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The buzzword in many circles today is radical. Be radical for Jesus, Live a radical lifestyle. But I have found that when you sit down with those who proclaim the radical lifestyle, many times they can’t even define what it is they mean by living radical. Therefore they not only can’t live radical themselves, they can’t give others a track to run on in their quest to be radical. But radical is exactly what Jesus asks of us. For real. Let’s take a few moments and look at what God calls radical, shall we?
 THE CALL TO BE RADICAL
So many today are crying out to do something radical or to be extreme. This is born out of the cry of the Spirit within us. But it is imperative that we are clear about what it is and what it is not. What does it mean to live radical? We do not want to live by the world’s definition of radical do we? I know you are like I am, we all want Jesus’ definition of living radical so that we can pursue God’s dream for our life and not our own, or somebody else’s.
One of the high points in Jesus’ teaching ministry was the Sermon on the Mount. I like to call the Sermon on the Mount the constitution of the Kingdom. It is the goal, the path and the litmus test for Kingdom life and experience. The main thing we should get from the Sermon on the Mount is that we are to live perfect or complete in our obedience to God, His Word and His Spirit. We accomplish that by pursuing 100-fold obedience, by seeking to walk in “all” the light the Spirit gives us in the present season of our life.
To be radical then is to pursue “complete obedience” as defined by the two great commandments and the eight beatitudes. Of course, we understand that walking perfect in obedience is relative in this age and absolute only in the age-to-come. And it is relative to the season of life we are in at the moment. We can be walking in perfect obedience today, but as God gives us increased revelation from His Word, and further instruction from His Spirit the bar is raised.
Let’s take a look at some of the things that Jesus said about what He expects of us.
You therefore must be perfect (complete), as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
Jesus isn’t saying that we must be absolutely perfect in every area of our life to be accepted by God. What He is saying is that He expects us to walk in all the light that we have at the moment. Why? Because God, our heavenly Father, always walks in all of the light He has. Have you ever thought about that? God never doesn’t do the right thing. He always does what He knows should be done - always. He never compromises or slacks off. And He expects us to be that way as well.
Jesus defined our walk with God for us in Matthew 22.
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Jesus isn’t telling us that we should love the Lord our God. Though we should, shouldn’t we? What He is doing here is prophesying that the people of God will love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind. Why, Jesus? Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 6:5. He is saying that this commandment is the great and the first commandment.
It is important to know that whenever God gives what we call commandments, that they are really invitations. You see, God knows that we are formed from dust, that we have no good within us, that we are incapable of agreeing with Him or obeying Him, or doing what He asks of us apart from His assistance (Ps 103:14; Rom 3:12; 7:18; 1 Cor. 2:14; John 15:5). Whenever God “commands” us to do something, He is in reality offering us an invitation that has with it, the promise of His assistance to enable us to respond to it and to walk it out.
What Jesus is saying is that this invitation, from the heart of God, to love Him with all of our heart is the first commandment, or it is the first thing on God’s heart in His dealings with us. It is not only the first commandment; it is also the great commandment. It is the commandment that if we will respond to it will have the greatest impact on our lives, by causing us to love God with all of our heart, loving ourselves and loving others in a healthy way.
People who love Jesus naturally love others as well. Love for God always results in love for others. It is impossible to love Jesus and not love people (1 John 3:14). We must continually realign our lives to make and keep the First Commandment as our first priority. Why? Because this is what Jesus esteems as the most radical way to live.
Jesus defined being “perfect” by the eight beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12). The beatitudes are like eight beautiful flowers in the “garden of our heart”. They describe the radical lifestyle from God’s point of view. These eight flowers must be continually cultivated as we “weed our garden” by resisting the six negative influences related to lust (Matt. 5:21-48) and as we “water our garden” by pursuing the five positive nutrients (prayer, fasting, giving, serving and blessing our enemies, Matt. 6:1-18) that position us to receive the Spirit’s impartation of grace.
THE BEATITUDES
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)
Let’s look for a moment at the beatitudes.
We are poor in spirit when we acknowledge our serious dilemma in needing a breakthrough in our heart; when we realize that we “need” to press harder. It’s not just we ought to, we need to.
