I Can Make a Difference...
1. For those closest to me.
(Genesis 7:1) The Lord then said to Noah, “Go
into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in
this generation.”
(Acts 16:31) Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved--you and your household.
2. For my generation.
(Matthew 24:37) As it was in
the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
(Jeremiah 15:19 NLT) You are to influence them;
do not let them influence you!
(Acts 13:36) For when David had served God’s
purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.
3. For God.
It's hard for God to find a person who will make a difference.
(Genesis 6:5-8) The LORD saw
how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved
that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the
LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the
earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of
the air--for I am grieved that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the
eyes of the LORD.
(2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV) For the eyes of the
LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on
behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
(Ezekiel 22:30) I looked for a man among them who would build
up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not
have to destroy it, but I found none.
To Make a Difference, We Must Let go of Fear...
1. Fear of the past.
You have to let
go of your past, so it can let go of you.
(Romans 11:29 Message) God's gifts and God's
call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.
2. Fear of the
crowd.
You have to be more concerned about obeying God than
looking foolish.
(Proverbs 29:25) Fear of man will prove to be a
snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
3. Fear of taking the first
step.
You have to step out
to find out.
(Hebrews 11:7) By faith Noah, when warned about
things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith
he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by
faith.
4. Fear of failure.
God can take your
mess ups and use them.
(Genesis 9:13 TLB) I have placed my rainbow in
the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all t
he
earth.
(Matthew 28:20 NLT) “And be sure of this: I (Jesus) am
with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Romans 10:13 (NKJV)
Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/i-can-make-a-difference
All scripture is from the New International Version unless
otherwise noted.
The Big
Idea
This week, Pastor Chris shares a core value of
Church of the Highlands— that we are part of the worldwide Church, and we exist
to bring Jesus to the world.
Especially in current times with so much darkness
and chaos on the earth, God has called us to shine His light to the world. We
are ministers with a specific purpose at an opportune time to make an eternal
difference.
We are called to minister to people not just to do good things, but
to do good things in a way that points people to Jesus, our eternal hope.
No
matter what you have been through in your life or where you are now, God has
called and equipped all of us to be ministers.
Pastor Chris explains three ways
to find your ministry. First, your ministry can be found in your gifts and
passions. We all have unique interests and abilities, and we can use our
specific gifts to reach people.
Secondly, you can find your ministry in your
life experience. There is something life has taught each of us that we can use
to teach and help others.
Finally, your ministry can be found in your pain.
Some of us have been through very difficult things, and God wants to use us to
comfort others just as He comforted us in our trial. When we let God heals us
and use us, there is a purpose in our pain .
“You are the world’s light—a city on a hill,
glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for
all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your
heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:14-16 (TLB)
Discussion Questions
·
Read Isaiah 60:1-3. In this Scripture, God says He shines His light on you so
that you can shine it in the world. What areas of your everyday life can you
find opportunities to shine light into darkness?
·
Reflect on this truth: I am a minister with a specific purpose at an opportune
time to make an eternal difference. Knowing that out of all the times in
history, God chose you to live here and now. Who has God placed in your sphere
of influence that needs to see His light?
·
Pastor Chris identified three ways to find your ministry: through your gifts
and passions, your life experience, and your pain. Share with the group where
you see God developing ministry through you in one or all of these areas.
Prayer Focus
Thank you God for helping us realize we are
ministers with a specific purpose at just the right time to make an eternal
difference. Stir our gifts and passions and let us use our life experience and
our pain to touch the darkness that is over the earth. Prepare us in every way.
Help us find ways to serve others and show them the love of God.
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