Revolutionaries Part 1
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Maybe you've noticed that we're called Revolution Church. What does it mean to be revolutionary? What does it mean to be a revolutionary? Does your life fit the definition? Wait, why is this even called Revolution Church in the first place?
We'll start in Isaiah 9:6-7 (click to read).
The purpose of Christ's death was not merely so that we could have an emblem to wear on our necklaces, nor to merely forgive our sins, though it is a part of it. The main purpose was to reconcile us to God; for us to become part of God's country. The second purpose was to overthrow the world's government. Whoa! Overthrow what, now? We'll get to that.
The disciples took this literally, and they thought that Jesus was gonna overthrow the Roman government and return Israel to the glory days of King Solomon. But they were mistaken. Christ didn't come to overthrow a natural government, but a spiritual government which was put in place when Adam & Eve sinned. Sin, death and darkness reigned in the earth from the time of Adam & Eve until Christ – in people and even in nature. Christ came to overthrow that government of sin and death.
“Of the increase of his government there will be no end,” means that even today His government is going forward, increasing. We as Christians are freedom fighters in this revolution. We are spiritual freedom fighters, warriors and revolutionaries.
That is where our name comes from. We are rebelling against an oppressive government of sin and darkness.
The question to ask yourself is, "Am I carrying on that freedom fight or am I distracted from it?"
Here is a financial illustration of this week's subject. Even if you work at minimum wage your whole life, and put away just 10% of your pay each week, you will have $1.3 million at the end of your working life. Plenty for a comfortable retirement! Sounds great, right?
Everyone wants the $1.3 million, no one wants to wait for it, to put away for it consistently each week, to not spend the money on guitars or other "toys". Money is much more powerful at your age than at Pastor Dan's age. Why? Because you have so much more time for your money to earn interest before you retire. When you invest for your retirement, it takes vision. Vision to put that 10% in each week, to see that your goal is more important than a TV, a guitar, a car, whatever you are tempted to buy. And vision is what we are talking about tonight.
We all have one life to spend. We can easily get distracted in our lives today by what we can spend our lives on now. Are we investing our lives in the moment, in making ourselves feel good right now? Or are we investing in the future with our lives? What's your vision for your life? Take a look at Luke 10:38-41, which is the familiar story of Mary and Martha's response to Jesus. We can easily be like Martha - worried and upset, distracted about many things and miss the one thing that is needed. Jesus Christ was in the room! Wasn't hearing what He had to say more important that if the potatoes were overdone?
Never having vision or a focus keeps you from accomplishing anything in life! Sometimes you have to let go of some things to focus on the one thing. The truth is you can't have everything, do everything and accomplish everything.
Matthew 10:37-39 says, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Sounds pretty harsh, right? It's saying that you cannot be focused on everything, you have to let go of some things in order to focus on the one thing.
Nido Qubein said, “Nothing can add more power to your life than focusing your energies on a limited set of targets.”
You have one life to spend. Spend it with vision.
Check out 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. The one thing that is worth anything is Christ and His cross When you live for Christ, when you make Him your one thing there is a promise you can stand on:
Matthew 6:32-33 says, For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When you make the cause of Christ your one thing, God adds all these things to you as well!
Nothing gives your life power like focus, nothing gives your life weight like vision!
Instead of investing your life in video games, TV, Facebook and other things that have no lasting value, spend your life with vision. Focus on the one thing and God will take care of the rest. You have one life to spend. Spend it with vision.
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