Sometimes you have to hold loosely to the world to reach your destiny in Christ.
This teaching is part 7 of the Radio Antioch Podcast Episode 10. To watch as a short video, click on the player above. To watch the full video of episode 10, click here.
A friend of mine, John Kramer, has a teaching he calls “Hold Loosely” that I have adopted as one of the core beliefs of our ministry. Simply put, it means to hold loosely to the things of this world. For example, suppose you have money. Sure, it’s in your hand. Use it, buy something nice, but don’t horde it. Remember to also do something for the Body of Christ. Don’t hold so tightly to it that it consumes you or becomes an idol in your life. Have you been given a car? Use it for a while. When you don’t need it anymore, give it away. This principle applies to non-material things as well. Suppose the Lord has given you a ministry. Remember it’s not really yours, it is something the Lord has entrusted you with. You are NOT the owner, but rather the steward. When I speak at a church, I frequently tell the worship leader that if the Spirit is moving in the worship, don’t be afraid and take time to flow with it. Every time I am invited to preach, I pray the worship service will be so powerful that the congregation would get caught up in worship and we would just have to preach some other time. I believe in preaching the word, and that God uses the messages I preach, but I hold loosely to both and leave the service to God.
Hold loosely to the things that God gives you. If you are faithful with the things you are entrusted with, He can give you so much more. If God can trust you not to hang on to that ministry, the He can give you a bigger and better one. You haven’t earned it anyway, it’s all God. This works for the things you have earned as well. If you can be trusted with money, maybe you will make money in your investments when everyone else is losing, as the Lord’s blessing extends to you.
If you hold loosely to the things God gives you, and pass the test when God says “give away the car” or “leave the job” then God can bless you with His increase. Even things like “lay down your life” become possible when you hold loosely to the things of this world. If you hold loosely to things in your heart, it is easier to pass the test. I don’t know if I would pass the test Stephen passed in the book of acts. I hear so many believers thump their chest like Peter claiming they would die for the Lord. I would hope that I would have the courage to do what Stephen did. If God asked you to pack up and move to another part of the country, would you be able to do it? How submitted are we to the Holy Spirit in our lives? I read the end of the book. In the end we go to heaven. But do we really believe it enough to let the Holy Spirit arrest our lives and guide us? To change our thoughts to what God has called us to be?
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
The people in this verse had a choice. Barnabas and Saul had to choose to go on the missionary journey. The other elders in the Antioch church had to hold loosely to their vision for the work in Antioch and release them to fulfill their destinies.
You see, Paul was not a danger to the kingdom of Darkness when he was arresting Christians. It was when Christ arrested Paul that he became truly dangerous. In the same way, it looked bad for the church in Antioch when their two best were sent away. But it really became bad for the devil when they started planting churches, taking the fire from Antioch and sowing it to the world. When we become arrested by God, He can sow our lives into a situation with powerful kingdom results. Over history some have lived, others have died, many have been sent from one place to another. Are you submitted enough to the Spirit to join their company and become truly Dangerous? This is a personal test. I don’t know if I would pass all of these tests. Some I have passed already, others I can only hope to have the courage. I have the same prayer for you, that you would pass the tests and become all that you can be in God.
Some of you are going through the testing even now. Maybe some are wavering and really need to be encouraged with what I am saying. Others may be coming up on a test and need to ponder these words now so that you pass.
Even some churches will have to pass this test. God doesn’t need fat, self satisfied American churches to get His plan done. I’ve been out and around, and trust me, for the most part we are the least powerful dollar for dollar, man for man on the planet. Sure, there are shining examples of powerful churches, but in general our huge numbers and immense wealth are not used to the fullest Kingdom advantage. We have more knowledge, wealth and gifted people with calls of God on their lives than any nation on earth. And we often waste it. If we would just surrender and let God arrest us, we really could change the world.
I dare you to be a true new testament believer in a true new testament church. I pray that the newspapers in hell would be full of bad news of how sold out and transformed Christians are pushing back the darkness. I dare you to pass the test, be transformed to the purposes of God. I leave the challenge in your hands- will you be arrested for God?
