MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS BEFORE WE DIE
MATT. 25:35-40
1. INTRODUCTION. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I AM CERTAIN THAT ALL OF US WILL EXPERIENCE AND THAT IS DEATH, AND STANDING BEFORE THE LORD AT JUDGMENT. YES, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IF WE DO NOT TAKE PART IN THE RAPTURE, ALL OF US WILL EXPERIENCE MAN’S FINAL COMMON DENOMINATOR AND THAT IS DEATH. THE BIBLE IS ACCURATE IN ITS PROCLAMATION IN HEBREWS 9:27 THAT IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, AND AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT. BUT DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DIE. IF WE ARE IN CHRIST, DEATH CANNOT HARM US; OUR CONCERN SHOULD BE HOW WE LIVE SO THAT WHEN WE DIE, WE WILL HEAR THE LORD SAY WELL DONE. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN HEAR THE LORD SAY WELL DONE, IS IF WE LIVE BEYOND OURSELVES, MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS BEFORE WE DIE.
2. THE TEXT. THE TEXT DEMONSTRATES ACTS OF KINDNESS FROM THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD, AS WELL AS TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
a) OUR ACTS OF KINDNESS TO OTHERS ILLUSTRATE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN US.
b) FAILURE TO BE KIND TO OTHERS IS A GOOD INDICATOR THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST.
c) JESUS MADE HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO OTHERS, AND SO MUST WE.
d) JESUS WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HIMSELF, BUT HE GAVE HIMSELF UNSELFISHLY TO OTHERS.
e) FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD WHO PROFESS TO LOVE THE LORD, ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT ME, MYSELF, AND I!
f) JESUS COMMANDS US TO FOLLOW HIM. HE SETS THE EXAMPLE!
g) THEREFORE, WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES, ARE WE REALLY COMMITTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT BEING LIKE JESUS?
3. JESUS IS NOT CONCERNED WITH OUR POSITIONS, BUT OUR DISPOSITION ABOUT HIS WORK.
a) HE IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT OUR MEMBERSHIP IN FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES, OR ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION, BUT HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS.
b) HE IS NOT IMPRESSED WITH HOW WELL WE KNOW THE WORD, BUT HE IS PLEASE WITH HOW WE LIVE THE WORD; POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
c) HE IS NOT CONCERNED WITH OUR STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ARE WE MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
d) ALL OF US HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE A PERSON FOR THE GOOD OR FOR THE BAD.
e) SO THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK OURSELVES IS WHO’S LIVE HAVE I IMPACTED FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD LATELY?
f) WHEN WE SHOW ACTS OF KINDNESS TO OTHERS, IT’S AS IF WE ARE SHOWING ACTS OF KINDNESS TO JESUS HIMSELF!
4. JUDGMENT WILL BE PREDICATED ON TWO THINGS. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD AND WHAT WE DID FOR THE LORD.
a) YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT WHAT WE GET OR DON’T GET UP THERE, WILL BE BASED ON WHAT WE DO OR DON’T DO DOWN HERE.
b) ALL OF US MUST BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT BEING A CHRISTIAN INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST COMING TO CHURCH.
c) WE MUST BE KEENLY COGNIZANT OF THE REALITY OF THE THINGS THAT THE LORD REQUIRES OF US.
d) I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DO NOT WANT MY LIVING TO BE IN VAIN!
e) AS YOUR PASTOR, IT IS MY ENDEAVOR TO TEACH YOU HOW TO BE LIKE JESUS.
f) JESUS WAS ABOUT MINISTRY TO OTHERS!
g) MINISTRY IS NEVER FOR THE BENEFIT OF SELF!
h) AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, CHURCHES ARE FULL OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THE APPLE OF THEIR OWN EYE, AND WILL NOT LIFT A FINGER TO HELP OTHERS.
i) BUT, I STOPPED BY TO TELL YOU THAT EVERYDAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS BEFORE WE DIE.
j) LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE ANGRY ALL OF THE TIME.
k) LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO HAVE PITY PARTIES ALL OF THE TIME.
l) LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO INDULGE IN SELF-CENTEREDNESS ALL THE TIME.
m) LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE INDIFFERENT ABOUT THE HEARTACHE, THE PAIN, AND HARDSHIPS OF OTHERS.
n) LIFE IS NOT ALL ABOUT WHAT I CAN GET, BUT WHAT I CAN GIVE TO OTHERS!
5. THREE POINTS/CONCLUSION. MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS INVOLVES SEVERAL THINGS…
a) ONE, IT INVOLVES COMPASSION, WHICH IS LOVE. LOVE OF GOD IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND ALL THAT WE DO. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE ARE TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT BY LOVE SHALL MEN KNOW THAT WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES. LUKE CHAPTER 10 DETAILS THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHO HAD COMPASSION ON THE MAN WHO FELL AMONG THIEVES.
b) TWO, IT INVOLVES CONCERN. IT SHOULD CONCERN US WHEN THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE ARE GET PUSHED ASIDE DAY AFTER DAY. IT SHOULD CONCERN US WHEN THE HUNGRY CONTINUE TO BE HUNGRY AND THE HAVE NOTS CONTINUE TO HAVE NOT. ALL OF US HAVE THINGS IN OUR HOMES THAT WE CAN SPARE. ALL OF US HAVE CLOTHES THAT WE CAN SPARE.
c) THREE, THE FIRST TO POINTS SHOULD MOVE US TO THE THIRD POINT AND THAT’S COMMITMENT. SOMETIMES, PEOPLE NEED MORE THAN OUR PIOUS PLATITUDES, I’LL PRAY FOR YOU. THEY NEED TO HEAR MORE THAN THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY SOME HOW. HE USES US TO BE THE WAY SOME HOW.
d) SO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS!
