The Prophetic Generation

What will it take to reach this generation or should I say, who will reach them? God is raising up a John the Baptist type of generation who themselves, were the ones crying out in the wilderness. As the Lord has rescued them, they in turn will rescue those still in the wilderness. They are answering the call to be true witnesses who rescue lives Prov. 14:25. This prophetic generation is taking a radical stand to reach the fatherless and those needing hope. May we meet the challenge to equip them for the work of the ministry. Let's commit to pray for them and make ourselves available to walk this journey through with them. The Lord is sending out an on-fire group of young people to proclaim Good News to the Captive and the Acceptable Year of the Lord (Isaiah 61:1-2). May we join our hearts with them and see a mighty harvest of souls added to God's Kingdom! Your fellow servant, Doug We live in an awesome time in history, a time in which we can experience one of the greatest outpourings of God's Spirit throughout our land. Many have called this generation, "generation X", a generation of wandering people, aimless without hope. Yet we live in a time in which God wants to pour out His spirit and restore these broken lives. The prophet Malachi spoke of these days "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord and he will turn he hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers." Malachi 4:5-6 The question has been raised throughout society, "What's it going to take to reach this Fatherless, orphaned generation?" I believe that God wants to make Generation X into a Generation of Excellence. God has purpose for their lives and for our lives and here's how we can be a part of fulfilling God's destiny. The prophet Malachi spoke of one coming in the spirit of Elijah restoring and preparing hearts before the day of the coming of the Lord. He was speaking of a dual prophesy, not only was he speaking of the first coming of Christ but also of His Second Coming. In the New Testament in Matthew chapter 3, we read of John the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elijah, preparing the way of the coming of the Lord, the first time. Likewise, this was a dual prophecy, speaking of those things that were at hand and of those things yet to come. I believe we live in a day in which the church is to go forth in the spirit of a John the Baptist, or in the spirit of Elijah, proclaiming the coming of the Lord, proclaiming the liberty to the captives and healing to the broken hearted. As preparation is made for the Lord's return, there will be many in this generation whose hearts are turned back not only to their earthly fathers but also to the Heavenly Father. God is the father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow. God is going to and already has been pouring out His grace upon this generation that so desperately needs him.

As we read Matthew chapter 3 and read of John the Baptist's entry, we can learn several things about ourselves and about this generation. John the Baptist came out of the wilderness dressed in camel's hair, wearing a leather belt around his waist and his food had been locusts and wild honey. I pondered the significance of the clothing of camel's hair and found a common link in the book of Genesis. In Genesis chapter 24, Abraham sends out a servant looking for a bride for his son, Isaac. Likewise, our Heavenly Father is sending out His Holy Spirit in search of a Bride for his Son, Jesus. We see here that Abraham is a type of the Heavenly Father; the servant of Abraham is a type of the Holy Spirit; Isaac is a type of Jesus and the bride, represents us, the Church. As Abraham sent out his servant, the servant went with ten camels, in search of the bride. These ten camels were not only providing the basic necessities for the one traveling through the desert but were prepared to bestow gifts upon the bride. Today, the Heavenly Father has sent out His Holy Spirit in search of a Bride which is prepared to serve Him and to serve those in need. As we, the church, become that Bride for Jesus, the Heavenly Father is bestowing upon His church, not only His provision but also His gifts. The question that had to be asked as Abraham'' servant searched for the bride was, "How would he know when he had found the one meant to be Isaac's bride"? It was clear that the woman would be known as one willing to serve, to serve her master and to serve those in need. He found such a woman as this, who was not only willing to serve him but also to serve those ten camels, who had just journeyed through the desert. These camels were not only thirsty, but they were dirty, hungry, and stinky. God wants to make "Generation X" into a Generation of Excellence. It is said that one camel having completed that journey could drink approximately 40 gallons of water. There were ten camels each needing drink, which adds up to 400 gallons of water. This woman was willing and did serve water to all the camels! She did not realize that as she served these camels, that they were bearing gifts on their backs that she would receive. She looked not for gifts but simply desired to serve. Likewise, the Heavenly Father is looking for a Bride (the church) for His Son, Jesus, who is willing to serve Him and those dirty, stinky, thirsty camels coming out of the wilderness of life. Throughout the New Testament we read of many miracles, signs and wonders and the servants were the ones who had the opportunity to see these great miracles. Why the servants? Because these were the ones meeting the needs of the people. As we purpose to serve others, we will see God move in wonderful ways in people's lives. As we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord, we must commit ourselves to a holy life and seek God's Kingdom first. In the book of Revelations we read about the Bride prepared for Christ and we are part of that Bride who is making herself ready. Rev. 19:7-9 says: Let us be glad and

rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints Then he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.' As we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord, we must commit ourselves to a holy life and to seek God's Kingdom first. For as we serve this generation, we are serving our Lord. WE must reach out with the love of God to those who are hungry and thirsty. This generation of young people is like those camels coming out of the wilderness and God is looking for those who will give them drink. John the Baptist represented not only one coming out of the desert proclaiming the coming of the Lord but he also represented those camels coming out of the desert. As we look at a passage in the book of Joel, we see God'' intentions and purposes for those who have been thirsting in the desert of life. Joel 2:28-29 says that "It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams. Your young men shall see visions, And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." The term modern-day prophets and prophetesses, used in this context, refers to those who will live a radical life for God and boldly proclaim His truth and mercy to a wandering generation coming out of the desert. From this generation, who have wandered in the wilderness of life will come a generation of prophets and prophetesses, who will proclaim and prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. Many of us were like those dirty, stinky, and thirsty camels that have come out of the wilderness. God has fed us and has been cleaning us up. Many of us had pasts that stunk; we lived with addictive behaviors, immoral lifestyle and were in a constant search to cover-up our own pain. We didn't want to feel the hurt so we kept running and tried to find new ways to satisfy the longing in our soul. This current generation is like that. They are covering-up their fears, insecurities and pain in many ways. Someone gave us a drink when we were thirsting in our journey and that someone is Jesus! We are the camels who have come out of the wilderness and have been redeemed. Someone gave us a drink when we were thirsting in our journey and that someone is Jesus. He filled us with His rivers of living water that never run dry for those waters flow from the throne of God and brings healing wherever they go. Jesus doesn't even stop at this. He quenches our thirst, and then begins to change our lives. Now we have an opportunity to be like John the Baptist, and be a redeemed generation who become the modern-day prophets and prophetesses to prepare a way for the coming of the Lord. We are the ones crying out to this generation whoa re hurting, thirsty and hungry. We must share with them the truth which will set them free.

This generation knows where they have been and they know the heartache and pain they've experienced. When they come to Christ, they're ready for a radical change. God wants to transform this current generation to become a John the Baptist Generation. As their lives are changed through Christ, they will become those who rescue others. They will proclaim as today's prophets and prophetesses a bold message. I believe those camels know they are desperate for change and they are looking for someone to guide them. As they come to know the Living God, they will be radical for God. They won't be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16 This generation knows where they have been and they know the heartache and pain they have experienced. When they come to Christ, they are ready for a radical change. From that place of brokenness, we will see that generation going out, boldly proclaiming truth and rescuing others. In Acts chapter 4:28-30, the disciples prayed that God would give them great boldness to share the Gospel and we see how God met them in a powerful way. "Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness." God wants to heal this generation and set them free. We must boldly share the Gospel with them that they in turn, may become a John the Baptist Generation reaching out with the love of God. We are seeing sparks of revival throughout our land and throughout the world. What king of Church (Bride) is going to experience true revival? It is the Bride (Church) who is willing to serve the Lord and serve all of those dirty, stinky, thirsty camels coming out of the wilderness of life. We must ask ourselves if we are willing to be that kind of a Church? Are we willing to feed them? Will we go the extra mile with them? Today's generation is hungry for love but are we willing to work with those we consider to be the unlovely? God is challenging us to get out of our comfort zone and reach out to them. More than this, we must be willing to go the distance with them. In our ministry, we have many through the years that have come from radical pasts and I am privileged to say that our staff and workers desire to work with them. We welcome those that maybe look different and have come from hard backgrounds. Why? Because God loves them and with the same love in which He reached out to us, we must have a heart to reach out to them. God is not calling all of us to this type of a ministry but He is requiring us to have a servant's heart for this generation. I believe God is going to pour out His spirit upon all flesh and we will see a radical John the Baptist, or Elijah Generation raised up who will do mighty exploits for God. Are we willing to serve this generation? The camels are coming. Let's prepare our hearts and theirs for the coming of the Lord!

Original message - May 24, 1996