jesus may save, the consequences of Sin are Life and Long lasting. 

The Wages of Sin Is Death!!!

Sin is a part of the human condition.  The bible says in Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen (or born) in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Sin is a result of Adam plain Rejecting of the word of God being tempted by his own wife who was beguiled by Satan. 

In Romans 5:12 it states “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

Again in Roman 6:23 it states “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In Matthew 6:24 it states, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

The word mammon here is not just money but the demon of greed.  To always want more.  Like Eve to not be satisfied with all the good things God has stored up for us.

Since we now KNOW are sinners we now have a choice to make.  To serve God, or to serve Satan? You don’t make a choice with your mouth; rather you make a choice with your actions and thoughts. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

What you do in the flesh has the power to kill you spiritually and kill those who are yet present in your life.  It’s time to battle on or lay down.  What is your choice to be?  When sin enters in it usually comes like a small pimple.  If left untreated it spreads and becomes a spirit eating wound and then envelopes you completely.  

In the sport of football there is a saying.  Take the head and the body will follow.  This is a metaphor both physically and spiritually as the head (parents) of the household.  You are responsible. 

2 Corinthians states you must cast down the sinful imaginations, to bring those things into captivity and then be ready to seek revenge for the disobedient things you have done when you come through them. 

In other words, you should be mad "AT" hell for being made a fool of when you already know the truth of God.

How the Spirit of Disobedience works in man

Matt. 12:43-45, “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 “Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

You must confess, repent and engage the Holy Spirit or your fight is futile. The reason you keep doing the same thing and it gets worse has been spoke by God.  You must allow God to occupy your temple.  To not do so is to choose Satan.  Again you choose by your actions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Genesis 3: 4-6 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

This is the verse the Illuminati use to work against and reject God.  They believe that God has help the world in Captive and they willingly choose to follow Lucifer which means the Light Bearer hence Illuminate. 

Satan lies to a willing Eve and tells her she will be as gods knowing good and evil.  What he didn’t tell her was the consequences of such knowledge.  Again the wages of Sin is death. 

Satan lied and told her it would make her wise, but anything which goes against the knowledge of god is Insanity.  

The phrase to “eat of the fruit” means to partake in action.  To learn, to do, to go against what was taught.  We as parents have taught you the correct way in which you should walk. To go against that is to willingly eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.  You are of the age of accountability and you will receive the wages of death.

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

When it says there eyes were open it simply means they knew they were wrong and they knew they were in trouble.  They understood they had lost the protection of God’s covering. 

What they didn’t understand is because they still heard the voice of God they were still in a relationship with God. However they had broken fellowship with God. 

You see in a household when you sin, especially willingly, you break fellowship with the parents.  Over time this relationship can become so strained that the only thing a parent can do is to release that child out into the wicked world so it’s wickedness cannot hurt others that fellowship In the home.

This is the same way with God.  You cannot do what you want contrary to God’s word and expect to remain in fellowship with Him, but like the prodigal son who left and did despicable acts, the relationship remained so when he was willingly to come back the parent was there waiting.  

Remember this, sin is progressive in this world and evil is pervasive.  Many children are not making it back.

In verse 9 God calls to Adam, not Eve.  Eve was not accountable as God gave authority to Adam not Eve.  He asked where art thou?  We know that God knows all things so in using our sanctified imagination we can ascertain that what God really was asking was, what you have done?

You see like a good parent it was easy for God to see that they had no covering and were in disobedient as Adam testifies to by saying He was naked and afraid.  Question: why was Adam afraid?

 Because in Genesis 2:17 God said if you eat of that fruit you shall surely die.  They were experiencing God’s word coming true and it had to be terrifying for them to know the consequence.  

Many a Christian have experienced becoming drug addicts, life in prison, unwanted pregnancies and other diseases all because they have rejected the word of God.  Do not be deceived.  Your actions will reap consequences. 

Genesis 3:11 And he said, who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, what is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

In these verses we see God like a good parent asking questions to help them realize the seriousness of their situation.  And just like a child Adam begins to blame someone else for his action.  

The truth is if he had not eaten of the fruit the world would not be in the situation it is today.  No one can trick you, deceive you, persuade you, or even blackmail you into a thing if you haven’t done anything.  

It will be the same way when you face God.  Further on we see Eve play the blame game and not take accountability for her actions and states the Dragon beguiled her.  The word beguiled is related to words like entice, seduce, lure, and tempt.  

Satan is still doing this very thing today. 

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Like I said the consequences are permanent and everlasting.  For the woman God multiplied her (1) sorrow and her (2) conception.  These are two different things.  

Women have been in sorrow for thousands of years with broken hearts, divorces, false promises, as well as lower class citizens of mostly every country on the face of the earth. 

God also multiplied her sorrow in conception.  

