The SHIFT is ON...

[Patrick D. Joubert]

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord I have long wanted to mention something to the body of Christ, so today I take the opportunity to do so. I believe that alive within the atmosphere of the Kingdom is a SHIFT. By shift I mean "A CHANGE IN DIRECTION", but I also mean an "ACTIVATION" as in a standard shift vehicle. One of my best friends mentioned to me recently that he has watched the Lord "shift" several of our closest friends and the two of us as a matter of fact to new locations and ministry venues. There has even been a shift in ministry styles as we've witnessed several of the Lord's leaders move from the totally traditional to more of a charismatic approach to ministry and preaching. I further believe that the shift is apostolic in nature in that the order of the house of the Lord is being re-established, re-focused and returned back into the hands of the shepherds/pastors of the flock. Some of you may agree that we are coming out of a lengthy season in the church world where everyone was in charge except the one that the Lord sent to be in charge. Some of that was due to 1) the lack of opportunity of some pastors to lead. So many churches are not desirous to be PASTOR-LED churches, which is in fact what scripture says the church should be. If Israel could have gotten themselves out of Egypt God would have left Moses alone. The truth is, some pastors have been robbed of the chance to LEAD/SHEPHERD the church as the Lord is leading them. This is largely because of the "presence of pew-pastors" in the congregation. 2) The unwillingness of some pastors to lead. In an effort to keep it real, some pastors are in it for the check, not the charge and have no heart for the people that they are entrusted to serve. The work for them is a series of vacations and has not become the vocation that Paul says it actually is. Remember, we are servants and not celebrities. Now, may I say that I am no genius, but like many of you I have been in the church for most of life and have been privy to the operations of the church and have seen more than my fair share of activity and the lack thereof within the halls and hallowed havens of the Lord's holy house.

So what do I believe about this perceived shift? I am convinced that God is restoring order in his house. (a) Holy Spirit (b) Pastor (c) People. I don't think that we are going to be satisfied with church as USUAL, even now as you read this I believe that you are yearning for something deeper from your God/church relationship. Far too long has the body of Christ simply gone through the motions and methods of doing church. There is a new group of God-seekers who are not interested in the way 'it used to be' and until we catch the shift we are going to miss out on winning these people for the Kingdom. It is no longer safe for us to play catch-up to the kingdom we must in essence work hard to keep-up with what the Kingdom is doing. No more church as usual, we need church as UN-USUAL.

By restoring order in the house there will be responsibility and the accountability that ought be present in the Kingdom of God. In conclusion, order should be practiced and present in the Kingdom if nowhere else. After all, our God is a God of order and excellence and he is calling out to those who are willing serve with the spirit of excellence and according to the order of the Kingdom of God and the set order of the house where they are serving. I reiterate that the "SHIFT" is on. I encourage you, don't miss the shift.

Patrick D. Joubert, Pastor
The Fellowship Church
Fort Worth,Texas

[Bishop F. Allen Jones,Sr. Th.D.]

Greetings and Salutations
In many cases (not all) what you might think to be charismatic/pentecostal is merely cheap imitation of something some of the preachers percieve as the way to go but are absent of the real leading of the Holy Ghost.
The charismatic movement begins with the adoption of certain beliefs typical of those held by Pentecostal Christians — specifically what are known as the biblical charisms or spiritual gifts: glossolalia (speaking in tongues), prophesying, supernatural healing — by those within mainstream ...
If a preacher is said to have charisma it is saying he,possesses an extraordinary ability to attract; "a charismatic leader"; "a magnetic personality.
Any preacher who "fasts & prays" regularly & faithfully won't make the mistake of trying to become what may be percieved as the thing, he will be spirit lead and will always please God and shepherd God's people in the manner God prescribes.
There is indeed a shifting and it's leading back to our knees and laying on our faces with much fasting and prayer to not only find our (preacher/pastors)way, but to correctly show the people the way.
Then we can do as 1 Peter 5:2 says,"King James Bible
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;"
You Sir are absolutely right, trends and fads come and go, but the Word of our God stands forever...Isaiah 40:8; 1 Pet.1:25

[lorenzo neal]

Great post my brother. I agree that there is a shift coming, but I dont think its the shift you speak of. If I may be honest, the shift is looking less Holy Spirit led, but heavily personality pastor driven, less tolerant of tradition and sound biblical preaching and teaching. Of course you are very correct when you say that some pastors have not been able to lead/shepherd their congregations. I fully understand that because as an Itinerant Methodist preacher ( we are appointed to a church yearly by either being sent back to the current church we pastor or sent to another one anywhere in our episcopal district), I may be appointed to a church anytime during the year and must go to that church knowing that I am the most temporary person in that church. I also know that there are movers and shakers who will were there before I got there adn will be there after I leave yet it is still my job and responsibility to pastor and lead the congregation boldly and without giving in to the intimidation of the old force that keeps the church together. LOL

I have also noticed that many of us as pastors are becoming more charismatic/pentecostal and in some cases it is growing our churches and in other cases its working against us. I personally am lead by God and don't folllow trends and fads. I believe this direction is not a good one in my opinion. I believe that if we stick to what works, God will move and that anything else just may be unnecessary. If we let God be God in our churches, and yield to the Holy Spirit, we won't miss anything.

Blessings my brother.