A Rebuke from Jesus

“. . . but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’ But Jesus turned and rebuked them . . .” Luke 9:51-56

I don’t know what’s more intriguing, the fact that James & John wanted to call fire down from heaven or the fact that they actually believed they could. That said, I am also curious what “Jesus turned and rebuked them” actually looked, sounded and felt like. What would it be like to receive a rebuke from Jesus? What exactly did he say? How did he say it? Did he explain ‘why’ calling down fire wasn’t appropriate or did he assume that they should ‘know by now’?

So here’s a radical question: Does Jesus still rebuke his disciples today?

Is it possible that He still gives correction to those who follow him? Does he do so for you and me? I would hope so. I believe so too.

A few months ago our family was in the car together while driving through Avon when we noticed a woman parked at McDonalds with her hood open and on the cell phone. The thought crossed my mind that we should stop and offer to help. I quickly countered that prompting with the many reasons why I didn’t need to: I was late for a meeting at the church, I had my whole family in the car, she had a cell phone and probably had help on the way, etc. Later that day I can honestly say I received a rebuke. I knew in my heart that I had missed an opportunity to encourage and help someone in need and I sensed the Lord challenging me, even correcting me on it. I know what that felt like. It hurt. It was humbling. I was wrong.

How about you? What correction has God been giving to strengthen and ‘disciple’ you? (See also 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 12:7-11)

- This blog was written by Pastor Wayne Hedlund for the Radical Series. Pastor Wayne has recently transitioned out of his role as the Executive Pastor at Elim Gospel Church and now works in the US Ministries office of Elim Fellowship.

One of the commentaries I read on Radical stated, “This is a book you will want to put down.” Now, that is an unusual comment, right? Most authors would not even want something like this published for the public to read because it just does not sell books! However, the author (David Platt) had no problem putting this comment alongside some of the other glowing comments he received on his book. Why?


I can’t tell you his specific reasoning as to why he allowed that comment to be published, but I can tell you my thoughts about it. First, it’s simply true! There are portions of this book that make you flat out uncomfortable. Second, I know of another book I (at times) want to put down. Yes, you guessed it – the Bible. It too makes me terribly uncomfortable. However, I am not going to put that book down, nor did I leave David’s book sitting long. There is no doubt about it, both books will make you uncomfortable, but as Peter once said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know you are the Holy One of God.”


So, go on, pick it up! Yes, it will cost you everything, but ask yourself this question, “What was really mine to begin with?”


- This blog was written by Eric Scott as part of the Radical Series. Eric is the Care Pastor at Elim Gospel Church.

Have You Ever Had a Dream?

Have you ever had a radical dream (not the kind where you are asleep and imagine yourself flying to Antarctica on a liger, but the kind where you envision yourself doing the next-to-impossible 10 years from the present)?

Yeah, me too. I remember in high school dreaming of speaking to crowds in other languages, organizing conference where people encountered Jesus, and discipling people.

In David Platt's book, Radical, he talks about how it takes complete abandonment of ourselves to be a disciple of Jesus. He mentions how the disciples reoriented “their entire life's work around discipleship to Jesus.” They abandoned their possession, their careers, their families, and even themselves. Their dreams were swallowed up in His dreams. Those dreams I had in high school were not the common dreams of an awkward 16 year old with braces and frizzy hair. But somehow I dared to dream what seemed impossible to me at that time. I dared to leave my family, my job and everything that I knew to go to Mexico and pursue those dreams.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

While some may think that this is the magic trick to getting what you want, it isn't that simple. You see, when we delight ourselves in the Lord, the desires of His heart become the desires of our heart. So by daring to racially delight in the Lord, we are daring to accept the radical dreams that He has for us. In order to be radical, a true disciple of Jesus, we must dream big—bigger than ourselves. And in order dream outside ourselves, we need to radically delight in Him.

I dare you to dare to be radically intimate with Jesus...to delight yourself in Him...to let your dreams become radical dreams, because only when your dreams are swallowed up by His will you dare to truly be radical.

- This blog was written by Traci Cavanaugh for the Radical Series. Traci is the Executive Secretary at Elim Gospel Church. 

A few months ago a good friend gave me a special "tactical bracelet." He made it himself, put time and energy into it, and then gave it to me as a gift. Whenever I am around him he always asks me where it is, and why I'm not wearing it. The way he asks about it all the time, it's really more of a "friendship bracelet." Often I just forget (being a guy in my mid twenties), and remembering to wear my friendship bracelet is not usually the first thing on my mind. Yet he keeps asking, and I keep forgetting. The bracelet is really a sign of our relationship, almost like wedding rings for husband and wife, only this is totally cool and macho.

