Revolutionaries

 "Paul and Silas have turned the rest of the world upside down, and now they are here disturbing our city." Acts 17:6....."We must revolt against the chains that hold and oppress us and make us feel defeated. More than revival, we must desire a revolution." Kirk Franklin

There is always talk from one generation to the next of the need for revolution. Sometimes in low key ways, but more often in the last 50 years or so, loudly and persistently. The trouble is, most of these "revolutions" don't revolutionize anything at all. The Who were correct in their classic song, "Won't Get Fooled Again," with the lyric, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." As I can personally attest, revolutions are very popular in the young, but lose most of their attraction as we age. We're strongly drawn to comfort, and we embrace the status quo in order to keep it. This is true in the world, and sadly, in the church as well. In Christ, we have a revolutionary message, but we have so watered down the message that instead of presenting an Almighty Savior, we instead present a smiling, easy going "genie in a bottle" Christ who is committed to blessing our lives and providing as easy a way for us as possible. Little gets turned upside down, especially in our own lives. Worse, we settle for comfortable prisons.

This was not the story of the early church. They went about with a living message of power and victory, of salvation not only from the penalty of sin, but from its control as well. They presented a Savior who made all things new, who binds up the brokenhearted, who set captives free, and who made us in Christ, more than conquerors. They brought this message of abundant life, of victory, of holiness, wherever they went, and wherever they went, there really was upheaval. This was the story of the Apostle Paul and Silas, Their Gospel message really was bringing upheaval of the spiritual status quo. So much so that when they arrived in Thessalonica, there was organized resistance to them and to the message of Christ. Acts 17 goes on to relate that the city was thrown into turmoil by the message and presence of God's witness through Paul and Silas and those who were with them. The full message and power of the Gospel will always cause turmoil in the kingdom of darkness. Are we proclaiming and living out a message that turns that kingdom upside down?

We need to understand the concept of spiritual strongholds. These strongholds are points in lives, churches, and cultures, from which the enemy operates out of. These strongholds are usually built upon lies that have been accepted as truth. These strongholds are found everywhere in and around us. They hold us captive. The message of Christ, His cross and resurrection, shake their very foundations and topple them. We who are His are charged with doing just that, but we cannot if all we have is a tepid message, backed by a congenial Christ. He is both the Suffering Servant and the Conquering King, and His church must exhibit the same traits. Paul and the other apostles brought a power filled message of love and freedom. They were revolutionaries, and history bears witness to the fruits of their message. We can be no less.

For the follower of Christ, revolution is inevitable, and it begins in our hearts and minds. Has it begun in yours and mine? As we look at our lives, where are the evidences of His transforming life? Do we live and walk in the ways of the Spirit, or do our ways vary little from the ways of the culture around us? How desperate is our need for spiritual revolution?

Leonard Ravenhill said that it was his great desire to be on the devil's most wanted list. Revolutionaries always are. Do we desire to be the same? Or, are we comfortable with our world, our lives, and our church, remaining as they are.....strongholds and all?

Blessings,

Pastor O