Publication: One-to-One, Autumn 2008
When young David saw the vicious giant Goliath taunting the army of Israel, and saw the Israelites cowering in terror, his heart was stirred with godly anger. He valiantly challenged the warriors to remember the Lord and His covenant. When he was rebuked by his own brother for speaking out, David asked, “Is there not a cause?” (See 1 Samuel 17.)
Today, other giants are taunting the people of God, threatening unimaginable terror, mayhem, and death across the earth. The people of God must be challenged once more to ask: “Is there not a cause?”
Disease, abandonment, poverty, homelessness, violence, and even slavery stalk children and youth in most major metropolitan areas worldwide, and also in the countryside. One doesn’t need to be a prophet, or even a good analyst, to see the ramifications for the future of civilization as we know it are dire.
While we must certainly deal with initial needs or symptoms, it is vital that we deal with root causes so that people can be delivered from oppression and freed from bondage. The specific root causes of the various crises in different areas may vary from place-to-place, but there are two specific issues that must be addressed everywhere, particularly here in North America:
AMONG THESE CHALLENGES ARE:
Jesus chose us and anointed us with His Holy Spirit so that we would bear fruit-lasting, eternal fruit. This means that we not only manifest the fruit of the Spirit, but that we give birth to spiritual sons and daughters.
Isaiah tells us that there will be no end to the increase of Christ’s government or of His peace, and that the zeal of the Lord would accomplish this (see Isaiah 9:6-7). Prophetically, we see an advancing kingdom of God. And yet, the Church in North America, as it is in Western Europe, is in precipitous decline in terms of membership, participation, faithfulness, and larger societal influence. The people of God must rediscover their prophetic call, rediscover the Word of the Lord, receive afresh His anointing, and be hold and undeterred in their outward focus to be salt and light in a society that is dying in darkness. We are called to break the chains of oppression; not to ignore them. We are called to proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom of God-any other “gospel: is no gospel at all.
Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 17; Isaiah 9:6-7
STEPHEN SIMPSON is the Editor of One-to-One Magazine and the Director of CSM Publishing. In addition to publishing ministry, Stephen has served in leadership for churches and ministries in Costa Rica, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, and Michigan, as well as being the Senior Pastor of Covenant Church of Mobile (2004-2013). He continues to travel in ministry across North America and in other nations.