Mourning does not mean that we are morbid or depressed. We mourn as a sign that we are desperate enough to be “extreme” in pursuit of the fullness God is offering to us.
Walking in meekness to many equates walking in weakness. But meekness isn’t a sign of weakness – meekness is a sign of strength. Living a lifestyle of meekness involves the proper utilization of our strength; represented by our time, money, etc.
Hungering and thirsting for righteousness includes embracing costly righteousness. It will cost you something if you live a righteous life because you are going against the natural flow of the world.
Relating with mercy is treating those who fail us or let us down with tenderness, not holding their failures against them (that means we don’t bring them up – to them or to anyone else). My wife, Kaye calls this giving them a gift that they do not deserve. Our Father likes that!
Being pure in heart pertains to our thoughts and motives. It is demonstrated by what we think about and what we do when no one else is looking. It is demonstrated by what we do with our spare time; by what we look at, listen to or read.
Being a peacemaker refers to the anointing to bring peace (reconciliation that restores relationships, bodies, finances, legislation, etc.).
Enduring persecution is part of the counterattack for plundering Satan’s Kingdom. If you do the first seven beatitudes you are guaranteed the opportunity to do the eighth. Your success will be measured by how joyful you are when the persecution comes. Rejoice and be glad…
WE MUST PURSUE COMPLETE OBEDIENCE
The pursuit of “complete obedience” includes bridling our speech (Jas 3:2; Eph. 4:29-5:4), disciplining our physical appetites (1 Cor. 9:27), managing our time (for service and prayer with the Word; Eph. 5:15-16) and money (to increase the Kingdom beyond our comfort and honor; Matt. 6:19-21) and making a covenant with our eyes to refuse to look upon anything that stirs up lust (Job 31:1; Ps. 101:3) as we consistently engage in communing prayer (connectedness) with the indwelling Spirit of God (2 Cor. 13:14).
From God’s point of view, our main objective in this life is to be complete in our obedience.
9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration (completeness) is what we pray for. (2 Corinthians 13:9)
28 Him (Jesus) we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone…that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Colossians 1:28-29)
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (in our obedience). (James 1:3-4)
2 …Wake up, and strengthen what remains…for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. (Revelation 3:2)
The Scriptures presents two aspects of our being complete before God. First, we are instantly made complete in Christ legally at the New Birth. This is called justification. Second, we then progressively become “complete in obedience” in the way we live out our lives before God. This is called sanctification.
17 …in Christ, he is a new creation…21 …we…become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
10 and you have been filled (made complete) in him…(Colossians 2:10)
There are several different terms for the same truth of being complete in obedience (2 Cor. 13:9, 11; Phil. 1:6; Col. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:17; Heb. 13:20-21; Jas. 1:4); perfect (Mt. 5:48; 19:21; Jn. 17:23; Gal. 3:3; Eph. 4:13. Col. 1:28; 1 Thes. 3:10; Jas. 2:22; 3:2; 1 Pet. 5:10; Rev. 3:2); mature (Phil. 3:15); blameless (Lk. 1:6; 1 Cor. 1:6-8; Phil. 2:15; 1 Thes. 3:13; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:2, 10; 5:5-7; 6:14; 2 Pet. 3:14; without spot (Eph 5:27); worthy (2 Thes. 1:5-12; Lk 21:34-36; 20:35-36; Col. 1:9-10 Mt. 10:37-38; 22:8; Rev 3:4-5; Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:27; 1 Thes. 2:12); stand (Lk. 21:36; 1 Cor. 10:13; 16:13; Eph. 6:10-14; Phil. 4:1; Col. 4:12; 1 Thes. 3:8. Rev. 6:17).
12 Epaphras…always struggling (laboring fervently) on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured (complete) in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)
22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:22-24)
9 …it is my prayer that your love may abound…10 so that you may…be pure and blameless (without compromise) for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)
10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith…12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love…13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness… at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:10-13)
10 …the God of all grace…will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
13 I charge you in the presence of God…14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Timothy 6:13-14)
2 …if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect (spiritually mature) man…(James 3:2)
To be continued in Part 2...
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