Ordinary People, Extraordinarily Empowered

Ordinary people, extraordinarily empowered

While I watched the story from Virginia Tech unfold, learning of the death of 32 students and instructors, suddenly all the disappointment in people that I've dealt with for the past couple of weeks seemed to fall on me like a big rock, crushing my heart with sorrow. With my head bowed, I felt the tears spill over into my hands - not just a couple of tears sliding down my cheeks, but more like a rainstorm! My tears did not flow out of despair, but were language of prayer, my spirit reaching out to the Spirit. Gradually, they gave way to words. In that moment, a fragment of the ancient Lord's Prayer became my prayer - "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." I prayed that for a few moments, repeating the words, remaining still, waiting on the Lord.

Breathe that prayer with me. "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."

That prayer reassures and renews me in two ways. The first is that Jesus will, on the day ordained by the will of the Father, step over the threshold of Heaven and defeat evil, ruling with justice for all! What a day that will be for those who have lived in hope and obedience. The second way I understand that prayer is that right now, though I live in a world marred by rebellion, hatred, and selfishness, I can live in the Presence of the King and under the influence of His reign. "Your Kingdom come.... in my heart and life."

The book of the Acts of the Apostles is a history of the first three decades of the Church, the story of ordinary people who were extraordinarily empowered! Without a national office to coordinate their efforts, funds on reserve in the bank, an advertising budget, or a counseling office - ordinary men and women took up the challenge to change the world with a message entrusted to them by their Risen Lord. Their efforts seemed laughable. What could a few dozen followers of Jesus do to transform a world full of cruelty and desperation? Nothing in themselves! But they had a secret - the power of the Holy Spirit that sustained and led them just as Jesus had promised when He said, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NLT)

They received the Kingdom and were consumed by a passion to take the Message to others that they, too, could live under God's rule, a kingdom not sustained with threats of death and punishment, but one that offered love, hope, joy, and ultimately - eternal life with God! The blood of those messengers was often spilled, but they continued in their mission. Deprivation and disappointment stalked them, but it was of little consequence. They were not supermen, and they had to deal with conflict, false starts, and wrong choices. But, they were empowered, not by a fleeting experience of momentary religious rhapsody, but by a divinely given vision of a whole new way to live 'in the Kingdom' even as they lived here on earth. Their hearts were all ready in Heaven, even while their hands did the work of God in this world! Stephen, the martyr, is an example of the way that they lived. At his trial, he preached an amazing sermon that was not filled with pleas for his life. It was a fearless proclamation of the Truth of Christ, that infuriated the council hearing his case. "At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, "Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!" (Acts 7:54-56, The Message)

Stephen's experience of Spirit empowering was not unique. Luke tells us "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence. " (Acts 4:31, The Message)

So, in a world where evil tries to work destruction, where guns are fired by hatred, where words become weapons, where love is rejected - I pray a simple prayer, that is powerfully transforming - "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." I pray that my vision will be filled with God, that I will see His glory, and go out to serve, to love, to change my generation with the Message of the Kingdom. Let's roll!
______________________

Father of creation,
Unfold Your sov'reign plan.
Raise up a chosen generation
That will march through the land.
All of creation is longing
For Your unveiling of pow'r.
Would You release Your anointing?
Oh God, let this be the hour.

Ruler of the nations,
The world has yet to see
The full release of Your promise,
The church in victory.
Turn to us, Lord, and touch us;
Make us strong in Your might.
Overcome our weakness,
That we could stand up and fight.

Let Your kingdom come,
Let Your will be done.
Let us see on earth,
The glory of Your Son.

Let Your glory fall
In this room.
Let it go forth from here
To the nations.
Let Your fragrance rest
In this place,
As we gather to seek Your face.


Let Your Glory Fall- Ruis, David
© 1993 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055