Week 5 - Jesus The Revolutioinary

When Jesus was born, the life of a revolutionary began. The amazing thing is that His brith was not part of Mary and Joseph's plan. It did not at all fit into their idea of a perfect engagement and marriage. This lesson will show those in your family that sometimes God will interruupt our plans with His plans.

Read Luke 2:6-7. 21-23. 25-27, 33-35

The entire wold needed Jesus, but no one in the world made room for Him when He was born. The sad reality is that revolution comes, not when it is wanted the most, but often times when it is wanted the least and needed the most. The reason is that revoultuion not olnly threatens those it will conquer, but also those it helps. IF you are going to be a part of a revolution, it is going to cost you something. For this reason, many people that need revolution do not fight for it, because they are comfortable in their captivity.

There are three C's found in the second chapter of Luke that will help you overcome your captivity and fight for revolution. The first is found in Luke 2:21-23, and it is CONSECRATION. Compromise is the carbon monoxide of the Spirit. You may not always be able to sense it when it is there, but it will kill you if you are not careful. The way you fight compromise is by dedicating everything you are and do to the Lord. The second "C" is found in Luke 2:25-27. Here we see a man of God who was COMMITTED to the Holy Spirit. Revolution will not be complete until someone says, "I am absolutely committed to seeing this happen in my lifetime." It is time to stop planting seed, and start reaping a harvest. The final "C" we find is the CROSS. The Cross is the place where everything that is "you" dies, and everything that is revolutionary is born. You cannot conquer the world until you first conquer yourself.

Week 4 - The Enemies of a Revolution

We have been studying the blueprint of revolution that God left us through the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. This lesson deals with those things that keep youth from living a revolutionary Christian lifestyle.

Read Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. It has been said that if you know neither yourself or your enemy, you have no chance of victory. If you know yourself but not your enemy, you will win half your battles, but if you know yourself and your enemy victory is certain. As we unleash this all out attack and declare revolution over our world, it is important for us to know what we are up against. There are two types of enemies you will fight as you live revolutionary. The first are those on the battlefield of the world, and the second are the spies who have crept into to the church.

The biggest enemy you will face outside of the church is discouragement. The most dangerous thing for the enemy would be for the church to grasp a revelation of its identity. It is time for us to stop going to church and to start being the church. The most decisive moment in our battle as a revolutionary will most likely be a secret one. It will be the enemy discouraging you to fight before you even begin.

The two biggest spies in the church are religion and compromise. Both use the law of God incorrectly. One uses it to justify their pride and the other uses it to justify thir sin. Neither understands God's grace. Religious people do not want revolution because it threatens their position, while those in compromise don't want revolution because it threatens their comfort.

Are there any of these enemies present in your life or church and how can you overcome them?

Week 3 - How to Start a Revolution

A revolution is not about a man; it is about a people. Jesus empowered His disciples with the gift of the Holy Spirit so they could be reovolutionaries. He knew without the Holy Spirit they would not have the power to evangelize, or the strength to endure persecution. In Acts, we find three elements of a revolutionary church.

When was the last time you shared your faith with someone? What happened?

Read Acts 2:1-4 ... Why does the church need the Holy Spirit? Why do you need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? When was the last time you were persecuted for the Gospel?

Read Act 1:8; 8:1-2 ... The revolution of the Church of Jesus Christ is a revolution that activates the children of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This activation will enable them to persevere during times of persecution and empower them to triumph in evangelism.

Paul said he wished that everyone had the gift of speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:5). He realized how important the gifts of the Spirit were to a revolutionary church. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Counselor, and Consciousness of holiness (Acts 9:31; John 14:26; Eom. 2:15). Another aspect of the blueprint of a Revolutionary Church that can be found in the book of Acts is evangelism. Just as in the times of Moses and Egypt, it is time for the church of God to stand up to the enemy and declare, "Let my people GO!"

The early church was not afraid to rise up in the midst of persecution. Through stoning and suffering the church continued to spread instead of shrink. In fact,we are told in Romans to rejoice in our sufferings because of the fruit it will produce in our lives (Rom. 5:3,4).