THE NEXT GENERATION

There is a wave of God that is divine but it is not always welcomed with open arms. The wave is usually a little different and has its own personality and for that reason the movement has a potential of being rejected by a few, or a lot of people. The thing that is very interesting is the people on the outside of the things of God rarely even notice this wave moving. This new wave can carry momentum of sizable results if properly channeled. This wave is of diverse colors and seems to know no gender. This wave seems to be inexperienced due to a lack of a strong historical background. The movement typically starts slow, its beginnings are so small that many people do not even realize that a wave is forming. Most people would consider this type of behavior just the residue from a former rain. Since the magnitude of a wave can only be fully appreciated from some distance on the shore, the careful observer must be able to have a broad perspective to get introspection of what type of wave is coming. This is why many people loss sight of the bigger picture of the Wave. There is definite goodness inside of the Wave. Yes, we capitalized Wave to show you just who the Wave is and just what the wave (lower case) is all about. In this write up when you see the Wave capitalized I am referring to a person and when you see the wave with a lower case "w" you know I am referring to the movement. The wave I am speaking of is spiritual. It has it's own heart beat it pushes constantly in a certain direction to get to a desire destination, even though you may not be aware of it's goal. We all know water can be a blessing to the thirsty but it can also be a problem to the comfortable. Water will rain on a parade to disrupt order of the event. If you loved the activity of the parade you may be upset but to all those who opposed the parade will rejoice. This is why Christians young and old must understand that change will come regardless of how you think, and change always comes in a different form than what we are used to. We tend to be creatures of habit, and sometimes when we develop a religious habit it can become a stronghold in our mind that fights against anything different. Why do we fight as Christian? The Lord does not delight in fractions and divisions in the Body of Christ. Nor is it God's Will to set a stumbling block in front of another Christian because we don't like the taste of their water. Since water is a type of God we know that water is good, but as we stated earlier we must handle the water properly to receive the maximum results of God's Goodness. This wave we are speaking of will has certain characteristics that look very familiar, it will be as if you know them. The wave I am speaking of is a combination of people, typically they will be young, even though the wave is not limited to the youth. The wave is the Next Generation yes, your very own sons and daughters. Although many don't realize it, the Next Generation is growing up looking at what you (the parent, the elder, the Former Generation) have been saying and doing through your life. This is a challenge for many in the Former Generation because as elders, we don't like to be questioned about our lifestyle. However, since God Himself ask questions we must respect their right to ask questions. Are they questioning you as a person? Maybe, it depends on the question. Are they questioning your habits and/or mannerisms? Yes, probably. Will they question your philosophy about life? Yes, without reservation. Will they even go so far as to question your religion before God? Yes, definitely! This is the purpose for this article to help everyone understand that God ordained the next generation. Historically, we can see that children learn from their parents whether good or bad. Is this ordained of God. Yes, according to Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. KJV