I am sure God did not mean for all the pain and sorrow attach to bringing forth life, but because Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden which symbolized the Kingdom of God on Earth they received the consequence thereof.

For the man he wouldn't have the benefit of the garden anymore.  Life would be brutish, nasty, and short.

17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

God created us to live eternally on Earth.  Through Jesus Christ we have the ability to live in God’s kingdom again eternally.  Many are making the choice to reject God and His Son, the very word of God and many again will reap the consequence of Eternal Damnation.  

The choice is yours.  God has never sent anyone to hell.  You send yourself!!

What’s going on in the Church House Today? By Minister Speed

A recent study by The Barna Group, a California-based Christian research organization, found that about 13 million Americans whom the researchers identified as being born again were "unchurched ... not having attended a Christian church service, other than for a holiday ... at any time in the past six months."

In Gospel of Matthew was Jesus first use of “church” in Scripture. Jesus stated “on this rock I will build my church?” "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:15-18).

When Jesus says He will build His church on this rock, He is referring to Himself, the rock.  Jesus Christ is the rock referenced throughout Scripture. When He makes this statement He is merely addressing Peter, Christ is not saying that He will build His church on Peter.  The “church” is spiritual; it cannot be built on a man.

The first problem is the church houses of today have been built upon the ideas and organizational skill of man.  If you look at most churches there is even a man’s name on the outside building.  The majority of church house are 501 C 3 Non-profit which means also that they are under the auspices of the Federal Government and not Jesus Christ. 

Click link below to See 501 C 3 church.....

 501 C 3 Controls the church

In looking at Holy Scripture the “Church” as presented in Scripture is, 

·  The body of Christ

·  All believers

·  All believers, Gentile and Jewish

·  All believers, of a town or city

·  All believers, of a fellowship

·  All believers, Old and New Testaments

·  All believers, male and female

·  The household of God

·  The Bride of Christ

2.    The church as presented in our culture is,

· That church building on the corner.

There are over tens upon tens of thousands of church houses in my town which has a population of 1,445,806.

· That Christian denomination.

Barna, cited a figure of 20,780 denominations in 1980 and projected that there would be as many as 22,190 by 1985.

Compare these two meanings for the church.

1.   The first is spiritual: made up exclusively of true believers in Jesus Christ, members and leaders. 

2. The second is secular: local, national and international organizations with unbelievers and believers, members and leaders.

 In an effort to make clear distinctions between the secular church and God's spiritual Church, I will differentiate my references to them by capitalizing Church, for the spiritual Body of Christ.

For example: There is still a remnant of the Church in the local Baptist church on Broadway.

The problem within the church house today

In my new book A Declaration To The Spiritual Soldier I identified several problems with the church house especially in America today. 

(Beginning of A Declaration to the Spiritual Soldier quote)

In the last 1900 years we have seen the church degrade into apathy and apostasy. Even through the reformation of old, there remain vestiges of carnal appendages which have stretched their tentacles into the modern day church causing a passive, placating, and politically correct spirit.  Many are deceived into thinking that being IN Christ is an automatic result of believing in Christ. 

There are two different principles on the path to Maturity in Jesus Christ. For example, in western society most will tell you they believe in Christ. They can tell you which church house they go to, quote certain scriptures, and even pay their tithes on time, but ask them God’s purpose for their lives, or what are they doing for God’s Kingdom, and they draw a blank. Ask them what it means to be IN Christ, and they will tell of believing on Christ.

To look for indicators in this lack of maturity, one could simply look at the dramatic decline of the church population in the past 30 years, or the staggering statistics regarding divorce amongst church going Christians in this day and age. There is also the active and practiced engagement of homosexual and sexual misconduct, including pornography, adultery, and fornication. These are but mere precursors to a host of debacles which the church suffers to persist in its Holy Sanctuary today. 

These ailments show a maladaptive behavior in the church of Jesus the Christ, not conducive to what Christ had in mind when He first built His Church.

At first glance, the church today appears to be at a zenith in purpose. In any city in America, on any street corner whether urban, rural, or a suburban location, you can usually see a building with a cross or some Christian insignia indicating a place of worship. But upon careful observation, this is where all continuity ends. The worship of Jesus Christ has taken on a circus like atmosphere. 

The main purpose is designed to not help bring about true conversion, but to say the right words to get the pews filled on a week to week basis. This equates to a consumer mentality.

The reason for this is clear. The world has changed and most pastors struggle to keep up with it. If they have a loyal following, they feel it necessary to teach according to the dictates of that crowd and not offend. If they don’t have a loyal following, then they understand the dynamics of trying to reach people who were raised without a God consciousness, people under 30 who don’t know God or the church at all. These pastors understand that we live in a pagan society meaning people don’t believe in Jesus, Jehovah, or the Holy Spirit. 

