In much, if not all, of the church world today, Pastors and church leaders are struggling to find the "magic combination" - the special event or thing that they can do to get a crowd and to keep a crowd.
In many areas, somewhat bizarre things are being done --- give aways -- free this, and free that-- friend day -- pack a pew day (hard to do in some places, since they only have chairs) -- gimmick after gimmick. We get people to come to our service or event -- and then we have to work even harder to keep them.
I heard a Pastor tell me years ago, when I first went into the ministry, that whatever you do to attract them, you'll have to do even more to keep them. I think Jesus had the same idea, when he fed 5,000 men -- later, he had to feed another 4,000 -- and then he found too many people who only came for the free lunch!
The world is "going to hell in a hand-basket" -- things are not getting better, are they? Some are wishing and maybe even praying for another Awakening in America. I don't know if that can happen. It seems that we are rapidly heading down a slippery slope to destruction as a nation. We've snubbed God for so long -- liberals seem to be in control of everything. What is the answer?
What we need in America is another Pentecost! We need churches to be "endued with power from on high" -- we need Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need Pastor who will be unashamed to allow the Holy Spirit to move in their service -- we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit (that Paul in Corinthians said we can have) -- we need people are unashamed to pray in the Spirit (that's prayer in tongues). We seem to be more concerned with offending somebody -- and all the while we are offending the Holy Spirit!!!
In just a few days, on the church calendar is a date -- Pentecost Sunday. It's time we had an explosion of Holy Spirit power in all our churches!!
What the world needs is a power-filled church! Who cares about our fancy buildings? Who cares about our technology and slick presentations? WE NEED THE POWER!
Power to change lives doesn't come from psychology. Power to heal the sick doesn't come from the medical community. Power to heal marriages doesn't come from counseling. Power to heal relationships doesn't come from a focus group. Power to heal our nation doesn't come from Washington, DC. IT COMES FROM PENTECOST!
God give us a "mighty wind" again! God give us "tongues of fire" again! God give us the POWER again! Shake us once again!!! Are YOU ready??
