Saturday, November 25, 2006

The Generational Movement of the Spirit

I'm reading Edwards as I said previously and come to find out that he predicted that the kingdom of antichrist would be destroyed by the year 2000. It seems he had the Y2K bug as well. He believed that the kingdom of antichrist was the Catholic church. This is fascinating given the political and spiritual environment of the time. Today we are focused on the Muslims. They were not many generations removed from the protestant reformation at that time and still experienced it in some fashion. They demonized their enemies more than focusing on the truth. They demonized those who didn't hold to their distinctives. Edwards thought the Quakers undermined the faith. I wonder if the Quakers were not a form of 17th century charismaticism. I've set in classes that taught that pentecostalism was emotions and demonic and not spiritual yet we see the great increase to the kingdom after such movements. At the time of Edwards revival flowed the Quakers then the Methodists. Early 20th century we see the Pentecostals. 60 years later the Charismatics. What will the next movement of God be called and will we demonize it or will we be open to the Spirit's call allow Him to move as He wishes - out of our box if He wills. I believe Father is continually reforming His church: Catholic to Protestant to Quaker to Methodist to Baptist to Pentecostal to Charismatic to ?? As a Church and as individuals, we are continually being conformed into His image.

It's funny how at each movement by the Spirit there arose several "denominations" if you will. Their own marketed brand of what God was doing and how he was doing it. We still see this today.

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