Why America's Churches Are at a Tipping Point - THOM RAINER CHARISMA NEWS

(Photo by Tim Wright on Unsplash)

Why America's Churches Are at a Tipping Point

12/7/2018 THOM RAINER  charisma news

"Tipping Point (noun): the critical point in a situation, process or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place."

If current trajectories continue, American churches will pass a tipping point. Our congregations will begin a likely unstoppable path toward decline that will rival many European churches of the past century. If there is not a significant movement of revitalization, there will be an accelerated rate of decline and death.

The good news is that many leaders are not denying this reality. They are seeking God and responding obediently. Church revitalization has become a real and powerful theme. As I indicated in my book, Scrappy Church, more and more churches are moving in incredible and positive directions.

How will God move in our churches? How will we respond? While I will not address those two paramount questions in this particular article, I do want us to see the three specific areas of the tipping point: theological, attitudinal and actionable.

The Theological Tipping Point

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If a church does not have a solid biblical and theological foundation, all other issues are moot. In some congregations, there is slippage on the doctrine of exclusivity, the biblical truth that Christ is the only way of salvation (John 14:6). In other congregations, leaders and members are questioning the absolute authority of Scripture. That issue is as old as creation when the serpent questioned God's Word, "Did God really say . . .?" (Gen. 3:1b, NIV).

We can't even begin to deal with other tipping points until we have resolved the issues of truth and fidelity to Scripture. The slippery slope of questioning God's authority leads to the decline and death of churches.

The Attitudinal Tipping Point

At some point in the recent history of the church, particularly North American churches, becoming a part of a local congregation became a consumer-driven activity. Too many church members want, even demand, their own preferences and desires. In some congregations, we are more likely to hear a member fight over his or her own worship style preference than ask how he or she might truly serve the body of Christ.

Read 1 Corinthians 12. Becoming a member of the body of Christ means we serve others for the greater good of the body. The needs of others come before our preferences and desires. Paul admonished the local congregation in Philippi: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Phil. 2:3). That doesn't sound like some of our church business meetings.

The Actionable Tipping Point

There are many presumably Bible-believing churches that like the idea of evangelism more than doing evangelism. Frankly, I deal with evangelical church leaders and members every day who profess unwavering fidelity to Scripture but haven't intentionally had a gospel conversation in recent memory.

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We are so busy with church activities that we neglect active obedience of the Great Commission. We can be passionate about the placement of the offertory in the worship service but never invite people to come to those worship services. We can complain when the pastor doesn't visit members sufficiently but never visit the hurting and lost ourselves.

A church leader recently asked me why I thought his church was not growing. I asked him what his church did every single week to reach, invite and serve the community. His silence was his own answer. Many of us conservative Christians would rather fight each other than fight against the gates of hell.

It Is Time

Still, I am not discouraged. The tipping point is not inevitable. Our obedience may have waned, but God's power has not. Many church leaders and members are recommitting themselves to a renewed and vibrant mission. Many of their churches are seeking and seeing revitalization.

There is indeed an incipient movement of scrappy churches. It is real. It is growing.

It is time.

With whatever years God gives me, with whatever breaths I have remaining to breathe, I ask God to use me in my church to serve Him and others with unwavering commitment.

And then, and only then, may I dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain." 

Thom S. Rainer is the president of LifeWay Christian Resources.

This article originally appeared at thomrainer.com.

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Prophecy: 'We Are at the Tipping Point of Mass Revival' - DR. HAKEEM COLLINS CHARISMA NEWS

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Prophecy: 'We Are at the Tipping Point of Mass Revival'

3/20/2018 DR. HAKEEM COLLINS  CHARISMA NEWS

As I was in prayer concerning the present state of the church at large, the Lord began to reveal to me that we are at the tipping point of mass revival coming. I asked the Lord to share with me what that may look like. He showed a prophetic picture of "wind and fire" coupling. The Lord took me to the following Scriptures:

"Who makes His angels as winds, His ministers a flaming fire" (Ps. 104:4).

"But if I say, 'I will not make mention of Him nor speak any more in His name,' then His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I was weary of forbearing it, and I could not endure it" (Jer. 20:9).