We don't often think about it, but God has also given us a sign of our relationship with Him. Ephesians 1 says that we have been given the Holy Spirit as a mark, a seal and special identification that shows we are in Christ. The Holy Spirit is what empowers us to live as a child of God. While we don't need to remember to put Him on every morning like a friendship bracelet, often we forget that He is in us and that He is empowering us to live a supernatural life.

Is God asking you where your seal is, where your mark is? Like my friend asks me about my bracelet? Can the people around you tell that you are in a special, growing relationship with God because the mark of the Holy Spirit in you?

Are you remembering to wear your friendship bracelet?

- This blog was written by Andrew Danglis as part of the Radical Series. Andrew is on staff at Elim Gospel Church as a creative visual artist and designer.

The Great Saboteur

I believe with all my heart that if you asked every Christian about wanting to live a Radical Life for God they would say yes. The question is, why don’t we? Many who read David Platt’s book “Radical” will even attempt it. Maybe you heard a great sermon, went to camp, or went on a mission trip and you left there wanting to change your school, neighborhood, family or workplace, only to have your passion fizzle quickly.


I know from my own pursuit of a “Radical” life that my thoughts and heart are way more radical than my actions. What is this Great Saboteur of “Radical” life? A saboteur is someone who commits sabotage. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know that, I had to look it up too. I believe we find the answer in John 12:42-43.


“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”


The love of human praise is also known as the fear of man. We are often more concerned with what others think of us than with doing what we see the father doing. Living a Radical life is not about being crazy and wild just for the sake of being crazy and wild; that actually gives the church and God a bad rep. Living a Radical life is doing what we see God doing and saying what we hear God saying, just like Jesus did (John 5:19). The fear of man wants to keep us from doing just that.


I remember a time in Wal-Mart when I overcame my fear and prayed for a lady with back pains; it was an awesome experience. I walked away pumped and asked God to show me who else needed prayer. I saw a lady checking her blood pressure by the pharmacy and knew she was the one. As I was getting ready to pray, I notice that she had her grandchild with her. I thought, “What will this kid think about me?” I ended up walking away because of what I imagined a little child would think about me. I valued her approval more than a smile from Heaven.


The praise of man does not dictate my value, God does. He approved my value with His sacrificed Son. Understanding God’s love for us increases our ability to live a Radical life.


I have two challenges for you today: 1. Ask God to give you a greater understanding of His love and 2. Step out and do one thing that you see your Father doing today. Force yourself to put aside the praise of man for the smile of Heaven.


- This blog was written by Pastor Seth Goodson as part of the Radical Series. Seth is the Youth Pastor at Elim Gospel Church.

Impact What's Eternal

Have you ever had a moment in life when something occurs to you that almost sounds insultingly simple but you realize that you never intentionally thought of or inquired about it until that moment? I don't know if it had to do with me growing up in a Christian environment, or because my personality is fairly easy going, but one day I had this type of "moment of clarity".


Several years ago I was sitting in a class at EBI during the last semester, and maybe even the last month of my senior year. My instructor was talking about purpose and creating foundations around our calling so that when times get tough we could have a place to come back and say "I know God lead me here because He spoke this in my past." I realized at that moment that I couldn't really clarify or define what "my calling" was. So I took that moment to ask God, "Lord what is my calling?"


I doubt that I paid much attention to the rest of the class, but God began to give me and understanding of what He created me for and what my calling is. He spoke to me of the importance of human souls as one of the few things that are eternal. As I reflected on the words of Solomon, "meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless, what do people gain from all their labors..." God spoke to me about the the value of spending my life pouring into other people and the eternal benefits that would bring. He gave me Ephesians 4:12 as a guide and clarified what seemed liked such a common question, but with one of the most profound outcomes.


I encourage and even challenge you to ask God what your calling is and keep in mind that we are living out an eternal existence. He has created us to be eternal beings and there are countless ways to to accomplish the meaningless, but very specific ways to have an impact on eternity.


- This blog was written by Rob Hagstrom as a part of the Radical Series. Rob is the Children's Pastor at Elim Gospel Church.

When I don’t Want to Obey

The commitment of a disciple is to listen to Jesus, believe Him, and obey whatever He says. But what about when He asks something that we don’t feel like doing? What do we do when he tells us to do things like giving up everything to follow Him, walking in purity, and loving our enemies?


The truth is, we are incapable of following Jesus in our own strength.


One of the concepts that has most transformed my walk with Christ is described in Philippians 2:13 (NLT) – “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.”


