Are you living for the future of your church, while others are dying spiritually and predicting its soon demise? Four things you should do and not do if your church appears to be dying. These are based on the failure of the children of Israel to enter into and fully possess the Promised Land:
1. A “GOING IN” GENERATION CAN LEARN FROM A “DYING OUT” GENERATION.
The experiences of a dying generation will be lost with them. Ask those who are now going nowhere how they lived when they knew they were going somewhere. How did they feel in times of revival? This will serve to contrast your living faith with their dead works, and your determination with their discouragement.
2. A ”GOING IN” GENERATION NEEDS TO REGAIN AND MAINTAIN THE VISION THE “DYING OUT” GENERATION ONCE HAD BUT LOST.
The original vision of the Israelites was freedom from slavery in Egypt, and their own Promised Land. What was the original vision of your church? How can you recover it? How will you maintain it? Don’t wait for the coming revival but plan now so you’ll be ready!
3. A “GOING IN” GENERATION NEEDS TO ‘TURN A DEAF EAR’ TO THE EXCUSES OF A “DYING OUT” GENERATION.
The Israelites excuse was that Moses was wrong and that they should not have left Egypt; that defeating the Giants in the Promised Land was too big a task; and why concerns based on the majority report of 10 out of 12 of their princes seemed reasonable at the time. So, don’t accept the excuses made by others as to why they failed and instead list the reasons why you will surely win!
4. A “GOING IN” GENERATION NEEDS TO BE WORD-BASED, NOT JUST EXPERIENCE-BASED.
Not just manna-based, pillar-of-cloud-based or pillar-of-fire-based. God had provided them during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, but these ‘maintenance miracles’ ceased after they crossed the River Jordan. Now, they had to become a “signs following” generation—not one that followed signs. The fall of Jericho’s walls was a word-based miracle of obedience — the first of many such “signs following”miracles that were to follow. T
Just as they “entered into” the Promised Land at the LORD’S command, likewise, we enter fully into the Promises in the Bible — ears open to those who have possessed their promises but deaf to those with excuses as to why they did not.