What about questioning the things of the Lord? Every child starts by learning about God from your teachings combined with your actions. If you are the perfect example of God your life is good and your children will be lead into all truth. However, we should try to stay with reality which means you are not the perfect example. There is One who is The Perfect example and His Name is Jesus. Is it possible that you did very well in some areas of your understanding of God and maybe not so good in others? If you are human being the correct answer is yes, this is true. Since we are staying with reality Angela and I will also confess that in certain areas of our life we set a better example of God than others. We are not upset about what we didn't know we simply adjust (make course corrections) as we grow in the things of God to straight our path to send a more perfect message. Recently, the Lord spoke to us about some of the Former Generation resenting the Next Generation and criticizing their works. Thus, this article follows. This resentment comes from the ideal that we are your elders and we have taught you a lot about God and proven to you by truth and deed that God Loves you and cares about you consistently. Since we have shared (exposed) our heart to you about God how is it that now at a young age you can give us information about God that is contrary to our beliefs. We know that was a mouth full so let us say it again another way. Many elders do not think it proper to receive correction from a youngster. The Next Generation being the youngsters and the Former Generation being the elders. Brother Eric and Sister Angela doesn't the Word of God teach for children to submit to their elders and obey their parents. Yes, indeed, but it also says "IN THE LORD". So anything outside of the Lord is not acceptable, but the various things inside of the Holy Bible should be allowed and indeed can be examined. This is where it gets interesting because it is possible for the Lord of Heaven and Earth to speak directly to your child something different than what you know from your experiences. Angela and I are going to assume we are speaking to people who are intelligent people, thus we will produce several biblical examples where the Next Generation had revelations different from their elders, the Former Generation. These pioneers were encouraged by God to fulfill the calling on their life, which means in some cases not fulfilling the doctrine of their parents. The funny thing about being a member of your own generation is that it removes a superiority complex of having greater knowledge because of added experience. It is very common for an Elder (Former Generation) to think that a younger person (Next Generation) is all mixed up because they just don't have enough experience. This is a fact for many things but be sure you understand that many is not everything. The Lord will always give some additional enlightenment on a subject to someone different than yourself, and yes that could be a youngster. We all know that God created us uniquely but how many of us practice that wisdom with everyone we meet and live with. Starting in the Book of Genesis we notice that Moses had a different calling than his father. This was noticeable even as an infant according to Hebrews 11:23.

By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. NIV

Then we notice that Moses had a hard time with the children of his day. Oh no, I mean the elders (the Former Generation) of his day according to Deuteronomy 1:34-40

34 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,
35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,
36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.
37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.
38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
40 But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. KJV

Even though that Former Generation had a hard time understanding God's Vision the Wave (God Himself) was still moving and starting to rear up the Next Generation with only a few members of the Former Generation. Another Example is with Joseph. Remember how Joseph dreamed a dream that his father questioned in Genesis 37:9-10

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? KJV

Nevertheless the Dream was from God and the Lord is large enough to bring that dream to pass in Joseph’s life and life of his father. As a matter of fact this vision was so supernatural that only Joseph and God could fully appreciate it years later. It is very possible that the Lord anoints certain people to do a certain task, that is not revealed to those around them. If the task of the Next Generation is very diverse from a Former Generation it could be criticized by the elders. Notice the shepherd David was not even considered by his family as a king but God had other plans.

1 Samuel 16:10-12
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. KJV

As we move into the New Testament we see John the Baptist following a totally different path from his father Zacharias the priest in Luke 1:5,6

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. KJV

And Luke 1:13-17
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. KJV

And Luke 3:2-9
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. KJV

We notice that some of the Religious Elders of the Former Generation that day were not in tune with this new move of God and therefore could not receive from his ministry. Now we come to our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ Himself, this is the part that many preachers and ministers do not like to talk about, so they don't. Right off the bat Jesus comes on the scene changing the direction of ministry from the Former Generation. Starting with His mother in Matthew 12:46-50

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. KJV

and ending up with the Religious Leaders of the day in Luke 9:22-23

22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. KJV

Jesus had a Next Generation vision from God that developed into The New Wave of the future. The wave started small but gained momentum as it went because God, The Wave, was in it. We also notice that this same type of resistance came from the elders at Jerusalem with the Disciples of the Lord in Acts 4:5-18

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. KJV

Remember Paul had to warn Timothy not to let people despise his young, this situation is nothing new in the world today. Historically, the Former Generation has always had a harder time receiving something new from a member of the Next Generation.

1 Timothy 4:11-12
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. KJV

We can conclude from these previous examples that many times the fresh wave of God will come from the Next Generation. The accumulation of all the individuals who make up this New Direction by God is known as the wave. Generally speaking the various waves that come across our land will be in cycles and they will be rising for a season and then settling down at another season. So do not be too critical about the young people, whether child, neighbor or relative. Yes, they will have questions and yes they have a right to question your beliefs and lifestyle. This type of behavior is acceptable to God because even the Lord Himself makes this statement in Isaiah 1:18,19

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: KJV

And Paul in Acts 17:10-11 allowed reasoning out of the scriptures by partaking of diligent search with the Bereans.

