Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
HOLY SPIRIT-FILLED FATHERING AND HOLY SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCHES
Changing the décor will not cut it. Serving coffee and doughnuts will not keep it alive either.
Just this morning I heard that the numbers of the Southern Baptist have dropped from 19 million to 15 million and that increasing numbers of their smaller churches are closing. The missionary force has also drastically dropped in recent years. I for one, cannot help but be concerned about this. I am not a Southern Baptist by membership. However, I certainly uphold their solid teaching of the Bible. I thank God for their stand against abortion, the gay agenda, and their godly influence for righteousness in the nation--morally, spiritually, and politically. Their missionary influence upon the nations has been enormous. Why are they, and many other churches, dropping numbers?
I believe our young families have a desire to see more life in the churches they attend. They’re not all attracted to dead, dry, traditional formalism. They are not attracted to legalistic, heavy, stoogy doctrinal teaching that has no life and power to edify or save. Young families would rather be where people are being filled with the Holy Spirit, set free, healed from their bondages, and filled with the holy fire that comes down from heaven. Young families want to feel the presence of God. They want to attend a church or gathering where the atmosphere is pulsating with the power and love of God. Young couples, along with their children, are starving for the reality of the truth. They want their children to tune into heaven and turn on to the real power of God.
They want to be amongst others who are on fire and who are enthusiastic for truth. They want to be amongst others, be they young or old, whose hearts are beating with the love of God and who do not want to stop rejoicing and worshipping God.
Gone are the days of short-winded services that barely last an hour. Stiff, starchy time frames are not for those who like Mary, want to sit at Jesus’ feet and love on Him. We want to be in a church where God is moving so powerfully that no one wants to leave.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
