Touré Roberts - You Are a Revolution

So now let’s get into this real quick. Just a little bit, real quick: you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people. He says that you might show forth—or, as it says in that translation, proclaim praises—to Him who brought you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Where do I want to start? We talked about how this concerns identity. We’re going to break down the royal priesthood. When He says that you are to proclaim the praises of Him who brought you out of darkness and into this marvelous light, He’s not just talking about you singing praise songs; it is actually much deeper. That word translated as «proclaim» literally means «publish,» and the word translated as «praises» is the Greek word «areté,» which means «excellence.» So when He is saying that because of this identity—which we will break down: royal priesthood, holiness, His own special people—let’s focus on that royal priesthood. Because of that, there is something in that identity that activates your ability to publish or to proclaim God’s excellence in the earth. It is the role and responsibility of the church. If you’re taking notes, write this scripture down: according to Ephesians 3:8, it is the role and responsibility of the church to do so much more than come to church and be inspired. It is the role and responsibility of the church to do more. See, salvation is God’s direction toward you; it’s God toward you. But your life, and your walk—watch this—is God from you to others. It’s God from you and into the earth. Most of us stop at salvation or blessing. Most of us stop at that one-directional grace; it’s the grace of God to us, and it is absolutely wonderful. We’ve been called out of darkness and into His marvelous light, and that’s fantastic. We are not who we used to be, and we don’t do what we did. All that is absolutely fantastic, but that’s only half of the mission. If you’re honest, you didn’t have anything to do with that part of the mission anyway. You just received, you know what I mean? God drew you, God touched you, God loved you, and you received, and that was that. But that’s only one part of the experience. He says, «I chose you,» and because you’re a royal priesthood—coming back to that—to publish the excellence of God. So what does that mean? In Ephesians 3:8, oh, it is good! Ephesians 3:8 says that the role and function of the church are to make known to principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God. Who can I teach today? Like you matured, our job—there’s something now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, far above all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us. There’s something in us that is activated, and it gives us the power not just to speak to each other but, more importantly, to speak to spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, to speak to principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God. What does it mean, the manifold wisdom of God? There is a revelation for every situation that harms humanity. Oh, you’re not ready! Can I talk some Kingdom talk? You don’t get this today. There is a revelation in the wisdom of a divine God that will address every negative, demonic thing that’s in the earth. So the role of the church is to make known. Put that up there real quick—Ephesians 3:8-9 and whatever else I call for up there in just a second. I want you to see this. It’s not even in my text, but remember there’s a journey. Paul says, «To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.» Here we go. In verse 9, it says, «and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.» The fellowship of the mystery. So, so, so, his job—he’s saying that as an apostle, it was his job to open people’s eyes so that they would understand and be partakers in the fellowship of the mystery. Stay with me, which from the beginning of the ages—the mysteries begin before time—had been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ. And here’s what I’m getting at. In verse 10, it says, «to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to principalities and powers in heavenly places.» Can I take a step back and unpack that for you? So what Paul is saying in this text is that grace has been given to him to not just get you saved but to awaken you to the consciousness of your identity. Part of that identity is that you are part of the fellowship of the mystery, and the fellowship of the mystery is the wisdom of God—not just the wisdom of God, but it is the provision of God to address everything that ails society. Just turn to your neighbor and say, «It’s a kingdom thing.» Yeah, yeah, to bring you—I feel the Holy Spirit! That’s what’s getting ready to happen today. You’re getting ready to be brought into the fellowship of the mystery. And see, that’s what I was talking about when I mentioned people feeling stuck and feeling like they didn’t have any options, not knowing what to do. But I hear God saying, «I’ve got a tool in the mystery.» I feel the Holy Spirit!