Page 8 - Good News June 2013 paper

Continued from p. 6 Not being a seasoned sailor, I would often feel
Continued from p. 6
will of God, we will be intercessors, because as the movement of the seas and didn't even know
Jesus ‘ever lives to intercede’ for His people, how to swim. And here we were, all sailing by
we will do the same, if we are abiding in Him” faith towards South America in an immense
(Rick Joyner). ocean and with an unknown future. I was
feeling deeply the cost of commitment and
REVIVAL AND RADICAL OBEDIENCE obedience to God. It was a big step for me
Look at Joshua and how he obeyed God. during those days, but I knew that God was
From the standpoint of the human mind, inviting me to live a life of radical obedience.
walking seven times around Jericho did not Since that time years ago, God has challenged
appear to be a wise thing to do for spiritual me again and again with the same level of
success. Imagine the pressure and tension he obedience:
was facing before that battle. Joshua obeyed ¦ Am I willing to give up everything for the
God and was victorious. It was exactly what cause of Christ?
God wanted. He loves obedience even when it ¦ Will I let God have His way with me each
doesn't make sense. and every day?
We must learn to say “yes” to the purposes ¦ Am I willing to pay the price of commitment
of God every day of our lives. Many of us are and radical obedience?
praying for revival. If we want to see revival, ¦ Do I really want revival and a visitation
you and I must be revived ourselves. God is from God?
after us - all of us. He is raising up a Church Where are you with God? Is He wrestling
that is steadfast and radically obedient. with you over some issue in your life? Can you
When I was a brand-new missionary many say “yes” to Him today? Can you say: “Lord,
years ago, living on an old ship that sailed from have Your way with me. I will pray for end-time
nation to nation, preaching the Gospel and revival and choose to obey You at all costs. I sheer commitment and a dedicated lifestyle of radical
encouraging the Church, I remember how I will live out commitment in my life each and obedience for all of us. Are we ready for God's
felt after the ship left port from my own every day in prayer. I am Yours totally, and I
visitation? Are we ready for revival? God is raising up a
beloved country. We were sailing towards accept your invitation to radical obedience.” Church that is willing to pay the price!
South America and would be there for the next Are you willing to pray this prayer and pay In whatever way God is challenging your life today,
two years. this price for revival? take a small step forward and say “yes” to Him. It's
I felt so lost and lonely, not knowing the When crowds of people came to visit our ship step-by-step, choice-by-choice, yes-by-yes, one day at a
language and so new to the whole mission's and when there were endless lines of people time and one act of self-denial at a time where you will
world. Being young and inexperienced, I felt waiting to get on board, we realized that find true life. Jesus calls you to radical obedience and
like two years on board that ship was a obedience is no small thing. We had to work
says in Matthew 16:24-25: “If anyone would come after
lifetime. We had no e-mail in those days, and I when we didn't feel like working, we had to me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and
would call home only once a year. I was with serve when we didn't feel like serving, we had follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose
over three hundred strangers from over forty to pray when we didn't feel like praying, and
it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
nations on board and had left everything we had to smile when we didn't feel like When we accept this invitation to radical obedience
behind except for a few personal belongings. I smiling. The result? Many came into the in following Christ, we find real fulfilment. It is in
was living in a tiny cabin with three others Kingdom and turned their lives over to daily obedience that we find life and are ready for a true
from three different nations, and we had Christ!
visitation from God. Let's live a radically obedient life
nothing in common but our commitment to Revival and a visitation from God are not going and worship God with reverence and awe! He is a con-
Christ. to be all fun, excitement, and dancing. It will be suming fire! [Debbie Przybylski www.crosswalk.com ]