A Change Agent For Christ / Catalyst

A Change Agent for Christ

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING:- Earlier this week I posted on my FB page I GOT A TESTIMONY and I told how God orchestrated an encounter this week with 2 young men as I came out of Dollartree, one of whom was a Muslim. The encounter ended up with prayer and the young Muslim guy crying and wanting to be Baptized. I received many comments from people about the testimony and many encouraging words and I praise God for them. I received one comment from a friend of mine an immensely powerful woman of God whom I had the privilege of worshipping with, in service the first year my wife and I moved here to Florida. Her name is Prophetess Jackie Betty and in her comment, she said, “I hear the word CATALYST” and that resonated something down on the inside and I just had to get it out. Sister Jackie Betty thank you for listening to God and planting the seed for this message.

If you have listened to the messages I have preached especially over the past few months you will have noticed how I have mentioned how it’s time to be the church, to stop being so religious, to be the church, wake up and do what God has called us to do. I genuinely believe the traditional ways of church are at a changing point in the way we effectively deal with the world. Unfortunately, church has become an entity that is better known by what we do not like or agree with than what we believe. In the eyes of the sinner have become a conservative faction that is contentious instead of a loving, caring witness for our Lord Jesus Christ – and it’s time for a change. It’s time for the people of God to stand up and be a Change Agent for Christ.

PRAYER:-

SCRIPTURES:- John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”.

Matthew 5:13 says “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men”.

DEFINITION: - a substance or element, either simple or compound, which plays a role accelerator in a chemical reaction determined, that occurs without altering at all the end product of the same without either losing their own mass the process. Catalyst is the causing or the speeding up of a chemical reaction by the presence of a substance that does not itself change. A person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic.

EXAMPLES:- The catalytic converter in a car contains platinum, which serves as a catalyst to change carbon monoxide, which is toxic, into carbon dioxide.

TEXT: - John 3:17 said “God sent His Son into the world in order that the world might be saved through Him”. God sent His son into the world to be a Catalyst, an agent of change that would cause the world not to be condemned but saved through Him, Jesus the catalyst, the change agent.

Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to make possible the salvation of the world. He came to make a change, not in the political structure as people were hoping for, but to make a change in the people to change them from an enemy of God to sons of God.

WATCH THIS:- The very announcement of the birth of Jesus changed things, Mary was changed young woman espoused to be married to a pregnant young woman. Mary and Joseph had their lives changed from a quite life into an adventure of faith, commitment, and service that no doubt was different then what they had planned.

The birth of Jesus caused King Herod to panic and drove families with male children 2 years of age and younger into a level of grief unimaginable. However; His birth brought to a hopeless nation, peace on earth, and good will toward men.

Jesus’ interactions with people changed their circumstances and life in astounding ways, the disciples went from being fishermen, tax collector’s, and physicians to being the foundation of the church. Blind Bartimaeus was changed from living in darkness to receiving his sight, the woman with the issue of blood was changed from being an outcast that was literally dying to being called a daughter of God.

The demonic possessed man that couldn’t be chained with fetters and lived among the tombs was changed into an example to the rest of the city of what God can do. The woman of Nain was changed from a grieving mother to a mother full of joy unspeakable full of glory when Jesus touched her dead sons coffin and changed her situation. The 10 lepers were changed from being unclean to clean.