When We Don't See Him

I can't tell you how many times I have seen people walk away from their faith, or get discouraged because they simply couldn't "feel" God. Don't hear me as perfect, for I am not. In fact in the roller coaster of Christianity, I have felt like the man from the "Footprints" poem that I know we're all aware of. Yet, as I continue to seek, continue to grow I know that I know that I know God is real. More than this, he is solid rock. Our strong tower. Our Abba Father. What is going on in these times when we feel at a hiatus in our connection to God? When we feel like we don't know what he is doing, or even where he is at?

1 Peter 1:8-9

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with your glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (ESV)

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms The Storm

If I were a disciple, I think my initial opinion after Christ's question at the end of this chapter would have been: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I HAVE NO FAITH?" At first glance, the distress of the disciples seems very well thought out. They were in the middle of the sea, in a giant storm and Jesus was no where to be found. I can't tell you how many times I've been in that boat. In that storm? I know you've been there too. We see the waves crashing up on the side. The wind blowing over our mast. The lighting illuminating our fears. The thunder booming.  And... where is our God? Sleeping. And I have little faith? Yet. Look at the first thing Christ says at the beginning of the passage...

"Let us go across to the other side"

Oh, I of little faith! Of course I will make it to the other side, for it is what Christ has said! My storm is meaningless when Christ has already promised me that he will bring me through it! What Christ says happens! And he says: 

"I am the Good Shepherd"

"I make all things new"

"Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you!"

"No on can snatch you from my Father's hand."

"LET'S GO TO THE OTHER SIDE!"

Isaiah 50:10

"Who among you fears the Lord, and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the darkness, who has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." (ESV)

Faith is not about the seen, but the unseen. For when the lights are out, the count is down, the odds are against us; that is when we rise up. THAT is when we trust on our God. THAT is faith. For we are constantly in and out of storms. Know. Know, precious child of God, that he has already determined how he will save you from it. 

Much love,

Matt Allen

THE 'ETC REVOLUTION' IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORIZATION OF SCRIPTURE AND BEING ABLE TO USE IT TO NOT ONLY ENRICH OUR WALKS WITH CHRIST, BUT TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY SHARING HIS LOVE AND WORD TO EVERYONE WITH LOVE, COMPASSION, ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAYER, AND WISDOM. ETC STANDS FOR 'EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE,' WHICH IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5

Eternal Us

So I went and picked up this new wide margin Bible inspired by the beast you see to the right, belonging to ETC Revolution TL Katherine Ellis. Literally this Bible I picked up is changing the way I look at scripture. If I see an empty easel, I paint. If an empty notebook, I write. If a quiet guitar, I play. Well now my Bible has page after page of empty 2-inch margins, and I must go fill them! There is no cross references, study sections, or giant paraphrases. I've got to do all the work, and I'm ecstatic. Here's some connections I've made recently...

Romans 8:24-25

"For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes in what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

NOTHING we see can ever save us. Don't count on it.

2nd Corinthians 4:16-19

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an ETERNAL weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are ETERNAL" (ESV)

Things that are unseen are also eternal! Anything finite already has an ending day in sight! Here's where it all ties together. Get pumped.

1 Peter 1:23

"since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of IMPERISHABLE, through the living and abiding word of God;"

This is where I get excited! We are ETERNAL!!! We are eternal, "born of imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God" If we are eternal, why do we struggle dwelling on the seen? The temporary? The fading? Challenge yourself today to look at things through Christ's eyes. To see the eternal. The unseen. Nothing else above Christ matters. Nothing. Where is your perspective? "For this world is fading and soon to pass, and only what's done for Christ will last"

Much love,

Matt Allen

THE 'ETC REVOLUTION' IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORIZATION OF SCRIPTURE AND BEING ABLE TO USE IT TO NOT ONLY ENRICH OUR WALKS WITH CHRIST, BUT TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY SHARING HIS LOVE AND WORD TO EVERYONE WITH LOVE, COMPASSION, ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAYER, AND WISDOM. ETC STANDS FOR 'EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE,' WHICH IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5

A movement. A revolution. Changing thoughts changes actions. Changing actions changes lives.

I am so pumped about the revolution that we, as God's people are going to play a part of! I hope you all as team leaders that I have spoken with are pumped for our launch this upcoming Monday, July 27th! I wanted to further share with anyone reading this the vision that Christ has laid on my heart through his word. God used speaker Afshin Ziafat, Brad Davidson, and Jordan Clark of Far From Ordinary, and the Bible of a girl nicknamed Boj to really convict me of scripture memory. Over the past several days, God has placed a few scriptures on my heart that have birthed this movement. This revolution. 

1. Psalms 119:11

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (ESV)

If. Than. Negate the first positive,  then inverse the second half of the verse: "I have not stored up your word in my heart, that I might sin against you." How many songs do we know every word to from beginning to end? Is not God's word so much more precious than these?

2. Romans 8:6 

"For to set the mind on flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (ESV)

Life is not what happens to us, only with what we make of what happens. I am convinced that if Christ were to fulfill the top of our priorities list 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, that it would be impossible for us to be stressed. Because his true peace surpasses all understanding. Let us, in all things, consider our life simply constant communication with the Father. As we seek his will, and keep him first, EVERYTHING else simply falls into place.

3. Proverbs 23:7

"As a man thinketh, so is he." (KJV)

Our thoughts determine our actions. Today I told a good friend I was about to do something that may upset him, but asked him to to react. Then I punched him hard in the thigh. At that point he had a couple options:

a. Angrily, punch me back.

b. Not respond with an action, but in his mind make a note of how angry he was that I hit him.

c. Take a deep breath, and realize that what happened, happened. No anger would change it. 

    forgive as Christ forgave.

All three start with the mind. All three different thought processes lead to different actions. Thoughts determine emotions, not the other way around.

4. 2 Corinthians 10:5

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

This is the heartbeat of the ETC Revolution. ETC being, Every Thought Captive. So many "Christians" are washed here and there because they don't know their faith! They don't know what they stand for, and fall victim to temptation of the world. Here at the ETC Revolution we are all about raising a generation of leaders. I truly believe that the average every day struggles of Christians could be reverted and destroyed simply by hiding God's word so deep in our hearts that none can retract it. So here is what we propose. Finding networks of leaders who build home groups to commit to scripture memory. Two verses a week, and one extended passage a month found here on the site. Don't get me wrong. All of God's word is good, and we encourage you to memorize as much of it as possible. We, at the ETC Revolution simply beleive there is something powerful about hundreds and thousands of people memorizing, praying over, and reading the same scripture on a daily basis. Our leadership training launch will be on Monday, July 27th. We're pumped. We're excited. We're ready to see God do amazing things, and be humbled we get to play a part. If you are interested in how you can play a part, how to become a team leader of the ETC Revolution, or simply want more information, email me at mattallen.etcrevolution@yahoo.com. In the meanwhile, get ready to see God do some BIG things.

Changing thoughts changes actions, changing actions changes lives, and changing lives changes the world. That is the ETC Revolution.

Beta Run With TL Leaders: 2nd Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4

Treasures in Jars of Clay

 ¹Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

 ⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

 ¹³It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. ¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

 ¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.