There’s little doubt that churches in Northern Hemisphere nations have all but surrendered to secularism and materialism, and that spiritually they now lag behind those in the Southern Hemisphere. The former have everything but bright “born from above” believers, packed prayer meetings and the presence of the Holy Spirit — all of which the latter have in abundance. In the Northern Hemisphere highly educated pastors struggle to arouse the spiritually dead; in the Southern Hemisphere uneducated pastors raise the physically dead.
I’m not just taking a cheap shot. It’s just that, having visited Asia many times, and Europe and the United Kingdom quite often, I know that in poorer areas “need draws power” and that in every crowd someone is desperately trying to touch God’s power in Jesus. Christians know that great awakenings occur as our Sovereign Lord decrees; that we can’t make them happen — even in response to prolonged prayer. But are there things that we can do to prepare for a visitation of the Spirit of the Lord?
I believe so. As the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and the establishment on earth of his kingdom (not just in spiritual power and authority but also visibly, under its ruling King) draws near, the Church will undergo change — moving out of its present ‘Judges’ phase and into ‘First Samuel’ kingdom order. When Joshua led the Children of Israel into the Promised Land, they were twelve tribes. After possessing their promised portions, the tribes became territorial and clashes between them were common. “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
Individualism was rampant. The warrior who led the call to arms against the oppressor of his day was called a Judge. The Spirit of God empowered many of these heroic figures, one of whom, Deborah, was more than equal to the task. But the judges were not monarchs but deliverers — warriors who rescued the children of Israel from the consequences of their idolatry. Throughout the book of Judges the words, “there was no king in Israel” are used again and again to explain the general behaviour of the people and the violence of their warrior judges.
There’s a big difference between a random succession of heroic figures who “save the day” and an orderly progression of monarchs who rule a kingdom wisely. Today, 3000 years after the judges, charismatic heroes still appear and disappear. At their best they minister powerfully, striking blows for spiritual freedom; and at their worst they fall short of their calling. Although less than perfect, their followers tend to choose charisma over character.
But with Jesus as its Head, the Church exercises full authority on earth. Total submission to the Lord Jesus is basic to life in the kingdom of God. I expect kingdom order to emerge as the Church forsakes its “what seems right” attitude and acknowledges its “crowned with glory and honour” Lord and soon coming King. Who knows, we might yet become as spiritually fervent as our brothers and sisters in less developed nations.