NEW WINESKINS FOR THE 21st CENTURY CHURCH

An article written by Terry Sommerville. http://www.totalchange.com/

Over the past year or so, I’ve been contacted by a number of friends, telling me they are no longer pastors of local churches. What’s interesting is, their stories all have recurring themes.

1. Not one of them has fallen away from the faith. Some have various stages of “church burnout”, but they are increasingly passionate for Jesus. Some noted a “divine discontent” about local church ministry that wasn’t there ten years ago.

2. They were all growing steadily frustrated trying to fulfil the great commission in their local church. Even though they were the pastors, they kept hitting some sort of barrier to bringing about change.

3.They are all experiencing powerful moves of God in various “mini-movements” outside of the local church.

4. They grew increasingly convinced that the front line of Kingdom ministry was no longer inside the walls of their churches, but in the marketplace. (Not just businesses, but the sphere of influence Christians have in every aspect of the community)

5. Even though they encouraged their churches or denominations to embrace what God was doing, there came a point where faithfulness to God meant they had to leave the local church ministry to continue.

6. They don’t know what to do right now, except some sort of work to pay the bills. But there is a great sense that something new is emerging and they don’t want to miss out.

7. They continue as leaders and five fold ministers set in the body of Christ. Christians continue to seek them out for ministry!

A few years ago my wife, Karen, had a startling vision. She was standing at the edge of a great green land stretched out before her. In her arms was a bundle of rolled up maps. The Lord said to her “You might as well throw away the maps, you are going into a new land and no one has been here before.”

According to revival researcher Alistair Petrie, this trend is a world wide phenomena. We are coming through an amazing transition into the last days church. There are no maps for this, only for our relationship to the Lord and each other. We are seeing some indicators of whats coming in the end times church. Let me share a few things I see developing.

1. Christianity is shifting from the head to the heart. Being “in love with Jesus” is replacing doctrinal statements as the distinctive trait of Christians in the end times church.

2. The Body Of Christ is becoming based on relationships rather than organization. Friendship is more important than membership.

3. True spiritual leadership will operate through honour rather than control.

4. God’s love anointing (His presence and power in us) will replace the spiritual performance mentality (my ability in the spirit) as the source of Christian life and ministry.

5. The Great Commission is replacing the denominational “mission statement” as the believers goal. We are realizing God is not obligated to our mission statements, but always backs up His!

6. Christians are finding their individual ministries in spiritual “mini movements”. These movements have become the front line for advancing the Kingdom of God. This is the beginning of the “nameless, faceless revival’ prophesied so many times.

7. Local churches that facilitate mini-movements will be blessed and flourish. The vision will be “taking the Kingdom out” to change the world, rather than “bringing the people in” to grow the church.

8. The end times church will “use buildings and organizations and have events”, but will never serve these idols again. Only Jesus Christ is Lord.

9. Christians again understand “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand” and communicate it with relevance everywhere.

Source: Open Heaven.com

July 2006