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vwcamperThere is a revolution going on right now. Multitudes of people all over the world are becoming more committed to being the Church than they are to merely going to church. Most come from the ranks of common men and women who have discovered their purpose and the possibility of being used by God to influence people for His Kingdom.

These are radical believers who have a passion for God’s Word and for the continual presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They want to reflect the life and love of Jesus. They are sold out and have made their relationship with Jesus the main factor of every aspect of their lives. These are the “Jesus people” of today.

My own experience with Jesus came when I was a young man in 1971. It was in the midst of a move of God that came to be referred to as the Jesus Revolution. Throughout the country and in nations around the world, there was a resurgence of radical Christianity. By “radical,” I mean that those of us called “Jesus People” didn’t merely receive a renewed interest in going to church—we experienced a drastic change in the core of our being. Jesus was at the center of everything, and we were not ashamed to let anyone and everyone know!

A very similar move of God is beginning to sweep throughout the earth today. God is taking ordinary people and doing extraordinary things—oftentimes in very unusual or difficult places.

Recently, Vikki read a report of the underground church in Iran having an explosion of growth that the Christian leaders describe as “revolutionary” and an “awakening.” These are words that I believe best express the heart of God for the days in which we live. Although history is full of examples of revival in specific and individual places that are important to remember, this is the time for a global move of God—one without borders or limits.

THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE CHURCH

But in order for us to prepared to take our place in this global move, we need to have a clear grasp of what it really means to be the Church. We also need to know the real assignment of the Church.

The very first time the word “church” was used came at a moment when Jesus revealed the power He intended for His Church to wield. Notice what He said to Peter in Matthew 16:18: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

The Church is made up of people set apart and chosen. Every person has made the choice to become joined to His church. To understand what it is to be “chosen” let me take a paragraph from the devotional entitled Sparkling Gems From the Greek, written by a great friend named Rick Renner.

In classical Greek writings, this word eklego referred to a person or a group of people who were selected for a specific purpose. For example, the word eklego was used for the selection of men for military service. It was also used to denote soldiers who were chosen out of the entire military to go on a special mission or to do a special task.

Jesus used a word that was not religious to define and describe the people He was calling to action. He didn’t say He would build His synagogue. Rather, He was saying in effect that He would build a selected group of people for service and for special missions and tasks.

He is building each of us to be members of His special missions or special ops force. We can know that Hell itself will not prevail against us!

The real Church is an occupying force made up of separated people. Believers who recognize their mission know that they are to reflect Jesus’ ways, be His voice, exercise His authority, and live as beacons of His light.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Pet. 2:9)

These are such powerful words that add so much definition to what it means to be the Church! They provide divine insights into God’s view of every believer.

  • “Chosen generation”: We are part of a generation—“the Jesus generation.” This is the generation that has the revelation of the Christ—that every child of God carries the anointing of Jesus.
  • “Royal priesthood”: We are a kingdom of priests, each having access into the Heavenly Holy of Holies. • “Holy nation”: We are a new race of people, no longer defined only by our national origin or the color of our skin. We are a new nation and we belong entirely to our King—Jesus.
  • “Special people”: We belong to Him, and He claims us as His family.
  • “Called out of darkness and into light”: We are delivered from everything the kingdom of darkness has created. We are in the light of Jesus’ Kingdom.

When Jesus told His disciples that He would build His Church, He said it would be built on the revelation that He is the Christ, the One anointed. Today we know that His anointing comes unto everyone who has called on the name of Jesus to be saved. Collectively we are the Body of His anointing—the Body of Christ.

Jesus’ authority is now ours in Him. His power now resides in us. His love is now poured into us. And nothing can prevail against us when we are living in His authority, power, and love. He said it clearly: “…The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it [the Church].”

YOUR ROLE AND YOUR POWER

This is the power you possess—the power to be an influencer and to refuse to allow the influence of hell to overcome you.

The gates of the cities were the entrance points where a great many things that would influence the city were either allowed in or resisted. Whether we’re talking about the gates of a city, a society, or a person—gates represent places of access to influence.

So when Jesus went on to describe the authority being given to the Church, He was letting us know that we play a vital role in this spiritual revolution.

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matt. 16:19)

God has always taken ordinary people and done amazing things. This is why the Body of Christ exists today. We are His voice and His hands to many people. God touches people when we touch them. He expresses His love to people as you love them. He sends provision to ministries and He meets needs as you give.

Every one of us has been given the Word of God for instruction and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to empower us to do the works of Jesus. The great secret of the Gospel is that Christ is in you in order to operate through you to produce miracles that destroy the works of the enemy and help bring many into the Kingdom of God.

Notice what Colossians 1:26- 27 says in the Emphasized Bible by Rotherham:

The sacred secret which had been hidden away from the ages and from the generations, but now hath been made manifest unto his saints, unto whom God hath been pleased to make known what is the glorious wealth of this sacred secret among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory.

Revolutionary believers have grasped the secret of continually drawing on the anointing of the Holy Spirit indwelling them. As a result, the glory of God is revealed in their daily lives. Revolutionary believers have set aside many things that would interrupt or hinder their quest for God. They know that not all who call themselves Christians are truly pursuing the things of God.

So find the friends and mentors who have made the wisdom of God their own pursuit. Look for the people who are growing in God’s love, and they will inspire you to do the same.

The revolution is on! Are you brave enough to join?



Copyright © Dennis Burke Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Dennis Burke, Ph.D.
Web site: Dennis Burke Ministries
 
Since 1979, Dennis Burke has led multitudes of believers into the biblical principles of faith, healing, love, prosperity, and righteousness. Through the Insights: the Way to a New Life magazine, books, eBooks, CDs, and mp3 resources, Dennis has brought revelation knowledge on the truths of God's Word. He has taught Christians everywhere to know God more deeply and overcome the challenges life brings through faith in God's Word.
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