Generation...Whose Generation?

       I listened to a brother the other day teach the congregation they are the Samuel Generation. I have seen bumper stickers of Churches and Ministries declare they are one generation or the other. I am sure these 'revelations' came as a result of the exploits of the individuals or tribes they are choosing to identify with. Each of these generations represents a message the proponents desire to pass on. As great as these ideas or 'revelations' sound, is that what the LORD is speaking to His Church at this time of great darkness and distress? 

       One may argue that it is for the reason of the stressful state of the earth that we need to raise a generation of believers modelled after a character in the Bible that faced such situations and prevailed. As great as this is, however, the desire of God is: "For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 1:11). His Name, NOT another! 

     The generation that He is preparing to usher Him in Is His Generation, chosen and named after Him! For this reason, we were told: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:1-3). The instruction is telling us to deny every hint of 'flesh/self' and, like newborn babies, crave the undiluted truth of God's Word. As we do this we enter into a lifelong school of preparation and training to be like Him. When we agree to do this, we will not be swayed by every 'good sounding' doctrine engineered to sweep many away from the Presence of God! 

     When we refuse to obey the above instruction, it becomes difficult to be part of the Generation the LORD is raising for Himself: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). A person that is yet to deny his flesh/self, even if such claim to be a believer or disciple, will find it hard to succumb to the requirements of being a Generation that belongs to God Himself! Sadly, such hearts always try to equate their experience of God with the Saints that had gone ahead of us (Hebrews 12:1). 

       The comma punctuation in the verse of the 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) signifies that to get to each phrase it's a work and not automatic! This means that we are not meant to just be a Chosen Generation; we need to continue to feed on the unadulterated spiritual milk (God's Word) so we can become a 'Royal Priesthood'. As we feed on, we become a 'Holy Nation', then more feeding, we become his 'Own Special People'. A people built up into a spiritual house to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). No wonder we were told: "...To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:5b-6). 

        Beloved, if God wanted a generation that had gone ahead, He would have named them in 1 Peter 2:9. Rather, He declared He wanted and desired a Generation, Chosen, called out and named by Him. To underscore this kind of thinking, He said, concerning the nation that has become unfaithful to Him, just as our nations have become, "Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God" (Ezekiel 14:14). If that was the case, why do we then want to be a Generation called and named by ourselves and not the Generation called and named by God Himself? We seem to forget: "And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15b). Beloved, take heed when you declare what God is not declaring! For as many that believe and receive Him, we are His Chosen Generation! 

       Therefore, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:14-16), in Jesus Christ name, Amen! God bless you.