“When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).
History is full of transitions. Civilisations evolve. Technologies advance. What one generation celebrates becomes archaic to the next. Yesterday’s assets become today’s liabilities. Every new generation is expected to be an improvement on the previous, stronger, wiser, more advanced.
But while this is true in society, God’s kingdom operates by a higher and more sacred principle: Each generation of believers should be deeper, more consecrated, more prayerful, more spiritually sensitive, and more impactful than the last.
This is the divine pattern.
Elisha outperformed Elijah. Joshua finished what Moses could not. Solomon built the temple David was forbidden to build. David outperformed Saul. Paul outworked all the apostles. And Jesus outperformed Adam and every other man.
The Scriptures affirm this pattern: “The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children” (Psalm 115:14). “The path of the just… shines more and more unto a perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
Yet Scripture also warns that a generation can become worse than the previous, Gehazi inherited leprosy instead of a double portion; Ahab became the worst king Israel ever had.
When a generation becomes spiritually weaker, the older generation has failed.
This is the tragedy of Judges 2:10, a generation arose that did not know the Lord.
They sinned with impunity. They ignored God’s words. They lived as though God never existed. Why? Because the older generation did not build the right bridge.
One of the most critical bridges our generation must build for the next is the bridge of prayer.
The Collapse of Prayer in a Post-Christian Culture
We now live in a post-Christian world shaped by secularism, humanism, universalism, feminism, globalism, and other anti-Christian ideologies. These forces have reshaped the minds of the youth, the next generation.
Many young people now:
- Use secular success principles as their compass
- Mock prayer as outdated
- Use unanswered national prayers as justification for prayerlessness
- Prefer logic over spiritual sensitivity
- Celebrate influencers more than intercessors.
Yet throughout Scripture, no one walked with God without prayer.
Prayer is the oxygen of the Christian faith. It sharpens spiritual sensitivity. It moves God’s hand over nations. It births and sustains miracles. It activates angelic warfare. It exposes satanic agendas. It strengthens believers against temptation. It sustains access to God’s voice.
Leonard Ravenhill said, “If you are praying, you won’t be sinning. If you are sinning, you won’t be praying.”
A nation filled with “scientific Christians”, Christians who don’t pray, will experience spiritual blackout.
From Bible days to modern revivals, Welsh Revival, Azusa Street, Oke Oye Revival, prayer has always been the engine of spiritual awakening.
Reinhard Bonnke’s encounter with George Jeffreys is a vivid example: a baton of revival was transferred through prayer.
Matthew Henry said, “Anytime God wants to do a new thing in a nation, He sets the church a‑praying.”
If we fail to build prayer into the hearts of the next generation, we will lose them.
My late grandmother’s famous Nigerian delicacy, Adalu Ewa, was a blend of beans, corn, crayfish, dried fish, and spices. It was delicious, but hidden among the beans were stones. We often crushed them unknowingly because the sweetness of the mixture numbed our awareness. This is exactly what is happening in the church today.
“Adalu Ewa Christianity” is the adulteration of the gospel with sweeteners that delight the flesh but destroy the soul.
Jesus warned: “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). Paul warned that people would seek teachers who tickle their ears (2 Timothy 4:3).
Characteristics of “Adulterated” Christianity
- Opposes biblical teachings on marriage and divorce
- Creates cliques and caucuses in church
- Marries unbelievers without conviction
- Blends worldly entertainment with worship
- Uses mystical objects, salt, combs, rods, honey, rings, to produce “results”
- Partners with corrupt politicians
- Justifies sin with twisted scriptures
Like stones hidden in beans, small errors accumulate until believers become numb to major errors.
This is why some Christians now say: “My pastor says masturbation is fine.” “God only looks at my heart, so clubbing is harmless.” “Results matter more than holiness.”
Paul warned: “If anyone preaches another gospel… let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). John warned: “Test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). Revelation warns: “If anyone adds to these things, God shall add to him the plagues” (Revelation 22:18).
Nothing must be added. Nothing must be removed.
Examples of Lukewarm Christianity and Their Consequences
- Demas: The Youth Who Loved the World
Demas served alongside Paul but later abandoned the faith “because he loved this present world.” His lukewarmness weakened the missionary team and forced Paul to carry burdens meant for two.
- Joshua Harris: The Pastor Who Renounced Christianity
Once a leading evangelical voice, Harris publicly renounced Christianity. His fall shook thousands of young believers who had modeled their purity journey after him.
- Charles Templeton: The Evangelist Who Became an Atheist. Templeton preached alongside Billy Graham but later rejected the faith. His intellectual drift led many admirers into doubt and skepticism.
- A Popular Nigerian Worship Leader (Name withheld)
A once‑fiery worship minister drifted into immorality and alcoholism. His fall caused hundreds of youths to question the authenticity of worship ministry.
- A Corporate Professional Who Compromised
A Christian banker in Lagos began falsifying financial records under pressure. His compromise led to a major scandal, cost him his job, and damaged the witness of Christians in his workplace.
- A Youth Leader Who Became Lukewarm
A vibrant youth leader in Canada slowly drifted into pornography and clubbing. His fall caused confusion among teenagers who once saw him as a model of purity.
Lukewarmness is never personal, it always affects others.
Examples of Believers Who Stood Firm
- Billy Graham: Integrity for 70 Years
No scandals. No doctrinal compromise. No moral failures. His life proves that consistency, prayer, and humility can preserve a believer across generations.
- Elizabeth Elliot: Obedience in Suffering
After her husband was killed by the tribe he tried to evangelize, she returned to preach Christ to them. Her unwavering faith transformed an entire community.
3. Joseph Ayo Babalola: The Prayer General
His prayer life birthed the Oke Oye Revival. Miracles, deliverance, and holiness marked his ministry. He upheld biblical standards without compromise.
- The Wesley Brothers: Prayed Into Destiny
John and Charles Wesley were prayed into God’s plan by their mother, Susanna Wesley. Her prayer legacy shaped global Christianity.
- A Christian Scientist Who Refused Compromise. A Nigerian medical researcher refused to falsify data for funding. Her integrity cost her a promotion but preserved her witness and inspired younger scientists.
- A Young Canadian Believer Who Stood for Purity
A university student refused sexual pressure and maintained purity. Her stand led three friends to recommit their lives to Christ.
These examples show that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. Some drift. Some endure. The difference is usually prayer, doctrine, and consecration. To be continued
Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Assembly and the founder of the Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada. He can be reached through [email protected]. You can connect with him on: YouTube: @VoiceoftheWatchmen, TikTok: @drayoakerele, Instagram: @drayoakerele, Facebook: @Ayo Akerele
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