Jesus is Revealing Himself

"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me.” Isaiah 65:1, NIV
This was the case in the Jesus movement of the late 60s and early 70s. It was also my experience. In 1970 I set off for Toronto, Canada by way of Jacksonville, Florida. I was headed to a rock festival, not Jesus. But thank God, I ended up in him! He wooed me and revealed himself too me. I wasn’t asking for him. He made himself known to me.
Many have a sense that is beginning to take place today, in a similar fashion. Another part to this is that he is also wooing and revealing himself too many who are trapped in the talons of false ‘religion’. He is calling forth ‘Jesus People’ out of the streets and ‘religion’. Even those who are in Christ are sensing a drawing to a simplified faith journey with him.
Jesus people create Jesus culture! Jesus culture creates healthy vibrant community. They are also Kingdom of God people-‘the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ’. A switch of focus is also taking place, even as the essence of the revelation is simply the person of Jesus, not buildings or church bureaucracy.  
Many start their faith journey by asking for some kind of ‘help’. This has and is giving rise to a ‘recovery’ movement in the church. This so-called ‘recovery’ movement is now morphing into a fresh Jesus movement. My local church and I are watching this take place. And for me it is down-right exciting! The journey to Jesus begins with comfort, forgiveness and grace. And his self revelation provides a road map for the rest of our journey.

Comfort for God's People

“Comfort, comfort my people,”
    says your God.
² “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
    and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over
    for all her sins.”

³ Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
    for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
    for our God!
⁴ Fill in the valleys,
    and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
    and smooth out the rough places.
⁵ Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
    The Lord has spoken!” (Isaiah 40, NLT)

Jesus people are not attracted to a fairy tale or a made over Jesus. He does not reveal himself as handsome and winsome. He enters our journey as one who knows our failure ridden baggage and loves us anyway.

There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
³ He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

⁴ Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows^[a] that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
⁶ All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    he did not open his mouth.
⁸ Unjustly condemned,
    he was led away.^[b]
No one cared that he died without descendants,
    that his life was cut short in midstream.^[c]
But he was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.
⁹ He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave. (Isaiah 53, NLT)

And from that grave he arose victorious seeking to save those who are lost and beaten down by culture. Aren’t you glad, Ron Ross

Kingdom Opportunities

Gross darkness is covering the land. Evil abounds! Barbaric treatment of women, children and Christians is epidemic. If you took the pulse of humanity at this moment in history you would find little respect, caring, compassion or tolerance-the pulse of life is faint at best. Religion has always been at war with authentic Christian faith, but nowhere and at no time has it been as vile and hateful as now. But wait! There is good news also available like never before.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10) There are many in the religious community with a great deal of sincerity. And when they see someone who actually practices the purity and power from the pages of Scripture, something comes alive in them. Their pulse of life becomes stronger. They genuinely hope it’s true. But, they lack the power of faith! And they can offer little help in this present disgusting darkness.

On the other hand, Kingdom-oriented people can offer miraculous solutions and answers for the world around them. They find great opportunities in the midst of insurmountable challenges and opposition. The darker it gets the more awakened and necessary they become! They find themselves with tremendous and abounding opportunities to act bravely and decisively. Consider the pregnant hope contained in the following passage of scripture.

Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
    God’s bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
    all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
    his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
    kings to your sunburst brightness.
Look up! Look around! (Isaiah 60:1-2, Msg)

There is little time to seize the opportunities. We must act decisively in faith! We can’t wait for some religious, bureaucratic committee to give us permission to do what we are already commissioned to do. If we follow Jesus the rewards will far outweigh the risks! This is our finest hour. Rise up as Kingdom-oriented people who have within them incredible power fueled and governed by the love of God! Ron