The Lord spoke to me that there are coming wildfires of revival hitting the body of Christ. These wildfires will not be destructive fires but constructive and consuming fires of revival. He gave me the image of wooded sticks on fire speaking of people through whom the next move of God will come. God revealed the term "firebrand" in my spirit. He is going to use firebrand-type revivalists who are glory carriers to spark and ignite personal, corporate and global change. It will happen through intense prayer, worship, fasting, soaking, prophesying and Holy Spirit-filled hunger for the glory of God. The Lord said that these Holy Spirit-filled firebrands would be marked with the love of Jesus and passion to see change in their generation.

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word "firebrand" as "a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action." God is raising up Holy Spirit-filled firebrands that will become change-makers who will have a God-given cause burning within them to take action to see a radical shift. The Father is going set many of you ablaze in this season. The Lord is reigniting a new passion for what you have been called and anointed to do. Some of you have lost your fire and passion for what you once loved. God is breathing His breath upon you to rekindle the love and passion again.

The enemy will try to extinguish the fire and the zeal of the Lord in your life. I believe the Lord wants His people to "fan into the flame" the gift He has imparted within us. You are a torch burning in the hands of the Lord for the world to see. We are admonished in the Word of God to not neglect your spiritual gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control" (2 Tim 1:7).

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What was it that Timothy had to "fan into flame? Well the Scripture was clear that it was the gift of God. What gift so to speak? Some may say it was the eternal gift but I don't believe it was that per se but the gift of God that was imparted into him by prophetic utterance and laying on hands as an apostolic charge to fulfill his calling. Some Bible scholars believe that it means that Timothy was to reignite his ministry, since the Greek word (here translated "fan into flame") can mean "rekindle." However, in other translations of the word means to "kindle into flame" or "fire it up." Let us look at the full text in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV): "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

The apostle Paul was not telling his spiritual son Timothy to rekindle something that had died in his apostolic ministry or calling. He is telling him to take the gift God has given him and set it on fire (in a good sense). He was telling Timothy to stir up the gift of God, while at the same time to become a firebrand of revival. Don't let your gift lay dormant but become a fire-starter in your generation! Paul's primary directives to Timothy were to ignite the gift God has deposited into him and use it for God's purposes boldly, soberly, passionately and in love.

As revival is coming in a new way we are going to hear messages that will possess prophetic power to set others ablaze. Ministers of the gospel are called like Timothy to preach and teach like men and women on fire. God is going to use many of your spiritual gifts in remarkable ways to bring revival to those you encounter daily. You will be the "burning ones" in your city, community, church, ministry, family, business, nation and generation to set others on fire for the Lord.

Prophecy:

The Word of the Lord came to me, saying: For sons and daughters, I am igniting and making you ministers of flames of fire to release My glory to this generation. I am sending you angelic assistance as winds to help you to bring revolutionary change. And know that I am raising you up in this hour as Holy Spirit-filled firebrands of revival that will come in My power and with My authority, and you will be set ablaze, with signs following. Know, My child, that it is My heart to use you to rekindle the flames that have burned out in this nation and to rekindle the embers that have been left smoldering in the lives of those who have lost their zeal and passion. For surely, it is revival time, and I will be using you to spark again the fire in those who were once used in their spiritual gifts, who have become weary in well-doing. Now is the time for My glory to be radiant throughout the land. What seemed charred, seared and stagnant in your life will be revived as My fire ignites a new passion in your soul, says the Spirit of God. 

Dr. Hakeem Collins is an empowerment specialist, respected emerging prophetic voice, apostolic leader, governmental minister, life coach and sought-after conference speaker. He is known for his keen accurate prophetic gifting and supernatural ministry. Follow him on: facebook.com/drhakeemcollins/ and hakeemcollinsministries.com.

Cindy Jacobs: Prophetically, America Is at a Tipping Point - CHARISMA NEWS

We prayed and listened to the Lord. The only thing He said to us was that He was preparing a patriot for the nation, and, if we prayed, that person would win the elections. It was frustrating! (Facebook/Cindy Jacobs)

Cindy Jacobs: Prophetically, America Is at a Tipping Point

 9/20/2016 CHARISMA NEWS

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). 

