When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are not always sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they answer the question, "Why should a church or a person value prophecy?"

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are not always sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they answer the question, "Is there a difference between prophecy and discernment?"

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are not always sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they answer the question, "How should I live in light of prophecy?"

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are not always sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they answer the question, "Is it a sin if I don't prophesy something that I have heard God speak?

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are not always sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they talk about how we can hear God's voice in order to prophesy.

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are always not sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they talk about cessationist theology.

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are always not sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they talk about the difference between Old and New Testament prophecies.

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

"...And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord..." (Judges 2:10)

It only took Israel the span of a generation to go from the glory days of Joshua to doing "evil in the sight of the Lord." This should be wake up call for all pastors and leaders in churches, movements and denominations to make a concerted effort to envision, teach, and disciple a younger generation in the ways of the Lord.

The gospel moves from one town to the next (Acts 1:8) and it also meant to move from one generation to the next (Psalm 145:4). To fail to reach the next generation is a failure to fulfill our gospel mandate. I had the privilege of taking part in a Passover meal that would have been very similar to the one Jews have been celebrating since the time of Moses. And what I found very interesting about this meal and time of remembering that lasted 3 or 4 hours, was that it required that children take part. Teaching the next generation the ways of God was so intertwined into this commanded meal, that it couldn't be done without children. It took quite a bit of intentionality on a part of the host, to make sure they understand what was going on and felt a part.

As leaders and pastors, we must be intentional about envisioning the next generation in the ways and mission of God. This is why the family of churches I am a part of, Newfrontiers USA, hosts an annual conference for 18-29 year olds called Mobilise. Mobilise is a conference that seeks to inspire students and twenties to pursue all that God has for them. It's a time of worship, teaching and envisioning to reach the earth with the Gospel.

This conference is not just for those from Newfrontiers. I would like to extend an open invitation to anyone who would like to attend. For more information about Mobilise in the USA and to register, go to www.mobiliseusa.org.

When the New Testament church gathered for prayer and worship, God spoke and gave specific direction to the church (Acts 13:1-3). While we are always not sure what to do with prophecy, it is clear that the early church made room for prophecy and prophets.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, I invited Sam Poe and Keith Hazel (two men with significant and mature prophetic gifts) to answer questions about prophecy to us better understand and encourage prophecy in the local church setting.

This is a part of an interview with Sam Poe and Keith Hazel where they talk about what prophecy actually is.

If you are having trouble viewing this video, please click here to view it in your browser.

Missing the mark

Everyone worships...It's just a matter of who or what they worship. If you are a believer, you want it to be God, but I think sometimes (if we are honest) it's just not there. Why is that?

I think we struggle with this one because consciously or unconsciously we believe that we are the source when good things happen to us. So if we have money in our pockets it's because we worked hard or we got the right education. If our kids are doing well, it's because we have amazing parenting skills. So when things go well, we are the source. However, if just one thing goes wrong, we start to wave our fist at God. If we lose our job or our child gets sick, our gut reaction is, "Where are you God? I thought you loved me?" Our problem in these moments is that we do not have minds that are in tune with thousands of amazing gifts He gives us every day. So how can we reverse this problem in us?

Learning from David

I find David in the Psalms to be incredibly helpful. David is a man well aware of God's grace, but there were times in his life where he just forgot, and he needed to remind himself of God's goodness, which is exactly what Psalm 103 is all about. This Psalm starts out, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits." David is essentially saying, "Come on soul. Why are you so sluggish? Why do you sleep before this God? Wake up soul! Remember His benefits, which are many." Then David begins to list out all of the benefits he can remember: He forgives sin, heals diseases, redeems, crowns with love and compassion. He satisfies our desires with good things, justice for the oppressed, He has made His ways known. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Will no accuse, will not harbor anger forever, and will not treat us as our sins deserve...thank you Jesus!

David, in this midst of reminding himself of all God's benefits, can no longer contain His worship and begins to encourage everything around him to bless the Lord. "Bless the Lord all you nations! Bless the Lord all you angels! Bless the Lord all you birds; see creations, beasts of the field, moon, sun and stars! Let everything and everyone bless the Lord!"

So, if you find that your heart is sluggish toward God, take a moment to remind yourself (like David) of all of God's grace in your life.