LIVES WORTH LEADING
CALLED TO LEAD GLOBALLY
THE ‘EXPLOSIVE’ MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL BY COLIN MCCARTNEY
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hen I was a child, my extended family would gather together for our annual camping trip to the United States. My family were immigrants from Northern Ireland, so when more than 40 loud and boisterous Irish folks passed through customs…let’s just say the U.S.A. didn’t know what hit them. These camping trips were unforgettable for us—and all the Americans that crossed our path. I remember one particular trip to Virginia Beach, when my cousin and I wandered away from our campground onto a sandy field. As we embarked on one of our many childhood adventures, we came across a wire fence with a sign that said; “Warning: Explosive Material — Authorized Personnel Only.” We had stumbled across a military training base! Thankfully for me my cousin, being more intelligent than I (and less adventurous), was able to talk me out of doing something stupid. Because for me, this sign was an invitation to fun! As we consider being global Christians we need to be reminded that God has authorized us to be able to utilize His ‘explosive material’ everywhere we go. Jesus says; “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) This word “power” in the original biblical language is “dunamis”—which is where our English word “dynamite” comes from. Jesus is giving us a spiritual equation: Filled with the Holy Spirit + Power
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(dunamis), = witnesses everywhere you go. To be a global witness is not something we conjure up in our own strength. It’s not something you need a PhD to understand. Jesus is telling us that we cannot help but be His dynamic witnesses when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we automatically become ‘Jesus bombs’ and we ‘explode’ Jesus everywhere we go. I love that Jesus works His way from the easiest mission field to the most difficult. He’s telling His followers that when the Holy Spirit comes on them “dunamis” will empower them so they can break barriers separating them from other cultures and peoples. Take the example of the Great Commission: • JERUSALEM – We can relate to Jerusalem. It’s about being witnesses to people at the office, in your school, friendship cluster, on your kids’ soccer team, on your street. These are people just like you, who look, think, eat, and act like you. • JUDEA – Jesus also wants us to go to those somewhat different than us. Those in Judea were rough around the edges. They were struggling to make ends meet and scraping through day to day. • SAMARIA – This is more difficult. The Jews hated Samaritans. They were mixed-up people with a mixed-up religion. They’re kind of like us, but different. They’re outside the walls of our church. They’re gay. They’re transgender. They’re homeless. They’re Muslim.
Jesus wants us to go to Samaria. • ENDS OF THE EARTH – Jesus wants us to go to those we have no clue about. Those people way out there. Syrians refugees fearful for their lives. Haitian poor. Palestinians caught behind a giant wall. The list goes on. How do we reach these types of people? Remember what Jesus said; “You will receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit comes on you; & you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, & in all Judea & Samaria, & to the ends of the earth.” “Dunamis” tears down barriers and empowers you to go to all peoples, in all places—to share the love of Jesus in word and deed. “Dunamis” comes on you to explode barriers so you can join Jesus in His work in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. So, let me ask you a question. Are you a carrier of the Good News—or a barrier of the Good News? Spend time with the Lord. Spend time weekly worshipping God with your church. Then you can’t help but ‘explode Jesus’ all over the place! With the lonely and hurting, with the poor and oppressed, with struggling single mothers, with Syrian refugee families. ‘Explode Jesus’ everywhere you go.
/ COLIN MCCARTNEY is an ordained minister, speaker, and a bestselling author. He is also the founder of UrbanPromise Toronto and now leads Connect Ministries in Toronto where he, his wife Judith, and their two children reside. For information in booking Colin as a speaker, please visit www.connectministries.org.
