A gracEmail subscriber requests some discussion here about “revolutionary” people, power and purpose, the titles of my classes at the March 2009 Tulsa International Soul-Winning Workshop.
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As God’s agents, believers are called to live seriously and reverently in this world, making decisions and carrying them out in the energy that God supplies. As they do this, both individually and as a community of faith, their unselfish and well-ordered lives become attractively obedient — to God and to their fellow earthlings. Knowing that they are agents of God and not independent contractors, such believers are also continually prayerful to God who is at work in them. Then, having given themselves over to God’s use, they are constantly watchful in order to detect his leading and to discern the opportunities that he sovereignly provides and intends to bless.
Their watchfulness is not wasted. Unbelievers touched by God eventually speak up. When this happens, God’s agents are ready to be graciously responsive. Sometimes this means answering questions stimulated by the exemplary lives unbelievers have observed (Col. 4:6). At other times it means the believers are explaining their hope based on Christ which sustains them in this troubled world (1 Peter 3:15). Whatever the content and whatever the circumstances, they are always to speak graciously and with respect. Unbelievers do not yet know God’s salvation, but they are nevertheless God’s creation, bearing his image and whom he wishes to be saved.
Finally, God’s agents, whose desires and deeds he energizes to accomplish his saving purpose, are wholly dependent on God (2 Cor. 4:7-10) . They are fragile clay pots, in whose care God has placed the gospel treasure. Because they depend on God and live from his strength, two things result. On the one hand, they personally are afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, struck down — indeed, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus. On the other hand, they aret not crushed, not driven to despair, not forsaken, not destroyed — and through their bodies the life of Jesus is manifested day by day.
