My Wake-Up Moment
“Whose idea was this?” we asked ourselves halfway up the mountain range. Surrounded by nothing but desert, dirt, and hot sunrays beaming down on us, we began to question whether the hike to the Hollywood sign was really worth it.
After putting one foot in front of the other for forty-five minutes, we finally curved the final turn and ended at the top of the mountain. Our reward was an eagle’s eye view of the entire city of Los Angeles. Not to mention, the infamous Hollywood sign standing directly in front of us.
Even though quitting had crossed our minds, I am grateful that we did not pick the comfort of our couch over the intensity of a hike.
Instead, we decided to live dangerously.
With Identity Comes Authority
In the same way, God has not called us to live comfortably or silently. God has called us to live dangerously. He is always putting opportunities in our path to stand up and step out of our comfort zones!
In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks those closest to him one of the most profound questions in all of Scripture, “Who do you say I am?” I believe that this question is not just meant for the twelve original disciples. It is a question for all generations.
People are spreading rumors about Jesus: Your friends say he’s a waste of time. Atheists say he’s I’m a myth. Muslims say that he’s just another good prophet. Buddhists say that he’s not the only way to the Father. But Jesus is asking, “Who do YOU say I am?”
In verse 16, Simon-Peter is the first to answer Jesus’ question, “You are the Messiah, Son of the living God.” Jesus replies, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Jesus is saying to Peter: Because you identified me, I will identify you. And with that identity comes authority. You are no longer Simon (small stone), but you are Peter (large rock) and upon this solid confession of who you say that I am, I will build my church! And, my church will be so expansive with energy and power that not even the gates of Hades will be able to keep it out!
The church was made for battle. Not only are we called to live dangerously, but we are called to be dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
What does that mean for us?
Dare to dream big for your city, community, church, and nation. Dare to pray big prayers and shake the nation as you advance the kingdom of God. Dare to be dangerous.
Today, ask yourself:
What is God speaking to you about your city?
Does he want you to start a daily prayer group?
Does he want you to start a prayer time in a public place?
What is one small step you can take to step out of your comfort zone and be obedient to His voice?
For more inspiration, head to genoutcry.com