[Please join me in praying for young generations and families on Thursdays this year.]
This weekend our church is hosting a conference for teens and early-20’s young adults around the theme of being pure. In today’s society “purity” may seem like an old-fashioned concept, but keeping yourself clean from the sin of the world is very much a Biblical concept. And in this day and age when children, youth, and young adults are exposed to so much that is anything but pure, clean, and holy, it seems that an event where young people can learn about God’s loving expectations for their lives – what his good purposes and plans are for their relationships, emotions, sexuality, etc. – is much needed. So, last night at our midweek church service we had an extended time of corporate prayer for the conference attendees. One of the prayers offered was that Generation Z would be saved.
Generation Z is those born between 1997 and 2012. As a generation, these are the children that have grown up in a world dominated by the fallout of the 2001 terrorist attacks, by ample fear-inducing propaganda about impending environmental catastrophe, by increasing racial animosity, immorality and violence portrayed regularly in every sort of media and video game, by a plethora of knowledge available in every computerized device on the planet – and very little of God’s wisdom to counterbalance that information, by much ungodliness poured into them in our “progressive” modern education system [one has to ask, toward what are we progressing??], and by wars and rumors of war and now even threats of nuclear war. It doesn’t take much to understand why there can be such hopelessness in this generation.
But God.
He is much more alive and powerful than ALL that.
Did you know that there is a serious movement of God happening right now at Asbury University in Willmore, KY? On Wednesday, February 8 they had a “normal” chapel service and at the end the Spirit of the Lord fell in such a beautiful and holy way that that meeting has continued for over a week, 24 hours a day, and people from other places have come just to bask in the presence of God. No human planned or started this.
“Many people say that in the chapel they hardly even realize how much time has elapsed. It is almost as though time and eternity blur together as heaven and earth meet. Anyone who has witnessed it can agree that something unusual and unscripted is happening…There is no pressure or hype. There is no manipulation. There is no high-pitched emotional fervor. To the contrary, it has so far been mostly calm and serene. The mix of hope and joy and peace is indescribably strong and indeed almost palpable—a vivid and incredibly powerful sense of shalom. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is undeniably powerful but also so gentle.” *
How like God to show up in the midst of one of our most broken generations and begin to lovingly, gently, and humbly move to heal hearts. And who knows what impact this move of God will have?
“In previous revivals, there has always been fruit that has blessed both the church and society. For instance, even secular historians acknowledge that the Second Great Awakening was pivotal to bringing about the end of slavery in our country. Likewise, I look forward to seeing what fruit God will bring from such a revival in our generation.” *
Holy God of Power and Might,
We are rejoicing in you, our Lord God, for you have given us these Latter Day Rains. You are faithful! We thank you that you are even now moving in broken, hurting, lonely, and hopeless generations to bring new life, new fruit, and new hope. Thank you for the beauty and wonder of the movement of your Spirit at Asbury University, and we pray it would be only the beginning of a fire and a wind that comes to rest on this generation. Pour out your powerful hope, vivid joy, and palpable shalom peace on the young people of Generation Z in each and every college and university campus, each and every K-12 school, and in each and every local church and conference. Break the power of wickedness over this generation, and break the power of the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy our young people. Release them from these demonic strongholds and free them to live the abundant life you call them to – a future with hope. Holy Spirit, we pray that you will reclaim the years of doom, strife, anger, and hopelessness that the enemy of our souls has sown into this generation. Pour out your spirit on young and old, men and women alike, so that they (we!) will prophesy your messages, dream your dreams, and see your visions. May the Church rise up in the authority you give us to help bring freedom to and disciple this generation with the Good News of the Gospel, the Truth of your Word, and the hope that comes from living a life infused by the power of the living, loving God. Give us willing hearts to set aside our plans, our agendas, and our schedules so that we can go where and when your Spirit leads. And may the impact of this movement bring your justice and your mercy to a lost, broken and dying world, as we walk humbly with you. We ask your healing, blessing, favor, protection, power, and revival to be poured out on Generation Z and we ask it in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, our Light and Life. Amen and AMEN!
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” (John 10:10 AMP)
“The power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:17 NIV)
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)
“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful.
He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.
You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the Lord your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:22-29 NIV)
SONGWRITERS: Brandon Lake, Elyssa Smith, Harvest Parker, Jonathan Jay, Rebekah White, Tony Brown
As the Spirit was moving over the waters
Spirit, come move over us
Come rest on us
Come rest on us
Come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You’re here and I know You are moving
I’m here and I know You will fill me
Fire and wind, come and do it again
Open up the gates, let heaven on in
Come rest on us
Come rest on us
And fire and wind, come and do it again
Open up the gates, let heaven on in
Come rest on us
Come rest on us