MAKING AN IMPACT WITH YOUR LIFE 8 12
For more than a week, Gladys, Drew and I have enjoyed our evenings together, watching the Olympics. We have enjoyed watching our athletes accomplish amazing things. They have broken records, lifted amazing weights, ran like the wind, swam faster than imaginable, scored baskets over their opponents’ heads and spiked the ball at their feet. We have enjoyed watching as the medal count for our country has increased each night, and thank the Lord that we live in a country with so many talented and gifted people; and in a country so blessed with material things that so many people can devote so much of their time and resources to athletics.
Let me ask you, in the end, what have we really accomplished? I have seen people crying, because after devoting the largest portion of their lives to a sport, they lose by 1/100 of a second, or they lose their balance, or someone trips them. Is that what life is about, setting records that will be broken in a few years? Is that what it means to make a mark, or make your life count, to set a speed record that will be broken in 6 months, or to buy a new car that will no longer feel new in a few months, or to build a house you will downsize from in a couple of decades?
Can we not make more of an impact with our lives? Can we not make our lives count for more?
In the 11th chapter of Acts, we find a man described who made such a great impact with his life that we are still talking about it today.
- Acts 11:19-26
The church was growing. The kingdom of God was expanding. People’s lives were being changed, marriages restored, parents loving their children. The kingdom was expanding through the specific instructions of God to Peter, and then through a lot of joy-filled Christians talking to their neighbors, so that even Gentiles were being saved. It was an exciting time for those early Christians.
Doctor Luke in Acts was excitedly writing about the changes and expansion going on, and then here in the middle of his writing he pauses to jot a quick note about one of the men God was using to bring about these changes. He pauses to tell us a little about Barnabas.
- Acts 11:24
I. WHO HE WAS – Acts 11:24
1. He was a good man – Character – He was like Jesus. He went around doing good. He had a good reputation.
Was he perfect? No, he made mistakes. He sinned. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no not one.” He made mistakes. He got his priorities out of wack from time-to-time. We all do. But, he was a good man. He was not perfect, but he sure wanted to be.
Notice – verse 23. He saw a revival going on. He saw people being saved and lives being changed. He saw a work of God going on and Christians sharing like they should, and he was excited.
Sometimes, sadly in politics, the only time we’re happy the economy is doing well is if our party or our particular group is heading things up at the time. Similarly, there are some who are only happy about a revival or a great growth in the church when they are at the head, or when the revival or growth is happening at their church. They want the credit.
Not Barnabas. He got there, saw what was happening, and he was happy. He was excited. He didn’t care who got the credit. He was just glad that people were being saved, their homes were being healed, the kingdom was growing and people were praising God. Why, because he was a good man.
He was a man who knew what he believed and he acted on his beliefs. He didn’t talk it, he walked it. He had character.
2. He was full of the Holy Spirit – Christianity – Can’t be filled with the Holy Spirit if you aren’t a Christian. That’s where the filling begins. But he not only had the Holy Spirit in his life, which all Christians do, because Paul says “If any man hath not the Spirit of God, he is none of His.”
He not only had the Holy Spirit in his life, but he was filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit. He was so filled with God that He was oozing out all over. How do you know?
- Ephesians 5:18-21
a. Filled with joy – Singing and making music in your heart. It’s demonstrated by your conversation … You’ll be a joy to be around.
Look, if you are a sourpuss and people try to avoid you, don’t tell me you are filled with the Holy Spirit.
> Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
b. Filled with gratitude – Giving thanks always …
He didn’t just give lip service – Acts 4:36 tells us that he sold some property he had and gave it to the church for the needs of the saints. He was so excited about being a Christian that He gave.
Women cleaning the floors in the church in Russia. Elderly black gentleman in the church in MS. Prayer – I thank You that I woke up this morning. Thank You for giving me the strength to get out of bed today. Thank You that I had food to eat this morning and that I had clothes to wear …
c. Filled with humility – “Submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord.”
He wasn’t worried about who got the credit. He was humble. He brought Paul in on the work … He wanted to grow this new Christian. He wanted as much help as possible. He wanted to minister to as many people as possible so he got all of the help he could without worrying about who got the credit.
