Sermon Central
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Making A Difference
Contributed by David Hill on Jul 8, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: How to make a difference for God in life.
MAKING A DIFFERNECE
INTRODUCTION: I read a story of a man traveling through Atlanta who noticed in the Yellow Pages, in the listing of restaurants, an entry for a place called Church of God Grill. The peculiar name aroused his curiosity and he dialed the number A man answered with a cheery, "Hello, Church of God Grill!" He asked how the restaurant had been given such an unusual name? "Well replied the owner, we had a little mission down here, and we started selling chicken dinners after church on Sunday to help pay the bills. Well, people liked the chicken more than the church, and we were doing such a good business, that eventually we cut back on the church services.
After a while we just closed down the church altogether & kept on serving the chicken dinners. We kept the name we started with, and that’s Church of God Grill."
SOMETIME WE ARE LIKE “THE CHURCH OF GOD GRILL” WE LOSE OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE! WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN LIFE’S DEMANDS THAT WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHO WE ARE & MORE IMPORTANTLY WHO’S WE ARE!
WE FORGET OUR PURPOSE! OH, WE BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN, IN CONTROL & THAT HE HAS A PLAN FOR OUR LIVES…BUT SOMEHOW SOMEWAY THAT KNOWLEDGE DOESN’T FIND IT WAY INTO OUR HEARTS & IF IT’S NOT IN OUR HEARTS IN WILL NOT BE LIVED OUT IN OUR LIVES.
THERE ARE MANY WHO WRESTLE WITH THESE TWO QUESTIONS:
1. WHO AM I?
2. WHY AM I HERE?
THE ANSWERS ARE FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD…THE BIBLE!
WE ARE THE CREATION OF GOD…MADE IN HIS IMAGE TO BE HIS CHILDREN WHEN WE EMBRACE & LIVE WITHIN OUR IDENTITY NOT ONLY IS THERE PEACE BUT PURPOSE …AND WHAT IS THAT PURPOSE…GLORIFY, HONOR & WORSHIP THE FATHER.
1. “WHO AM I” – A CHILD OF GOD…CLEANSED, FORGIVEN, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, PURE BLOOD BOUGHT & HEAVEN BOUND! THE IS MY IDENTITY!
2. “WHY AM I HERE” - TO BRING & OFFER UP GLORY, HONOR, PRAISE & WORSHIP TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER!
ITS ONE THING TO KNOW GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE IT YET ANOTHER TO LIVE IN & WITH PURPOSE.
THIS MORNING I WANT US TO MOVE FROM GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES TO HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES BOTH ARE ESSTENTIAL IF WE ARE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HIM.
**** JEREMIAH 29:10 ****
10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD , "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD , "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
I COR. 13:13 AND NOW ABIDE (IN) FAITH, HOPE, LOVE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE!
1. A FAITH THAT DARES- AND NOW ABIDE IN FAITH
MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY LACK A FAITH THAT DARES. THEIR FAITH IS COMPLACENT, INACTIVE & INDIFFERENT SUCH A FAITH FAILS TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING FOR GOD! WHERE ARE THE GREAT MEN & WOMEN OF FAITH? PEOPLE LIKE…
- ABRAHAM THAT WOULD PICK UP EVERTHING HE OWNED & MOVE…
- MOSES WHO DARE TO APPROACH PHAROH & DEMAND HE LET GOD’S…
- GIDEON WHO WAS OUT NUMBERED 450 TO 1 YET TRUSTED GOD TO…
- ESTHER WHO WAS WILLING TO TRADE HER LIFE FOR HER PEOPLE.
- DAVID WHO LAYED DOWN HIS STAFF & PICKED UP A SEPTOR.
ANNIE ARMSTRONG, JOHN WESLEY, LOOTIE MOON, MOTHER TERESA
TELL ME WERE ARE THE GREAT MEN & WOMEN OF THE FAITH! PEOPLE WHO WERE SOLD OUT! DETERMINED! DEPENDABLE! SOULWINNERS!
I’LL TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE…THEY ARE ALMOST EXTINCT! NON-EXSISTANT!
A FAITH THAT DARES IS ACTIVE, ALIVE IT SEEKS THE FATHERS WILL & OBEYS IT. IT ATTEMPTS GREAT THINGS FOR GOD…IT EXPECTS GREAT THINGS FROM GOD!
A FAITH THAT DARES SETS US FREE FROM SIN, SATAN & SELF & POSITIONS US TO BE USED BY GOD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith…
…we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…