God is working in you and me to change our hearts’ desires and to give us the strength to obey Him. Our obedience isn’t rooted in our own strength, it’s found in the grace He gives us.


Because of this, I’ve discovered that I don’t have to be ashamed to tell the Lord when I don’t feel like obeying. He expects it, and He’s committed to helping me!


My commitment as a disciple is to refuse to settle for disobedience. Even when my heart is hard and I don’t want to obey, I must be committed to persist in prayer until I receive the strength I need to obey.


This understanding birthed a new category of prayers in my life, the “I want to want to” prayer:


“Lord, I just don’t feel like forgiving so-and-so, but I know you want me to and I want to want to obey you. Help me!”


“Lord, I want to want to read my Bible. Please change my heart.”


“Lord, I want to want to share the gospel with my coworkers. Please help!”


I have found that the raw honesty of these simple prayers is all God needs to come soften my heart and give me the grace I need to obey.


“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6


- This post was written by Tom Warsaw for the Radical Series. Tom is an elder of Elim Gospel Church.

Radical Gratitude

“Clear!”

Several hundred volts are necessary to resuscitate an unresponsive human heart and restore it to normal function. Jolting words like ‘radical’ are apparently necessary to resuscitate an ungrateful human heart. Some think radical means ‘extreme,’ but the dictionary primarily defines it as ‘a return to the basics.’ God is simply taking our pulse and restoring us to normal Christian gratitude. But what characterizes the healthy heart that He is listening for? Simply this: “Give thanks always and for everything.” (Ephesians 5:20)

“Always? And for everything? I don’t think so – that’s absurd and impossible!”

So it seems… but consider the theological flipside of Romans 8:28. If we really believe what we freely confess (that God is working “all things together for our good”) then why don’t we thank Him for “all things”? Why do we accept good from His hand, and not bad? (Job 2:10) But what is good? or bad? When we establish ourselves as judges to decide what is good and bad, and what we will thank God for, we base those decisions on the limited perspective of our own understanding and feelings. Since we only “know in part,” our conclusions will inevitably be, at best, incomplete and precarious.

Ann Voskamp (‘One Thousand Gifts’) says that to thank God “always and for everything” is extending faith to “a God who wastes nothing… to a God who alone knows all.” And that “when I only give thanks for some things, aren’t I likely to miss giving God glory in most things?” Biblical gratitude is not simply a feeling but a radical action of trust, expressing the conviction that God is truly at work for our good. The choice is ours: “That which I refuse to thank Christ for,” Ann says, “I refuse to believe Christ can redeem.” That’s radical.

- This blog was written by Dick Grout, the Director of Worship at Elim Bible Institute, as a part of the Radical Series at EGC.

The "Bread & Circuses" Coma

A few years ago the Lord spoke this promise to me, "Out of a land of great distraction, I will raise up a people of great devotion." I want to be a part of that promise but realize that it won't come to pass without some serious spiritual and cultural opposition.

The term "bread & circuses" originated during the times of the Roman Empire. Although the term is rarely used today, I believe the strategy is prevalent in our Western culture. I am susceptible to it and I think you are as well.

Back in the day emperors would provide food & entertainment to keep the common man entertained, appeased, and distracted from civil affairs. A definition of the term "bread & circus" means to provide mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace leading to an erosion or ignorance of civic duty amongst the concerns of the common man.

You don't have to step foot back in time or visit a Roman Coliseum to slip into a "bread & circuses" coma.

A video game obsession that gets all encompassing....a daily TV routine that becomes guarded or "sacred"....constant news and social media updates barraging your mind and pounding on the door of your heart, vying for your attention. It is not hard to become dulled and distracted by all the “bread & circuses” going on all around us.

Radical Christianity doesn't require that I live in the desert eating locusts and honey like John the Baptist. It doesn't mean that I can never look forward to a night of Netflix with my wife to temporarily escape the demands and pressures of the day.

But it does mean that I seriously take to heart Jesus' words in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the Kingdom of God.

"The divided heart tries what the undivided heart does." -Lance Wallnau

I am praying the prayer of David for myself and our church family, "Lord, give me an undivided heart that I may walk in your ways."

As Christ-followers we want our lives to count for all eternity. We want to bring our Father's Kingdom down from heaven to earth. To live that kind of intentional lifestyle requires making small, conscious decisions to not live an over-entertained and under challenged existence.

Which areas of your life are you fighting off a "bread & circuses" coma?

- This blog was written by Pastor Joshua Finley as part of the Radical Series at Elim Gospel Church. Pastor Josh is the Lead Pastor at EGC.