Acts 3:6 (ESV) But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
This last weekend we got to see our parents for a couple of days at a parent vision trip and my dad shared with me a story. You may know the story of Apple genius Steve Jobs when he was trying to recruit John Sculley III to be his new CEO. At the time, Sculley was the president of PepsiCo and in what is now one of the most memorable business quotes of our time, Job's pitch to Sculley was, "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want to come with me and change the world?" After thinking about Jobs' profound statement, Sculley accepted the job at Apple.
The next night I was woken up in the middle of the night with this on my mind repeating over and over. Only this time Jesus was asking me, "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water aka "doing church" or do you want to Follow Me and change the world?"
At first the question caught me off guard and my mind was blown, but after more consideration I saw just how real the question was. I have less than 3 months left on this journey and it would be really easy for me to go home and pat myself on the back for a year well done and settle for what I have already gained instead of going deeper in my relationship with The Lord.
Like Sculley I have a choice. Do I play it safe and not really make a difference for The Kingdom or do I risk it all to change the world? I pondered this question in my head for sometime until I became so annoyed with the thought of just "doing church" the rest of my life that a fire was lit in my heart. I became so impatient and irritated with even entertaining this thought that I cried out, "Far be it from me to be the guy that doesn't strive to live out the fullness of God's glory."
The culture that Jesus promoted is slowly being replaced by secular humanism and there needs to be a shift. Only The Kingdom of God can produce real breakthrough. Jesus told us that The Kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:21); the people who truly understand this are the ones who can really change the world. This heartfelt revelation births true atmosphere shifters and the Apostle Peter truly understood this. He knew what he had to offer and it wasn't himself, it was The Kingdom (Acts 3:6). Like Jesus, we to can expose and undo the works of the evil one if we walk in our true identity. To live is Christ to die is gain. To walk in the spirit opposed to the flesh.
We live in a spiritually charged world where darkness tries to reign and set up dominion and the only way these strongholds can truly come down is Jesus.
My prayer is that God will use my life to plunder and destroy the powers of darkness and establish the rule of Jesus wherever I go by preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. That I will not settle for "doing church".
We need more people that prioritize a true, abiding relationship with God as the highest priority. Only then will it be on earth as it is in heaven.
Pray this happens!
-Robert
E.M. Bounds: "The church is looking for better methods, God is looking for better men."
