The Carnival Church

December 2003

A few days ago, I was given a unique vision that displayed a portion of the enemy strategies to entice and lure young people away from the destiny prepared for them. This is a different day than any prior generation. There has been a supernatural impartation released from heaven into a body of people who hunger for the reality of Christ. No imitation or substitute will suffice.

Only the Lord Jesus revealing Himself in every expression we find depicted in the Bible will satisfy this hungry company. It is something of an “all are nothing” mentality. If they cannot discover the real in Church then the enemy will provide enticements outside of the Church with false hope and counterfeit spirituality.

In my vision, I was shown a Church and its surrounding grounds. This Church was called to bring the revelation of Jesus to their area. However, on the grounds a carnival or fair had been erected. On the surface, the carnival seemed harmless enough with various activities and amusement rides. However, below the surface all manner of evil lurked. It was a demonic enticement to distract and entrap young people into a false spiritual atmosphere. It seemed to incorporate things that young people desired. In reality, it brought death and darkness in lieu of life.

In the spirit, prophetic eyes were allowed to see that hidden pentagrams and other demonic symbolism were employed to release the spirit of apathy and lethargy. Likewise, the enemy hoped to steal from the people devotion to Christ and introduce carnality veiled as spirituality in its place. It was actually a play on words. The “carnival” was a trap to release greater measures of “carnality” in the Church.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (Romans 8:6-7)

This was being exposed so that we could counter the assault through prayer and intercession. Bringing the adversary out of darkness into light is the first step in victory. Satan had carefully orchestrated the carnival so that it appeared innocent enough with veiled spiritual activities. However, at the heart it was the thief.

The vision was emphasizing a warning against allowing carnality to flourish in the Church. This was represented by a carnival atmosphere that is often allowed. The Scripture warns that jealousies, envying and divisions were the signs and fruit of carnality. They are the attributes of being unspiritual and under the administration of fleshly impulses. The apostle Paul stated,

For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:3)

When I first shared this vision in a local Church, there was an individual present who knew of a radio program entitled “Carnival.” The program employed as an emblem for its sponsorship the pentagram. This seemed to be an affirmation and timeliness of this message.

The essence of the message is an admonition to carefully pursue and embrace only the spiritual life we see depicted in the Scriptures. Specifically, we are called to live and experience the Apostolic Church revealed in the book of Acts. That is the spiritual atmosphere that is to be realized in this day. It is the only impartation of life that will satisfy the hunger and thirst of a needy generation.

Our quest is the infilling of the Holy Spirit that was made real to the early Apostles and available to us in this day. According to the Scripture,

You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

That is Church administration as God intended it. Any other activities, programs and worldly enticements would only be an empty substitute. The people want the reality of Christ, especially the young.