Thoughts for 2007

At a conference I went to, called “Start the Year Off Right Conference” prophetic voices in the body of Christ, including Dr. Peter Wagner, Chuck Pierce, and Dutch Sheets amongst others, encouraged the church and exhorted the church to focus on several areas they felt God had alerted them to, including:
1) Be open to new things in the church. Boldly declare out loud, “change is good!” even if you don’t like change. God is continually doing new things and Jesus is relevant to every age.
2) Find your place in Christ’s body. This is the year to become corporate, in other words get on Christ’s team. Seeker friendly churches, focus too much on the individual. Your fulfillment will come when you work with others in the congregation and the body of Christ at large. As one speaker said, “If we get corporate, the devil will go on valium!”
3) It’s time to do Romans 13:11-14, and apply these verses in our own sphere of influence.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)
4) It’s time for a revival of “kindness” and “compassion.” Pray for God to release more of this in your life.
5) It’s time to “finish” what you start. This is the Joshua “anointing.” He finished what Moses started and led the people into the promise land. God will help you finish what “He” started because He is the one “who makes you complete in every good work to do His will.” Heb. 13:21
6) This is a year for a resurgence of the Living Word, and a revival of taste for the written word. Open up your bible and see what God says through it!
7) This is the year to claim your children. The prodigals will come home!
8) Another speaker spoke on Islam saying these are dangerous times, but also times of opportunity. We need to stand with Israel at this time especially. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,…” Psalm 122:6-9
9) This is the year of the altar. Before you take communion, ask God to forgive you and receive communion as a sign of His promise of cleansing.
10) Finally, ask God to make you a fit container for the “new wine” of his Spirit this year. Even though the old wine was good, (the old traditions), there is always a need to “hear what the spirit is saying to the churches, today.” Rev. 2:7, 11,17,29, 3:6,13,22 That doesn’t mean we throw out all the traditions, but it does mean we make way for new things.
Let this be your year to arise and shine!
Serving the King,
Pastor Bjorn, Hope Lutheran, Sioux Falls