What Fueled The Radical?

Picking right up where my previous post, The Year of Radical, left off, what exactly was it about these average men (and women) that caused their teachings and lives to "turn the world upside down" two thousand years ago in a way that continues to influence millions of people even today?

Was it money? No, as they either relied on the church for provision, or worked average jobs to provide basic needs throughout their full time ministry.
Was it fame? No, as they were beaten, mocked, persecuted and hated by the majority for their teachings and lifestyle.

Was it power? No, as they spent the majority of their time chained in prison and being thrown out of cities.

Was it sex? No, as they were either abstinent single men, or faithfully devoted to one wife.

Was it political/religious gain? No, as they were eventually murdered or cast into exile by the religious and political influences of their time.
Was it a legacy of self? No, as they turned attention away from themselves and pointed to the work of God through Jesus and the Spirit.

These average men lived and taught radically  because they were indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God. 

This same Spirit, by the way, gave form to all that God created in the beginning of time, guided the prophets of old, miraculously formed Jesus in the womb of a virgin, and rose Jesus from the dead (Genesis 1:2, 2 Peter 1:21, Luke 1:35, Romans 8:11).  And because these men were indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God their lives, actions, teachings, and relationships bore the fruit of God's Holy Spirit.

The world murdered, imprisoned, and exiled many of the early followers of Jesus. This was no surprise to them, however, as Jesus prepared these disciples for how the world would respond to the radical outpouring of the fruit of the Spirit when He said, "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18).

The world hated the radical ways of the Holy Spirit because it exposed their wickedness, addressed their falsehoods, disrupted their agendas, and revealed their hypocrisy.  But what about the individuals who were being oppressed, abused, misused, outcast, and deceived by the ways of the world through corrupt political and religious influences? Well, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was welcomed, embraced, and led to radical transformation in all of the right ways. 

So what exactly was this fruit of the Holy Spirit?
How does one access the Spirit and experience this fruit?

What would our homes, marriages, families, relationships, communities, and nations look like today if this fruit began to outpour from us in radical ways?
Is this radical way of life worth living, knowing that the world will hate us for it?

These are just a few of the questions that I will be diving into each month throughout 2026,The Year of Radical!