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Go!
Imagine yourself sitting in the Cumberland Community Church auditorium this coming Sunday. We finish a worshipful song or two. The lights dim. The “my180” video begins with soft mood music… “My name is Paul. I grew up in the most rigid of Jewish traditions. I studied all of my life to become a Pharisee. And having reached my goal I made it my mission to defended my beliefs with all my heart, soul and being – to the point where it actually cost others their lives. It was during the most ferocious of my attacks against the newest blasphemy called “Christianity” that God himself came to me…” (Video continues in Acts 9)
Paul’s life was turned on it’s ear by the revelation of Jesus. And as a result of this revelation he was given what seemed like the most mysterious of roles in the video titled “God’s Plan”. His part was to deliver the message that the gospel of Jesus was not only for the physical descendants of Abraham. It was for non-Jews too! God also revealed in Acts 9:16 there would be hard suffering that goes along with the new job given to Paul. And it came to pass. Paul calls himself a prisoner, NOT of Rome, but of Jesus.
(Point of view doesn’t always change circumstances. But it changes everything, doesn’t it!)
So what if someone revealed to you that the Mac Store was selling iPads at half price tomorrow? I suppose you could choose to act on that revelation or not. But what about when God reveals something to us? Can we choose to act on it or not? I think we can. But why would act on His words, particularly if we know in advance that we might suffer as a result of our actions? The only answer that works for me is,.. it’s worth it. He is worthy of it. Knowing what we know about the love of Jesus, we are constrained to carry out our responsibilities to Him. We know this because He reveals it to us.
Gut check time… Do you know something you need to act upon? Don’t argue. Go! But don’t go because you think God will smash you if you don’t go. Go because He loves you.
from blackaby…
The world operates on vision. God’s people live by revelation. The world seeks grand and noble purposes and goals to achieve. People dream up the greatest and most satisfying things in which they can invest their lives. Institutions establish goals and objectives and then organize themselves to achieve them. God’s people function in a radically different way. Christians arrange their lives based on the revelation of God, regardless of whether it makes sense to them. God does not ask for our opinion about what is best for our future, our family, our church, or our country. He already knows! What God wants is to get the attention of His people and reveal to us what is on His heart and what is His will, for God’s ways are not our ways! (Isa. 55:8–9).
Wow!
That was awesome the way you described that Allen.It’s almost like putting yourself in place of Paul asyou described what was happening. God definately has His hand on you Allen and the way you minister to each and everyone of us. Sometimes I feel like your messages are talking straight to me.
I apologize Jon Fran. I thought that was Allen preparing us for Sunday’s message. He comes up wih great messages each week.