The first generation experiencing a move of God has a deep, loving relationship with Jesus, resulting in a moral and righteous lifestyle. The generation after them has the same lifestyle without the relationship, and the third generation sees a form of godliness in their parents but without the power, which results in them casting off all restraints. We see examples of this phenomenon throughout the Bible. Whereas the previous week’s word on this topic was directed towards people from the first generation, this week’s is geared towards those who are part of the second generation. There is a responsibility on the first generation to make sure, by not only walking and modelling a lifestyle, but also to pray and make sure that the next generation has a vital, living relationship with Jesus. It is important for the second generation to tap into the same passion and vision of the first generation and avoid the trap of just maintaining a certain lifestyle, as well as the Hezekiah syndrome. In the Old Testament we read about Nehemiah refusing the third-generation phenomenon. He stood up and was counted in challenging and resisting the apathetic, unprincipled, lawless, and godless lifestyle of the third generation of that time. He saw it as essential that the Israelites recover their identity as God’s people. In the same way, there must be a difference between the Church and the world, we have a responsibility to impart, build up and preserve in every generation a strong sense of identity and what it means to be a Christian. Every generation needs to know who they are in Christ. Our children need to be taught how to be strong in their convictions and be enabled to have answers to challenges and to withstand persecution. Like Nehemiah did, we need to tell the next generation of our history with God, so that they would understand our mandate as well as their individual purposes in the Body of Christ, enabling them to live intentionally. They must be encouraged to have a personal faith-walk with, and obedience to God. It is essential to teach the next generation ‘the Faith’, i.e. what we believe and why we believe it. The next thing that needs to be passed on the following generation, is a burning passion for Jesus by perfectly modelling it. The next generation needs to remember the previous one and be able to consider the outcome of their way of life, imitating their faith. We read in the letters that Paul wrote to Timothy how he encouraged Timothy to fan into flame the faith that he had seen in his grandmother Louis and his mother Eunice, proof that it is indeed possible for three consecutive generations to walk and live in the same passion of faith. It is the third generation’s responsibility is to keep feeding the flame of faith and passion that has been passed on to them.
