Pandemic Chronicles #25 2020 vs 2021: What is God saying for 2021

Our Shiloh Young Adult Impact ministry held a virtual service where we talked about the Lessons learned in 2020 and what we believe the Lord is saying about 2021.

I have several thoughts about what I believe God is saying about 2021.  

• There will be an Awakening and Revival for the Church
• There will be a changing of the guard. Those who have had tremendous influence will fade to black and new voices will emerge for this season
• We're going to find out what we thought was good wasn't actually so good.
• We will need to be strong, courageous, and DO THE WORK to rebuild

An Awakening and Revival for the Church

The Evangelical Political Party embarrassed themselves very badly in 2020. From failed false prophecies about Donald Trump's second term to Christian Nationalism on full display at the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, the evangelical political party was put on full display before the world and it was disgraceful.  

So many Christians were shocked at the full-on idolatry of Donald Trump by some evangelicals and the doubling down from the "prophets" about Trump's victory when the election was clearly over.

It doesn't need to be said but perhaps it does need to be said: 

God does not need Donald Trump to protect his church and he doesn't need Donald Trump to safeguard the faith.  Jesus can handle it.

Even though it was infuriating and disgraceful, the exposure of the Evangelical Political party needed to happen and it needed to be put on full display so we can move on from it.  

This has been brewing for many years.  The Evangelical Political party was concerned about amassing political power supposedly in the name of protecting the unborn and going against "the gays" but I don't believe their cause was ever righteous. I believe it was simply to have power.  

As Christians, our citizenship is in heaven and we are in this world but not of it.  All this focus on Earthly power is not about saving souls but amassing wealth and power.  To protect the unborn we should be focusing on saving souls, supporting pregnancy centers, and saving souls (for emphasis).  Besides that, the issue of abortion is so complex that I think it is so disingenuous to reduce it to a talking point.  

Abortion has become a carrot to dangle in front of Evangelical voters.  In the last 40 years Republicans controlled all 3 branches of government several times and Roe v Wade wasn't overturned. We've had Republican Presidents for 24 of the last 40 years and Roe v Wade is still the law of the land.  

Roe v Wade hasn't been overturned because it's not going to be overturned no matter how much the Right and Left like to pretend it will be.  The Left uses it to scare women into believing we're one second away from The Handmaid's Tale and The Right uses it to gain votes from Evangelicals.

Anyway, the point is politicians use the Evangelicals to get votes and the Evangelicals use the politicians to get money and power.

This is coming to an end.  

The Evangelical Political Party has lost any credibility they may have had and many of their false prophets will be dealt with accordingly by the Lord.  My hat goes off to those like Kris Valloton who have repented and said they were prophesying their own preferences.  That takes a lot of guts to do and shows extreme humility.  In the comment section of that post on Instagram people refused to believe the election was over and were still spreading conspiracy theories.

With that being said it's time for an awakening and revival.  I believe that the church will experience an awakening in 2021 and we will see revival.

Changing of The Guard

For years there have been prominent voices who have had tremendous influence but those voices will fade to black whether due to death, scandal, moving on, or a retreat from the spotlight.  That will be it for these people.  There has been a literal changing of the guard.  You may even see that at your local church. 

There will be new voices emerging and don't think these people came out of nowhere.  God has been preparing them for years.  One sister said that the Lord is putting new people in place because the people who had been assigned didn't do what they were supposed to do and it's time for them to go.  I've seen this happen.  The people may even try to stay on and hold on for dear life but God has taken away all of their influence and as a consequence, nobody cares when they do try to get up and talk.

Maybe that wasn't so good after all...

I believe in 2021 we're going to find out that what we once thought was good wasn't so good after all. One example that comes to mind is the way churches across the United States patterned their services after mega churches and I think we're going to realize that was a big mistake.  We need to go back to allowing the spirit to invade our churches and take over.  The 3 Songs and then the video announcements are played out.  

On a post on Instagram, they showed a funny post of people really going in with worship during the service then the loud video announcements come on breaking up the time of worship.  Someone said, "For real though...I will be glad when we all stop copying the same script."  That comment received a lot of likes because People don't want choreographed church anymore. 

 I also think this is linked to a changing of the guard.  I think a lot of these popular preachers will not be so popular by the end of 2021.  They've helped to water down the gospel and produce Lukewarm believers.  When the fire falls and the Lord pours out His spirit and revival takes hold, they will not be able to maintain an audience.

I don't think it's just limited to church services.  I think we're going to realize a lot of what we thought was good wasn't good at all and that applies to a lot of secular activity as well.

Be Strong, Be Courageous, and Do the Work!

Last week in Upper Zoom, Pastor Heidi shared this scripture with us and I've been thinking about it all week and I believe it's a word for 2021.

David is instructing his son Solomon to build the Temple of the Lord

1 Chronicles 28:10

Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”

This instruction is repeated again

1 Chronicles 28:20

20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

We have a lot of people who do a lot of talking and we also have a lot of people who do photoshoots, have websites, merch, and product tables calling it a ministry but they don't want to put in any work which is why they go from one thing to the next and ultimately their "ministry" comes to nothing.  

Ministry is work.  It takes time, patience, sacrifice, and did I mention time?  I have been in so many meetings in the last few weeks but I know it's necessary so we can hear from God and chart the best course of action for our sheep. I'm sure Jesus had meetings with his disciples. Matter of fact I know they did because they were organized. Judas was the treasurer (Can you imagine the church business meeting if Judas was your treasurer?) 

If we are going to rebuild in 2021, then we will need to be strong, courageous, and DO THE WORK.  It may get crazy, chaotic, and nuts out there in the world (ACTUALLY I KNOW IT WILL) but if we are strong, courageous, and do the work God will not forsake us. 

That's some of what I think God will do in 2021.  All I can say is Buckle up Kids!  We're in for a bumpy ride!

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