London Olympics: 'Inspire a Generation'

Revs. Al and Deb Warner : Aug 23, 2012
SetFreeInc.org

Psalm 145:4 (The Message) "Generation after generation stands in awe of Your work; each one tells stories of Your mighty acts."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Next week the Paralympics will begin?also in London?and when it comes to inspiring a generation, and inspiration in general, these Paralympic athletes who have overcome such odds just to be able to compete, are certainly all that and more. I'll be watching. ?Aimee Herd, BCN.

For a moment, the eyes of the world turned to London. Now the 2012 Olympics are in our collective rear view mirror. The medals have been awarded. London's Olympic flame has been extinguished. The athletes have returned home.

Could there be a word from the Lord concerning the Olympics that lingers on? For me, it is the motto for this year's Olympics?'Inspire a Generation.' Even though this motto was emblazoned on t-shirts and bleacher seats, billboards and posters, few people seem aware of the phrase. However, I wonder if 'Inspire a Generation' might have significant prophetic implications.

Every Olympic game focuses on youth. In general, younger athletes outperform their aging teammates. Men of my age (58) are relegated to coaching, sitting in the seats, or best of all?being the parents who cheer on our potential medal winners. This is a familiar pattern, copied every 2 years.

However, as Lord Coe (Chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games) said, "The motto 'Inspire a generation' . . . captures the heartbeat and the very DNA of the organization." This was perhaps best represented during the Opening Ceremonies that marked a radical departure from all previous games. Historically, the Olympic flame has been lit in the host country's stadium by the most famous athlete in that country's history, an elder statesman or woman.

London broke with tradition. The Olympic flame was carried not by a single runner, but by 7 relatively unknown 16 ? 19 year olds who were each nominated by an older, well-known British Olympian. The ceremony was witnessed by 260 of Britain's greatest Olympians.

To illustrate how striking a change this is, in the Wikipedia article on the summer Olympics opening ceremony, the seven younger athlete's names are listed in black, meaning there is no separate Wikipedia article on them because they have not accomplished anything which qualifies them for a full article yet. However, their mentor's names are listed in blue, meaning there is a separate Wikipedia article on each and every one of them to highlight their storied careers.

Even online gambling establishments were caught off-guard. As David Baker of the UK Daily Mail, wrote, "All bets are off! Bookmakers vow to refund wagers on Olympic cauldron lighter admitting it was 'impossible' to predict the honour would go to unknown athletes."

Is God using the Olympics to declare a generational shift on the Earth? As the Church, we are called to raise up the next generation, to pass the torch, to keep the generational fires burning bright.

There is abundant prophetic word that God is raising up a new generation of 'no-name' leaders. As Dennis Cramer prophesied on the Elijah List, "This will be the year that the famous "nameless and faceless" generation of gifted men and women will finally arise among the nations." (January 25, 2012)

Elijah List: James W. Goll-Paradigm Shifts, Change is Upon Us!
An extravagant Youth Movement is coming to the global Body of Christ that will "rock the nations". Public events will be led by youth to pray and fast for revival, which will spread rapidly around the nations. This will be a "trans-generational anointing" where the hearts of the fathers are turned to the children and the hearts of the children to the Father. (June 15, 2012)

By choosing relatively unknown potential stars of the future and allowing them to carry the torch, London declared that our future is now!

By choosing a team of runners instead of a single superstar, London declared we are better TOGETHER!

Each young athlete lit a few of the copper 'petals,' which eventually rose in unison to combine their individual fires into a single brilliant flaming cauldron that lit the Olympic Stadium. Come on Jesus, light our fire?as one!

Could it be that God is positioning a new generation to "know their God. . . and carry out great exploits"? (Daniel 11:32, NKJV) Together, let's Inspire the next Generation! May our ceiling be their floor.

Revs. Al & Deb Warner are the founders and directors of Set Free Inc. Set Free is a networking ministry connecting business, governmental and church leaders for a Nehemiah-like rebuilding and transformation of our city. Al and Deb have over 30 years experience pastoring local churches and working as missionaries in Hong Kong. In 1997, God laid a burden on their heart to bring the regional church of greater Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY, together. As they obeyed, God birthed their ministry, Set Free Inc. The Warners have led multiple prayer and training events over the years, including National Day of Prayer. To contact them, email: info@setfree.org