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Join the Chain Reaction

Ruben Dias

09/30/2010

Like many, I was born in the Adventist Church. Being a son and grandson of pastors, Adventist lifestyle and beliefs were part of a normal path I followed from the start. I knew I was part of a movement, but I didn’t really feel like it was moving my heart. My sense of mission was vague and undefined.

In 2006, a friend and ASI member invited me to the ASI Convention in Dallas. My wife and I attended the convention with curious hearts. That single invitation changed my family’s goals and understanding of our mission.

ASI excitement is contagious—like a motivational chain reaction—and I quickly caught the vision. It is now my job to motivate Adventist entrepreneurs and professionals in Europe to join ASI and begin “Sharing Christ in the Marketplace” in their own countries. I have seen this vision catch fire in many hearts like never before. It’s an experience I’m always excited to share.

God is acting everywhere. Acts 2:1-4 reports, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house.… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (NIV).

Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7, NIV). Daily, I ask God to pour His Holy Spirit into His church such as in the days of Pentecost. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and He never fails His promises. God urges us to ask because He wants to give us more of His power. As we participate in His mission, we come to understand His plan—and lifechanging miracles start happening in our lives.

We are living in earth’s last days, and we know God will be faithful to the promise in Acts 2:17: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.’” Our Savior wants to do this today.

If we fail, it is because of our limited perspective of what our mission is all about. We’ve taken the church’s mission upon ourselves, and have come to regard it as being “all about me.” We’ve become dangerously self focused and exclusive.

Yes, the Lord wants to bless us, but He also wants us to be personally changed. When we allow God to shape our lives and priorities, our desire to share His blessings with others sets off a motivational chain reaction.

God could call angels or any creature to proclaim His message, but He reserves that blessing for each of us. God doesn’t need our money, special talents or resources. He requests from us what cannot be bought: our time. The Lord is ready to act and to pour out His power today. Our testimony plays a crucial role in these end times. In Revelation 12:11, we read, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (NIV). The word of their testimony!

As ASI members, may the word of our testimony set off a chain reaction in others, just as my friend’s did when he invited my family to the ASI convention four years ago. The fire he kindled is still burning in my heart.