There's been a perversion in the Church of America.

Perversion:

the alteration of something from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended.

(Google)

As I have been praying out some dreams over the last couple weeks, the Lord has been highlighting perversion to me, a turning away from His original intent and course.

Somehow, we have become content with Church and failed to advance to Kingdom.

There IS a difference.

Looking through the Bible, we can see that Kingdom teaching seems backwards.

Examples: lose your life to live, the least become greatest, the meek inherit the earth, the King becomes the servant, the people that have the most are those who give it all away, love your enemies...

When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples this question: “What are the people saying about me, the Son of Man? Who do they believe I am?”

They answered, “Some are convinced you are John the Baptizer, others say you are Elijah reincarnated, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

“But you—who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked.

Simon Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God!”

Jesus replied, “You are favored and privileged Simeon, son of Jonah! For you didn’t discover this on your own, but my Father in heaven has supernaturally revealed it to you.

I give you the name Peter, a stone. And this rock will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church—my legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!

I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom realm to forbid on earth that which is forbidden in heaven, and to release on earth that which is released in heaven.”

He then gave his disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

-Matthew 16:13-20 TPT

The Church is built on the REVELATION of who JESUS is, and when that revelation is the foundation, the KINGDOM and the AUTHORITY of it becomes unlocked and unleashed in the earth.

When the Church is built on this foundation of revelation, the power of death, the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it!

The Church has created a watered-down comfortable version of Jesus to keep people in their pews, to keep money flowing into offering plates, and to keep from offending anyone.

Jesus didn't come to make people comfortable- He came to save their souls. He came to transform people with the power of the Holy Spirit. He came as an ambassador of truth from the Father.

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze with fiery passion for God! But first I must be immersed into the baptism of God’s judgment, and I am consumed with passion as I await its fulfillment. Don’t think for a moment that I came to grant peace and harmony to everyone. No, my arrival will change everything and create hostility among you. From now on, even family members will be divided over me and will choose sides, one against another. Fathers will be divided from sons and sons from fathers; mothers will be divided from daughters and daughters from mothers; mothers-in-law will be against brides and brides against mothers-in-law—all because of me.”

-Luke 12:49-56 TPT

What if Jesus is asking you to get uncomfortable?

What if He asked you to give it all away; even your money?

To tell someone the truth even though you knew it may cost you a friendship?

What if He asked you to look stupid for Him... remember Isaiah had to get naked (I'm not saying to do that, just emphasizing a point).

JESUS CAME TO SET THE EARTH ON FIRE--It's our responsibility to carry that fire to the ends of the earth!

Following Jesus isn't all about our comfort, or happiness. It's about ADVANCING the Kingdom of God in the earth.

Advance:

To accelerate the growth or progress

to move forward: proceed an advancing army

(GOOGLE)

Advancing can seem violent-it isn't actionless.

Advancing requires forward movement and acceleration.

I believe the season we are in requires ACTION on the part of every believer to ADVANCE the KINGDOM.

It no longer looks like sitting in church week after week singing songs about yourself while you "worship" God and refusing to get uncomfortable for the sake of furthering the Gospel. American Church has been insulated from any real persecution, but the time is coming where more will be required.

It will be required of you to love others so much that you HAVE to tell them the truth even if it will offend them.

Compassion will be required of you to heal the sick and raise the dead. Apathy in the Church is coming to an end as we shift into Kingdom.

The way we "do" church is going to require a change.

I see a shift away from self-focus to true worship of God in services.

Worship leaders will no longer be standing on stages in front of everyone, but the people will be gathered together in crowds singing and dancing before the Lord as a company.

I see a shift away from teaching in the pulpit to preaching the Word and demonstrating His power. I see needs being met spontaneously in the Glory of God as services are yielded over to HIS agenda. No longer will preachers be planning out their sermons in advance, but speaking only what Jesus tells them to say.

Many of us would say we want a Church like the book of Acts, but are we actually willing to make the sacrifices that would require?

It's time to examine our hearts: How far are we truly willing to go for the sake of the Kingdom?

There is a rising remnant in the earth that is going to shake the Church at its very foundation--whatever isn't sustained only by the blood of Jesus MUST pass away.

It's an uncomfortable season, but the fruit that will come from the pruning the shaking, the sifting, will be priceless.

To see the Kingdom manifest on the earth (which means to be demonstrated, to show up), believers will have to shift in this season.

Witchcraft will have to be routed out from the Church once and for all, and the fear of the Lord will have to be ushered in.

Churches that compromise the Word, compromise the TRUTH to advance their own agendas will be burned away in this new move.

The Lord is exposing and routing out spirits of witchcraft and compromise that have come in under the guise of reaching the lost.

I believe the Lord is getting ready to move through the LGBTQ community in a way that is going to offend many in the Church.

There is a great harvest coming and I see many who were wrapped up in that lifestyle experience the hand of God so mightily they will shift their efforts from advancing the Kingdom of darkness to advancing the Kingdom of God.

The sound these redeemed ones will make in the earth will cause repentance to sweep over the nation as they lead masses into the fear and awe of the Lord through their testimonies.

The rising remnant will be the unqualified, the undereducated, the dismissed.

They will look and sound different.

The Kingdom is backward-those who seem the least qualified, the least likely will be the ones to usher in this new move of God in the earth.

I believe Church is leaving the building and the Kingdom is advancing in its place.

Get ready, Beloved! The tide is turning, the winds are changing!

July 5, 2023

-Jenny Johnson

Originally published July 5, 2023 @ jennyjohnson.net