LIVING A LIFE THAT HAS AN IMPACT FOR JESUS
Acts 17:1-5; 10
1 Thess. 1:1-10
Introduction: This world is in need of people who need our Saviour. He is the one who saved from the sin that plagues every man, woman, boy and girl. It is the sin of being a descendant from Adam. Each believer needs to be an evangelist. Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread.
Think about the day you got saved. I remember how clean I felt. I remember the joy that was in my heart of sins forgiven. But I also remember the desire that I had to see others to be saved. Over the years I felt that desire wane. In fact, I have sinned against Almighty God by not witnessing. To compound this wicked sin, I preached about witnessing but rarely did so myself. This church will never rise higher than the leadership. Lee Roberson said that every thing rises and falls on leadership.
This past week, I was challenged and broken over the wicked sin of not winning souls to Jesus Christ. I am not going to brag and tell you that I will you that I will be a great soul winner. But I do not want it to be business as usual.
There was a chorus that we learned in Bible college that I want us to learn and let it be the battle cry for the church.
Souls for Jesus is our battle cry,
Souls for Jesus, we’ll fight until we die,
We will never give in while souls are lost in sin,
Souls for Jesus is our battle cry.
In Acts 17, we see Paul’s trip to Thessalonica. He goes to the cross roads of the Roman Empire. All roads came to this point. So it was really a key place to win people to Christ and start a church. Paul started with the Jews but it spread to the Gentiles also. Paul was in the city on three weeks. In the starting of a church, three weeks are really a drop in the bucket in church planting. The folks who have planted churches tell us that it takes an average of three to five years to properly plant a church. Of course, Paul is not your normal church planter and New Testament times were not your normal church planting times. I believe part of the “success” of Paul was his keen heart to hear and follow entirely the Holy Spirit’s leading.
With the working of the Holy Spirit, Paul won many folks to Christ. Look at verse 4. It says “And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.” Anytime the Lord works in an area, the devil is not going to roll over and play dead. From our reading of chapter 1 and verse 9 of First Thessalonians, we know that this city had idolatry in it. I am not sure what idols they worshipped. It does not really matter what idols. It does matter that they turned from those idols.
When Paul came into town, the demons of the town would stir up the inhabitants of the town. In three weeks, Paul was advised to leave by those he had won to Christ.
In writing 1 Thessalonians, Paul is wondering about those who had gotten saved. He did not know all that was going on in the church, but he knew that a growing thriving church was there. Their faith was spoken of the entire area were the church was. Why? These people did not keep their faith to themselves.
We should all want a life that impacts its world for Christ. As we look at the scriptures today in 1 Thessanlonians chapter 1, we will see three evidences of a life that has an impact for Jesus Christ. Look at verse 3, there are three natural divisions in this church. Let me give them to you and then move on to the message at hand. The three divisions are “work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope” What are these evidences of a life that has an impact for Jesus Christ?
I. IT IS A LIFE THAT IS MARKED BY CHANGE. vs. 3
2 Cor. 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Eph. 1:4
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”
Eze. 18:31
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
Rom 6:4-6
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
A. It is seen in a change of direction.
vs. 9
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols”
I am afraid that are going to be a lot of people who think that they are saved who in reality they are lost as a ball in high weeds. In fact, there may be some that are sitting right here today. Show me a life that has no real change and I show you a life that does not have Christ. Anyone who rebels against the Bible and its clear teachings is usually lost. Growing up in a Christian home is not salvation. Going to an Independent, Fundamental, Bible Believing, devil hating, Baptist church is not salvation. Let’s look at a few passages that shows some of this truth.
Mt. 5:20
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Mt. 7:18-23
“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Some folks are going to have a very hard convincing me that they are saved. Their life is eat up with idols. they have not turned from their idols. One of the things I have learned about idols is this: when idolatry is in a person or nation, it will not be long before they are more idols. I realize that no one that I know in this church has some little statues in their homes carved in some kind of image like Buddha. So I must define an idol. An idol is anything that you put before God. Your family can be an idol. Your job can be an idol. Your possessions can be an idol. What does the Lord say about this? 1 John 5:21
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
Ex. 20:3-4
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”
2 Cor. 6:16
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Some one may be thinking that I am disturbing them and trying to make them doubt their salvation. That is not my plan but if you are having those thoughts, then maybe you don’t have the going to Heaven, Bible kind salvation. If you are bothered with this kind of preaching, then I am being obedient to God trying to break up those idols today. Let me you warn you of the thoughts that Satan will try to fill your heart. He will try to convince that everything that is okay. He will even tell that I am a fool who is trying to scare you. Suppose you are lost, will you allow pride from you admitting that you are lost and need to be saved when you have told so many others that you are saved.
Not only it is a change in direction, it is secondly
B. A change in desire. vs. 9
“to serve the living and true God”
You will have a desire for God. Have you a hunger for God? The devil will never give you that desire. Phil. 3:10a
“That I may know him”
Mt. 5:6
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Phil. 3:8
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”
1 John 2:3-5
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”
What is your desire for Christ? What new area have you learned about Christ this week? Have you spent time learning about Him? You will never have your desires filled for Him without spending time in this Book.
Mt. 11:29
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Let me move on. What is another evidence of a life that has an impact for Christ?
II. IT IS A LIFE MARKED BY COMMITMENT. vs. 3
“labor of love”
vs. 9
“serve the living and true God”
If you say that you are saved and do not serve God, you are a spiritual fraud! (Roger Baker)
When you do not serve God, you have a love problem. Give your mind for a few minutes. Remember when Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times. When Jesus turned and looked Peter, the Bible says that Peter departed and wept bitterly.
