How to change the world - RISE UP CHURCH - it begins with you

The church bells ring but there is no sound. 

For the sound of freedom, of powerful light and truth and love is within you and I.

Not the towering steeple. 

Jesus hung on the cross to show us what it looks like to be love in front of the world for the world. He was not crucified quietly in the dark with no witness. He chose exposure to the world. The temple shook, the veil torn, the whole world aware of his earth-shaking, his life-quaking power. 

He did that so that you and I would, so that we could, live the same bold life. 

He came as love. But he was not a quiet coward. Love. Truth. They are loud. Superior to darkness. Love and truth outweigh darkness ten-fold. 

But not if hidden in the bodies of Jesus people.  Because the power within us is the mightiest force ever in existence. But only when we choose to hang on a cross as Jesus did. Not literally - for Jesus did that for us. No. We need to hang our pride, our selfishness and self-agendas and self-motivation and self-awareness and self-loathing and self-everything on the cross where Jesus laid himself. It is in the hanging place of self, the releasing of self, that the power within us will break free from us and change the world. 

Do you want to change the world? Then hang yourself on the cross with Jesus and live. 

Let the rising come like a flooding water. Like a tsunami of love and truth and abandoned living in order to give life to the world. 

“People get ready. Jesus is coming.” The lyrics to a song that have played over and over in my heart this weekend. I believe those words. I believe God is rising up the hearts of his faithful servants around the world because he is coming. 

While the world forms strategy to overcome the evil, I believe there is only one way to win this war against violence and evil.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12

The battle is not for lives - it is for souls. 

It’s never been about world power. It’s about a spiritual agenda. 

It’s not against Christians - It is the devil fighting against God. We are just the attempted pawns.

Remember that the “thing” fought for is almost never the “thing” it’s really about. Because at the end of this life we’ll all see that the battle really was raging in the spiritual realm. And the enemy was just trying to distract us - to take our eyes off Jesus. 

But take heart church! For “you are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

Rise up! Rise up to fight for the souls of man you were made to fight for. 

Not with weapons of this world. But fight this way…

1. As one body. Ephesians 4:1-6
2. Counting everything a loss compared to knowing Jesus. Pursuing him above all else. Philippians 3:7-11
3. With the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22-26
4. Fully trusting that Gods grace is sufficient for you, and his power is made perfect in your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
5. Study love and live it shamelessly, offensively and profoundly. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
6. As free children of God, free of FEAR! Romans 8:15-17
7. Believing that God is for us, we are more than conquerors through him and nothing can separate us from his love. Romans 8:31-39
8. Putting on the armor of Christ all day long. Ephesians 6:10-20

And then church - we will see the light explode in the darkness. It must begin in us first. Then the spirit of God will overflow through us and his power will overtake us and our land. 

He is mighty to save. 

He is ready to save. 

He is waiting for us to hand the world the greatest gift they’ll ever know. 

WILL YOU RISE UP?

Will you rise up in your place, wherever you are right now? Will you be the change in the world by allowing the power of God to permeate the world through you?

Will you rise up?

No matter the cost. Putting aside your view of yourself and believing that God has made you for such a time as this.

Will you rise up? 

And trust that God’s perfect plan for this universe actually wrote you in the story because he longs to know you and love you and love others through you.

Will you rise up?

By waking up. And abandon your safe, numb-faith for one that actually looks like Jesus. 

Will you rise up?

By grabbing hold of the fire of God within you and allowing it to change the world.

Rise. Up. Church. For God's glory is at stake. 

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If you answered yes but don’t know what to do next...

First, you must believe that Jesus died for you to cleanse you of your sins. (Read Romans 3:23) He then rose again to conquer death so that you can live eternally with him. (Read Romans 6:23) Repent by asking him to forgive you. Then believe that his love for you is everlasting and never changing. Ask him to be Lord of your life. (Read Romans 10:9) Now trust that you are a new creation in him! (Read 2 Corinthians 5:17) Commit to following him and having relationship with him and believe that your loving God wants nothing less and nothing more than to be with you. (Read Romans 8:38-39)

If you answered yes and have already committed your life Jesus....

Fall on your knees and honestly repent of all your sin because that is what separates us from God. With your Bible open, and a heart ready to live more boldly for Jesus, ask God to show you what he desires from you. Then believe that he made you for more than mediocre christian living. He will speak to your heart because he made you for this.