Interesting..

Dr. Hossler, President of the Missionary Church, Inc., shared the following in his leadership notes.

Dr. Hossler wrote, "Eating at Big Boy the other day, I had the privilege of talking with Dr. and Mrs. Tim Warner former missionary and President of Fort Wayne Bible College (Taylor Univeristy/FortWayne). Knowing of his interest and insight on the current movement of God worldwide, I asked him what new things he was sensing concerning the church. Was the church planting phenomenon still growing? Was the exponential growth of the church in many parts of the world still taking place? The answer to both of the questions was a strong Yes. When I asked what about the key ingredients in such a movement, Dr. Warner listed two elements: 1, Prayer 2, Power."

The Planter: When I line those two ingredients up with what I'm reading in missional movements and also in church planting here in the west these two (prayer and Holy Spirit power) are rarely mentioned as foundational priorities/realities. We see the nuts and blots and how to do it and launch it, rarely do we hear spoken with passion (in a do or die manner) that these two; Prayer and Holy Spirit Power are the only hope of ever seeing a God birthed disciple making movement.

Dr. Hossler continues, "Power: The battle between the unseen forces of good and evil rages daily behind the veil which clouds the eyes of mortals. However, the battle is real. The Western World talks a lot about the power of God, but too often there is a lack of a visible demonstration of that power. The miracles which tend to Wow us are often common place in other parts of the world. Spiritual battles are not won with human effort. I am not calling for smoke and mirrors but I am asking us to stay in the secret place until the power of God falls on our lives until we are no longer satisfied with the status quo until people know that God is among us."

The Planter: There can be no great movement of God in the western church without Prayer and the Power of the Holy Spirit's empowerment/baptism/overflowing on every Christ follower. We need transformation not reformation. This is what is missing in the church ie power. This is even missing in Missional movements in America. While trying to reinvent the church often the Holy Spirit's role is neglected. When this happens we just have the same thing that looks different.

If we are to redeem the Church (God's people to begin personal disciple making) then we must start with prayer and wait on our knees for the Holy Spirit to come upon us in such power that we will never settle ever again for what we already have -the lifeless church. No real transformation! No driving passion to redeem lost people for Jesus.

Dr. Hossler hit a home run on this one.

What are your thoughts. The disciple making exponential movements of God begin with the Holy Spirit's power who always take us back to the redemption of the lost through the person and work of Jesus. We are so afraid of the Holy Spirit. Really, you will never fully understand the depth of the redemptive work of Christ without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in fullness of Holy Spirit baptism. It is the Holy Spirit who takes us back to Jesus, our first love. Many so called missional movements start at the wrong place and never reach the right place - The Holy Spirit.

Now what have you to say!