Shifting Baselines: Reclaiming the Power of the Church
Sermon Blog 9/28/25: Rev. Nick DeCicco
In our fast-paced world of constant change, it's easy to lose sight of where we've come from and where we're meant to be. This phenomenon, known as "shifting baseline syndrome," doesn't just affect our environment - it's crept into our spiritual lives as well. As believers, we must ask ourselves: Have we unknowingly shifted away from the powerful baseline God established for His church?
The concept of a baseline is simple - it's a standard, a level, a guideline. For the church, our baseline was set long ago, starting with the fundamental truth found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This foundational belief in one God, echoed throughout Scripture, is the bedrock of our faith.
But our baseline goes beyond mere belief. It encompasses how we worship, how we pray, and how we live out our faith. The Psalms paint a vivid picture of praise that involves clapping, shouting, singing, dancing, and using various instruments. This isn't just suggestion - it's a command. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6)
Yet, as generations pass, we risk losing touch with this vibrant, powerful expression of faith. We may look around our churches today and think we're doing well, unaware that we've gradually shifted away from the original standard God set for us.
This shift doesn't happen overnight. It's a slow, often imperceptible change that occurs over time. What one generation saw as normal, the next may view as extraordinary. What we consider "good church" today might pale in comparison to the powerful moves of God experienced by previous generations.
But here's the crucial question: Where is the mantle of Elijah in our generation?
The story of Elijah and Elisha provides a powerful metaphor for the transfer of spiritual authority and power from one generation to the next. When Elijah was taken up to heaven, his mantle - a symbol of his prophetic office and the power of God - fell to Elisha. This passing of the mantle represented more than just a change in leadership; it signified the continuation of God's power and authority.
In the same way, when Jesus ascended to heaven, He didn't leave us powerless. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended like a mighty rushing wind, filling believers with power from on high. This was our mantle - the same power that raised Christ from the dead, now dwelling in us!
Yet, have we fully embraced this mantle? Are we walking in the power and authority Jesus promised when He said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12)?
It's time for us to recalibrate, to shift our baseline back to God's original standard. This means embracing the full power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It means believing that when we lay hands on the sick, they will recover. It means expecting demons to flee at the name of Jesus. It means living with the constant anticipation of miracles, signs, and wonders.
This recalibration requires both the older and younger generations to work together. The older generation must share their experiences and wisdom, passing down the knowledge of "how things used to be." The younger generation must listen, observe, and learn, not dismissing the stories of the past but using them as a launching pad to go even further.
We can't afford to have what the Bible calls "generational amnesia" - a failure to pass down or receive the knowledge of God's works. As it says in Judges, "Another generation arose that did not know the Lord or the works He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). Whether through a failure to teach or a refusal to learn, we must not let this happen in our time.
Reclaiming our spiritual baseline isn't about nostalgia or living in the past. It's about recognizing the power that's available to us right now and choosing to walk in it every day. It's about carrying the mantle of God's presence and power not just on Sundays, but in our workplaces, our schools, and our communities.
Imagine a church where healing, deliverance, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are regular occurrences, not just in official services but in small groups, homes, and everyday encounters. Imagine believers so filled with God's presence that people are drawn to them, seeking prayer and guidance in times of need.
This is not an unattainable dream - it's the baseline God has set for us. It's what Jesus died to give us access to. The mantle has already fallen. The question is: Who will pick it up?
As we seek to realign ourselves with God's standard, let's remember that this isn't about gaining glory for ourselves. It's about showing forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). It's about allowing God to use us to touch our world, to turn it upside down for His glory.
Today, let's make a commitment to carry the mantle. Let's embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let's believe for the extraordinary to become ordinary. Let's pray with boldness, love with abandon, and expect God to move in miraculous ways.
The baseline has been set. The mantle has fallen. Will you pick it up?
In our fast-paced world of constant change, it's easy to lose sight of where we've come from and where we're meant to be. This phenomenon, known as "shifting baseline syndrome," doesn't just affect our environment - it's crept into our spiritual lives as well. As believers, we must ask ourselves: Have we unknowingly shifted away from the powerful baseline God established for His church?
The concept of a baseline is simple - it's a standard, a level, a guideline. For the church, our baseline was set long ago, starting with the fundamental truth found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This foundational belief in one God, echoed throughout Scripture, is the bedrock of our faith.
But our baseline goes beyond mere belief. It encompasses how we worship, how we pray, and how we live out our faith. The Psalms paint a vivid picture of praise that involves clapping, shouting, singing, dancing, and using various instruments. This isn't just suggestion - it's a command. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6)
Yet, as generations pass, we risk losing touch with this vibrant, powerful expression of faith. We may look around our churches today and think we're doing well, unaware that we've gradually shifted away from the original standard God set for us.
This shift doesn't happen overnight. It's a slow, often imperceptible change that occurs over time. What one generation saw as normal, the next may view as extraordinary. What we consider "good church" today might pale in comparison to the powerful moves of God experienced by previous generations.
But here's the crucial question: Where is the mantle of Elijah in our generation?
The story of Elijah and Elisha provides a powerful metaphor for the transfer of spiritual authority and power from one generation to the next. When Elijah was taken up to heaven, his mantle - a symbol of his prophetic office and the power of God - fell to Elisha. This passing of the mantle represented more than just a change in leadership; it signified the continuation of God's power and authority.
In the same way, when Jesus ascended to heaven, He didn't leave us powerless. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended like a mighty rushing wind, filling believers with power from on high. This was our mantle - the same power that raised Christ from the dead, now dwelling in us!
Yet, have we fully embraced this mantle? Are we walking in the power and authority Jesus promised when He said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12)?
It's time for us to recalibrate, to shift our baseline back to God's original standard. This means embracing the full power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It means believing that when we lay hands on the sick, they will recover. It means expecting demons to flee at the name of Jesus. It means living with the constant anticipation of miracles, signs, and wonders.
This recalibration requires both the older and younger generations to work together. The older generation must share their experiences and wisdom, passing down the knowledge of "how things used to be." The younger generation must listen, observe, and learn, not dismissing the stories of the past but using them as a launching pad to go even further.
We can't afford to have what the Bible calls "generational amnesia" - a failure to pass down or receive the knowledge of God's works. As it says in Judges, "Another generation arose that did not know the Lord or the works He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). Whether through a failure to teach or a refusal to learn, we must not let this happen in our time.
Reclaiming our spiritual baseline isn't about nostalgia or living in the past. It's about recognizing the power that's available to us right now and choosing to walk in it every day. It's about carrying the mantle of God's presence and power not just on Sundays, but in our workplaces, our schools, and our communities.
Imagine a church where healing, deliverance, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are regular occurrences, not just in official services but in small groups, homes, and everyday encounters. Imagine believers so filled with God's presence that people are drawn to them, seeking prayer and guidance in times of need.
This is not an unattainable dream - it's the baseline God has set for us. It's what Jesus died to give us access to. The mantle has already fallen. The question is: Who will pick it up?
As we seek to realign ourselves with God's standard, let's remember that this isn't about gaining glory for ourselves. It's about showing forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). It's about allowing God to use us to touch our world, to turn it upside down for His glory.
Today, let's make a commitment to carry the mantle. Let's embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let's believe for the extraordinary to become ordinary. Let's pray with boldness, love with abandon, and expect God to move in miraculous ways.
The baseline has been set. The mantle has fallen. Will you pick it up?
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