Can We Make a Difference?
“Yes We Can!”
We set last Month as Harvest Time. And we will continue on this subject.
If the building of the church were a sport, I would tell you, “It’s hard to put any points on the scoreboard from the sidelines,”
“Serving the Lord” is not a spectator sport.
Intro: There’s a story told about a Barber who got saved. Now this Barber was known to be eccentric. He was actually mentally deficient and although he had a good heart, he usually did or said things the wrong way. People would overlook him because they knew who and how he was. One day not long after he was saved a stranger walked into his barber shop and asked for a hair cut and a shave. The barber cut the mans hair and had lathered up his face for his shave and something inside of him said that you need to tell this man about Jesus. The Barber had his razor in his hand and he walked around to the front of the chair and looked at the man with his razor held high and said “are you prepared to meet your God today”. The man jumped up from the chair and ran out of the barber shop screaming still lathered up.
While we need to witness, maybe we should consider how we do it.
We all need to strive to make it more about Him, and less about us in our lives!
The only thing that matters, that really matters in this life, is what we do for the Lord and the building up of His Kingdom.
This world around us, is going to hell in a hand basket it seems like more and more on a daily basis.
Its time the church took the Great Commission seriously.
Mt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
.The first thing I want to look at is concept of authority. \
We all have problems sometimes with authority.
. A mild-mannered man was tired of his wife always bossing him around, so he went to a psychiatrist. The doctor told him he had to develop self-esteem and gave him a booklet on assertiveness training, which the man read on his way home.
When he walked through the door and his wife came to greet him he told her, “From now on I’m the man of this house and my word is law. When I come home from work, I want my dinner on the table.
Now go upstairs and lay out some clothes on the bed, because I’m going out with the boys tonight. Then draw my bath. When I get out of the tub, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair?”
“The undertaker,” she replied.
. Jesus has and is our authority.
. He tells us to do this but we also are working under His authority. . When policeman and government officials tell us to do something, they can do this because they have the authority to do so.
. Jesus says I have ALL authority.
. I give you the job and the duty to do this because I have the authority.
. You are working under my authority.
. Now we get into the great Commission and our mission statement. . Verse 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
. Jesus says therefore since you are now working under and with my Authority, Go.
The literal Greek here is Going.. Jesus says therefore going make disciples.
This sentence literally reads:
. Therefore as you are going, make disciples.
. Now Jesus isn’t talking about a mission trip,
He is talking about every day.
. As you interact with people on a daily basis.
. The person at the corner gas station.
. The person at work
. The person you just happen to speak to in the grocery store or wal-mart.
. Your friends and relatives.
Can We Make a Difference, Yes we Can!
We need to develop a Yes We Can Do Attitude
Phil. 4:;13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
We need to tell everyone what we know about who we know.
Matt. 10: 32. Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
We have a hard time sharing and telling others about something of such great worth?
We can talk about everything else under the sun, but when it comes to what we know about the Lord, for some reason or another, we say nothing!
Did you know, that when a scientist discovers a new formula, or a new cure for a disease,
They don’t just tell their families, they tell the world, they want everyone to know!
They have just approved a pill that you can take to lose weight. They announced it on Morning news
They don’t spend all their time, talking about the negative side effects that the medicine produces,
They only talk about the cure!
That’s what Jesus told them to do, when He gave them the Great Commission,
He didn’t tell them to tell everyone about themselves, or about what they thought, or what their version of the story was.
He told them, Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, that I have taught to you!
For centuries, man has done nothing but complicate what was spelled out from the start, Some where along the lines, it became more about mans view and mans opinion on the subject, than about Jesus Powerful Grace Message, that He died for, so the whole world could experience the forgiveness it makes possible!
It’s high time the church quit trying to tell the world about their particular view on religion, religion isn’t going to save anyone, Jesus is! We need to focus on getting people into a relationship with Jesus and let His presence in their life, change their life!
We need to use the (kiss method) keep it simple Sam!
The Pharisees back in the day, didn’t like it very well when Jesus told them the same thing!
John 14:6. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
That’s why Jesus came, to abolish the law of condemnation, to make it easier to have a relationship with Him.
What we need to do (and I say we, as in every single one of us) is tell the world about the Life Changing Grace relationship, that’s available with God, to all who will accept it, through His Son Jesus! Those were the instructions of the Great Commission.
Can We Make a Difference? Yes We Can!
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit
It takes all of us working together, everybody doing their part!
Jesus said, If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me
No one seems to want to lift up the name of Jesus, when they are out of the confines of the church!
Its time, we not only talked the talk, but walked the walk! Amen?
We should know the story of Jesus like we know our own name and be ready to share what He has done for each us in our lives.
We Can Make a Difference, Yes We Can!
The church needs to get past its insecurities, about witnessing for the Lord!
When you go to your neighborhood, you are the church.
This building, as beautiful as it is, will never tell anyone about Jesus, that’s your responsibility!
There are still people that don’t know about the Love of God and the Peace that passes all understanding.
And you might say, maybe in some far away country you’d see on the Nat. Geo. Channel.
The reality of it is, there are people right here in our hometown, that have never heard the Life Changing Message of Jesus,
Can We Make a Difference? Yes We Can!
I don’t think we really realize the awesome opportunities in the Kingdom of God, that are waiting for and on us to bring into being!
Luke 10:2. Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act.
Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?" The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.
Telling others about Jesus, is truly something to get excited about.
A few weeks ago they made Face Book a public Company. You could by part of that company. All over TV there was talk of this wonderful opportunity. But all the hype did not make a stir in heaven
There is only one thing that can make All of Heaven Rejoice!
Luke 15:7. I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:10. Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Helping someone to find their way to Jesus, is without a doubt, one of the most exciting things you can ever do, for your fellow man!
Can We Make a Difference? Yes We Can!
We have been told time and time again, through one prophetic word after another, straight from the Lord Himself, How He is going to bring about Great Things in His Church, to just keep on praising His Name and Lifting Up His Name.
Church, now is not the time to grow weary in our walk, now is the time to keep pressing on towards the mark, we are about to reap a bountiful harvest of souls for the Kingdom!
Jesus is coming back for a Glorious Church!
Luke 10:2. Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
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We need to be found faithful now more than ever before, the blessings God has Promised are closer now.
The Harvest is outside of theses walls. We are the Laborers.
Let us be found faithful, in doing our part.
God is building a home. He’s using us , in what he is building.
He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation.
Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together.
Let us be found faithful to God and our calling and Know,
We Can Make a Difference, Yes We Can
