“Are You Ready for a Revolution”
By
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Acts 16:16-20 & 17:1-6
Now when you have a subject such as this “Are you ready for a Revolution”, you immediately develop 2 distinct groups of people.
The 1st group is those that sit on edge with a snarl on their face because they feel that their comfort zone is going to be disrupted – God forbid -. They fear that their traditions are going to be challenged and that change is about to come. Although change is inevitable they refuse to accept it and become immediately resistant.
The 2nd group is those that sit on edge with a gleam in their eye because they anticipate that the familiarity of their comfort zone is going to be disrupted – Amen -. They anticipate the challenge of traditions and eagerly await change to happen. They immediately become revolutionaries.
Rather you are the 1st group or the 2nd group the question is “Are you ready for a Revolution”?
According to Webster’s Dictionary a Revolution is: an overthrow or repudiation a thorough replacement of an established system, a sudden, radical, or complete change, an activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes, it is a change of paradigm (which is a change in the way of thinking). Many will call it a rebellion, which is opposition to one in authority or dominance.
In our history there have been several revolutions which have taken place. In 1755 the American Revolution started which developed this countries independence from the authority and dominance of England.
The Industrial Revolution, which started in the early 1800’s has changed and continues to change the way we operate.
The Civil Revolution changed the way people our treated.
A Political Revolution refers to the replacement of government.
We live in a time of hyperboles (which is extravagant exaggeration) and cliché. Everything is super-size this and mega that. We find everyone wants to be on the clicheic band wagon because they believe it will launch them into mega this or mega that status. For example the phrase “Kingdom” has been used extensively in the past few years. There are kingdom conferences, kingdom retreats, and kingdom seminars because they believe if they use the word then I’ll become the hyperbole, the mega this or the mega that. Yet they do not know what is entailed in the kingdom work or the kingdom life.
They treat the word kingdom like an Amish sticker. If I put this on it people will go for it because this is attached to it, but they don’t understand the dedication, work, and life that’s behind it all.
“Are you ready for a Revolution”
There is a shift that is taking place in the body of Christ. This shift is simply the mighty hand of God trying to wake up the church to more effective in getting the Word of God to the people of the world and bring many sons unto glory.
This shift in the body of Christ has respectively been called a spiritual revolution. And because of this title that is sweeping through the body of Christ there is a division within the body. You have those that want change called revolutionaries and those that are content in their comfort zones called the resistance. Regardless the side you are on the question is “Are you ready for a Revolution? First of all it’s personal.
I’m not talking about a new age change. I’m not talking about a cliché. I just want to know are you ready to radically change the established system. Are you ready to oppose the one in authority or dominance.
Remember revolution is an overthrow or repudiation a thorough replacement of an established system. In order for there to be a revolution there must be a revolutionary.
A Revolutionary is one that brings about a change it is one that literally turns the world upside down.
We find in our text Paul, Silas, and Luke is called “These that have turned the world upside down” – Revolutionaries.
They are called revolutionaries because they overthrew and thoroughly replaced an established system. Understand that the principality of divination had established itself in Philippi.
A principality is the territory or jurisdiction of a prince or order of angels that have been established and given authority and dominance.
WATCH THIS: - Paul overthrew and replaced thoroughly the established system
The Bible says in Acts 16:16 “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying”
Understand that when the Bible mentions a specific name like “There was a man by the name of Job” – that there is something about Job that we need to understand like his character, determination, etc. However when the Bible says a certain man or a certain woman there is something about the surroundings that we are to understand.
The 17th verse said “The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation”
Yes she said the truth but it wasn’t for edification but to make a mockery of them.
The 18th verse says “And this did she many days. The Bible doesn’t say how many days but the word many means a large amount, it was more than a few times But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour”
But Paul, being grieved – greatly annoyed. In other words he got sick and tires of doing the same thing over and over again and never experiencing a change. He got fed up with the tradition. He got tired of mediocrity. He got tired of complacency. He got sick and tired of going to church day in and day out and not experiencing a move of God.
He turned and said to the “spirit” – WATCH THIS - not the damsel, but to the established system that had taken authority and dominance in her life. He spoke directly to the principality in charge and said in the name of Jesus Christ come out of her. He was a revolutionary that literally turned her world upside down.
He caused a paradigm shift; he changed her way of thinking. The stronghold that had dominance was radically opposed and overthrown. This was a spiritual revolution, but just as with any revolution there is always resistance.
The spiritual hierarchy was going to fight. They caused her masters, those that made a profit off of her to realize that their flow of money was gone. They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the rulers, beat them and threw them in prison because they caused a Revolution. But at midnight, just when it seemed to be the darkest they prayed and sang praises unto God. I like to imagine they were like Martin Luther King and those in the Civil Rights Movement. Even though they were in jail said “We shall over-come someday”. Because they continued praying and singing God delivered them. An earthquake came and shook the very foundation of the prison walls all their bands were loosed.
A little while later they came to Thessalonica they simply just began going to church, but the principality that had authority and dominance of that territory knew that these men were revolutionaries, their reputation preceded them. So this principality caused an up-roar from some evil men. They began to say these men are they that have turned the world upside down – these are they that caused a revolution – they have come hither also. That demonic spirit knew that these men were going to oppose the establish system that had control of that area. It knew that they were revolutionaries.
They were on the battlefield fighting for the Lord.
Are you ready for a Revolution.
Are you tired of doing the same old thing and getting the same old results?
Are you tired of the principalities having control of your life?
Are you ready to fight a good fight?
Are you tired of having church as usual?
Are you tired of being stuck in a spiritual rut?
Are you tired of doing church instead of being effective?
Are you tired of coming here bound and going home the same way?
Are you tired of the devil running rashad over you?
Are you willing to be a freedom fighter?
If you said yes then you need to be part of the revolution.
My Bible tells me that the kingdom suffereth violence and the violent taketh by force.
Are you ready for a Revolution? Have you counted up the cost? You see in a revolution there is a price to pay.
In this Revolution you will: -
Cry sometimes - But the Bible says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.
Persecuted – but not forsaken
Cast down – but not destroyed
Troubled – but not distressed
Perplexed – but not in despair
Feel lonely – but never alone
You may loose you life – but the Bible says he that loose his life for my name sake the same shall find everlasting life.
Are you ready for a Revolution?
This Revolution will not be televised.
This Revolution will not have any embedded reporters detailing the events of the day.
This Revolution will not be seen on CNN.
The President of the United States will not discuss the ramifications of this Revolution.
However
This revolution will liberate your life.
This revolution will heal your heart.
This revolution will save your soul.
This revolution will open your opportunities
This revolution will tear down traditions.
This revolution will eradicate your eternity.
This revolution will determine your destiny.
This revolution will perfect your praise.
This revolution will solidify your salvation.
This revolution will convict your conscience.
This revolution will tantalize your transformation.
This revolution will revitalize your reconciliation.
This revolution will renew your restoration.
This revolution will release your revelation.
Are you ready for a Revolution?
My mind goes to the woman with issue of blood. Her life was controlled by a principality of sickness. For 12 long years it had authority and dominance over her life. She was opposed to being bound. So she became a revolutionary. She radically changed her way of thinking – she had a paradigm shift. She caused a revolution and because of that revolution she changed her destiny.
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr
Assistant Pastor
Original Glorious Church
Chillicothe, Ohio
