We must live radical faith!! Matt 16:24 If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for me will find

This is a call to radical faith, faith without bounds or reservation or fear. Where do we find this faith today? Not in most western countries we could say, not in the USA for the most part. But the most important place to ask about is our own heart. Do you have radical faith? Is you Love for Jesus the greatest force in your life? These are very important questions that need to be addressed now for we are out of time, the days we live in will require radical faith.

Jesus said to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him. Is this reflected in the life we live? Do I live a life of self denial or of self service? Lets look at some simple areas of everyday life and see if we can answer this question.

First of all do I spend more time on Jesus or me? When looking at my life I find that it's easier to devote time to me than it is to devote time to the Lord. The cares of this world seem to always be knocking on the hearts door and it takes radical faith to put them off. If I look at the cares of the natural man it takes my eyes off Jesus. Let me give you an example. I have 3 kids with another on the way and it is my responsibility to take care of my family. I have the same concerns that face everyone: food, clothing, shelter. If I live by faith I trust the Lord will take care of my needs because He promised this in His Word. But if I don't, I take on the cares of this world and I find that the things I am really worrying about are not really needs but wants. It is the wants that take our focus off the cross.

Radical Faith calls us to live with reckless abandon for Christ. What keeps you from living in this manner? Most of the time its fear of letting go and letting God. Radical Faith puts self in harms way, self's wants and desires are put in danger. The death to self is a must to take up the cross, but death to self brings anointing from the Lord. When people come to the street with us, many are amazed at the miracles that God works there and they want to know how they can see this in their life. The answer is simple: Radical Faith!

How far are we away from this in the Body when the majority doesn't even share their faith by words much less by action? Most are ashamed of the Gospel and try to live in stealth fitting in and not rocking the boat. Sadly, this is accepted in the modern church and is the norm. Even though there is a church on every corner, there is little evidence of true faith to be found. Our nation is crumbling around us and our greatest concern is how we will entertain our self. I wonder if the average christian spends more on renting movies than feeding the poor, more on comfort items than taking care of the widow and orphan, more on designer clothes than clothing the naked? I know that this angers some but I feel that it must be said. We must stop being at ease in Zion!! What if we really lived radical faith? Could we bring the multitudes into the Kingdom? Yes we can. The reason we see so many saved is because we are out there preaching the Gospel, meeting people where they are, not waiting for them to stumble into a building.

If your church were to close its doors, how long would it take the city to know it wasn't there any more? Would they miss you? Sadly for the most part they wouldn't. This is not the Faith that turned the whole world upside down. It is a watered down modern religion with no power. We must return to Radical Faith that has no fear and no boundaries. If you are satisfied with having no power, Radical Faith is not for you. But if you hunger for more of God and are willing to deny yourself and pick up your cross the Lord will meet you there. Many think I am too extreme, but how extreme was our Lord? He came to earth for us with a crazy radical Love willing to give all just for us. Jesus could have had all the world had to offer but chose to live a life of simple faith and love. Everyday He was busy about His Fathers business and so should you and I be.

I beg you brothers and sisters lets get real and get Radical and watch God send the greatest revival of all time to this earth. We are seeing a sprinkle of revival now in the street with many miracles, signs and wonders, but we need a flood of the Holy Spirit. Please ask the Lord what He would have you do.

DEAD MEN HAVE NO RIGHTS!!

Col 2: 20 If you died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world?

This is a question that holds great meaning to the Body of Christ. It also makes us take a hard look at our walk with Christ. If we are dead why are we still trying to live life as normal? Col 3:3 says for you have died and your life is hidden in Christ with God. Do you realize the power that unleashes in your life? If you are dead you have no rights, you can't offend a dead man, you can't kill a dead man he's already dead. The next time your offended just remember your dead to the elemental forces of this world so don't live as you belong to them!

The problem with the Church today is we haven't recognized that we are dead and we hold onto this world with all of our strength. Worse than that we feel we are entitled to most the world has to offer and if we don't get what we think we deserve then we are offended. Sometimes we are offended by those we think are keeping us down but sadly many become offended at God. Have you ever felt that you deserve better than you have? If your truthful you've felt that way at one time or other in your life, I know I have. Until God taught me that I have no rights in this world. Phi 4:11-13 Paul makes the statement that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in whether well fed or hungry. This comes from being dead to the this world. In verse 13 he makes the point he can do all things through Him that strengthens me! In Christ, although we give up our life, we receive His.

Once dead to this world the sense of entitlement should pass away with the old man and the reality of inheritance takes hold. Inheritance from the Lord is far greater than the entitlement from man, is it not? One of the saddest things our culture has done is increase the sense of entitlement. From this we have convinced people to put their trust in the government instead of God. Just look at the failed welfare system that holds millions of people in a self created prison. We have several generations of people that have never lived a day out of this and don't know any other way to live. Is it any different than the bondage of Egypt that the Hebrews were under? When God took them out, at the first sign of trouble they wanted to go back.

Its easy to look at extremes but what about in our daily life, do we feel entitled? What about the pursuit of happiness? We must be entitled to that. Happiness depends on people, places and things. Joy is from the Lord and so is peace. Money or position cannot buy them nor can man rob you of them. It is easy to praise God when everything is going great, when your storeroom is full. But what about when its empty, how easy is it then? Many at that point become offended instead of looking at it as a chance to walk in faith and let God prove His power. Remember dead men have no rights! But those who are dead and have their life hidden in Christ Col :3 3-4 it is a chance for His glory to be revealed.

Over the next few weeks I will be going into this a little deeper as I believe that the understanding of this will help us thru this time of shaking. One thing I ask you to do is pray for the revealing of the present reality of Christ in our everyday life. For many, Christ is a theory not a present reality and there is no peace or power in theory but when you move from theory into reality, the power of God is unleashed in your life. We must live this to shine the Light into a world that is lost. Lets move from entitlement to inheritance and watch God work.