Having Power with Men
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “For we are unto God a sweet savor or the fragrance of Christ) among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”
Last week we looked at Genesis 32:28 where Jacob, the supplanter, was renamed Israel and was declared to have power with God and with man. We discussed that for us to have power with God we need to exhibit humility, have a deep seated faith, to persevere, and to be holy. Today we look at what it takes to have power with men. If we are to have a positive influence upon others which will draw them to Christ, as believers we must live holy, consistent, Spirit-filled, and hospitable lives.
Transition: Just as having a relationship with God requires us to be holy, having a contagious life that impacts others necessitates...
I. Living a Holy Life
A. Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
B. Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”
C. Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
D. Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
E. 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
F. Do you have a desire to live a holy life? Or do you say, “I can’t be like that.” Is that the case: or is it “I don’t want to be like that”?
G. The results of living a holy life are:
1. God word is honored (Titus 2:5) - The credibility of the Christian gospel is inseparably linked to the integrity of the lives of those who proclaim it.
2. Opposition is silenced – (Titus 2:8) Don’t you think some of the unbelievers in your sphere of influence would love to see you fail significantly so they can justify their unbelief?
3. The Gospel is made attractive – (Titus 2:10) To convince a man God can save, I need to show him a man He saved. To convince a man that God can give hope, I need to show him a man with hope. To convince a man that God can give peace, joy, and love, I need to show him a man with peace, joy, and love. To convince a man that God can give complete, total, and utter satisfaction, I need to show him a satisfied man. When the world sees people who are holy, righteous, peaceful, joyful, and fulfilled, they see the evidence of God’s transforming power. – adapted from John MacArthur, The Power of a Holy Life, © 2012 Grace to You.
II. Living a Consistent Life
A. “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree, the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.” (C.H. Spurgeon).
B. One of the most difficult problems a church faces is a testimony damaged by the inconsistent living of careless church members.
C. Genesis 19:14 “And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” (ESV - he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.)
D. Daniel 6:4-5 “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, ‘We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.’”
E. The consistent life, the holy conversation, the unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent spirit, the godly example,—these are the mediums through which light is conveyed to the world. - copied
F. Inconsistent living and un-confessed sin in the life of the believer will become a basket-like covering which hides the light of God
G. One should practice what he preaches; not living contrary to what one professes to believe. We should not one bring offense to the testimony of Christ by inconsistent living.
H. Is your commitment to Christ a token commitment or a total commitment?
I. One of the most effective ways of winning souls to Him is in exemplifying His character in our daily life. Our influence upon others depends not so much upon what we say as upon what we are. – copied
J. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” It is the responsibility of the Christian to live consistent with the great Name lie bears, with his profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the soldiers of Alexander the Great was called up to be court-martialed for desertion. ’What’s your name?’ asked the Commander of the Greek army. ’Alexander,’ was the reply. ’Change your name or mend your manners,’ said the Emperor.
III. Living a Spirit-filled Life
A. Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent (extraordinary) spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”
B. Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit”
C. The life of a Christian is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Our life is to be lived under his holy influence, his control. We are filled with the Spirit by continually allowing the Spirit to influence every area of our life. We are placing our life under his control.
D. If the Holy Spirit is actively involved in your life, guiding and your decisions and empowering all of your actions, your life will have a great influence on others.
E. Karpos, Strong’s #2590, means fruit, literally or figuratively. Vine defines it, in the figurative sense, as "the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly, the character of the ’fruit’ being evidence of the character of the power producing it." (W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, Jr. "An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words", Thomas Nelson, 1984, p. 463).
F. Matthew 7:20 "By their fruit you will recognize them."
G. Since fruit is the "visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly", our emphasis should be on allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work within us. If we do that, the fruit of the Spirit will appear. If we "live by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:60) we will show the fruit of the Spirit. - James L. Morrisson
H. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
I. Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a sin here and there," but by being filled with the Holy Spirit. Today in the Word, September, 1991, p. 30.
IV. Living a Hospitable Life
A. Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it”
B. Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
C. Many are looking for friends who will help them, meet their need, be a friend to them, listen to their problems, be sympathetic and love them. They are seeking a selfish friendship in which they receive friendship....but often this is a one-sided affair. But the believer is called to be others oriented.
D. "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."--Dale Carnegie
E. We live in a day in which most have become so pre-occupied with the cares of the world and the responsibilities of life and being self-interested, striving for self-satisfaction they are unmoved by the needs of others or what they are going through.
F. Dr Lee Roberson in his sermon, The Need of This Hour, said “Jesus saw the multitude and was moved with compassion. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd. In this sad, cold, metallic day it is hard to find people who care. Unconcern is common in all branches of society. But especially, we are awakened to the need for compassion in the church.
G. Jesus was grieved and angered by the attitude of the religious leaders of his day (Mark 3:5). They were more concerned about traditions and ritual observations, etc, than ministering to the people’s needs.
H. Care – Having a genuine interest in others. Engaging oneself with another’s situation
1. “How are you?”
2. David said “No man cares for my soul”
I. Concern – Feel sorrow or the pain of others
1. “What you’re going through disturbs me”
2. Isaiah speaking of Christ said “When they were afflicted, He was afflicted…:
J. Compassion – Having a desire to alleviate or help
1. “What can I do?”
2. “Bear ye one another’s burdens”
K. Matthew Henry: “I would think it greater happiness to gain one soul to Christ than mountains of silver and gold to myself.”
L. C. H. Surgeon: “I would rather be the means of saving one soul from death than to be the greatest orator on earth.”
M. W.A. Criswell - The feeling of care, concern, warmth, interest, love, and compassion are the qualities that make for a church where people are saved and God adds to His redeemed family.- W.A. Criswell, The Soul-Winning Church