When the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders met in November 2015, I asked them, "Do you have a word about the elections?" In my opinion, this strategic gathering that includes some of the most respected prophets in the United States is a highlight for my year. 

We prayed and listened to the Lord. The only thing He said to us was that He was preparing a patriot for the nation, and, if we prayed, that person would win the elections. It was frustrating!

However, God had admonished us to pray for just such a person, and pray we did. 

This was puzzling, as we have received very accurate and broad-sweeping prophecies in the past. For instance, we were shown that the E.U. would fragment. We were told the U.S. dollar would remain a haven for investors and, in the midst of worldwide shaking, it remained so.  Then, we were shown that economy of Europe would shake and while this would affect the U.S., we would not have 2008 meltdown. This is not to say that the nation will never see that in the future. Frankly, it depends on our prayers. 

In personally seeking God as to the "why" He wasn't more specific with us, I realized He had already spoken! We need to see which candidate most lined up with biblical values. The Word of God tells us that righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach. I realize that to use the biblical word, "sin," is not politically correct. This is because even the church has become a bastion of cultural relativism. The more preferred words are, messed up" or "shouldn't have done it." Some even go so far as to say the word "sin" is offensive to sinners! 

I believe that such things as abortion, the murder of the unborn in the womb, are offensive to God. Other things like lying and stealing are forbidden as part of God's rules! Therefore, we need to vote accordingly. I also realize that the president is not a "pastor-in-chief," but a commander-in-chief. Still, we need to look at what policies the candidate will advocate and the outcome of those policies. 

What does this have to do with the election and why can't I just refuse to vote because I they are not the candidates I would have chosen? If I may digress for a moment, God placed us on earth to be its stewards. We are to disciple nations. To do so includes the need to see that it becomes a nation that God deems righteous. To abstain from the political process and not participate in the process is to advocate this role to others. This comes down to this statement for me-voting is a spiritual exercise.

In order to see that righteousness exalts our nation, we have to vote. Prophetically, I believe we are at a tipping point. We have already lost a large measure of the greatness that God gave the United States to be salt and light in the Earth. I know, because Mike and I travel around the world and listen to people say this very thing in nation after nation. My heart grows heavy when I hear this discussed and I am frankly embarrassed before God. Of course, I know God loves every nation and every one has a unique, important role. However, I love my nation too! God purposed me to be an American. 

It may be that God is not speaking to me about a particular candidate and is using others instead. That could very well be. There is one thing that I do know! It is time to pray and act!

Faith without works is dead! If we want a righteous nation our faith must be in the voting booth as well as a church building. 

We have to look at the candidates, even though there are flawed, and vote for the ones that will establish righteousness for the unborn, fight against poverty and racism and biblical, foundational truth. God is not for a political party. They are all flawed. However, there are certain candidates who will fight for our religious freedoms and biblical values such as life in the womb.   

Perhaps we do not need another word because He already given it and we only need to read the Lawgiver's Manuel and vote our biblical conscious. 

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Evangelicals Sing a New Tune on Trump: 'Meeting May Be a Tipping Point' - CBN News David Brody

Evangelicals Sing a New Tune on Trump: 'Meeting May Be a Tipping Point'

06-22-2016

CBN News David Brody

+1

NEW YORK -- Donald Trump seemed to help his case after meeting with hundreds of evangelical leaders in Times Square on Tuesday.  He's going to need that crucial voting bloc to have a real shot at winning the presidency.

From mega-church pastors to longtime stalwarts, they heard Trump speak out about defending religious liberty, including his desire to get rid of IRS restrictions that muzzles political talk from the pulpit. Trump said a repeal may be "my biggest contribution to Christianity."

In that room, among the 900 or so evangelical leaders, there were quite a few who were not for Trump going into the meeting. After the meeting some minds seemed to change.

"The ball has moved forward a little bit. And I appreciate Mr. Trump's willingness to reach out to the evangelical community," said Matt Barber, founder and editor-in chief of BarbWire.com.

"After hearing him today, I will prayerfully consider it as a possibility, in light of the alternative," reflected Barber.

