“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” (Jim Elliot)
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20)
All around the world God is raising up ambassadors that walk in Kingdom power. The Holy Spirit of truth (John 15:26) is moving in a remnant of people willing to lay down their lives for the cause of love just like the early ekklesia. Are you one of them?
I believe Christ already established His Kingdom 2000 years ago (Lk. 22:29). It was accomplished differently. Men would fail to recognize it if they look through a carnal lens. He did not come with the power of the sword, like the Caesars, to conquer over the ages. He came with the sword of His powerful Word (Heb. 4:12) cutting deeply to transform hearts. It was in extreme times when the church–a royal priesthood–a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9) was birthed at Pentecost. Idolatry and pantheism was rampant, corruption and deception wide spread, and the people of God were oppressed under the heavy hand of Roman tyranny.
Saints, there is nothing new under the sun; the same spirit is at work today. I believe it takes extreme lovers of God to impact an extreme society. Extreme love was clearly modeled by Christ who laid down His life on the cross to redeem humanity. Yea, He rose again victoriously! This is the example given as a blue print to the first apostles and to us today. Their devotion to the resurrected Christ was so extreme they were persecuted and killed for what they believed. Their impact is still experience today, 2000 years later. Remember, passivity will never get the job done in this generation.
Extreme? Now I will address the question about balance and moderation, which I’m all for, but what does that really mean? I have found in most cases, not all, its covert language for, “You’re too radical–you’re passion is too extreme.” I love what a preacher once said, “I will take wild fire rather than no fire at all!” Amen. I define “balance” as being one who yearns to live on the extreme edge of radical devotion to Christ–and balances thereupon. Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us keep balanced.
This is how the early believers lived their lives, balanced on the “bleeding edge”–literally. Most of the apostles died a martyr’s death to give us this glorious gospel of the kingdom. They were passionate people full of the Holy Spirit, boldness, and unrelenting obedience. Despite Roman oppression, when they spoke, the authority of the Kingdom was released to transform the souls of men and dispel demonic darkness. Thus, accomplishing what Rome could not. Christ changes lives from the inside out; Rome tried to control lives from the outside in. Christ establishes His rule of love in the hearts of men resulting in fidelity. Rome appeals to men’s carnality with “free bread and circuses” or despotism with the sword. That same controlling spirit exists in the world today.
Beloved, it’s our watch now. Patience and trust in the Lord is necessary to BE the solution in our generation. The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed or leaven. It starts out small and seems to be insignificant but give it time and it grows both in influence and dominion. It becomes an extreme Kingdom ruled by extreme love. (Mark 4:31-32, Matt. 13:33) We need to boldly stay the course of the Kingdom–Humbly loving people, living a righteous life, and telling the truth of Christ. I believe, according to the law of the Kingdom, it will grow and influence everyone who has “ears to hear what the Spirit says...” Remember, don’t give up, the Lord is at work. We just need to keep following Him NO MATTER THE CONSEQUENCES! Love conquers all.
“We are labourers together with God…” (1 Cor. 3:9)
“The earth belongs to you. Whatever happens to this planet is our responsibility… ‘What you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, what is looses on earth is loosed in heaven…’ heaven can’t do anything on earth without the permission or access through those that God gave authority to. If something is not happening on earth it’s because we are not allowing it to happen… Prayer is constantly giving God permission to interfere in the earth... God could do anything! But he could only release what you allow… That is why Jesus said, ‘men ought always to pray, and not to faint.’” (The late Dr. Myles Munroe, Sr. Pastor of BFMI)
“Prayer is strange, it seems as if without God we cannot and without us God will not.” (John Wesley)
This is original content from the writings of Jeffrey Parrott. To find out more about Acts In Motion go to: http://www.actsinmotion.com.