We Are Invited To Change The Way We Think and Act!

On this past Sunday I felt like I heard the Lord issue an invitation to follow Him.  I was reminded of His call to the first four apostles and i turned to Matthew's Gospel, and was struck by a few things that were quite powerful.  Here are the verses - Matthew 4:17-20,23-25 NIV:

[17] "From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 

[18] "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” [20] At once they left their nets and followed him." 

[23] "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [24] News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. [25] Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him."

The first thing that struck me was what Jesus said in verse 17, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near!"  Repent means to change the way you are thinking and acting!  He was addressing the mindset of the people, and saying they needed to change the way they were thinking about God!  He wasn't far off!  He wasn't unconcerned about their situation!  He wasn't mad at them!  He wasn't going to leave them in their mess!  He was moving!  His Kingdom was coming near!

Repentance requires changed actions as well.  They had to change how they responded!  

In this all I felt like the Lord is saying the same thing to us!  He is moving and He is calling us to change the way we think and act!  He is going to release that which causes us, and the world around us, to change the way we think about God!  He is going to move in ways that will cause news of Him to spread all over!  He is going to move in ways that will cause people to realize that God is real, that He loves them, that He sees them, that He is touching lives!  

In the same way that He moved then, demonstrating the reality of that Kingdom with healings, miracles, releasing people from demonic oppression, signs and wonders, He is going move again!  In actuality He has never stopped moving, but now He is coming near to us!  His kingdom is near!  It is in our very midst!  We must recognize it is true!  

We must be willing to change the way we act!  We can't just enjoy His visitation, for NOW we are the Body of Christ and His visitation will come about through us! He is offering us the same invitation that He gave to Peter and Andrew, to come and follow Him!  It is an invitation that requires response, a changing of how we think and how we act!  He desires to release His kingdom realities through us, healings, miracles, signs and wonders, for we are His representatives, we are continuing His ministry.  I specifically felt like this was a call for us all, not for the professional ministers alone, but for each an every one of us!  We are each called, each invited, and each able to represent Jesus!

We often pray that God's Glory would fill the earth, and I specifically felt Him say that He intends to do that very thing, through us!  We are bearers of His Glory, of His presence, of His love, of His power!  His Glory is going to be released through His Body!  Oh, tha news of His moving, of His coming near, of His demonstrating His Kingdom realities, through us, would spread throughout the world!  The World needs to know that He is alive, that He loves them and is for them! 

Here is the great news about all of this, we can't work this up!  We can't cause God's Kingdom to come in power!  We can only respond to the invitation and follow Him!  If this is His heart, He will move!  If this is His desire and purpose, He will be faithful to fulfill it! 

When He issued the invitation Peter and Andrew, it was their choice to follow, but Jesus provided the training, and Holy Spirit provided the power!  He effectively commissioned them to be His official representatives, and the invitation includes this same commissioning today! 

Lastly, lest we misunderstand, He doesn't need us to drop everything and follow Him, for He is with us right now, where we are!  When Jesus ministered on earth He was physically limited to being in one place, as He was fully man, hence they had to follow Him where He went, but now Jesus is with us always, and we can follow Him by just turning our gaze and heart towards Him right now, where we are!  

Let us change the way we think!  Let us change the way we act!  His Kingdom is right in our midst!

Come Holy Spirit, empower us!  Speak to us Lord, and help us to follow You!

Amen!