In the midst of many of the troubling developments I am seeing among the churches in America,
one of the most disturbing is that churches that claim to be Pentecostal display no Pentecostal
distinctives. As I have often said, the only sign some churches have that they are Pentecostal
is the sign outside. Once you get inside, there are no indications that the Holy Spirit is
allowed to do anything.
This desperate condition can and must change in order for us to fulfill the Great Commission. Every local church has a mandate to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many churches interpret this mandate as an order to become involved in missions activity, which is admirable and essential. However, we must not forget that it is also every local church’s responsibility to minister to their own community with the gospel. We look to far off shores for the chance to reach the unreached, and we should. While doing so, we must not overlook the homeless and the hungry, the abused and abandoned, the down-and-out and the up-and-out within our own neighborhoods.
Here at World Harvest Church, we have for many years been involved in liberating captives around the world, and ministering to people at home and abroad by means of food relief and medical supplies in areas stricken by drought or other natural disasters. We also touch people in our own local vicinity by inviting them to church, witnessing to people on the street, and holding sidewalk Sunday schools to reach children. These things happen because of people who have been filled with the Holy Spirit who are taking the Great Commission seriously and personally. Let me repeat that—these things happen because of people who have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Their divine “go” has been coupled with a divine enabling that causes their efforts to be many times more effective than they would be without the Holy Spirit’s empowering.
There is no doubt that God is intricately interested in us as individuals, but may we ever be mindful that our great God is just as interested in every other member of the human family. I’m desperately thankful that King Jesus died for me, but how rich is the revelation that He died for much more than me! He gave His life on that rugged rail so that everyone on earth could know Him in the full pardon and the forgiveness of their sins. Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we must be ready for and anticipating every kingdom opportunity.
We must embrace the might ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is He alone who is able to position us, prepare us, and empower us with supernatural direction to take complete advantage of every moment of kingdom advancement He affords to us. He is working His plan, even now, for us to present the living hope of the gospel to a dying world with signs, wonders, and miracles following the proclamation of His word in us, living and moving in our mortal bodies.
Every promise of God is conditional. God says, “I will do this if you will do that.” We must fulfill the conditions in order to experience the promised results. If we do—and I believe, when we do—we will be graced to participate in the greatest awakening the world has ever known. I plan to be a part of it, and I trust that you will, too!
This desperate condition can and must change in order for us to fulfill the Great Commission. Every local church has a mandate to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many churches interpret this mandate as an order to become involved in missions activity, which is admirable and essential. However, we must not forget that it is also every local church’s responsibility to minister to their own community with the gospel. We look to far off shores for the chance to reach the unreached, and we should. While doing so, we must not overlook the homeless and the hungry, the abused and abandoned, the down-and-out and the up-and-out within our own neighborhoods.
Here at World Harvest Church, we have for many years been involved in liberating captives around the world, and ministering to people at home and abroad by means of food relief and medical supplies in areas stricken by drought or other natural disasters. We also touch people in our own local vicinity by inviting them to church, witnessing to people on the street, and holding sidewalk Sunday schools to reach children. These things happen because of people who have been filled with the Holy Spirit who are taking the Great Commission seriously and personally. Let me repeat that—these things happen because of people who have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Their divine “go” has been coupled with a divine enabling that causes their efforts to be many times more effective than they would be without the Holy Spirit’s empowering.
There is no doubt that God is intricately interested in us as individuals, but may we ever be mindful that our great God is just as interested in every other member of the human family. I’m desperately thankful that King Jesus died for me, but how rich is the revelation that He died for much more than me! He gave His life on that rugged rail so that everyone on earth could know Him in the full pardon and the forgiveness of their sins. Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we must be ready for and anticipating every kingdom opportunity.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that lives in you (Romans 8:11).
We must embrace the might ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is He alone who is able to position us, prepare us, and empower us with supernatural direction to take complete advantage of every moment of kingdom advancement He affords to us. He is working His plan, even now, for us to present the living hope of the gospel to a dying world with signs, wonders, and miracles following the proclamation of His word in us, living and moving in our mortal bodies.
Every promise of God is conditional. God says, “I will do this if you will do that.” We must fulfill the conditions in order to experience the promised results. If we do—and I believe, when we do—we will be graced to participate in the greatest awakening the world has ever known. I plan to be a part of it, and I trust that you will, too!