That alternative is Hillary Clinton. Trump made clear his Supreme Court picks would make them proud, unlike what Clinton might bring to the table.

Trump also talked about how evangelicals need to band together because their rights and values are under attack.

What pleased some attendees was that Trump didn't appear to make any major mistakes or give reason for pause.

"I can't remember any time during the several hours this morning that his answer disappointed or that there was chagrin about it," recalled Gary Bauer, president of American Values.

Trump's senior adviser, Sarah Huckabee, also attended the event.

"He did something that most Republican nominees in the past have refused to do and that's walk into this room and be willing to sit down, take their questions and really interact with them in a very big way," Huckabee told CBN News.

With some evangelicals still wary, the brash outsider will need more outreach, but for now at least, it seems to be working.

"As it pertains to the evangelical vote and the candidacy of Donald J. Trump, today's meeting may very well be a tipping point," predicted Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

A pro-family leader, Rodriguez says he knew plenty of pastors who were skeptical before the meeting, but inside, something changed, he said.

"After hearing his commitment, his very well-defined, articulated commitment to religious liberty and life, the Supreme Court especially, I think you saw a number of the same pastors walk out going, 'that's what I needed to hear," Rodriguez said.

And that's something the Trump campaign needed to hear after a rough few weeks of headlines.

It will be important for them to build on any progress here by getting evangelicals to move beyond words and work actively for Trump among their flocks. 

*CBN neither supports nor opposes any candidate for public office.

Watch here: Evangelicals on Trump

This Is the Tipping Point for the Next Great Awakening - JENNIFER A. MISKOV CHARISMA NEWS

On April 9, 2016, which was also the 110th anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival, our generation was inaugurated into a new era. Lou Engle and TheCall, in partnership with Bethel Church in Redding, California, hosted over 65,000 people in an event called Azusa Now. (Courtesy/Jennifer Miskov)

This Is the Tipping Point for the Next Great Awakening

4/19/2016 JENNIFER A. MISKOV  charisma news

Can thousands of people gathered together for one purpose shift a generation into the next Great Awakening? What if the date and location of this gathering tapped into one of the deepest wells of revival we've experienced over the last century?

On April 9, 2016, which was also the 110th anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival, our generation was inaugurated into a new era. Lou Engle and TheCall, in partnership with Bethel Church in Redding, California, hosted over 65,000 people in an event called Azusa Now. People from all around the world gathered together in the rain at the Los Angeles Coliseum to make the name of Jesus famous once again. The day was filled with worship, prayer, healing, miracles, prophetic acts, and signs and wonders. During the week preceding this event, Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, Circuit Riders, Youth With A Mission, Iris Global, and many other ministries sent out armies of Jesus lovers to flood L.A. with the love and power of God. Deaf ears were opened, people got up out of wheelchairs, many were welcomed into the family of God, and signs and wonders were released.

Because of the prophetic words and impossibilities connected to the Azusa Now story, it is important to pay attention. This was not just another Christian worship event. Deep wells of the Azusa Street Revival, which birthed over half a billion Christians and has spread to nearly every country in the world over the past century, were accessed on Saturday. At Azusa Now, many different streams of Christianity came together in unity for one purpose. Profound reconciliation occurred. Worship filled the stadium. Ripple effects that will impact the world and eternity will result from what was poured out at Azusa Now.

We Walk by Faith Not Sight

Something powerful and profound happened at Azusa Now whether we see and understand it now or not. Many stepped out in great faith to see God's kingdom come to this generation. If all of this was done and only one person got saved or healed, it would have been worth it. However, we know that many entered into God's kingdom and many others were restored, healed, and set free that day. We don't know how many lives these ones will touch in the future but these will be the inheritance of what was poured out at Azusa Now.

In the evening session at Azusa Now, evangelist Daniel Kolenda shared how God marked him at TheCall D.C. over ten years ago. He was impregnated with a hunger and passion to see souls saved. He has since brought thousands into the kingdom of God. The impact of what was released when he attended TheCall D.C. might not have become visible the next week or even the next year, but something significant happened that later contributed to the momentum of hundreds of thousands being led to the Lord. Whether we see profound results today or in the next ten years from what happened at Azusa Now, we said yes to what God asked of us. That is something to celebrate. We need to trust Him with the results as we continue to dive even deeper into His presence.

