Getting Ready for the Big Boots
Chapter Three begins to dive into the nitty gritty of the Mega Shift. Exactly how do we make the transition into empowered, everybody-ministry?
In response to this question, the author lists seven key elements that every believer should have in their lives:
(1) A new identity
(2) A new kind of empowerment
(3) A broader sense of responsibility
(4) A new freedom
(5) A new understanding of the gospel
(6) A far higher level of support
(7) A new maturity
The one that most stood out to me was #3, or as he put it, the "ownership mentality" or "responsible stewardship." The essential point here is that you don't immediately start off by raising 16 people from the dead all at once. You start with smaller faith goals that will stretch you where you are at and build your faith muscles.
That got me thinking, what are some steps we could take at Purdue? I mean, I'm sure there are things that will stretch us individually, and those will most likely be different for each of us. But what are some things that we can do together that will grow us and give God the opportunity to display his power on campus? This book talks a lot about how we we won't grow on our own, that we need others for that process. What is something we can do this fall that would be a step into the supernatural?
5 comments:
Btw, the video Kevin posted really is cool! My favorite part is when he goes back to his village in part 3 - those people are so beautiful! And Kevin's comment is my response as well - there is so much more to this Christian life than we've experienced so far!
That's kind of been my response overall, and even to the ownership mentality in Chapt. 3 that Josh mentioned. There's only so much we can experience of God when we're "pew potatoes." We must ask God for more and take on responsibility for the advancement of the Kingdom ourselves.
Our biggest mistake in reading this book would be to go, "wow, there are some pretty awesome Christians out there!" and leave it at that. We must realize that God wants US to have a greater impact through miracles and the bold proclamation of the good news.
As for how we go about growing in this, the only thing I can think so far is just to persistently ask God for change in us as a group and go out and give it a try! Maybe we should ask God for some specific instructions...
Ok, so I'm still stuck on comments from chapter 2, and I think something we could do is get more serious about spiritual mapping and prayer walking to tear down strongholds on campus as a forerunner to the miraculous (see chpt. 2 comment). Anybody game?
Looking at it more and more I think the ownership mentality is a very powerful thing to have. If you have the "For me and my house, we will serve the Lord" mentality, that will spur you on act, and move in the power of God.
I think we also need to be smart concerning how we go about this. It's important to realize as we go about trying to save those around us that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and the rulers of darkness(Eph 6:12) and that our weapons are for the breaking down of strongholds/arguments(2 Cor 10:4,5)
What I'm trying to say is, they best way to save people on campus may not have to be some huge event, but a series of small ones. Conversations that break down their arguments and open them up to the truth of God. Also, realize that our warfare isn't necessarily against them, but the mindset/argument that drives them.
That's why the ownership mentality is so important, because inevitably conversations concerning spiritual things are going to come up, and we have authority over everything that could be thrown against us. We just need to declare it.
For the record I didn't pick up this mentality until last Wednesday when I realized that I was the only person in my department who was seeking Jesus and that all the unrighteousness at the job was starting to have an effect on me. So I'm figuring this out as I write it.
Oh yeah, I'm game for spiritual mapping and prayer walking.
Oh yeah, did anyone else who watched that video Kevin posted take a step back when the raised dude mentioned that God said "The mansion is finished but the saints are not ready."?
I'm a huge slacker and haven't finished chapter 3 yet - there is SO much in all these chapters, it's hard for me to fly through them. So stay tuned for my comment, but I did want to say I'm game for prayer walking and spiritual mapping!!!
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