We know we win in the end, but right now we must change the way we’ve been doing things or our young people will be the first generation of Americans to grow up in a post-Christian nation. I have seen the scripture play out in my spirit over and over again where the Lord told Gideon to choose his army. If you remember the story you’ll know the men who got down on their hands and knees to drink were disqualified; however, those who got down on one knee, cupped their hands and brought the water to their lips were chosen (see Judg. 7:4-8). This speaks to me of being alert and sober. We will only win if we continue to drink deeply of the Holy Spirit. We need to continually be filled with the Spirit as the scripture admonishes us (see Eph. 5:18). I also believe that war, both spiritual and natural, is closer to our borders than we realize. God is raising up generals who will gather these dread champions for training, then commission them to bring the message and works of the Kingdom to their city, nation, and the world.

I saw a vision in which an army of young people were fighting in a battle. They would run to Jesus and He would hand them bread and wine before sending them back out to fight. There have been many prophetic words over this generation that are true, but like my Pastor, Denny Cline, says, “It’s time to put apostolic feet to prophetic hope.” The prophetic always precedes a move of God. John the Baptist was a prophet who prepared the way for the coming of the Lord. This next move of the Spirit will not come about because of one or two heavily anointed men or women, but through an entire generation of forerunners who long to see and reveal the face of God in the earth. This has been God’s desire from the beginning, but we have yet to see it happen—will this be the generation? It was God’s desire in Exodus 19 to consecrate and dwell with all His people, not just Moses. 1 Peter 2:9 states, “…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” (NIV). Psalm 24:6 says there will be an entire generation that will seek the face of the God of Jacob.

John the Baptist didn’t look, dress, speak, or act like the religious leaders of his day, and neither will the reformers God is raising up. The church is the hope of the nation right now. The church is the family of God where we grow in our understanding of the Father’s heart and a place of belonging—a hospital where the sick get healed emotionally and physically—a school where people are taught the Word. All of these metaphors for church are true and will continue, but the fire that burns in the heart of these forerunners lies outside of the comfort of the four walls of the church.

The emphasis of the Holy Spirit right now is the church as a training center. This will only happen as we get back to the message of the Kingdom of God. John the Baptist and Jesus both preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and in Matthew 6 Jesus taught us to pray that His Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. In the Kingdom, salvation is the entry point to a journey of walking and sharing in the ministry of Jesus. Jesus gathered, trained, and then released His disciples into the marketplace to change the culture. The Gospel that many of us were raised hearing is what I call the Gospel of salvation. This is a great message but is only part of the Kingdom Gospel—it’s incomplete and will not bring the body of Christ to a place of maturity. The fruit of this message is that the church sits on the sidelines waiting for the final trumpet to blow so they can be rescued from the darkness of this present age. The Gospel of the Kingdom—the Gospel Jesus preached—tells us to go into the world and make disciples of all nations (see Matt. 28:19). This word is to those whom God has given charge over the emerging leadership of the church. God is definitely moving upon a generation of youth and young adults. There is a cry in their hearts to be a part of the ministry of Jesus and to live as genuine disciples of Christ. I can hear the longing in the hearts of this emerging generation to be a part of something great, something that transforms cultures.

We may see character flaws and areas of deficiencies in the emerging generation, but that is where mentoring comes in. We must join with this generation if we’re going to have long lasting fruit. In the last days the spirit of Elijah will turn the hearts of the Fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers (see Mal. 4:6). God is restoring and encouraging godly relationships because true biblical impartation comes through relationship. Some examples we have in Scripture are Paul and Timothy, Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus and His disciples; they all walked together in relationship over a period of time. This generation will be a double portion generation because we won’t have to reinvent the wheel; learning not only by lecture, but also through practical hands-on training and from the experience and wisdom of our spiritual moms and dads.

A REASON TO LIVE

The Bible says that without vision people perish (see Prov. 29:18). The youth of this nation need vision. This comes from Father God, but should also come from their natural fathers and mothers. Inexperienced soldiers are not sent out to fight; without proper training they cannot win. Generals, instead, give marching orders only to soldiers who have completed their training. In the ministry of Jesus, there came a time when He sent out His disciples—it’s time to start sending.

I can recall experiencing more of God’s love while ministering to the broken, the poor, and the orphans than in any church meeting I’ve ever been apart of. By watering others, I was watered also. There is another Jesus People on the horizon, bringing not just renewal for the church, but bringing in a great harvest of souls. We are in a season of preparation: the harvesters must be released. God’s generals must be bold and begin to blow the trumpet—a clear sound must be made.

When we begin mobilizing our people, we will see greater unity in the church. There are many examples I could use; one would be our armed forces. My older brother was a Marine and heard fellow Marines mocking the other armed forces. I’m told this rivalry is common among our military branches. But in times of war we watch as they work together in unity to combat and overcome the enemy. When we have a cause before us, we can lay down doctrinal disputes and fight together as one.

Speaking of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah penned the words, “…and the government will rest on His shoulders…. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace” (NASB). We are the body of Christ—the government of God rests on our shoulders! Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:12 echo in my heart, “…the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (NKJV). The Kingdom of God is advancing in the earth—we must continue to push forward in these times of uncertainty—it’s imperative we keep ascending from glory to glory (see 2 Cor. 3:18). Take a risk. Move in faith. Let’s join the generations and mobilize the greatest army heaven and hell has ever laid eyes on. We are alive for such a time as this—if we perish, we perish—but we must press on as we carry out the mandate of Christ.