Healing on the Streets

When I was doing my Ph.D. on revival history while living in England, I helped my church set up Healing on the Streets in the city square where many youth gathered. We set up chairs in the middle of the square and put up a flag that said Healing. Anyone walking by who wanted prayer would sit in a chair and we would pray for him or her right out in the open. We did this every month and saw many miracles take place: legs grew, depression lifted, cigarettes disappeared, and people even grew taller. However, there's one story I want to share that will help demonstrate the unseen impact Azusa Now will have in the future.

One time when we were out on the streets, we met a teenager named Ben. He had been hit by a car and his leg was in a cast. He was a rough looking kid but had allowed us to pray for him. As our team laid hands and prayed for him in the middle of the town square, the presence of God fell on him powerfully. However, when he left, he hobbled away, still on crutches with no visible sign of healing. Did we fail? Did we not have enough faith to bring him into his healing? I think not. I believe that every Holy Spirit-led act of faith is something to celebrate. Our job is to obey God. He is in charge of the results.

The next month we went back to the same spot and saw Ben running out to greet us. He shared how a week after we prayed, he was totally healed and even went out jogging!!! We hadn't seen the effects in the moment we prayed, but God was working behind the scenes. Furthermore, one year after Ben got healed, we were all drinking coffee in a Starbucks and sharing testimonies after our ministry time on the streets. I noticed the Holy Spirit was doing something in Ben so I asked him what was going on. His grandmother had just passed away and he heard her favorite song come on which made him emotional. We prayed for him right there in the Starbucks and he began to weep. Then he said to me, "Jen, I never told you this before but a year ago when you all prayed for me, I had so much anger and rage inside of me that I was going to beat someone up that day. After you all prayed for me, that anger left and I have never been the same." We found this out one year later!

We don't always know or see the results of stepping out in faith, worshipping in unity, or doing prophetic acts led by the Spirit, however, in due time, these will surface. Azusa Now may or may not have been what we all imagined. We may have seen incredible miracles and salvations or we may not have seen what we were hoping for. However, something powerful was released either way that will impact generations. We must be content knowing that heaven is celebrating us each and every time we step out in faith to follow the leading of the Spirit. Yes, many people got saved, healed, and delivered which is incredible. However, Azusa Now was just the beginning of more to come.

The Rudder of Our Ship Has Shifted

The prophetic act of thousands of people worshipping together in one place, in one city, and on the anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival synergized and shifted us into a new era. What we did that day is like shifting the direction of a rudder on a large ship. Our generation may or may not recognize the radical change and the momentum that will carry on for generations from now from what was released at Azusa Now. However, even the slightest of changes on a rudder will redirect the course of that ship. Over time, that ship will arrive at a completely different destination.

We are now going in a new direction, even if ever so slightly. This change will take us to a greater reality than any could ever have hoped, dreamed, or imagined. The New Jesus Revolution has already begun. Sometimes this happens in the smallest of ways. Never underestimate the power of Jesus working even in one small shift, one great decision made, or one person saved. Remember and record what happened in your life on Saturday April 9, 2016 and celebrate each seed of hope that was released. This is only the beginning. These seeds will one day grow and emerge into giants as they are saturated by more of the Holy Spirit.

I close by quoting a song by Bob Dylan. I encourage you to imagine God singing it over you and our generation:

"The storms are raging on the rolling seas

And on the highway of regret

The winds of change are blowing wild and free

You ain't seen nothing like Me yet 

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends of the earth for you

To make you feel My love" 

God has already gone to the ends of the earth to make you feel His love when He sent His Son Jesus. I pray that in this new era, your eyes are opened more than ever before to see and to receive a fresh revelation of the Father's great love. I pray that you become a target for His blessing, favor, and presence. May your heart increase in capacity to be able to receive the great love God is pouring out and to overflow it to others. May you be apprehended by God's extravagant and unceasing love like never before. Hang on tight, we're in for the wildest ride of our lives! 

Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D., is the author of Ignite Azusa: Positioning for a New Jesus Revolution.

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