I’ve recently met with several friends from the ministry who talk of the loss of the younger generation in their congregations.
Why are churches losing members? Why are millennials abandoning the church?
Is it the loss of spirituality that is to be blamed? Is it the encroachment of secularism?
Why are so many in the next generation leaving the church?
Is your church losing the next generation to the world?
But, what can churches do? What can churches do to engage the lost?
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your Mighty acts.
The church must pass on the anointing to the next generation.
A whole new generation must discover the grace and wonders of God.
This generation must walk in a stronger anointing that is built upon the previous;
Learning to stand upon God’s promises and to take the nations for Christ.
Thus, in the sacrificial spirit of love and humility, the older generation must nurture
and make room for the next generation. And the next generation must
likewise, in humility, honor and learn from the older generation.
Such is the intergenerational calling that will prepare the way for Christ, as in Malachi 4:6,
turning “… the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.”
Thus, the mandate for the generation of fathers is to birth and battle for this generation.
“To turn the hearts of … the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous,
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).
The Battle for the Next Generation
Knowing is half the battle. The battle is fierce for this present generation,
especially to those with a full-time calling to minister to the Lord.
Ours might be the generation to witness Jesus’ second coming.
Satan is not unaware of the unique calling of this end-time generation;
He has released an army of demons against them: divorce, abortion, drunkenness, drugs,
sexual perversions, spirits of fear, lack, offense, bitter unforgiveness, and envy…
The enemy has tried to make intergenerational reconciliation difficult.
Thus the first step is to forgive. Choose to forgive.
There is power and freedom in forgiveness.
We must teach the next generation to obey God’s Word,
to take delight in His Word and promises, and to treasure His Word.
The Word of God is powerful, has life, and is undefeatable (Hebrews 4:12).
The key is to return and relish on God’s goodness and love.
We must let this generation know that God’s love is unconditional.
The Father’s love is deep and His grace is sufficient for us.
He will never leave nor forsake us. The Father is calling.
He is calling back His sons and daughters. He wants you back.
We must let this generation know that they do not belong in darkness (1 Thes. 5:5).
We must stand in the gap, to labor, and to pray as in Galatians 4:9,
“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.”
We need the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to be powerful witnesses.
We stand by the authority of Jesus’ name to bind and to loose.
And we come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find help.
And we guard our thoughts and commit ourselves wholly unto Christ.
Called by God
You are called by the Lord; You are not called by men, to please men.
You are called to please the Lord and to carry out all His plans for you.
Be committed to fulfilling your destiny and doing His good work.
Let no one despise your youth,
but be an example to the believers in word,
in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Your calling is not confined by your age.
You are not defined by men’s approval.
Do not let discouragement or exhaustion keep you from answering the call.
Keep pursuing God’s best, doing the right thing, in spite of it all.
Pursue God and press on to the goal and upward call of Christ.
Find strength from the Lord your God,
Let no one quench the fire within you.