I have been feeling
a gnawing grind inside my soul over the past few weeks. Usually, the Lord will
speak a word in my mind or demonic presence manifests itself. However, neither
has appeared this time. I have been awaken in the middle of the night with this
spiritual ache, so I arise and go pray and read the Bible for clarity.
This past week, a
clearer revelation had begun to emerge. As I was praying one morning the Lord
spoke to me; “there is Spiritual Inflation occurring.” I began to search the Scripture for
understanding as well as relating the natural state of economic inflation as a metaphor
for clarity.
The economic
definition for Inflation is ‘a rise in the general level of prices
of goods and services in an economy over a period of time and, subsequently, purchasing power is falling.’ Even I get sidetracked with all the economic
jargon surrounded with the explanation of economic policy. So I will not even
try here. Suffice it to say, the metaphor was very powerful to me in my prayer.
Allow me to share some:
Case in point: 40 years ago, we could have
bought a new car for as little as $2000. Today, the same car sells for $15,000
and up. That would be about 800 times “inflationary growth.” In simple layman
terms, we can only buy a candy bar today what we bought a bag of groceries 40
years ago.
To make it even simpler, the cost of goods
has risen dramatically while the value has decreased. It takes 800 times more money power to buy
today what we bought 40 years ago. The
quality and value of life 40 years ago has shrunk with respect to how much more
time, energy and effort it takes today. Our
money doesn’t go as far today as it did 20, 30 or 40 years ago.
APPLICATION
What the Lord was showing me in this simile is
that it takes a great deal more Spirituality today to produce what we received
40 years ago. One sermon 40 years ago
would have convicted a man to turn his life around and live fervently for God
for decades. However, now one sermon doesn’t even seem to scratch the surface
to such deep seated sin, doubt or apathy.
Jesus said; “because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt 24:12). Meaning, that with the rise of
iniquity, spiritual fervency would decrease.
Simply put, Spiritual Value doesn’t purchase as much against sin,
sickness and Satan today as it did years ago.
We are living in a kind of “Spiritual Inflation.”
It seems to take 800 times more prayer today
to overcome what we did 40 years ago. It
takes 800 times more sermons, programs, worship, ministry and spiritual power
to bring people to a strong spiritual walk with God.
WHAT TO DO
I know, what do we do in this bleak scenario?
Just as in economics, we are forced to “work
smarter rather than harder.” Today’s
economic success is depended upon innovation, entrepreneurism and
networking. The same is with Spiritual
Success. I simply cannot pray 800 times
more today to get the same amount of results I did 40 years ago. I must pray
innovatively and with greater wisdom.
Simply put, I must get 800 people to join me in the same prayer to
produce the kind of results today that I did 40 years ago.
Jesus explained it:
“if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done for them” (Matt 18:19).
And Moses said it well: “five of you shall chase an hundred, and an
hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall
before you by the sword” (Lev 26:8).
My call to you is
to JOIN me in praying, worshiping, giving and serving. Join me in sharing your faith to someone
today. Invite someone to church this Sunday. Read a chapter in the Bible today.
Teach a Bible study this week. One man’s service pales in comparison to 80 of
us or 800. Let’s get together and bring revival.
© 2013 Dr Tim McClure