When you look up the words “wept bitterly” in the Greek, it denotes a wailing loudly. In a few days, old death could not hold our Lord in the grave. Jesus is the only client that death ever lost entirely.
Go to the sea shore. Jesus is standing on the shore with breakfast. Peter and the rest of that crowd comes to breakfast. I believe Peter had a hard time looking Christ in the face. He was expecting a deserved tongue lashing from Christ.
Instead, Christ, I believe, took him alone and dealt with the root of Peter’s sin. John 21:15-17
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
If you don’t have an genuine commitment to Christ, then you have a love problem. When you don’t read your Bible, you have a love problem. When you don’t pray, you have a love problem. When you don’t witness, you have a love problem. When you are not faithful to the house of God, you have a love problem.
A commitment to Christ means following His commands. John 14:15
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:21-24
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
John 15:14
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
1 John 3:22
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
MY COMMITMENT AS A CHRISTIAN
"I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, and my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He stops me -- and when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me -- my banner will be clear.
These words of commitment were tacked on the wall of a young African pastor in Zimbabwe. They are a great challenge and condemnation to my life. Revival would be in our lives if we meant these words and had them as a real part of our lives.
Last of all, what is the last evidence of a life that has an impact for Christ?
III. IT IS A LIFE MARKED BY A CONFIDENCE. vs. 3
“patience of hope”
This patience of hope means a steadfastness. Remember what we said about this church. Three weeks after they got saved, they lost their pastor. If there was a reason for unsteadiness, this church could have used the excuse. But they were steady.
In fact, the entire book of First Thessanlonians is geared to the return of Jesus Christ. Each chapter ends with the mention of this thought.
vs. 10
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
1 Thess. 2:19
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”
1 Thess. 3:13
“To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
1 Thess. 4;13-18
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thess. 5:23
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
A. The foundation of this confidence
It was the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
vs. 10a
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus”
1 Cor. 15:51-58
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know who holds the future.
And Life is worth the living
JUST BECAUSE HE LIVES!
B. The fulfillment of this confidence is that He rescued us. vs. 10b
“which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
Rescued from the family of the devil.
Rescued from the filth of the devil.
Rescued from the fate of the devil.
These people were under fire but did not quit. You would think by the way some people who call themselves Christians live that Christ was dead. They had a confidence that this world does not know. they had confidence that Jesus would come again and they wanted be found waiting and working for Him.
The best is yet to come.
Conclusion: Is our lives that have an impact for Christ? Let me ask this hard question. If Freedom Baptist Church would shut its doors, would anyone miss us? I could go to another church and pastor. You could go to other churches and be members. But who in Smithfield would miss this church? The sad note is this: probably no one would miss or even need us.
Bro. Roger Baker is a pastor in King, NC. His church is running 200-300 folks. He told of a special burden that he had for his town. He challenged his people to give out over 10,000 invitations and gospel tracts. On the front of the tri-fold tract was these words in Big bold Letter: “WE CARED ABOUT YOU!”
The first Saturday, he and some of the men passed out a big bunch of tracts in this certain section of town. On Monday morning, the phone rang at the church. His secretary come to his door and told him that there was a woman on the phone who was crying and seemed upset over some literature that was on her door. Bro. Roger said that he did not deal with crying upset women very well. But he took the call any way.
The lady introduced herself and told him this story. “Preacher, this morning I woke up and decided that this was the last day of my life. You see, two years ago, my husband came home and told me that he never loved me and that he was leaving. He packed his bag and I have not seen him in two years. No one cared for me. I went to the kitchen and got out the butcher knife and was going to plunge it into my heart and could not do so. I figured that there was something in the shed in the back that would aid me in killing me. I could not find a thing. I was walking to the front of my house. I looked toward heaven and said this: “Lord, no one cares for me including me.” But I looked down on the front step and here laid a piece of paper which said in big, bold letters “WE CARE ABOUT YOU!” I was wondering if some one would come and talk with me. Bro. Roger send one of his ladies of the church who lead that lady to Christ. She found out that there was some one who cared.
Isn’t a coincidence that a breeze just happened to come and blew that tract upright on her step? No, I believe that God knew that lady needed some one who would be an impact on her life.
Will Freedom Baptist Church have an impact on the towns of Smithfield and Selma? We could if have our lives which are marked by a change. Does this world see in you a real difference or are you just one of those religious folks?
We could if our lives were marked by commitment. Is our commitment like this young man? A young man wrote this to his girlfriend. “Sweetheart, if this world was as hot as the Sahara desert, I would crawl on my knees through the burning sand to come to you. If the world would be like the Atlantic Ocean, I would swim through shark infested waters to come to you. I would fight the most fiercest dragon to be by your side. I will see you on Thursday if it does not rain.” Is that your commitment or is this the words of your commitment: “I’ll go with you through the Garden, I’ll go with you through the judgment, I’ll go with you, with you all the way. Where He leads me, I will follow, Where He leads me, I will follow, Where He leads me, I will follow, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way” That is true Bible commitment.
We could see Smithfield and Selma impacted if we showed that our confidence is in Him and not ourselves.
Today, will you dedicate your life afresh and anew to the Lord Jesus and tell Him that you want your life to be an impact for Him?
Maybe, you have been playing the fool who is really lost and professing that you are saved. If your life has no change, then you will go to hell when you die. What is worse than going to hell? Going to Hell from the pews of a Bible believing church. Maybe you need to be saved. Don’t put it off. The Bible says in 2 Cor 6:2 “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
