Radical Discipleship

Thursday nights are called “The Legends of Yesteryear”. We listen to a message delivered by a hero of the faith. This week was a message by Alan Redpath entitled “Radical Discipleship”. He spoke about the story of Jonah. God commanded Jonah to arise and go to Nineveh and cry against it. There were 3 things Jonah had to learn: Jonah had to turn away from his popularity and success and tread the path of surrender, share compassion with the Lord of those who are his enemies, and learn to take side with God against sin. The Lord was giving Him radical discipleship. We need to be all in with God. We need a 100% declaration of war (if we have only 99%, Satan knows where the 1% is and can use that against us). We need to die to self, align with God against sin, and then popularity and success won’t matter, the only thing that will matter is God’s will. Crucifixion is the only place of Holy Spirit anointing. We must be willing to go to the cross; DIE to all your rights except the right to do the will of God.

            It hit me last night that you can’t stay where you are when the Lord commands you to do something. Jonah couldn’t stay where he was, he ran away (in vain). He learned the hard way for not following in quick obedience. I have 2 choices. Either I can run from what the Lord is calling me to do, or I can go forth and do it in obedience knowing that when I am in Christ, I am seated in heavenly places with all things under my feet. Great has been my stubbornness but greater still His faithfulness. There are times when I want to run away from my calling. Sometimes I become overwhelmed, feel unqualified, and give in to fear. Today I renounced the spirit of fear that’s been upon me in front of the entire Ellerslie body. I declared my victory in Christ and that Satan has no power over me. I am in Christ, and though I may be weak, in Him I have strength. It’s not by my might or power, but by His Spirit in me. I can do whatever He calls me to do because His presence goes with me and He will tax the remotest star and last grain of sand to assist me with all His almighty power. There is POWER in the name of JESUS to break EVERY chain and set the captive FREE.