Do you tend to be more open or more resistant to change? Change can be scary!
Charles Darwin observed, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” In this he got it right: the one with the ability to adapt wins. The feet of the red-eyed tree frog have developed suction cups on their toes, allowing them to climb trees and stick to leaves. Their beautiful coloration allows them to be covert, camouflaged under a leaf until the timing is right to emerge and strike their prey.
In human terms, it is not the kid in class with the highest I.Q. that ends up the wealthiest or the greatest leader; it’s the one with the most E.Q.—Emotional Intelligence. The ability to read a situation and adapt your strategy is the greatest indicator of ultimate success in relationships and business innovation.
How about in the movement Jesus started 2000 years ago? Historically, the Church has always had the ability to adapt to different environments and survive. From the catacombs of Rome to the underground Church in China, sincere believers have always discovered new ways to create flexible forms of meeting and growing.
But what about the current Church world? The decline of influence in western civilization is astonishing. In particular, the impact of believers on culture is in rapid decline and forecasting an alarming erosion among young people 25 years old and younger. We know the formula for building a certain type of church, but we don't have models to shape modern nation states. If we don't adapt we may be finding our way back into a moral and spiritual dark ages.
Don't settle for merely “going to church.” The front lines are now going to church and planting a new kind of church. They are a covert company of praying entrepreneurs who go into every system and occupy the landscape with new models of heaven invading earth.
I am interested in learning how you have adapted and what you see emerging in the Church landscape. How are you going into systems? Tell me what strategies you are deploying…I want to hear from you!
Hello Lance,
First thank you for your insight and faithfulness in sharing what the Lord lays upon your heart. Personally I am very open to change, I have always held this belief that life will sometimes change on you without any warning, why not make a change on life. (Prayerfully of course). I am about to lose my job after 23 years, but the Lord has been getting me ready for this very moment in time. I find that the more I press in and seek him the more he speaks to me where I can really understand what he’s saying. So I’m excited to see what lies ahead as I know he orders my steps. The Lord has been rising up inside of me to be bold in him and let him work through me. I have been encouraging my brothers and sisters at church to do the same. I feel like the Lord is doing a new thing, shall we not know it? (Isaiah) Witty ideas and inventions, miracles, wonders all for the Glory of God. The body of believers will start to step up and be more active in their gifts. This, I believe is in preparation for the coming harvest. I believe this next generation are the ones to do the greater works. Us the over 50’s as mentors and encouragers will play a part in this great move of God that we already see happening. Ushering the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth. Praise God, I look forward to spending eternity with all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. What a wonderful hope we have hope that is anchored in God’s truth. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share.
I am seeing a large hurricane, like you see in the oceans, swirling around very fast ( it’s colors is not like here.
I ask him what does this mean?
He said like a puzzle you might put together, but there is no frame work around it to contain it and no four corners.
For I am starting in the middle and moving out
Looking at the hearts of my people
For this is my time and my power to explode in my ways of my glory.
It will not be as man thinks, but my church will know that it is all about Me.. not any man.
For the things that are happening, people will know that it is meTheGreat I Am…
Things are no longer going to be like we have known
For it is my time!!!
Look unto me and not what you see in the natural any longer.
No longer what was
But what is now!!!!
Accelerating time in me
Lance,
My wife and I have always been active in church. Youth groups, teaching Sunday school, children’s church and even at work. I can remember back in the late 80s, Focus on the Family and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association were saying 60 to 75% of pastors weren’t even saved. I think about that and the fact that so many pastors will not speak out about the current sinfulness of our government and society. They claim that we don’t get involved in politics here. Jesus spoke to the current political/ sinfulness of His time.
We have no desire to be involved in a church right now. Our desire is to let His light shine through us. Pray for people in stores or wherever. We have our nightly prayer time and we listen to hear if Holy Spirit is saying anything and if so, share the word of knowledge. I heard some years ago that the root word of culture is church. Not at all interested in going to church just so…. and I’m aware of the forsake not the assembling of yourselves together. They had something to offer then. Besides praying, I wear wooden cross necklaces that I give away if someone comments on it. Always with the question of how can I pray for you. Last thing is when I hear Holy Spirit speaking, I pray and believe and then I write. Pass it along to my contacts with a prayer that whoever reads it will be blessed. We are in our late and mid 70s now and just want to be about our Father’s business.