He was a good man. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he was full of faith.
3. Full of faith – Commitment
He trusted God in the good times and in the bad. … When the crowds around, adored him, called him Jupiter and wanted to make him a god, he trusted God. When they rejected him, he kept on believing. He knew that the Father and the Son had his back. “Yea thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, cause God’s got my back and He’s carrying a rod and a staff.”
He knew God was in control and that He would never leave him nor forsake him. He knew God was in control, loved him, and that the Father was going to work things out … He had no doubt.
That’s who he was. Now, notice what he did.
II. WHAT HE DID – Acts 11:23
1. He encouraged them – He didn’t just give them a little pep talk. He reminded them of God’s faithfulness. He reminded them of the importance of commitment and faithfulness to God.
He gave them his vote of confidence.
The Bible tells us that he brought Paul along side to work with him. Paul later wrote in his letter to the Philippians.
> Philippians 1:6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Don’t you think that perhaps Paul first heard this from the lips of Barnabas? “Paul, I know you’re discouraged. I know your family and your friends have rejected you. I know it seems that even the Christians don’t like you or want you around, because they’re afraid of you. But Paul, “I am sure of this, that He Who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”
Can’t you almost hear Barnabas saying something like that to the folks Antioch? He encouraged them.
2, He taught them – v26 says that he taught them.
He modeled it for them. He showed them what it was like to live for and to be sold out to Jesus. …
That’s who Barnabas was and what HE did. Oh, but notice what God did as a result.
III. WHAT GOD DID – v24
Large numbers were added to the Lord.
God did that here as well. He took with the work He had begun, and used a man sold out to Him to fan the flames. He, with the help of Paul, were used to win and disciple many believers.
God used that man, sold out to Him, to make an impact that is still sowing fruit today.
IV. WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Decide – I will be that person. I will make an impact with my life. I will be sold out. I won’t give up, give in, or quit. I will not be defeated, discouraged or distracted. I will serve, and share. I will live for Christ, and love like Christ. I will run the race, fight the battle, and stake a stand.
> Joshua 24:15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”
As a young man and a new believer, Dwight L. Moody once heard a speaker say, “The world has yet to see what God can do through the life of one man sold out to Him.” Moody replied, “By the grace of God, and with the Lord’s help, I will be that man.”
He went on to preach in this and other countries. God used him to start Sunday Schools in the North, that later attracted adults and became churches. He founded a college that still bears his name.
That could be you. Decide today.
2. Pray –
Perhaps you’re struggling with faith. You’re doubting and discouraged. … Pray and ask the Lord to grow your faith.
Man wanting desperately to have his son healed …
> Mark 9:23-24 Then Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ Everything is possible to the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”
3. Study – Get into the Word of God. Saturate your mind with the Word of God and the things of God.
> Philippians 4:8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.
Fill your mind with the promises of God. Look at how God has used other people, how He has delivered them from impossible situations …
Fill your mind with the things that will do you some good. Listen to some Christian music. Listen to some preachers. Read your Bible and think about what you’re read. …
Dr. Paul Jones’ grandmother. - While in Mississippi, I had the opportunity to work with a man by the name of Paul James. He tells the story of his grandmother's funeral. She was a godly lady and when she passed, the funeral was held in the small country church she attended. On the day of the funeral, the building was packed. There were people outside the windows of that little church and outside the front door, just listening. During the funeral, the pastor asked how many people there had been led to the Lord by that dear lady. People stood up and raised their hands all over the room.
After the funeral, there was a procession to the cemetary, and when they got to the railroad crossing, there was a train stopped at the road. The engineer, conductor, and others from the train were standing beside the road with their hats over their hearts. Dr. James just had to stop and find out what was going on.
He tallked to the engineer. He was told that years before, the train used to stop in that town. Those on the train used to eat in the diner Dr. James' grandmother ran. The eingineer said that his grandmother had led them to the Lord and when he heard that the funeral was going to be that day and crossing the rails they were on, that they just had to stop and show their respects.
My friend, you can make an impact like that, if you're willing to be the man/woman God has called you to be.
That could be you. You can make an impact on the world that nothing can erase. What do you need to do?
1. decide …
2. Pray – Lord help me
3. Commit to study …
