What is the work of the Holy Spirit today?

The 21st Century Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

As we end the first decade of the 21st Century there are many things that are becoming apparent. Mainly, the fact that doing church the way we did it 20 years ago will not accomplish what God wants to do in our country.
1. God is not leading us the same way.
2. There is little or no fruit in the way it used to be done.
3. It is a different world we live in now.
4. This different world needs a fresh wind of God.
5. The Church needs some new ideas.

What is evident is the 21st Century Spirit Filled Church is re-gathering and asking the hard questions. Streams from many denominations and movements are wanting to know what can be done to change the course from diminishing returns for their efforts to growth and vitality. Following are some thoughts to ponder and that will become the basis for what we as a Spirit-Filled movement will do next to bring revival to our churches and consequently to our Nation.

He wants to empower believers to be His witnesses.

He wants to administer spiritual gifts.

Spiritual gifts must be measured by the fruit of the spirit.

Emphasis will not be on the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit as much as the lasting evidence of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is leading us to be passionately strategic as well as being passionate.

The harvest will be much more important in Sunday services than individual manifestations.

The Holy Spirit will not be defined by our emotional reactions, rather by how we allow Him to impact the world through us.

We will realize that the Holy Spirit is not weird, people are.

Holiness will not come as a result of legalism but by real Holy Spirit sanctification.

What can we say for sure that the Holy Spirit wants to do?

Give me your thoughts.

Billy

The Devil is all about Numbers

The Devil is all about Numbers

1 Peter 5:8 NLT Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Why am I so obsessed with numbers? Two reasons: Because of the Great Commission, “preach the Gospel to every creature…” and because of 1 Peter 5:8. Our enemy is vying for souls that we should be passionately trying to reach. Each person on earth is a target of the enemy and he wants to devour them.
Okay, that builds a fire of urgency under me. Am I just wanting numbers for ego or for the Kingdom? I believe in my heart that if we sit around and try to justify our ineffectiveness, regardless of the size of our church, (that is often determined by the size of our town or other issues), we are in essence saying to the devil…I’m big enough, you can have them.
Don’t feel condemned by this….don’t feel inept…get fired up for those whom Jesus died for. An USA Today article headline said, “Young adults less devoted to faith.” It goes on to state that a high percentage of young adults are avoiding church and faith in Jesus. Question: Can we just sit by? Are we going to listen to those who tell us, “numbers are just a pastor’s ego wanting to be stroked?”
Give me your thoughts –
Billy