But as I listened and worshipped to Hillsong’s “Revolution”, I was convicted. It goes..

one generation, living salvation,

here we go!

seeing revival, we will defy all that holds up back from you!

As I sang the last line, I questioned whether or not I was seriously defying everything that was holding me back from Jesus. I realized that I have no problems defying things such as the speed limit. So why, if I have truly seen and tasted revival, am I not defying the things that are holding me back from the one who made the universe, yet has time to be so in love with me?

Think about this… There are things in our life that we are holding on to, afraid to give up because we know we are weak and they give us a false sense of strength. 

But I want to encourage you to let go of those things. Defy them in the name of Jesus. Today, let’s cast everything aside that is holding us back and give God all of us. Experience his fullness.

Allow me to put Matthew 25:31-46 in my own words…

“Jesus our King, on the day of his glory, will divide up all people, placing his sheep to the right and the goats to the left. Turning to his sheep, he will say: come live in heaven with me! For I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited me in. I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. I was sick. And you took care of me. I was in prison. And you came to visit me. But those sheep will tell Jesus that they never saw him hungry or in prison. And the King will say indeed, you did because what you did for the least of these, you did it for me!

Then he will turn to the goats, and tell them to leave his presence. He will say:  I was hungry. But you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty. But you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger. But you did not invite me in. I needed clothes. But you did not give me any. I was sick and in prison. But you did not take care of me. Then the goats will ask Jesus when they ever saw him hungry or in prison. And then the King will reply, whatever you didn’t do for one of the least of these, you didn’t do for me.”

Seriously, does it get anymore black and white than that??

I believe that we do ourselves more harm than others do. Does that make sense? When it comes to oppression or discouragement, I believe that most of it is internal and self-inflicted. So many times we underestimate ourselves and the immense power we are given to change this world. When we look at our lost and dying world, its so overwhelming. And naturally, as Christians, God calls us to chase out the evil and heal the hurt (in his name). But when we are met with that nudging, we often place inhibitors on ourselves with thoughts like “God can’t possibly want me to do do that, I’m too young” or “I’ve screwed up so many times, its not worth it.” Ahh.. We know the the world is dying, but we are too afraid to fight. But I want to encourage you otherwise!!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these he will do, because I am going to the Father.“   John 14:12

This is so incredible! I am so confident in these words that I would be willing to put my life on the line. Of course I am going to take everything in the Bible as truth, but Jesus backs this up twice.. “Truly, truly..” How can we be afraid or discouraged? We can and will receive the power of Jesus Christ as we fight in his name… The power that holds victory over death!! What more do we need? So today, stand up and rebuke the lies that you are not good enough and that you cannot change the world. Don’t be too afraid to fight.

Ahh this song speaks such an incredible, unsettling truth to me about “Christians”. If we really claim that we are lovers of Christ, we need to humbly live with greater expectations for ourselves and change the way we love.

Just in case these in fact are the last words I will ever write, I want to choose them and set them apart. Sure, last words are eventually forgotten. But these words are the song of my heart and its by these words I wish to be remembered.

But maybe these aren’t my last words. Maybe they’re yours. You may never read anything ever again. So sing it with me…

Life is not right until You split the sky.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”
We long for the day
when You make all things new.
We want to be with You…

Did you know that in America alone 2,540,644 people die every year? So who are we to think that we won’t be one of them? Who are we to think our unsaved neighbor isn’t going to be one of them?

This reality must render a response. The Spirit that conquered death is the same Spirit that lives in us. So what are we afraid of? Time is slipping away and we’ve got nothing to lose.

God, break our hearts for what breaks yours.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
       but the tongue of the wise brings healing.  Proverbs 12:18

Are they going to hurt or heal? There really is no gray area.. You either speak life or death. There’s not an in-between. It just kills me when I see people throw words around like they don’t mean a thing. They don’t even care. It kills me when I do it. You can’t take things back once you say them.

Our words carry so much power.. You have the power to heal or hurt. Encourage or depress. Strengthen or break down. Honor or disrespect… SPEAK RESPONSIBLY…

So much power and authority packed into one man. Convicted by the truth of the Spirit, he fearlessly sought justice. He moves me. So much progress in the integration of our society can be attributed to his obedience and audacity. Whatever I do in my life, I want to leave that impact. He died for his cause. I’m determined to be that passionate.

But more than the impact he made regarding racism, he was devoted to fighting injustice. In my opinion, that is one of the most admirable marks a man can have. We should all be like that. MLK once said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

Pow! Does that hit you like it does me? Join with me. Devote yourself to seeking justice. Protest–through prayer. Its powerful, and I stand confident that God will move against injustice through our prayers. Pray for the women in India being forced into prostitution. The Asians caught up in the caste system. The slaves toiling off the coast in Africa. Russians silenced by corruption. The victims in Darfur. Oppression caused by gangs. Children of addicts. SEEK JUSTICE. You’re finished reading this, obviously you have time on your hands. Say a prayer.

Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute! Proverbs 31:9

Wow. Not much commentary needed for this. Think about it…

This list could go on forever, filled with all of the things that make me get down on my knees, leaving me without words. They speak of God’s splendor. My King is full of majesty and it is everywhere. It is powerful, without limitations. It conquered death and set me free. 

   To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might,
      the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor;
   Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth;
      the kingdom all yours! You’ve raised yourself high over all. 2 Chronicles 29:11

Soak this in. God is glorious and his splendor is limitless, so worship him for it!!