Hi Lance, My wife and I were baptized in the Holy Spirit during our college days the 70’s. We were faithful church ‘attenders’ for forty years until we felt released from institutional Christianity about eight years ago. Having cried out during our wilderness experience towards the Promised Land, we’ve come to an understanding the gospel of the Kingdom of God through the comparative systematic theology of New Apostolic Reformation (Father-Son Theology). Specifically, we’ve learned the function and purpose of both the ecclesia and the Kingdom (the reign of King Jesus on the earth). The problem facing church leaders is shifting mindsets away from a dualistic Western cosmology (sacred & secular) to a biblical worldview; a cosmology in which the spiritual and natural realms are completely integrated: there is no gap between the two realms. First and foremost, the ecclesia must be a place to meet with God and cultivate an atmosphere in which God’s presence may manifest. From that place believers, trained and quipped to do the work of ministry, go out into society and release the will of God (on earth as it is in Heaven) and establish the Kingdom of God wherever they go!
Hey Lance! Thank you for continually sharing this revelation. The theory of the 7 Mountains Mandate does work. It is exactly what Jesus did when He came to earth and dwelt among mankind. It took sometime for me to understand this having been raised in a pastor’s home and then following that call to “full-time” ministry. Little did I realize what full time ministry truly was and is.
I walked out of my office at the church one day and gave my husband the key. We were on staff at our community church (and technically still are). I told him to do whatever he wanted with the office. It could be put to better use than housing me. I needed to get out. The mountains were calling (LOL!). I started by volunteering in various areas of our community, schools, Senator offices, hospitals, etc. I had some amazing experiences and became the” go to” person for those in this world who were in need. Soon, I found my niche- The Mountain of Education- a place I vowed I would never go to again once I graduated. God truly has a sense of humor. Today I absolutely love it. I am not a teacher, yet I am. I started by volunteering, just being available. I gained trust and made relationships. These relationships went up to the district offices. I started sending encouragement emails to all the district officers, county principals and teachers. To this day they love them and ask me to add friends to the mailing list. I get stopped often by others who were forwarded the encouragement emails. They personally ask to be on the list. As I began to listen to Holy Spirit, I felt impressed to design an adventure- 5 sessions- for the students. I asked a principal if I could bring it to his school. Because of the relationship, I was given permission. That relationship opened doors for other schools. Today, I take entire schools through a personal prophetic journey (They don’t know that is what it is. They are having fun making discoveries- all of which empowers them with knowledge of what God was thinking when He thought of them). I have a team that assists me in class and intercessors who cover every student by name in prayer as they participate in this program. This is not at after school program. I am in school during school hours. This year a school gave me my own classroom! Now the students come to me rather than me traveling from room to room. I have a key to the school, a key to my room, a key to mailroom- yes, we even have a mailbox! They embraced us as a part of their team. The adventure is ARISE (Aim. Reach. Inspire. Succeed. Enrich). I prophesy all day long 4-5 classes a day (my sermons- lol!). The students love it as they discover who they are, how to bring their best to the world each day, and how to be a leader. Now, they don’t know I am prophesying, but I know. I tell them, “When you are confident in who you are, you will never be convinced of who you are not.” 96% of the students share they are more confident having participated in ARISE. We are now piloting an ARISE Advanced Adventure at the requests of the students.
I know that was a lot to share. However, like I said, the theory works. All we need to do is embrace what Jesus did and do it. He came to seek and save the lost. He came into our darkness. The religious did not understand Him. In fact, they hated Him. The sinners were His friends. I have made many treasured relationships with sinners. When the FFRF came after our program last year, the district offices defended us. FFRF let it go. We are still in our schools loving our students, supporting our teachers, uplifting our district leaders. They are not perfect, but neither are we. We were told to love- it conquers all fear and covers a multitude of sin. It works! They reach out to us often for advice and help in many areas. Kingdom advancement is what this is about. Many have visited and now faithfully attend our church. They had to come and see.
Thank you for allowing me to share. I love the Mountains. I have even incorporated them in my curriculum that I teach to the students. It’s amazing! Here’s to the greater things that are still to come in my city. It’s a good time to be you!