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. KJV

We can see that all people from every generation have a right to search the scriptures, yes even the Next Generation has a God given right to examine our doctrine. What they do not have a right to do is be disrespectful or arrogant in their approach. So if you find yourself getting a little annoyed because a Next Generation is questioning the standards of the Former Generation take heed to yourself that you don't chastise them for being unique or inquisitive. How do you know if God is dealing with them to do something different. The Lord will not always tell you everything, He will tell you what is relevant to you. If a member of the Next Generation is rising up with a different presentation of God be open to measure the heart of the person instead of criticizing their doctrine. Yes, the Holy Bible should be followed in the Name of Jesus, but to call Christian rap music ungodly is the same thing as saying that all young people who listen to rap are not right with God. A wave of the New Generation could be labeled as unrighteous simply because the Former Generation can not recognize God in that type of music. We have learned from our Next Generation that the Lord is indeed inside some of their music. Like they used to say, don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Keep the baby (the heart of the issue) because much good will come from the child when they grow up. Judging others for the sake of your own satisfaction is discouraged by God. Just like judging others by your own standards instead of God's Word demonstrated by His Love is a sin too. Let walking in Love by understanding the importance of God's unity and peace be our guiding principle. Former Generation (being elders) should be praying for the Next Generation and loving them because that is God's Will for all Christians. God does not delight in back biting and bitterness instead He delights in love and peace. The combination of these new ideals will make up the many waves sweeping across this nation and the world today. The Wave, Himself, God is at the heart of all good things because every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights according to James 1:17 Whether the Wave is a group of Women Preachers, or a collection of Christian Rappers or a conglomeration of mega-churches with contemporary services let us realize that if God is in it men will not be able to over throw it.

Acts 5:38-39
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. KJV

Therefore be open to the various waves of Christianity because if we as a Body of Christ can settle our differences through God's Love we will find that the water from the Next Generation is just as refreshing as the water from God we are used to drinking. That is, if we can only develop our taste for something a little different in Jesus Name. The Lord's Spirit is the Ultimate Wave that is washing away all fifth and evilness upon this earth. We as His Body must allow His smaller waves to come in cycles to remove some impurities from the Former Generation. Elders typically don't like to be corrected by the youth but every elder ought to be wise enough to be corrected by God. Yes, all of us have some things that are not right before the eyes of God the question is will you allow a wave to wash it away or are you a Christian who prefers to build a dam. If you do prefer to build dams know that those who build dams with be damned, because whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap according to Galatians 6:7

Your children and all children have a God given right to inspect your fruit by tasting and smelling it for the life (nature) of God and if they think they can do it better a different way allow them the opportunity (liberty) to find out about God for themselves. We know that the faith of the Former Generation will not save the Next Generation they must find God's Will for their life for themselves. We believe through humility and honesty in the Former Generation we can live harmoniously and very successful with the Next Generation. Whether it is texting instead of talking, or a quick packaged dinners instead of a fully prepared meal, or reality shows instead of classical family series, I am sure that God is with them and in them because they are our Next Generation no one else’s. This current trend we see in Christians crying out for something different than the former days is not all bad. Indeed, in some cases it is our Heaven Father calling out for revival in the land through the Name of Jesus used in a different way. Amen.

If you feel you are a mighty burning fire for your traditions be certain the Wave will cool you down by extinguishing that traditional flame. It is not about our ways before God but rather His Way for all men upon the earth. Live joyfully with your God, laugh regularly with your generation and learn humbly by watching and praying for the Next Generation because we can guarantee it is coming your way.

Ecclesiastes 1:4
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. KJV

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" the question that remains to be answered is which form or which wave will He Choose. We don't always know which manner He will choose but we can always be open and ready for whichever wave the Master desires to use. The Next Generation will create their own wave with God and whatever the Lord wants to do in the Next Generation He should have the freedom to do it according to 2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. KJV

Remember the words of Jesus taught us in Luke 22:42 because He is our best example of The Wave Maker who moves through the Next Generations throughout time.

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. KJV

In His Love, Eric & Angela Foster

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