John Reeves is the man.

Here is a small (and by small, I mean kinda long) paraphrase from John Reeves sermon he gave at Radius Church last week (www.radiuschurch.org - go to downloads and "where we're going in 2007") - along with some of my thoughts, some paraphrased scripture, etc....I was just typing some things as I listened online...so excuse the jumping around. I just thought it was some good stuff, and wanted to actively listen, so wrote out some of his points.

"people have to die for things to change..."

Think about it:
Jesus
Gandhi
Martin Luther King, Jr.

We need to have something to die for.

God wants us to stir up a revolution. We need to rebel. The gospels are revolutionary. Jesus changes the entire world.

The closure of the last speech MLK gives in Memphis:

"Like anybody, I'd like to live a long life. Longevity has its place but I'm not concerned about that now, I just want to do God's will. He allowed me to go up to the mountain and I looked over and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people WILL get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything, I'm not fearing any man, my eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Lord."

He was assassinated the next night. He predicts in some senses his own death, but he's saying to everybody, if you have a cause, if you're in the middle of a revolution, 'my death may be necessary, and I'm good with that.'

Here in the US we have no idea anymore what it means to die for anything. As followers of Jesus, we are confused. Rarely does it feel like we're on a mission that would be worth our life.

Jesus died for His cause. Rose from the dead and went to Heaven. When the leader (Jesus) disappears though, will the followers fully embrace Christ?? In Acts we see a group of young revolutionaries live it out and pay with their blood. In Acts 4 we see Peter 'get it.' Peter, FULL of the holy spirit let loose. Peter and John are standing there in front of all of the big-wigs confident and so sure of themselves that the onlookers just stare at them and have nothing to say against it.

What in churches in America would cause a revolution?? That people would look at us and say that we are companions of Jesus - that we are awkwardly in love with God - that we've got some kind of life within us that they cannot define. Not that we're "christians" or part of the "christian community" but that we are companions with Jesus and that we really seem to know God.

Further along in Acts chapter 4....

As soon as Peter and John were let go (after they were jailed for their comments) they went to their friends and told them what the High Priests and religious leaders had said, and hearing the report they lifted their voices in harmony in prayer. They immediately worship God in the middle of suffering because there is a revolution at hand. They celebrate revolution.
Their prayer:

"Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the holy spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant David...........give your servants fearless confidence....give us courage...."

Real people were in love with God and executed this love in the world. Others embraced it, and the whole world began to change.

The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and YIELDED to God. In reality, very few Christians in this country YIELD to the Holy Spirit, or give themselves over. A fisherman yielded to the spirit of God and became a REVOLUTIONARY. St. Peter is known by everybody around the world - 10 years after this scripture, he was hung upside down, and glad to do it - because he yielded. Let the Spirit transform you.

The people of Acts - the early church - are overwhelmed with the responsibility to "go." To be outside of themselves, to the point where when they pray they are asking the soveriegn God to give them courage. They were regular people that thought their needed to be a revolution for God.

Let God permeate who you are. Yield to the Holy Spirit and beg Him to give you courage.