Ask any member of a church organization today why they go to church, and what they believe is the function of the church. You will receive just as many answers as the people you asked. There are those who look faithful, but only use the church as a social function. Many times these men and women are placed in leadership position because they are often times more than twice a week attendees.

Then there are the serious men and women who may not attend Church but once a week. They may be teaching Bible lessons at home or volunteering their time in services to the LORD in some other way as directed by the Holy Spirit. There are those who may not even attend traditional church service as you know it at all. I personally know hundreds of people who operate in this manner, and they are just as, if not more, successful in reaching out to the lost.

There is also the problem with scandals which have rocked the church leaders in the last 20 years. Because of the shifts and changes in the world, pastors, men and women, are not entering the ministry as before, and those who do, face a host of problems and issues that would make any CEO executive balk. Even so, it appears that the power of God is not as evident as a string of high profile divorces, and moral failing have weakened the public’s view of the church. 

There are many other factors of course which show the necessity for NewVival in the church today. There is of course the catastrophic decline of church members in the past from ministries which once flourished to now average traditional denominations being in crisis.

(End of A Declaration to the Spiritual Soldier Quote)

The first step in reversing this crisis is to listen to the call of Christ. His Word of grace calls us to obedience, to follow Him unconditionally with a faith-formed trust in His leadership. We trust the word spoken to His disciples before He ascended into heaven when He promised “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

It’s time to repent, get honest and take a look at the spiritual character that is lacking within us all and take a stand to allow God to move within us.

I have listed 3 principles which should propel us into a dynamic new area for Christ Church.

Growth

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT) "There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. 

Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong".

As believers, we are expected to grow like a child does. When you are young in your faith, God only expects for you to get the "milk"; there's more room to make mistakes because you're growing, learning, just like a child does. Verse 14 tells us that as we grow in life and in Christ, we have developed the "skills to recognize the difference between right and wrong" as a result of "maturing". 

If you can say that you've been a believer for x-amount of years and you're still making the same mistakes, you haven't grown as you should. Just imagine if my 13-year-old Son was still wearing diapers and eating jars of Gerber: wouldn't that seem strange? How much more, then, should we grow year to year in our walk with Christ? (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 supports this)

Responsibility

In recent months, many Christian leaders have found themselves in hot water when the lives they lead behind closed doors suddenly were exposed to the public. From Eddie Long to Pastor Zachery Timms and many other leaders in the Body of Christ, this year has been a year of exposing -- that age old adage "what's done in the dark will always come to light" has reigned true for many in recent months. Some would argue that we are all imperfect, just fleshly beings that can't be regarded so highly that those who follow these leaders should fall and stumble because of their imperfections.   

I beg to differ!!!

The bible tells us that leaders in the church are held to a higher standard – 1st and 2nd Timothy both explore the expectations of church leaders (I Timothy 3:11) noting that their failure to be in right standing with God can have a greater impact beyond their own personal lives.

We have a responsibility to people. Yes, we are imperfect, but the charge to live upright even when you think no one is watching is clearly stated in the Word.

Ephesians 5:10-14 (NLT) says: Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible."

We have a responsibility not only to God, but to the people we lead. If for any reason we are found to be living a life of perpetual sin behind closed doors, we have the responsibility to shine light for the sake of repentance, not ridicule and judgment. 

In Revelation 3:19 (NLT), it reads, “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference”.

The great and most important part about reproof and reprimand is that it should evoke a spirit of love and repentance to God and a sense of responsibility to the people to make things "right" with them. We (the body) are charged in James 5:19-20 to love people back into the fold (which would require us to acknowledge the wrong publicly, right?) and guide them back to their original standing in God.

We are even told to "confess ours sins to one another" so we may be able to address our issues and be made whole. How else do we do that lest we publicly confess them?

Obedience

At the same time, leaders (and yes, even us regular folk) are supposed to set themselves apart -- be different from the world -- in order to be used by God. No amount of talent, gifting, or anointing can replace the power of obedience and holiness.

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

What sin does is make it harder for us to be used by God. Had I never had a child out of wedlock, it would have been easier for me to navigate my purpose; certain hurdles I wouldn't have had to overcome had I been obedient to what I knew to be true. Thank God for grace, mercy, and second chances.

What does God want?

God is very concerned about winning souls -- and will win them at any cost. He will use the broken, beat up, and damaged to reach people to bring them into the kingdom. He will use singers, ministers, bishops, pastors, clerks; stay at home moms, firemen, bankers, anyone who is willing to use their life as a testimony to win souls.

 He is also excessively concerned about our personal lives and wants to see us do and be better. He expects for us to grow and change in Christ every day. He will always deal with our personal lives privately before allowing our sins to consume us and embarrass us publicly. 

Even then, He will use people to draw us back unto Him in order to get ourselves right and be more effective than we were before -- but we must be willing to grow, take responsibility, and be obedient to his direction. 

Selah