A Change of Perspective is Good

     I just want to thank the Lord for using other Christians to give me perspective about my current situation. Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Often times starting a church is very hard. It seems that when you are high on life, the devil is anxious to knock you down! I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: No one wants to feel devoured or defeated. However, I was struggling with a bit of depression because of exhaustion and feeling completely depleted. I knew that I could not remain this way. However, I was always scared of this because I could not remain depleted moving into this next chapter of my life. I knew it was certainly going to take a lot of effort in starting Revolution Church. The thing that was constantly rolling through my mind was the devil speaking fear into my head. The devil was telling me that I couldn't do it. I was a shell of a man. I wouldn't be good enough. I wouldn't be able to pull this off. The endeavor was to big.

     Through the perspective of other people, I am able to realize that I can do this! When I think of my friend Kevin Mathis who just had his leg amputated to his knee, I think to myself, I have the necessary tools to do this. When I think of Carly Wyatt 2 and the fact that he has lost 3/4 of his voice box, I think to myself, I have the necessary tools to do this! I have much respect for both of these men who have been willing to stand firm on what they believe in the midst of very hard circumstances. I have been reminded that I am a young, healthy, and able man. I have the potential to do anything that the Spirit leads me to do. I am Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. I was reminded of several different Scriptures that spoke about not allowing fear to cripple us as Christians. Here are some of them:

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. ¹⁴ The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

Matthew 14:20-28  
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.²² And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.²³ And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.²⁴ But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.²⁶ And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.²⁷ But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.²⁸ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Mark 14:66-72 Fear causes us to do things we wouldn't normally do:
And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:⁶⁷ And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.⁶⁸ But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.⁶⁹ And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.⁷⁰ And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.⁷¹ But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.⁷² And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Psalm 27:1-14 

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?² When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.³ Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.⁴ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.⁵ For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.⁶ And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.⁸ When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.⁹ Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.¹¹ Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.¹² Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

I have prayed and asked God to take the fear away. I don't want to feel that way anymore, and I certainly don't want paralyzing fear to control my life! The same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in me! 

www.revchurchtx.com 

The Fear Associated with Planting Revolution Church

Depending on your upbringing, you may or may not have a good understanding of spiritual attack.  In our culture it’s not exactly something you talk about freely if you want to be thought of as sane.  Spiritual attack conjures up images of horror movies and psych wards.  A quick Google search revealed that while 70% of Americans believe Satan exists only 60% of Christians do.  Hopefully those studies are wrong.  Regardless your theological perspective, I can certainly tell you from experience that as a church planter you will be under spiritual attack. Spiritual attack is real and if you are planting a church, you are a target.
Here are a few quick ways I’ve seen this manifest:

1. Depression.  While this is one of the most exciting times in my life, it is also one of the most depressing. Having a church body to back you as you fight off Satan and his evil attempts at making you stumble, is totally different than feeling like you are by yourself fighting off Satan. I mean, it literally feels like my family is about to go to war, but without a body of believers to help protect. This depression is usually marked by self-doubt, fear, and obstacles to planting the church.
2. Family.  When Satan can’t achieve his goal against you, he will go after family.  One planters parents divorced shortly after he moved to start the church.  Another’s mom died.  Another had marital troubles shortly after declaring he would plant.  Others have had sick family members, unsupportive family members, etc.the divil hates you and certainly doesn't like your family!
3. Divisiveness in the Body.  Satan loves a church that is not united.  Maybe this is why Jesus prayed so fervently for it in John 17.  I’ve seen sponsoring churches withdraw support over small issues, staff members quit just before launch, affairs between staff families, embezzlement, arguments over “territory.”  It’s sad to me when the church does the work of Satan for him. We have got to be on guard 24/7 to prevent this from becoming us!
4. Temptation.  I’ve talked with planters who have confessed having temptations they never had before.  This is a confusing and scary experience. 
5. Fear! Fear! Fear!  If nothing else, I have seen Satan make us question everything about Revolution Church a thousand times over again! We question even the simplest stuff that we should already know that God has under control because Satan is putting lies into our head! We know that we are going against the flow with this. We are backed up against the wall, and going against the grain. It is not easy. I pray everyday that the fear will go away!

There’s no doubt about it.  Planting a church is hard!

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Tomorrow, we will be presented with another obstacle to us being able to start Revolution Church in McKinney, Texas. Please pray with us that we will be able to raise the financial support that we need to see a "revolution" take place! 

www.revchurchtx.com