Power and Promises: How Do We Be Revolutionaries?

by Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter

Yup – we’re in unsettling times. Politics and economies are uncertain bordering on mercurial; natural disasters and disease and war are global and affect millions; support for the poor has been largely curtailed at an institutional level; fear is the new pandemic.

But – we live on God’s promises. So then what promises form the basis of our Revolutionary spirit? Because, my friend, YOU have been called to be a Revolutionary for the Kingdom of our Creator God.

He promised us Love.

The gift and life of His Son. The world will disappoint us, but God’s love never will. The promise of His love is available to everyone at no additional cost; our only burden is to accept it.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16–17)

He promised us Pardon when we repent.

I love the true meaning of the word in Psalm 23 (the only one I still recite in the KJV, because – well, of course…!): “surely Your love and mercy will follow me all of my days” – where the Hebrew for “follow” really means something along the lines of “relentlessly pursue”. He doesn’t just follow us – He runs after us. Chases us. 

If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety–nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety–nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12–14)

He has promised us that there is a Purpose to our time here.

I’m not going to lie – this has been a hard season and I know I take on too much in an attempt to try and bury the hardness.  But that’s not what God has asked of us – rather, He has asked us only to turn to Him when we are weary and grieving and tired, because He is our rest. He has given us work to do (Ephesians 2:9-10), but by aligning “our priorities” with His, we can transform the work into a meaningful, God–ordained mission.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)

He has promised us a Paraclete.

Jesus gave the disciples a promise to encourage their ministry: the Holy Spirit would help them remember and spread His teaching. (And I just love the word “paraclete” – yup, still a nerd.)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)

He has promised us Peace.

We wage our own wars, inside and outside ourselves. But the peace of God is available to move into our hearts and minds, free of fear. The Triune God is actively at work and completely in control. Even when – maybe especially when – we can’t see it.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, “I am going away and coming back to you.” If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, “I am going to the Father,” for My Father is greater than I. (John 14:27–28)

These are the promises of Jesus’ Revolution… and there are more…