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Feb. 2Ex. 33-34;
Ps. 16;
Acts 9;
Feb. 3Ex. 35-36;
Acts 10;
Feb. 4Ex. 37-38;
Ps. 19;
Acts 11;
Feb. 5Ex. 39-40;
Ps. 15;
Acts 12;
Feb. 6Lev.1-3;
Acts 13;
Feb. 7

Lev. 4-6;

Acts 14;

Feb. 8Lev. 7-9;
Acts 15;


A Prophetic Word for 2007: Changing Priorities and Paradigms
This is a year for bold, drastic measures. The American church must change, or change will be forced upon us.
 
At the end of every year I set aside time to tune out the noises of life so that I can listen to the Lord. Quiet time, of course, is important every day. But I don’t like to plunge into a new year unless I’ve spent quality time in late December or early January in His presence.
 
Sometimes He gives me promises for the future; at other times He simply offers new strength for the journey. This year as I prayed for the American church I believe the Lord gave me an unusual, prophetic sense of key trends that are on the horizon. I submit them in hope that we all will tune our ears to heaven and respond in obedience.
 
"The American church must take drastic measures to get its house in order.”
 
2007: A year of global harvest. We will hear the sound of joyful shouting coming from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Ancient doors of idolatry and deception will be shaken off their hinges. Places that have been known in the past as spiritual deserts—including Iran, Saudi Arabia and nations in North Africa—will begin to bloom as the gospel penetrates barriers. Conversions will be triggered by miracles, and the persecution aimed at stopping the gospel will fuel more church growth. The humble heroes of the church in China, India, Pakistan and other places—men and women who have been hidden in days past—will speak as prophets to the American and European church.
 
2007: A year to re-evaluate, reprioritize and prune. The American church must take drastic measures to get its house in order. We are busy, and we make a lot of noise. But often there is minimal impact. Like Jesus’ disciples, we have fished all night and caught nothing. The Lord will direct us to throw our nets on the other side of the boat. He has a surprising new paradigm for us if we will seek Him for it. We must think outside the box. The Lord wants to prune the dead, religious branches in our churches and ministries. Many of our fruitless works look good—they even “sell” in the marketplace—but they are worthless hay and stubble. We must re-evaluate every program and project in the light of the priorities of the kingdom. Don’t be afraid to kill sacred cows or bury traditions.
 
2007: A year to challenge apostasy. Don’t be shocked when people you consider evangelical Christians embrace blatant heresy. Some will begin to preach a gospel of universal salvation. Others, even in the charismatic camp, will join the chorus of “gay-affirming” ministers, because they care more about being relevant to culture than to God’s Word. Just as in the days of Jezebel, many will bow their knee to Baal. The American church must have the courage of Elijah in order to challenge this spirit of idolatry and depravity. Though we must seek to be culturally relevant, we must also be willing to be criticized as “old-fashioned” when it comes to biblical morality.
 
2007: A year to reclaim lost purity. We must enter a season of repentance. The Holy Spirit is grieved by the way sexual sin has been allowed to grow like a cancer, destroying families and churches. Ministers of the gospel must hold high the standard of purity, but not before they themselves submit to the dealings of God. It is time for deep searchings of the heart, and for confession and personal deliverance from pornography, adultery, homosexuality and fornication. Churches must open their doors, extend their hours and become spiritual clinics for the addicted and sexually broken. We cannot simply rail against sin; we must prove to our culture that Christ’s gospel can heal.
 
2007: A year to befriend the foreigner. The Holy Spirit is grieved by the latent racism in the American church. He is bringing immigrants from many countries to the United States, yet many of these people are invisible to us. We must see with new eyes. We must open our doors, welcome the strangers and stretch out our tent pegs to make room for them. We must adopt immigrant congregations, learn their languages, share our facilities and become kingdom models of cultural diversity.
 
2007: A year to rescue the children. The little ones are falling through the cracks in our selfish society. Heaven has issued its own “amber alert.” In every city in America, huge numbers of children are growing up with little or no exposure to the gospel. Even many children who attend church are being ignored and are receiving precious little of the Word of God. If we could see in the spiritual realm, then we would realize that many of our nation’s youngsters look like the starving children who suffer in Africa’s famines. We must reprioritize. Children must become important to us again. If we will act now, this vulnerable generation can be safely hidden in a basket, just as Moses was protected in the Nile.
 
2007: A year to empower and release evangelists. In recent days we have championed the restoration of the apostles and prophets, but the church is languishing because we have not valued the evangelists in our midst. Our nation’s most celebrated evangelist, Billy Graham, is lying in bed and waiting for heaven. We must release a new army of culturally relevant, 21st century preachers (both men and women) who will equip God’s people to win souls. If we don’t do this, the spiritual birthrate of the American church will continue to decline.


J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.


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