January 19, 2011 Forward Motion Faith

It’s Bigger Then I Thought!

I sat tonight with my Nexus team and discussed some new information on the millennia’s (that group of our population born between 1980 and 2000).  The millennial are the group that was the prominent people group in my prophetic dream I had last September.  I need not go into the detail here – I have explained this several times.

My point tonight is that in our season of fasting and seeking a deeper intimacy with Him – we cannot escape our call to succeeding generations.   Once again I call you to your knees to not just seek an intimacy for yourself with God – I am asking you to seek out your place in the call to reach all those in the wake of this old gospel ship.

They are a different group – the millennia’s.  They have some unique dynamics that point to a new paradigm of effort on our part to reach them.  It ain’t church as it was or there will be no church for tomorrow.   I will address this issue and much more on Sunday, February 6 at VHC.  Trust me, you won’t want to miss this service.  

I am going back to what I believe is something prophetic that is happening right in front of our eyes.  It goes back to what I mentioned last night in my blog.  It’s the visioneamers!  You know that silly word I created last evening!  It’s the combination of visions (young men) and dreams (old men) Simon Peter speaks of in Acts 2.  It goes beyond just a few passages of scripture to excite Pentecostals and Charismatics about speaking in tongues and practicing all our super hyper spiritual stuff.  It is seeing prophecy fulfilled right in front of our eyes.  Here is my point – the millennia’s present several dynamics that I think prove fulfillment of prophecy. 

• The millennia’s have an avid respect for previous generations (senior adults).
• The millennia’s is a generation of learners.
• The millennia’s want to be mentored – 40% have mentors at this time.
• They have a high priority for “family”.
• The millennia’s do not have any spiritual convictions – as prospective visionaries they will need to hold hands with a mature generation

I believe that we are going to see the next generation grab hold of the hands of previous generations and move into a last day outpouring of the Holy Spirit unmatched by anything we have ever seen!  The “last day outpouring” has been falling since the day of Pentecost.  We have yet to see a movement that will capture the fulfillment of Acts 2.17 which declares that our young men will see vision and our old men will dream dreams.  This is a cooperative effort of two generations! 

I am fifty-three years old.  I have seen many moves of the Holy Spirit in my time. I have seen the supernatural gifts in operation.  I have seen miracles.  I have seen the absolute phenomenon of the Holy Spirit.  I have sensed His presence so strong I didn’t think I nor anyone else could physically withstand His presence.  I have been overwhelmed by His presence.  But what I have yet to see is a complete fulfillment of divine anointing on two generations in complete cooperation with one another.   I believe we are about to see it happen.  I can only pray that VHC is ready for it when it happens.

When you read the statistics available on the spiritual, cultural, political, economic and familial dynamics of this succeeding generation it makes you realize that we have our hands full.  If we are not prepared and poised to reach this group we will diminish the chances of continued church growth and the fulfillment of this prophetic message in our own church venue.  We have to do several things as a church to engage the millennia’s.

First, we have to start a new level of involvement from our senior adult groups.  The millennia’s have a high degree of respect for this group.  They can and should be utilized as never before to reach this succeeding generation.  See Titus 2; 1 Peter 5.5 and Romans 9.12.

Second, we have to use the millennia generation to their fullest possible potential.  One of the fears this generation has in relationship to their age, education, skill and talent is that previous generations will not put them work.  They are described as workaholics by many sociologists and people group researchers.  I am reminded of what Paul told Timothy – whom he engaged in ministry work as a very young man – “despise not your youth!” (1 Timothy 4.12).  We need to listen to Paul’s advice.

Third, the millennia generation holds “family” as their number one priority in life.  This means that churches will have to purposefully missional in their approach to reaching this generation. This means that VHC will have to stop and make new plans for our future.  We don’t have a choice if we want to fulfill our scriptural mandate of evangelism and continue to be a growing church.  It will be a costly venture but cost is not a problem when obedience brings it to a disciplined place in our personal budgets.

Fourth, we will have to engage practical and relevant information that speaks to our future as a church.  Practical facts like these stats from the 2000 census:

• Nearly 40% of the population for the 43130 zip code is under 40 years of age.
• The mean age of our city is 38 years of age.
• Nearly 30% of Lancaster is under 30 years of age.

What does this have to do with us as a church?  A lot!  If this much of our city population is under thirty then there are a lot of kids and teenagers in our city.  We also discovered that a high percentage of this group actually lives within the corporate city boundaries.  They are right under our noses!  We can do nothing less than prepare to meet the millennia’s complex needs on our campus and in the streets of our city!

For instance, it is a goal of mine to build and resource a children and youth center on our campus.  If the succeeding generation has a priority for family – we need to meet that need on our campus.  If they are anxious about providing for their families – we need to meet that need on our campus.  If they are interested in learning then we need to offer classes that will facilitate their learning needs on our campus.  Do you get the picture?  If we do not become proactive in reaching this generations needs we will chase their shadow in attempts to be reactive and by that time we will have missed the greatest opportunity to be part of prophecy being fulfilled! 

This is more than building a few buildings. This is more than creating classes to meet their spiritual needs.  This is more than providing a few senior adults to teach young men and women how to better serve Christ.  It is about obedience.  It is about being part of the greatest window of outpouring we have ever seen. 

I don’t know about you but I am excited about the future of our church.  I sense God doing some great and mighty things in our future.  There is no doubt in my mind that not everybody will understand or want to saddle up on this one.  I can only be as Joshua was with the children of Israel in Joshua chapter one – move out in forward motion faith.  I don’t know where the money will come from.  I don’t know how we are going to do what God has called us to do specifically.  What I do know is we are a people of faith and without faith we can’t please Him.  With faith we please Him and in reciprocal action He pleases us. 

Are you ready to put a smile on your face?  His face?