There is so much going on in our world. 2020 will be forever etched in our memory and recorded in history as the year everything changed.
Recent events have revealed that we are living in a very fragile world system. World economies have been pushed to the brink of recession by a virus. Countless thousands across the nations are taking to the streets demanding change. I’m the first to acknowledge change is greatly needed. In fact, we pray for it every day. But at the same time there is a lawlessness that is disturbing in this current movement. I believe this is symptomatic of what is going on in the hearts of people. Whether it be a nation, a family or an individual, the principle remains the same: the moment we turn our hearts from God, we begin on a path to decline and eventually we come to a day of reckoning.
The discontented are demanding a revolution, but looking at the philosophies of previous failed revolutionaries such as Karl Marx and his contemporaries, we know that these never succeeded in anything except the death of multitudes, the untold suffering of millions and generations of pain that still haunt some nations today.
The revolution that the nations truly need is already here. History’s greatest leader, Jesus, began a revolution 2020 years ago that continues to this day. He pioneered a movement that changed the world. His is a kingdom not built on power or greed, but on sacrifice and love.
French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte dominated the continent of Europe during the early 1800s, yet this military commander was in awe of the power of Christ’s kingdom. He said, “Alexander (the Great), Caesar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”*
“The revolution the nations need is already here. History’s greatest leader, Jesus, pioneered a movement that changed the world.”
The Holy Spirit, the game changer
What started with one Man became a people’s movement in the upper room (Acts 2). At that time in Israel there was a clash of kingdoms. The Roman Empire was occupying and oppressing the Jewish nation, and the kingdom of God introduced through Jesus was being established on earth in the hearts of His disciples. Though their leader had departed, the moment His followers received the baptism of the Holy Spirit they spread His Kingdom to the nations. We are still feeling the effects of that revolution to this day.
That is why this season of Pentecost is very important to us, because we can see a clash of kingdoms on the earth and a great unrest, but we know the Holy Spirit is being released in power and establishing a heavenly kingdom in the hearts of His people that will transform the world.
“There is a clash of kingdoms and a great unrest in the earth, but the Holy Spirit is being released in power, establishing a heavenly kingdom in the hearts of His people that will transform the world.”
Jesus had promised His disciples, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Compared to Israel we are geographically at the ends of the earth, but the promise of Jesus, which began in the upper room 2000 years ago, has become a reality in our part of the world through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the game changer and the baptism in the Holy Spirit is critical for us to be able to fulfil our assignment. The upper room was the epicentre and I believe God is calling the church in the nation to return to the upper room. The upper room is not a geographical place in ancient Israel, it is a symbolic place in the spirit where we unite together, pray, lift up our hearts to God and look to Him for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit into our lives. When this happens, our churches become a hub of divine activity in our cities and regions.
The revolution we need is coming down from above
In Daniel 2 the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream. Daniel, a captive of Judah and servant in the king’s court, was the only one out of countless wise men who could decode the meaning of that dream. God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a magnificent figure made of iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold; and a stone cut without hands, which struck the figure and destroyed it. Daniel carried the answer for the greatest empire on earth at that time. His interpretation was that the kingdom of God was coming.
“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).
This is a prophetic picture of Jesus – the stone cut without hands – and how God would send Him into the earth to establish His kingdom. There will be no end to the increase of His government (Isaiah 9:7).
Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom of Babylon was the most powerful in its day. It seemed indestructible. But like every other kingdom this was only for a season. What seems like a very long time in the context of life is a very short time in the context of God and eternity. The scripture says that God has set eternity in the hearts of men, but no one can fathom what God is doing from beginning to end (Ecc 3:11). We are here for the purpose of God that is part of his eternal plan. It is only when you become connected with God in heaven that you become a part of His eternal purpose and realise that every shaking and challenge we experience on the earth serves to bring God’s purposes to pass.
“It is only when you connect with God in heaven that you become a part of His eternal purpose and realise that every shaking and challenge we experience on the earth serves to bring God’s purposes to pass.”
The revolution is birthed in revelation
The moment we have a revelation of Christ, the King of kings, we become part of His revolution on the earth.
In Matthew 16 Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”
The disciple Peter, who was still known as Simon at the time, explained that people thought He was John the Baptist or one of the Old Testament prophets. But once Jesus zeroed in on Simon and specifically asked what he believed, Simon answered “you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Jesus commended him and said, “Blessed are you Simon, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.”
This disciple’s name was changed from Simon, which means wavering reed, to Peter which means rock. This is symbolic of the change that occurs on the inside of you when you come to the revelation of who Christ really is. You change from being a reed that is swayed with every opinion and cultural trend, to a rock that is a solid foundation. Peter went on to become a fearless apostle and pillar of the first church, which changed the world.
A revelation of who Christ is, is also a revelation of who we are in Christ and an understanding of our divine assignment in Him.
The nature of the crowd
You can get caught up in the wrong move and follow the wrong crowd. We need to have discernment and make sure we are part of the right revolution.
In Luke 7:11 we see two different crowds. Jesus entered the city of Nain with His disciples and a large crowd who were with Him. When He neared the entrance of the city He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of a widow. A large crowd was following. Jesus, moved with compassion, touched the open coffin and raised the man to life.
This is an amazing perspective on the nature of crowds. There was a crowd driven by grief and there was a crowd that had the answer for the city. The mood of the funeral procession was understandable, but they did not possess anything that could change the situation. When we are part of the right crowd, even impossible situations can turn around and bring restoration to a city.
We must be born again to enter this kingdom and we must receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit to be part of this revolution. You can be part of the movement of God on the earth that brings answers to the nations, restoration to our communities and transformation in hearts.
If this is your heart’s desire, I would encourage you to pray this prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, and that He died on the cross of Calvary that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.
Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come into my life and be my personal Lord and Saviour. I repent of my sins and will worship you all the days of my life. Because Your word is truth I confess with my mouth that I am born again and cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
* Napoleon Bonaparte expressed his thoughts on Jesus Christ during exile on the rock of St. Helena in 1815. This is recorded in Conversations avec General Bertrand à St. Helena, the day-by-day account of Napoleon’s last six years in exile, written by Grand Marshall of the Palace General Henri-Gatien Bertrand.
Pastors Brian and Lynne Heath have been married for 40 years and served as the senior leaders of City Builders Church (formerly COC) at Sale, in the heart of Gippsland, for the past 27 years.
Brian is one of the longest serving pastors in the Gippsland region and has become a true father to many spiritual sons and daughters and a valued mentor to younger ministers and community leaders.
Brian has a strong prophetic dimension to his life and carries the apostolic grace to build strong churches and to teach, train, impart and prepare the Church for the last day’s harvest. Brian believes the church of the future will not only carry the grace to win souls, but to impact and influence every domain of society.
Brian is also part of an apostolic team that travels regionally and throughout the Pacific. He is also working with ministry partners to build an alliance of like-minded ministries, churches, individuals and organisations that desire to rediscover and rebuild the Christian foundations that this great nation was built upon.