She thought she had gotten away with it.
Francisca Rojas of Buenos Aires, Argentina, had murdered two of her own sons.
In an attempt to deflect the blame, she had cut her own throat as well, then blamed the attack on a nearby ranch worker named Velasquez.
Though the poor man proclaimed his innocence, he was arrested.
An Argentine police official named Juan Vucetich, however, had been experimenting with a new-fangled system of criminal identity-fingerprints.
It was 1891, and fingerprints had never been used in a criminal trial.
Revisiting the scene of the attack, Vucetich studied the bloody handprint on the doorframe of Francisca’s house.
It matched the prints of Francisca’s own fingers.
As a result, Francisca became the first person in history to be convicted of a crime based on fingerprint identification.
Today the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) electronically stores millions of known fingerprints.
In this world of six billion people, every person leaves his own unique mark.
There’s also another way we leave our mark.
Every one of us leaves our fingerprints on the lives of other people, especially on our children.
We don’t stay on earth forever; but after we’re gone, our imprint remains.
One example is of John Geddie, Canadian missionary to the New Hebrides. He found a wild tribe of cannibals.
Violence, theft, and warfare were common.
After he died, a commemorative tablet in his island church read: "In memory of John Geddie. . . . When he landed in 1848, there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872, there were no heathen."
You and I may not be responsible for converting an entire island, but the world will be different for our having lived a faithful life.
Everyday we leave an impression:
One day a person was leaving an parking lot.
As they were backing out. They scraped the car next to them
They jumped from their car to see the damage.
Realizing that there were people watch near by,
This person returned to their car …took out a piece of paper & wrote these words
(a number of people think I am leaving you a note with my name & address on it …I am not)
Then they carefully folded the note…placed it under the windshield & left…
Impression
That word means to stamp or form, or figure by impressing…imprint…
Another meaning is a character trait or feature resulting from the influence of another
We have learned …what we see, may not always be what is true.
You cannot judge a book by its cover.
Looks are deceiving.
So the question tonight is…what kind of impression are we leaving
In the hearts & minds of those we come into contact with.
Whether we realize it or not. We are impacting peoples lives…we are leaving an impression
Negative or positive
Carnal Or spiritual
Worldly or Godly
One might say… well I don’t care what people think about me…
WE HAD BETTER CARE
Because as children of God we not only represent this church, but we represent the kingdom of God…we also represent the one who shed his blood for us on Calvary.
WE BETTER CARE
Paul said
1 Tim 4:12
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
KJV
It was Paul who wrote to the Christians at Corinth & challenged them saying…
1 Cor 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
KJV
Then in
1 Cor 11:1
11 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
KJV
Through out the writing of Paul we read over & over again…Paul urging others to follow after Him, his teaching, His example an a Christian
What was it Jesus said in
Matt 5:14-15
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
KJV
But notice with me
John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
KJV
I ask you was Jesus contradicting himself?
Is the Word contradicting itself?
Jesus says You are the light of the world…..But then he says I am the light of the world
How can we be the light, if He is the light…simple
John called him in John 1 THE TRUE LIGHT
There is only one light…That is Jesus!
But we are to allow Him who lives in us a Christians to shine through us …to radiate through us….minister through us…for when that happens then the light is seen
If we could sum up the mission of the church… any church.
It would be the word IMPACT
As lights we are to impact the spiritual darkness of the world
In a society that is wrong…we must impact it with right
In an hour of ungodliness…we must impact with godliness
Impact unholiness with holiness
Hatred with Love
Trouble with peace
Hopelessness with hope
THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
CHRIST GIVE US THE EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW
Acts 10:38
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
KJV
Jesus’ LIFE was a life of impact then & still is today…for when he touched them they did not stay the same.
Calvary is not only a picture of love but also one of impact….our lives are eternally changed because of its work.
The outpouring of the Holy Ghost is a picture of impact….Jerusalem was turned upside down at the birth of the church.
