The Sacred Charge of a Forerunner
The last day of the onething conference this year, Mike Bickle gave a "sacred charge" to any who distinctly felt the calling to be a forerunner like John the Baptist was, preparing the way for the Lord's return. Above and beyond the simple disciplines of Christianity, about 4-5,000 young people made this 10-year minimum commitment to "eating the scroll" and devouring the Word of God related to the end-times. (Revelation 10)
Here are the seven things these young people committed to walk out:
The Sacred Charge: 7 Commitments of a Forerunner
Friends of the Bridegroom preparing the way of Jesus’ Second Coming
- Pray daily: spending 2 hours in prayer and Word (Book of Revelation once a week for 3 years)
- Fast weekly: setting your heart to fast 2 days a week as a lifestyle
- Speak boldly: standing as a faithful witness in allegiance to Jesus’ heart for the Church, Israel and the nations
- Do Justly: doing works of justice focusing on the fatherless and oppressed
- Give extravagantly: giving to the prayer movement (beyond our tithe)
- Live holy: walking out the Sermon on the Mount and keeping the Purity Covenant
- Lead diligently: leading weekly prayer meetings and Bible studies (focused on training forerunners)
The young people didn't make these seven commitments out of a sense of duty thinking that God would not accept them if they did not take up the charge, but out of a sense of love and desire to walk in the fullness of what God has called them to. It was such a powerful thing to see, and we feel that it was a defining moment in the history of our little corner of the end-time prayer movement here in Kansas City.
I want my website to be a resource for those of you who have made this commitment. Over the next several months, I'll be specifically expounding upon each of these points on my blog, uploading encouraging audio for your journey, and linking to other helpful resources.
If you were at onething or you were watching the webstream and you made this commitment, leave a comment here and be sure to sign up for an account on my website to be able to access the resources I'll have available!
UPDATE: For those of you who have made the commitment, the email address you should email is "sacredcharge@ihop.org". Bless you!
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Comments
An Older Forerunner
Were there really 5,000 who responded?
I had no idea there were that many.
For me, it was a very somber decision.
To stand before God and make this sacred trust was very humbling, knowing the amount of grace I would need to walk it out. I live in Monticello, Arkansas (population 15,000) and am 56 years old.
I have a daughter, Tarah James, at IHOP. She works with Rodney (IHOPU) and was one of the team members who recently went to Myanmar.
Tarah and I discovered IHOP together about five years ago at Onething when Dilerious brought in the new year. I was only there for the last day, and before leaving Tarah said, "We need to take something back with us". She picked up the Encountering Jesus CD's and said, "This looks good". By the time we got back to Little Rock, we were "ruint", in a good way.
I have been pregnant with the forerunner message since that time, but feel like I am still in the gate. I am ready to get out.
I don't have one "Likeminded Believer" in Monticello. I have shared one on one and have a blog, "This Is That". I don't know how many read it, but I know quite a few do.
There is a collge here, UAM.
I was thankful to find your blog, and your offer to provide help and resources. I recognize you, but can't think of which worship team I have seen you on.
I stand in need of several personal breakthrus and am ready to press on in how ever God leads.
Sorry this was so long, but hope you understand my need to share my heart. Thank You.
Third chronological section . . .
Jesus Is Coming!
10,000 John The Baptists Will Change The World
Josh,
Great post. This is my 4th Onething and it was by far the most amazing! The level of hunger was so intense. I am praying for each and everyone of those who stood. I met a woman in her 50's at the conference, who said she stood with Mike 20 years ago and it forever changed the course of her life and ministry. Those who stood will change the World. Lord raise up 10,000 John The Baptists to change our world!
Let all of us stand together. Jerry James...know that we are praying for you...God send Jerry a Jonothan to come labor with him in Monticello.
Blessings!
Amen Chris, I'm with you
Amen Chris, I'm with you 100%!
Hey Josh, do you know when
Hey Josh, do you know when those Book of Revelation Study guides are going on sale at the IHOP Book store? Also, do you know what type of resources will be available for those emailing the "sacredcharge@ihop.org"? Thanks, Chris.
No idea on either of
No idea on either of those... sorry man...
Sacred Charge
Hey man. I don't know if you knew this, but I did the Sacred Charge as well. I am looking forward to more of the resources you put on your site. Talk to you later man!
I figured you did :) You're
I figured you did :) You're too in love with Jesus not to have done it!
me too
I made the commitment as well.. Thank you for posting whatever encouragement and resources! The interviews that you have posted in the past have been very beneficial for me, and I've been able to pass the word along and direct some traffic to your site as well. Thank you for all you are doing here. You are doing a great job encouraging and helping train other musicians/ worshipers and intercessors that are even far off from ihop-kc. I am one of those that God has brought up alongside, but clearly said to "stay put" and do the thing locally instead of moving to KC like I would love to. Again, thanks for your dedication to helping others and doing your discipling in a non-traditional sort of way. ;)
Thanks for the
Thanks for the encouragement, JoAnna!
Yes, Lord!
Thanks for posting this, Joshua! I've been trying to figure out what the next step was since onething08. I made the commitment as well and I am thrilled about what the future holds. Thanks brother! Cassandra
Any reason preaching the
Any reason preaching the gospel was not one of the commitments? I was not there when Mike made the call.
Preaching the gospel is
Preaching the gospel is "speaking boldly" for sure. Lots of people are speaking things contrary to Jesus, so it's not hard to find a place to speak boldly about Him. Besides, the gospel is more than just forgiveness of sin. Jesus said that the gospel of the kingdom - the message of the coming kingdom - would be preached in all the nations and then the end would come (Mt. 24:14). Speaking boldly in allegiance to Jesus means to speak about this kingdom and the king coming, which absolutely includes speaking about one of the aspects of the king that people traditionally associate with "the gospel" - the message of forgiveness. Point being though, the gospel of the kingdom is much more than the message of forgiveness, and "speaking boldly" under the sacred charge definitely encompasses "telling people about Jesus' kindness to forgive your sins". Make sense?
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