newsletter
Servant Ministries, Inc.
Issue No. 94 Ira & Judy Milligan Mar 1, 2006

Trends in Ministry

For those who are interested in keeping up with current trends in the Church, I highly recommend that you subscribe to The George Barna Update. It is available without charge at www.barna.org. Barna also has a new book about the current paradigm shift going on in the Church, titled Revolution. Although, as Barna says, some pastors will object to its message, it is obvious that the Church is undergoing a major change in direction, necessitating a change in government, so wisdom says stay informed to stay abreast of what God is doing. I think it is foolhardy to do otherwise ­ and for those of you who are wondering, yes, I'm convinced that the change is ordained of God.

You can save several dollars by ordering Barna's book through www.amazon.com. Another good site to visit if you are in the market for Christian books is www.Christianbook.com. Although they are a little high on Barna's book, it is an excellent site for Bibles and reference books. If you don't have access to the internet, you can order their catalog by ph. 1-800-247-4784.

The Prophet's Perspective 
Wake Up Call 

Last month the Lord inspired me to write about holiness (True or False Holiness). This subject must be close to God's heart because shortly after writing it I received a rather shocking update on holiness from the George Barna institute (a group that keeps up with current trends in Christianity). I think you'll find their statistics both interesting and alarming!

First, just how important is holiness? In Hebrews 12:14, God warns us that without holiness "no man shall see the Lord"! Since holiness is a prerequisite for being accepted by the Lord and taken to heaven with Him, I'd say that it's pretty important, wouldn't you? Yet, Barna found that only about 55% of adult Christians know someone they consider holy, and only 29% actually claim to be holy! Could more than 70% of those who claim to be born-again actually be lost and not even aware of it? As alarming as it sounds, Barna's research may reveal just that!

Barna found that many who claimed to be Christians couldn't even define holiness, with only 7% defining it as "reflecting the character of God", and 5% as, "exhibiting a moral lifestyle". He found that barely one-third of Americans contend that "God expects you to become holy". This view was only slightly higher among born-again believers, and although 46% of them believe that God has called us to holiness, as we have already seen, only 29% claim to be holy! The percentage was even less among young adults (those who are 39 and younger). Barna rightly concludes his article with the suggestion that God's pastors and ministers should take this body of information seriously.

He states the Church must, "Realize that the results [of this survey] portray a body of Christians who attend church and read the Bible, but do not understand the concept or significance of holiness, do not personally desire to be holy, and therefore do little, if anything to pursue it. However, the data identify a remnant that understands holiness, wants to live a holy life, and is engaged in its pursuit. The challenge to the nation's Christian ministries is to foster a genuine hunger for holiness among the masses who claim they love God but who are ignorant about biblical teachings regarding holiness."

Barna goes on to say, "To initiate the education of people regarding holiness, we must arrest their attention and teach its importance. To align their hearts with the notion of being holy, we must move them away from a 'cheap grace' theology and replace people's self-absorption with focus on God and His ways. To help them pursue holiness, we must help them comprehend and accept biblical theology regarding God, Satan, the purposes of life on earth, the nature of spiritual transformation and maturity and the necessity of bearing spiritual fruit". "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:15). Amen!

"Helping Hands"

Several have asked me how we are doing in the aftermath of Judy's heart attack and hospital stay. I rejoice to report that Judy appears to be fully recovered, and God is faithfully restoring our financial situation. Thanks, fellows! You guys are a blessing! 

Prayer Partners' Update
 
I know that Satan's recent attack upon Judy's health and our finances was meant for evil, but God has tuned it around and brought about a blessing instead. Her illness appears to have produced an increased awareness among our prayer partners of the need for more prayer covering us as we travel. Your prayers are working havoc in the enemy's camp. We can both feel and see the difference as we travel and minister! Thanks, and I pray that God's abundant blessings will be released in your lives also!

Just Thinking!

Recently, while burning a large pile of limbs and leaves, I was struck by the simplicity of how fire is controlled. When the wind blew sparks and ignited the surrounding leaves, I simply scattered the fire with a rake. Once separated, the runaway fire quickly died out.

Could this be the reason God told us to assemble ourselves together regularly and to daily provoke one another to do good works? (See Heb. 10:24-25). Without spiritual fellowship our passion for God quickly grows cold and the light within us dims accordingly. We need constant "tending" to stay on fire for God.

There is a Devine wind blowing at this present time that is spreading God's fire all over the world. This wind is igniting fires in every nation, bringing revival wherever it blows. This fiery revival will accomplish two specific things. It will purify the Church and get her ready for the Lord's return, and at the same time inflame the world with hatred against those who love God. This mighty wind is steadily increasing in intensity. One can see its affects in America's politics as the anti-God fervor grows with each passing day! Separation of Church and State will soon take on a whole new meaning!
Several years ago God spoke to me and said, "The coming move of My Spirit will change the existing Church as much as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit changed the Church of the eighteen hundreds." This paradigm shift will affect every segment and facet of "church" as we know it, including church government, and is in process now! It's just not happening the way we were expecting, but since it's of God, that's to be expected!