Is our call today any different….I think not
We are called to make an impact…to leave an impression
In our reading in Acts 4 to fully understand it you have to go back to chapter 3
Here we find 2 of the Lord disciples going into the temple at the time of prayer…Here the encounter a man
The bible identifies him as a certain lame man
Who are we to impact….
The nameless….those we do not know well…
WHO they are … are not as important …as WHY God has allowed us to meet.
Acts 3:2-3
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
KJV
Peter & John represent the church
The Lame man represent those Lost, in the world, those hurting, hopeless.
He was lame… he could not function properly…Here is a man in need.
Is this not a picture of those in our world without Christ?
They are in need of being made whole…something is missing in them…a void is there…a void that only Jesus can fill.
He is asking of alms…He is trying to fill the void as only he can…
He doesn’t need money …He needs Jesus!
This world is trying everything they can to fill the void……
From Gambling to Drugs---from Alcohol to Sexual perversion.
Jesus is and has always been the answer!!!!
But watch …THE WORLD & THE CHURCH COLLIDE
Acts 3:4-9
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
KJV
Peter said silver & gold have I not….but what I do have I give unto thee.
Peter knew who he was in Christ.
He knew the authority he possessed through Jesus name.
He knew what Jesus was capable of doing through him.
Once again…can the so called church
Realize who they are---children of God are called to make an impression …an impact.
Realize we have authority, & where that authority come from
Let us realize again what Jesus is capable of doing in the lives of people .
I believe when Peter & John looked at this man they not only saw what he was…but what he could be.
Can we not do the same…look beyond their sins , their lifestyle, their sickness, & hopelessness situation…& see what they can be in the Name of the Lord
Satan would like to blind us to the potential of others
No person is to wicked…they cannot change
No sin to great…. They cannot be save
No sickness so great…they cannot be healed
No problem so great…God cannot solve it…
This miracle took place as God worked through His Church
2 paths crossed….light & darkness
A mans live was impacted by the light & he was no longer the same
This is our call…this is this churches call…to impact lives with the gospel & power of God.
Peter now takes this opportunity to Proclaim Jesus
This took them before the religious leaders
It is during He defense …something happens
Acts 4:13
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
KJV
Remember were still talking about impressions…what people see in us
When the looked at these men…unlearned (not having sat under some rabbi), ignorant (unprofessional)…They were trained teachers, speakers like the scribes & lawyers
They marveled & took knowledge of them…they had been with Jesus
Peters speaking, His boldness, His authority…reminded them of someone they had heard before….
This was the same leaders…Jesus has stood & spoke before
They recognized Them as followers as Jesus…
They not only saw Jesus in them, but they heard Jesus in their words…they see the same miracles, he had done
There are those in this city, on your street, in your place of work….they are in need of someone who has been with Jesus
Their marriage are falling apart
Their home are in turmoil
The Dr,. gives them no hope
Has someone in this place been with Jesus?
Can someone radiate with Love of God to them
Will a life be impacted
So remember…Wherever we go..what ever we do …we leave an impression….we are called to make an impact for the kingdom.
Close with the following
Heartprints
(Author Unknown)
Whatever our hands touch--
We leave fingerprints!
On walls, on furniture,
On doorknobs, dishes, books,
As we touch we leave our identity.
Oh, Lord, please where ever I go today,
Help me leave heartprints!
Heartprints of compassion
Of understanding and love.
Heartprints of kindness
and genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter,
Or an anxious mother,
Or, perhaps, a dear friend!
I shall go out today
To leave heartprints,
And if someone should say
"I felt your touch,"
May that one sense be...YOUR LOVE, LORD Touching through ME.
Let’s leave an impression!
Disclaimer:
These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely, I trust these sermons will be a blessing to all who read them. Please note that due to the large amount of material on the Internet concerning sermons, illustrations & ideals. Any similarities in wording, or titles of other preachers sermons are simply coincidental. May God Bless You is my Prayer!
