God Raises Up Children

2020 was not just the beginning of a new decade. The pandemic has caused the conventional world order to fall apart at the seams. Many want to return to the supposedly normal world order, but the world of yesterday is never coming back.

Many of us try to explain the crisis with conventional ways of thinking, but conventional mindsets often lead us astray.

In times when yesterday's ideas are no longer enough, we see in the Bible that God often speaks through children or teenagers.
 
Mary was a teenager when she became the mother of Jesus.

David was also a teenager when he killed Goliath.

Samuel was a young boy when he became a prophet.

A seemingly successful pastor of a large American church attended a charismatic event. A very young girl came up to him, put her hand on his head and spoke with amazing boldness.

‘Lord, take the junk out of him!’

When the prominent pastor returned to his congregation, he was a completely different man. Until then, he had built up an active and well-organised church with his own abilities and spiritual gifts. He himself was the cornerstone of the congregation.

He recognised the pride and self-centredness of his Christian ministry. He began to focus on Jesus and give the Holy Spirit space.

Many members left the church, but in a short time the church was much larger than before.

When we try to solve new problems with traditional approaches, we become like ships without a rudder, sailing helplessly in circles.

The preacher who sparked the Welsh revival in 1904 was a man of only 26, Evan Roberts. He was supported by a team of intercessors, four teenagers, all girls.

Children and young people are often much more open to new ideas and revelations from God. We need this openness.

Very many Christians only want to believe and obey God when they understand God's leading. Children often have an open heart. They can believe and obey even if they don't understand.

Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Mt 18:4 NRSV

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Mt 19:14 NRSV

When the children hear directly from God, and explain things differently than our old way of thinking, we must take the children seriously. We must not stand in the way of the Holy Spirit.

One of the countless people who was raised up by God in the Welsh revival was a street preacher who was 15 years old. She preached with such heavenly power that thousands of listeners took her seriously and were blessed. Among them were prominent businessmen and despised prostitutes.

You won't find testimonies like this in many books. History is often manipulated to promote our religious traditions.

Where did I hear that? A few years ago we had a Welsh guest preacher at our church. She told wonderful stories of dramatic Welsh revival.

The dramatic works of the Holy Spirit are often glossed over, but those who seek will find. 

Expect Surprises from God

 Everything is changing around us. Not since the last world war have we experienced such a traumatic acceleration of change.

For two hundred years, our culture has been characterised by an optimistic view of the world. The philosophers and intellectual writers of the Enlightenment and scientists for over a hundred years have taught us a view where progress is supposed to solve our problems.

But now everything is coming apart at the seams.

A few years ago, I was a guest preacher in a small church. I heard an unusual word from the Holy Spirit. It was a song, not a hymn and not in German.

Everyday, it's a gettin' closer
Goin' faster than a roller coaster
Love like yours will surely come my way

I shared this message in the congregation. The pastor confirmed the word from God. A guest preacher a few years ago had shared a similar prophecy, speaking of a roller coaster.

The song is about a romantic love affair with a woman. The singer falls in love and is enraptured by the acceleration in the new relationship. In the Bible, we see that God loves his people like a faithful man loves his fiancée.

The amazing acceleration of change around us is like a roller-coaster.

In these chaotic times, many shocked people are looking for a return to the old days. Many want to hold on to old traditions.

Some want to avoid the international crisis by restoring the nationalism of the past.

We are overwhelmed by climate change, terrorism and pandemics. In a world where all sorts of storms are raging, many are looking for a safe cosy corner in a religion where everything is well known and no changes are allowed.

We see this in conservative Christian communities, which are strongly characterised by conformism and dogmatism. We see these religious tendencies everywhere and in different denominations, and also in fundamentalism in other religions.

We also see exactly the opposite tendency. There are also churches that want to be modern and tolerant, where everything in the Bible is questioned.

 Everything is like a roller-coaster where we strive to hold on somehow.

The Bible is our anchor and foundation. Only in God's Word do we find eternal, unchanging truth. 

The Bible speaks of a flawless, unchanging God who never deviates from unchanging principles. We need that like never before.

But the Bible is not just a law book or a theological textbook. In the Bible, we find amazing stories where God surprises us again and again with totally unexpected supernatural acts.

God only once allowed the Hebrews to cross the Red Sea on dry seabed.

God only once let a giant be killed by a boy.

We can expect unprecedented global revival in this crisis. We see this in biblical prophecies.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Hab 2:14 NIV

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Is 43:18–19 NRSV

We must expect huge surprises and pray for them.

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jer 33:3 NASB95

Jesus is Coming Back

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. Jn 1:6–8 CSB

We all know the story of John the Baptist in the Bible. He was a man sent by God. He proclaimed the message of salvation.

This message is still relevant. This world is shaking. We recognise that nothing is safe anymore. We need salvation from a better world.

Some are fascinated by fantasy films. There must be something out there.

And there really is something more, much more than we understand.

Religion has become dry and bland because the Bible has been reduced to a book of fairy tales or theology.

But people in the Bible really did see angels, and that still happens today.
Lazarus died and was in the grave for four days, and then Jesus came and raised him back to life.

An American preacher named Richard Sigmund was dead for 8 hours and came back. He told what he had experienced in heaven.

...I heard someone say, ‘He's been dead for hours.’
I sat up and replied: ‘I'm not dead yet.’
Someone from the medical staff screamed out loud. Another lost control of his bladder.
https://big-ideas-with-god.blogspot.com/2024/09/are-near-death-experiences-real.html

‘’But that can't be!

If it can't be, why are you wasting your time reading the Bible, where impossible miracles are presented as historical facts.

If God could perform seemingly impossible works in the Bible, why shouldn't he do the same today?

But perhaps you don't want to believe because it doesn't seem reasonable.

God is not at all impressed by our reasonable worldview.
Look around you. What kind of world has our reason created? Everything is shaking.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. John 1:6-7 CSB

There are people today who work miracles with the power of the Holy Spirit, like the apostles in the Bible. Like John, they declare that Jesus is coming, but this time not as a baby in a manger, but as the Lord from heaven.

But that is surely an old fairy tale. It can't be. We are modern and sensible now.

What kind of world has our modern rationality created?

How long can this planet continue to exist if Jesus does not come back?