Colossians 2:8-3:2

Ephesians 4:11-16

Colossians 2:8 – “A See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”  NASB

In Matthew 24:14 Jesus said, “This gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come.”  The Gospel of the Kingdom embodies the Life and Presence of God and confronts every root problem in our world.  What is Life?  It is not preaching hellfire & brimstone.  It is not preaching and focusing on touch not, taste not, or even do not.  It is not a list of rules and regulations.  It Is the Life of God!  It is the Kingdom of God!  I’m not talking about Heaven Someday Someway I am talking about LIFE NOW!

In a very reals sense, God has called us to Build Arks.  If you recall Noah’s generation was a violent, do your own thing world.  It was a crime and immorality-filled society.  The Spirit of Violence and a Partying Self-Gratifying Spirit go hand-in-hand. It is a lack of Spiritual Awareness.  The Ark of Noah was a Place of Safety.  It was a Warning to future generations who might be tempted to drift into the state of violence and perversion again.  It was a covering and refuge for God’s People.

Today, it is time for the Church (Body of Christ) to go into action!  It is time for the Church to Build and Be places of refuge and restoration in the midst of chaos.  It is a call to Radical Christianity and Lifestyle Evangelism.  

The Early Church did not march, demonstrate, picket, protest, or boycott. They went out and presented Jesus and preached the Kingdom.  In so doing saw miracles, people were set free from bondage, addictions, dependency, idolatry, perversion, etc.  They turned their world upside down and were declared enemies by traditional religion!  Theirs was a Radical Christianity which was really Normal Christianity by Biblical standards.  It was Innovative!  It was being interested in people and willing to Risk!  Beloved we have a Destiny but are in danger of becoming a footnote in Church history if we continue pursuing and being satisfied with Religious Fixes!

It is time to move beyond seeing and talking about the Vision to doing the Vision!  It is time for Action by the Unction of the Spirit of God and that will be called Radical but is really Normal in God’s eyes.  Our world is a world in chaos filled with betrayal, abuse, addiction, and inadequacies. We have churches full of people who are ensnared, filled with rejection, wounded, and full of despair!  Is there an Answer? YES!  But if we turn the problem over to the world to solve it will only get worse, not better!

We must see what God desires for us individually and collectively in our localities.  We must defeat Fear with Faith and reject the fear of failure, resolve the fear of rejection and failure, dismiss the fear of personal loss and cost.  It is time that we allow the Holy Spirit to so infuse us with the Power of God spiritually in our lives that we develop unstoppable and inexhaustible spiritual stamina.  It is time to move from the outer court and holy place into the holy of holies.

Sadly, we have a Consumer Society and have been condition to shop around to find the best Bargain, best Product, best Personal Preference.  We have been condition to instant everything and personal gratification.  We must become genuinely open to the directive of the Holy Spirit.  We must learn to deal biblically with practical living.  We must commit ourselves to work on relationships.  We must remove and reject flattering titles.  We must become willing and able to share our faith with others not just preach to them.  We must become worshippers of God and become people of action not just ascribing to philosophical ideals.

God has called us to be The Church and in being The Church we present, represent and manifest the Life of and the Living Christ to the World.  No more Religious Fixes but press into Normal Christianity which the World and Religious World will call Radical! 

God be with you as you go through your day!