There truly is an awakening taking place! God’s Kingdom is advancing!
Russell Brand is talking about how his mind is exploding as he studies the Bible. Tucker Carlson talking about surrendering to Christ and being baptized. Joe Rogan and former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines have a lengthy discussion about Jesus, the demonic realm, Biblical prophecy and the role transgenderism plays in the moral decline of society. More people in Iran have come to Christ in the past decade than the previous one thousand years.
As we focus on KINGDOM ADVANCE, we must realize that greater treasure comes from deeper places. Deeper places come with a greater price.
You are uniquely gifted by God. But those gifts are like depth charges. As you go deep, they are activated.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ESV
Jesus modeled what it means to do what we see The Father doing! This references us as God’s “Beloved. This could easily be explained by breaking it into two words, “Be loved”. You are loved by God and that changes everything about who you are and how you function in this life!
Friendship with God where we learn his love. Friendship with others where we share his love. If you don’t know God’s love, you’ll keep looking for love in all the wrong places!
Ephesians 5:3-5 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ESV
Your inheritance in God’s Kingdom is at stake! This is about guarding your heart, renewing your mind and avoiding (2 Corinthians 7:1) everything that contaminates body and spirit, [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God's purpose]. Inappropriate language, off color jokes and any entertainment of any kind that could possibly grieve the Holy Spirit should not be something we fill our minds with!
In a time of KINGDOM ADVANCE, it is vital that we refuse to compromise settling for less!
There is a price to pay! If you want a nice house but don't want to pay the price you can settle for a smaller house. If you want a nice car but you don’t want to pay the price you can settle for a smaller car. If you want to find your way into deeper places with God but you don’t want to pay the price you can settle for less.
KINGDOM ADVANCE is about awakening people who are living shipwrecked lives with disoriented conclusions.
Ephesians 5:6-16 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ESV
FOCUS! Make the best use of your time. You have been entrusted with resources of time and money. Their value is in that order.
Consecration requires concentration so focus!
If you live your life unfocused, undisciplined and unmotivated you will not use your time wisely. We're not always going to be here. Just like you spend money, you are spending your life. Don’t waste your life. Invest it!
God has entrusted you with his life. He breathed His breath into you. He's put gifts and talents inside you. You’re not an accident and you’re not an experiment. You are a purposed assignment from God. You are a person of destiny.
Ephesians 5:17-21 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. ESV
It is so interesting to think about addressing one another in songs, singing to Lord. You cannot do this alone, and this is an endorsement to congregational worship.
Music and song has always been an integral part of worship. Deeper realities require more than mere talk. Those things which we think about and can feel deeply make room for poetry and music to express them in a way that is not only intellectual but also emotional. This is why we must learn to give our attention and our affection to the Lord. Music causes us to take these deep realities and begin to feel them in the way God designed us to feel them.
GP2RL: Read the book of Ephesians this week and ask the Holy Spirit to help you learn to live a consecrated life.