CHANGE

(This is from Intro's notes)



"I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the whole earth in one generation. "(The Lord spoke this to Mike Bickle on Sept. 1982 in Cairo, Egypt)



1. God will change the understanding, which means the way that the unbeliever understands the church and Christianity as a whole.



Just reading this phrase at first didn't impress me at all. So, what? Who care what others think of us, if we only care for what God thinks of us... I used to be quite passive when come to things that don't directly and personally have something to do with me. But, look!



Acts 5:11-16 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people... Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women...



What God did in Acts, He will do again and with increasing measure to the fullness! Imagine this, or picture this in the mind, kings, presidents, leaders of nations and multitudes of people take seriously what the church is saying and doing! As of now, to others, church is only one of the many religions and ways to be good. They don't care what we're saying or preaching or teaching. They don't want us to mess up with the rights of other people in what gender they want to marry... or their decision to keep the baby in the womb or not... they see church as mostly boring, irrelevant and totally non-theatening. But before the Lord returns, this will change. God will change the understanding of Christianity. This is exciting!



2. God will change the expression, which means the way that the people of God express their life together, with the power of the Spirit and Sermon on the Mount lifestyles.



Isaiah 56:6 Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD... Even them I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to Him others besides those who are gathered to Him."



I see how this is starting to take place even now. There're a lot of 'house of prayers' raised up, and more Christians are starting to get the joy of worshipping and praying before God. In the days to come, house of prayer is not just a side program among the many programs runned by a local church. It is exciting to see God bringing nations and make them joyful in His house of prayer. Before the Lord return, this will increases like never before and that generation will see it in it's fullness. People will actually like praying, enjoy praying in the house of prayer. Day and night! 24/7! Our life be Sermon on the Mount lifestyle 24/7 too! I heard someone preached "build up the tablernacle of David inside of you". To me, that means living out a lifestyle of prayer and worship, not limited to the location of where you are.



This is exciting for me. I might see it myself, I might not, depending on when the Lord's coming back and how long I'll live on earth, but the thought of how God will change the understanding and expression of Christianity excites me and stirs up so much hope in me. The God who did great miracles and signs and wonders, who sent judgment on Egypt with 10 plagues, who protected Daniel in the Lions' den, who protected Daniel's friends in the fire, who healed many sicks, and raised the death... will once again stretch out His hands in greater measure and in fullness. He has been performing His great and marvelous deeds, but the time is coming, His wonders and the works of His great power will fully manifest to the fullest. And, we, His Bride, will be in deep partnership with Him.



Yes, Christianity is not just getting save to have a passport to go to heaven. Is not just going to Sunday services and a few meetings here and there and enduring a boring life now as we wait for our eternal life in the future. Christianity is more than all these... I will spend my days to learn and to know and to experience Christianity as I've never experience before. I am enjoying my life as a Christian, I do!!!