A. Introduction
Luk 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. (NIV)Luk 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (NKJV)
Zacchaeus was short. He also was seen as a traitor because he collected taxes for the Romans, thereby filling up their coffers. He had to climb a tree to see Jesus not just because he was short but because he was despised and he wasn’t allowed to see Jesus. Jesus saw him and told him he would go to have dinner at his place. Zacchaeus repented and promised to return 4 times what he gained by cheating. Jesus said salvation came and that He came to seek and save that which was lost.
What does “that” include? t cannot just be Zacchaeus or his family. This took place in the marketplace. It refers to the whole domain of the marketplace and the society.
All sectors of life: 8 domains of society: Government, Family, Religion, Education, Media, Arts, Business and Politics.
Even sphere of domains can be changed. Pastor Philip suggested we can summarize the book of Revelation as Jesus wins.
In Malaysia, we don’t hold politicians in high regards.
God wants us to be equipped to seek and save the Lord, i.e. to engage, influence and transform the marketplace, to bring salvation. He did’t just came to save us, He save us so we can help to save others.
B. How do we transform? Three Biblical Ways
1. Diffusion (Mt 5:13-16 Salt and Light):
Change by Influence
Mat 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (14) You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.1.1 Diffusion
Mat 5:13-14 Salt
Salt: Preserves, sterilizes, gives life, gives taste
Picture is one of diffusion and penetration
It penetrates the fish and we get salted fish. In penetrates the wound and sterilized it. It penetrates our tongue that get taste.
If the Kingdom of God or the power of the Holy Spirit is within us, we have salt our lives.
1.2 Diffuse Society together
Christians must change values, ethics, productivity, meaning of work through our Love, Lives, Legacies in the workplace.
Obama’s clarion call during his campaign was ‘yes, we can!’
John Maxwell’s Law of Significance stated that one is too small a number to achieve greatness.
One grain of salt doesn’t make a difference.
Pastor Philip brought up the examples of Rosa Parks , who triggered the abolishment of racial segregation.
Pastor Philip also mentioned the example of Mohamad Bouazizi. His death triggered the Jasmine revolution. It started with one person, but many rallied to support him.
Even if we don’t want to take to the streets, at least don’t criticize.
Three things we must do in our workplace to gain leverage and influence: Prayer, Integrity and Excellence. We can then have the 2nd level of influence, Boldness, Righteousness, Kindness.
1.3 Diffuse Society through pressure.
Christians need to change ethics and stop evil through standing up, speaking out, meeting up.
Pastor Philip drinks RO water back in Sabah. The water is purified as it went through pressure.
Flatfish is found in Mariana Trench, over 11 km deep and 10750 psi. We can apply political pressure through letters to the MSM, alternative news blog, etc.
Hannah Teoh spoke in Skyline SIB when she was 8 months in her pregnancy. She walk righteously and did not have money to deliver her baby in a private hospital. Pastor Philip felt led to take an offering for Hannah and the amount collected is what Hannah needed to deliver a baby in a private hospital.
1.4 Diffuse Society to – gather.
Christians need to change lives through witness, fellowship, blessing, ministry and preaching.
We must be salt and light with a view to harvest. We must be prepared to reap the harvest in every domain. We must permeate all the domains. As we do it, God will give us wisdom.
Salt and light permeate everything. We want to gather souls. We want to gather just laws, just enforcement of laws, transparency (in election and business opportunities), freedom of worship.
God called us to diffuse and the time is now.
2. Dominion : (2 Cor 10:3-6, Deut 28:13)
Change by Taking Authority
2.1 Dominion (2 Cor 10:3-6, Deut 28:13)2Co 10:3-6 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (4) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (6) And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Deu 28:13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
Taking spiritual authority over society. The context of Deut 28 is about land, marketplace and the fruits of our hands.
2.2. Take Authority over Society by Prayer
Rise up spiritually, do warfare, take spiritual authority over darkness in city and nation.
Declaring = affirm what God has done (e.g. Jesus has died for us.)
Decree = speak prophetically what God will do as a result of what we declared. (e.g. justice and righteousness will come to the nation.)
2.3 Take Authority over Society through Marketplace Leadership
Rise up in any 8 domains: Rule by authority.
Results: capturing market share, leadership in pressure groups / professional bodies, low turnover.
Take moral and economical authority.
2.4 Take Authority in Society through Change in Legislation
Lobby parliament to change bad laws and enact good laws
e.g. Slavery, Wilberforce
Put your trust in God and believe it can happen. Slave trade is abolished one month after William Wilberforce died.
3. Divine Intervention (Joel 2:28-32)
Change by Supernatural Outpouring
Joe 2:28-32 And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (29) Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (30) I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. (31) The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (32) And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.3.1 Divine Intervention : (Can nation be changed in one day?)
Revival! e.g. Jerusalem, Welsh Revival (1904), Indonesia (1960s), Korea, Bario Revival, Bakalalan Revival.
Judgment
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