Mike Bickle - 7 Commitments of a Forerunner: A Sacred Charge to Press Into God

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1

The Need of this Hour

W e stand at a critical juncture in our nations history. The Holy Spirit is visiting His people with power. At the same time, the powers of darkness are raging against the moral fabric of our nation. As the light becomes brighter, the darkness grows darker. In this strategic hour of history, the Spirit is speaking clearly to the Church, and many are responding to what He is saying. Will you be one of those who respond in a wholehearted way? Will you set your heart to say, Yes, Lord, and follow through regardless of the cost?

Just a brief glance at todays headlines reveals the urgency of the hour. All around the earth, nations convulse under the threat of natural disasters, lawlessness, wars, and rumors of wars (Mt. 24:4-12). Entire nations in the West tremble at the menace of radical Islam and seek to acquiesce to its demands, in the hope of peaceful coexistence, even as Islam marches towards global domination. Beyond the haunting specter of radical Islam, the prevailing sentiment worldwide is becoming one of fear, unbelief, and mistrust as the earth shudders under the weight of mans sinful ways (Isa. 24:5-6).

The crisis only deepens as we examine what is going on beneath the faade of the fading American dream, as the corruption of sin digs its claws deeper and deeper into the hearts and minds of many. The serpentine stranglehold of abortion continues to squeeze the life out of over 4,000 wombs daily. The sanctity of marriage has come under siege like at no other time, threatening to destroy the moral foundations of our nation. Entire school systems are giving way to this darkness. The number of women and children being trafficked into the dark underbelly of the sex industry is growing at an alarming rate. Sexual immorality, both heterosexual and homosexual, is reaching epic heights of depravity in our nation. With easy access to pornography via the Internet and the hyper- sexualization of our culture promoted by MTV and Hollywood, a generation has been seduced into a dark cesspool that pollutes both body and soul. The list could go on and on.

There is also a growing crisis that is emerging in many churches across America. A new wave of confusion is subtly yet systematically seducing many young adults into deception. Sincere young people whose hearts were once ablaze for Jesus are being allured into compromise on foundational biblical truths and practices. The true danger of this new kind of Christianity is obscured by the works of compassion and justice that its followers are engaged in. However, they fail to recognize that no amount of increased ministry activity can balance out the profound spiritual and scriptural compromises that they are embracing. Yes, they are doing more and more in the name of justice and compassion, but less and less in the name of Jesus. In the name of tolerance, they are settling for a humanistic and politically correct theology that trivializes the glory of Jesus. Many young adult ministries are falling prey to this deception as they seek a form of relevance that dulls the razors edge of truth for the sake of mans approval. It is not enough to mention Jesus name if they deny foundational truths about Him. Our theology and spirituality, as well as our works of compassion and justice, must flow from deep allegiance to Jesus and His Word.

In the past few years, a new movement known as the Emergent Church has surfaced in the West, masquerading as a new and improved version of Christianity. The ideas propagated by the Emergent Church have captured the imagination of a multitude of young adults and are leading them down a dangerous and risky path to deception and heresy.

This movement purposefully refuses to define most of its beliefs and leaders. This in no way obscures the reality that the primary voices that shape their conversation are having a destructive influence on many young believers who, though undoubtedly sincere, lack discernment in basic biblical truths. We recognize that there are some leaders in their midst who are seeking to hold to historic evangelical truths. However, the overall sound emerging from this undefined movement significantly undermines essential biblical truths. God is raising up clear voices from many different parts of the Body of Christ who are unmasking the dangerous seductions of the Emergent Church as they expose its unorthodox and heretical beliefs.

Our nation has never stood on such a precarious footing as today. The onslaught of spiritual darkness is increasing in our classrooms, boardrooms, courtrooms, and bedrooms. Confusion is pouring forth from many pulpits, as well as from the halls of Washington. It is time for the uncompromising voice of forerunners to speak clearly in the midst of so much confusion. Yes, it is time to draw a line in the sand and to take a bold stand for truth.

We live in a very significant hour of history. I believe we are in the time described in the Scripture as the beginning of sorrows, or the beginning of birth pains, that precedes the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:4-8, 21). The Bible tells us that during the

Great Tribulation, sin will become fully ripe with unprecedented and unimaginable levels of murder, witchcraft, sexual immorality, and theft manifesting throughout the earth (Rev. 9:21; 14:18).

During that time, a ruler more ruthless and evil than the world has ever encountered will emerge from the stage of world politics after consolidating worldwide power (Dan. 7; 2 Thes . 2; Rev. 13) This man, commonly known as the Antichrist, will wage war against the people of God, causing the greatest persecution and oppression of the Church in history (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:7). Consequently, the earth will be stained with the blood of the martyrs (Rev. 6:9; 16:6; 17:6). Equally challenging to these unprecedented events will be the release of Gods judgments, which will be poured out upon the Antichrist and his reprobate empire. God will judge these reprobate people for their oppression of His own people. Jesus, our great deliverer, will not be silent at this time, but will release His judgments to remove all that hinders love ( Lk . 18:7-8; Rev. 19:2).

The Scriptures are clear that many will fall away and depart from the faith in the midst of the crisis, as fear, offense, and deception abound (Mt. 24:9-13; Lk . 21:26; 2 Thes . 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). A theological crisis across the nations will perplex many who will be unable to discern between truth and deception (1 Tim. 4:1-3). Todays hollow programs, prayerlessness, and preaching of a false gospel of cheap grace in many places will not prepare believers for the coming revival of glory or the encroaching storm of darkness. In the midst of this, many will be confused and even offended by the idea that God will release powerful judgments against the Antichrist and his reprobate followers. There will be a great need for the clear prophetic voices of forerunners to speak into the confusion.

It is always darkest before the dawn, and so our hearts remain full of faith. We know that a Great Awakening is soon to sweep across our nations. Though many see no hope, no solution to the coming crisis, we look with confidence to Gods promises to pour out His Spirit on all flesh in the last days (Acts 2:17-21), when all nations will receive the witness of the kingdom with power (Mt. 24:14; Rev. 7:9). What a privilege to live in this awesome hour of history!

Forerunners Announce the Second Coming of Jesus

End-time forerunners announce the second coming of Jesus, as well as the great revival and pressures that are directly related to His return. In these days, God is beginning to prepare forerunners from many different streams in the Body of Christ worldwide. The forerunner message emphasizes Jesus second coming, while proclaiming and manifesting the power of Jesus first coming, as forerunners win the lost, heal the sick, help the poor, and walk in love and holiness.