Influencing Our World For Christ
Various Scriptures
I. Introduction
Today our topic is “Influencing Our World for Christ.”
The idea of our time together is to look at just some of the many ways we can make a difference as we live and work in a world that doesn’t seem to have much time for Christ or Christians.
But it doesn’t have to remain that way. In fact, things are improving in many places. However, there is still much we can do to show that Jesus lives and loves even those people who turn away.
As I have mentioned time and again, God has entrusted to us the task of telling the world about Christ. It takes more than just words. And while words are important, they are not the only things we are to use.
Our lives are to reflect a relationship with Christ that affects everything we do in public and in private. The areas we are going to deal with today are just a few of the ways we can make a positive difference.
I doubt you will hear anything new this morning. Much of life tends to be a reminder of lessons we should have learned before.
But I hope this will be some fresh encouragement to be a positive in a world of negatives.
II. Five Areas of Influence
A. Holy Lives
The first area of influence is holy living. We have already spent a good number of weeks on this, but it bears repeating. Holiness is crucial to pleasing God and influencing others for Christ.
Holiness sets us apart as a people who aren’t reliant on the world’s value system.
Allow me to read 1 Peter 2:11-12:
-Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.-
The idea here, friends, is that we need to live lives that are different from those who don’t love Christ. If we hang onto the world’s values and its lifestyles, we tell them we have nothing to live for that’s any better than what they have.
Enough said.
B. Treating well those who mistreat us.
The second area of influence is how we treat those who mistreat us. Listen as I read the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:43-48:
-“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
You see the point? We are to treat others DIFFERENTLY than the world does.
There are at least two benefits to treating others well. First, there is the benefit of making a statement about the world’s value system, as we mentioned already. The world wants revenge, we grant grace and mercy. And we reflect that mercy and grace God showers on us as His children.
Second, it leaves room for witnessing opportunities later.
(Isaac’s story)
C. Work habits
The third area we will look at this morning is in the area of work habits. We took a look at good work habits exhibited in the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego a few weeks back, so we aren’t going to review that now. But I do want to read a passage of Scripture and lay down a few principles.
The passage I want to look at is Colossians 3:22-24:
-Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.-
It is my opinion that Christians should be the most valued people on the payroll. Why, because they should be the hardest working people in the workforce.
I’ll be honest with you – this is hard for me, because I am naturally a very lazy guy. I would prefer my workday to start sometime after noon, and end not much later. But I can’t do that and be an asset to my employers, much less be a witness to them and my co-workers.
It is also my opinion that Christian bosses should be the most respected and beloved, because of the instruction given two verses later, in Chapter 4, verse 1:
-Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in Heaven.-
Christian bosses should be someone their employees, Christian and non-Christian, can count on to be just, fair, and approachable, without the fear of domineering judgementalism.
Doug Dell, the manager at the Hy-Vee store in Brookings, employs over 300 people. The employees LOVE him. He expects them to do the work assigned, but he is not a taskmaster.
And not only do the employees love him, he is considered one of the top managers in the whole chain, racking up manager of the year honors more than once.
Doug is an unashamed Christian, active in his Baptist church. He serves a great witness to his workforce and employers.
D. Being level-headed.
A fourth area of influence is that of being level-headed. Let me read from Hebrews 5:14, and we will flesh this out a bit:
-But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.-
The KJV uses the word “discern” instead of distinguish. The Greek word used here means “to investigate or examine.”
The idea here is to make sure you know the facts before jumping into the fight. It is very easy to get all excited about a perceived injustice or wicked deed, but we need to show restraint and get the facts. Then we can respond, not react, and that response will more likely to be a godly one.
Case in point. I received notice of a petition drive to flood the FCC with letters in an attempt to stop Madelyn Murray O’Hare, the atheist who successfully got prayer taken from schools, from working to eliminate all references to God from television and radio.
Let me say at the outset that I am glad to see Christian activism. It works if done right and done well.
However, I would like to point out a few things regarding this particular effort.
First, when this was handed to me, I noticed it was almost word for word the same petition being circulated about Ms. O’Hare about trying to remove the words “In God We Trust” from our money.
Another thing. The petition refers to the elimination of prayer from schools fifteen years ago. Anybody see the problem? When was prayer eliminated from schools? June 16, 1963 – not fifteen years ago, but almost 37 years. Also, two different petition numbers are given.
Lastly, there is no indication as to the source of this effort by the Christians to stop this perceived threat. Believe me, if this was legitimate, the group or person initiating this would be passing his name along with every copy of the petition.
I am going to say this only once: this is not a legitimate petition. It is a hoax, and it is not the first time. In fact, when I contacted the FCC myself, they informed me that they have had this type of thing show up many, many times in the last 25 years, so this is nothing new.
You can read the response from them in its entirety later, but suffice it to say for now that the FCC cannot determine the content of a program. They only grant licenses and investigate violations.
Another false rumor that makes the rounds now and again is the one about Procter and Gamble being run by Satanists. The logo on Proctor and Gamble products is supposed to have Satanic symbolism, and this has led people to panic.
Folks, we need to be level-headed about things! The enemy and the world love to see Christians panicking about things that aren’t true. Here we are just running around like chickens with their heads cut off, not bothering to go to the source and find out for certain.
If you are not sure about something, call the people involved. In this case, I called the FCC.
Remember the Y2K panic? I was dumbfounded by all the Christians, many of whom I respect a great deal, who were just beside themselves about it.
Folks, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever! If He was in control at the creation of the world, then wouldn’t He be in control on Jan. 1?
E. A Healthy Family.
The fifth area we will look at concerning our influence for Christ is that of a healthy family.
Our passage for this area is in the book of Ephesians, so if you want to head to chapter 5, we will be there shortly.
A family that is spiritually healthy, full of love and caring speaks volumes to a world torn by divorce, abuse, and whatever.
A healthy family takes work. It is not automatic that because you are a Christian you will have a healthy marriage. In fact, the divorce rate among professing Christians has surpassed the divorce rate of the world, according to a recent study. I don’t have the details in front of me as to the particular reasons, but you can guess they are the same reasons as the world, and now it is more frequent than them.
What an indictment! Why is that happening? Please listen as I read Eph. 5:25:
-Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.-
The main reason, in my book, is that husbands aren’t loving their wives like Christ loves the church. Being the fair-minded individual that I am, I need to remind the ladies, that marriage is a two-way street.
What about the kids? Research shows that kids who are raised in loving homes are better adjusted as adults. By the way, loving doesn’t mean giving them everything they want. It means giving them what they need, and sometimes that means discipline.
F. Prayer.
Well, on to the last area of influence: prayer.
We aren’t going to spend a lot of time here, but let me read one last passage, this one from the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verse 7:
-“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”-
Prayer grounded in God’s Word is powerful. What are some things to pray for?
Elections
World problems
Our families
The lost
For our Lord to return soon
His will to be done
III. Conclusion
We have covered a lot of ground today. But we have certainly not exhausted the subject of influence. Rather, we have scratched the surface. I would like to think that in some way, every message you hear in this church deals with influencing our world for Christ.
These 5 areas of influence are critical. Don’t take them lightly.
In a world floundering in sin and decay, Christians need to stand up and be recognized as people with a hope and a future, and until we pass from here through death or rapture, WE WILL LIVE LIKE IT!
Go out with an excitement that says, “My God reigns,” even in the midst of all the problems here and abroad, and just watch what God does.
Be people who live holy lives. Be people who treat others kindly, even when they mistreat you. Work hard at whatever you do. Be level-headed. Cultivate a strong family. And pray.
And watch the God of heaven work in the lives of those you touch.