Peace and Joy,
Angela Henderson
North Palm Church/ Charleston, SC
ARISE International, Inc./ Founder
Hello Angela, I so enjoyed reading about your journey here.. This is very exciting what you have described as the ARISE program. What a wonderful powerful way to advance the Kingdom. Thank you.
Angela, thank you so much for sharing your story! We all have a space that we’re called to occupy and exercise dominion over, taking ground back for the Kingdom. When I read your story I’m encouraged and get excited about what the Lord is going to do in my own life!
Hi Lance – I love your You Tube and Rumble posts and have been encouraged by them since 2019 especially in the run up to the 2020 US election. Based in the UK – I am particularly encouraged by the heritage of the dark age Celtic evangelists who took advantage of the power vacuum caused by the collapse of the Roman Empire – St Patrick et el.. Their model of evangelism through discipleship was staggering and their influence and inspiration went viral and caused the rapid spread across pagan Europe from Ireland to the boarders of Eastern Orthodox nations within just 2 centuries. This was done by 1) Getting permission from the local tribal chiefs by offering service and help – often supernatural, 2) Conveying Christianity in way pagans could understand – e.g The Goose = the Dove of the Holy Spirit – 3) Committing to live in community with each other and begin discipling the local population offering education, medical care, specialist husbandry methods and inviting God to supernaturally turn up – which He often did according to the accounts.
I am Head of Strategic Partnerships at United Christian Broadcasters based in Stoke-on-Trent. Employing 110 staff we broadcast on two national DAB Radio stations with a listenership of 250,000 plus across the UK. I develop sustainable plans to attract funding from Philanthropists to extend the influence and reach – so I guess we are sitting on the mountain of media.
Systems always emerge as a consequence to organize and steward a successful spiritual acclimation.
In other words, as mankind progresses in his means to deal with the realities of the world, he adapts to new systems to accomodate the spiritual changes that have occurred.
The farmer of Joseph’s time planted, harvested and dispersed his grain as was found to be successful in his day.
Today’s farmer accomplishes the same functional premises, but uses a differently-developed system.
Our focus should not be to overtake the mountains in the same spirt by which they were established. Rather, to infuse the premise of the mountain with a fresh injection of spirit which radically succeeds over the old one, to bolster and encourage the desire to abandon the old ways with their tired leaders.
BTHS 3.3.2023
-e.
Dear Lance,
I have just listened to your podcast with Josephz and have been viewing your Youtube videos for the last several weeks. I am almost finish writing a book that covers an end time revelation the Lord gave me in 1993 called the Laypeople to Laypeople movement. They would be the end time, second Acts, remnant army serving the Lord bringing in the end time harvest. Bill Hamon and Curry Blake have called it in resent years the end time saints movement. I have all the details concerning everything you have been talking about and answers all if not most all the questions you and your guest have been asking concerning the Elijahs, Elishas and the colts and how it all comes together with the youth and our older generation. The revelation explains the Holy Spirit fire centers and a ton more. It explains everything. For real. The book covers 30 years of God’s heart and preparation for this day. Everything you have said is in this book. I hope to finish it in the next couple of weeks before going to self publishing but I want you to see it now. I want to digitally send it to you. Will you let me and if so how can I do that? If you have any questions please let me know. P.S. My wife and I love you guys and your ministry. Thanks and God bless. John Willey
Lance and TEAM, it is 11:27 pm time Central. I have had this request from you on my mind for few days. I wasl vacuuming the house now and my dogs freaked out as usual. Friday night and vacuuming. It occurred to me that the church at large, my church included , is like my dogs when it comes to people like us. They run and get away. They love us. But they do not understand, cannot comprehend the noise.
Shalom Brother Lance,
Thank you for wanting to dialogue with your tribe! I suppose I may have adapted to change rather well, given the fact that I have probably moved over 50 times in my 71 years!
My greatest move and change came in 1985 on November 17 when I was radically Born Again! The old had passed away and all had become new and the changes in my life were breathtakingly swift!
Everything that Holy Spirit has done through me, was for His Glory! Teaching me video production and placing me in NASA and D.O.D. as a contractor. I boldly shared my faith and my nickname was Jesus Rita. Traveling to 12 nations to video the anointing and was part of an international ministry team!
I continue to adapt to change everyday, as we all must learn how to let go and let Holy Spirit take us from Glory to Glory!