The Manifesto Of The Unshamed

Paul says he can go to Rome and you and I can go to difficult places, and we can take on enormous odds, and we can dream big dreams, too. But in this case, it’s not because we are macho or because we have the brains of prairie dogs. It’s because we know that Christians need not fear anything because we have a God greater than everything. Paul says in verse 16 that the gospel courses incredible power through the church of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation. The Romes of the world can be saved. The Neros of the world can be redeemed. The Colosseum can become a church.

The church can dream big dreams because God has given her power. In Ephesians 1, Paul says this: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know … his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Our power is resurrection power, ascension power, enthronement power. The Greek word for power here and in Romans 1 is dynamos, from which we get the word dynamite. And Paul prays here in Ephesians that the church might realize they have that power in them through the gospel. Dynamite power. I wanted to show you what this looks like…so check out this video clip of dynamite zoomed close up. It’s about 20 seconds long, check this out…(Video Clip shows dynamite that doesn’t explode)

Amazing, huh? Something wrong there? Dynamite isn’t dynamic unless that energy is released! The angels in heaven must watch the church and think…what are they doing? They have dynamic power, but they don’t do anything with it! The fuse never gets lit. The Ephesians prayer is so important – we have to know the power within us. Because Paul sensed it, he didn’t do what most people do…most people, when they sense that they have mastered something, set up shop, host a few seminars, and let the most earnest come and learn from him. No, Paul has to go. And go all the way to Rome.

Then, lastly, church, we declare together, without shame, that we are the People of the Messiah. That’s really just a synonym for Christian. We together are the Messiah’s people.

We declare without shame that no President, Senator, Judge, or King overrules him.

We declare that if we love someone ultimately, that we give him more than one hour per week.

We declare without shame that our faith falls apart without him. that You can take Muhammad out and still have Islam. You can take Buddha out and still have Buddhism, but you cannot take Jesus out of our faith. He is the Vine, we are the branches. We are the sheep, he is the Shepherd. We are the hungry, he is the Bread. We are the travelers, he is the Bright and Morning Star.

We declare that stand for him, we live for him. And we only have hope in him. He’s our Alpha and Omega, he’s our Origin and our Destination. This Messiah gives us strength for today and confidence for eternity.