(This message was delivered on September 11th, 2005)
I Want To Make A Difference
Since the recent tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, we have had many organizations coming together to help those who were displaced because of the flood waters. We have movie stars, sports figures, politicians, the American Red Cross, the North Alabama Mission Board all calling out for U.S citizens to make a difference.
Today, also marks another event that will forever mark not only the history books but our minds as two hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center. It is said that 2,792 lives were lost due to the heartless act of terrorism. During this period of time, The President of the United States, Dr. Billy Graham, movie stars, sports figures, the American Red Cross, the North Alabama Missions Board were once again all calling out for U.S citizens to make a difference by helping in whatever capacity you could help.
During this time in our nation’s history, people were drawn to the heroic efforts of police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel who risked their lives to help save others.
While these two events were great opportunities to draw our nation together, I can’t help but think about the many families who are without homes due to the flood waters in New Orleans, Mississippi and the coast of Alabama. Today, I can’t help but think about the many lives that were lost on this 9/11 day back in 2001.
But I also can’t help but think about the many people that live in our own communities that are hurting.
People who need food
People who need shelter
People who need encouragement
People who need someone to care
People who need a Savior
I can’t help but think about a better time for Christians to make up in their minds that they want to make a difference.
What do I need to do?
What do I need to say?
Where do I need to go?
Those are the questions that I hope you have answered before you leave today.
In the book of Acts, we read of a man who decided he was going to make a difference.
He was not a king in power
He was not an ordained pastor
He was not a missionary on foreign soil
He was not a popular television star
He was just an ordinary man who stood for an extraordinary God.
READ: ACTS 6:8
Today, I want to take the scripture found in chapter 6 and chapter 7 and I want us to see:
What God would have us to do…?
What God would have us to say…?
Where God would have us to go…
1. Stephen was WILLING –
Willing to do what? Serve others.
Stephen was not called to be the Pastor…
He was not called to lead the music…
Stephen was not called to direct this year’s VBS...
He was called to be a waiter – Chapter 6:1-5
What a picture of having the willingness to serve.
Through out the Bible, we are taught the lessons on being a servant.
John 12:26 – “The Father will honor him that serves His Son…”
Exodus 23:25 – “…you shall serve the Lord and He will bless you…”
John 13:3-5 – the illustration of Christ – becoming a servant that washes the feet of His disciples.
To become someone who wants to make a difference… You have to be a person who is WILLING to do whatever God ask you to do.
2. Stephen was WIRED –
(Verse 5) “Stephen was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit
(Verse 8) ”Stephen, full of grace and power…”
When you get hooked into God’s power source, you too can do anything.
You can:
Feed 5,000 with two fishes and five loaves of bread
Raise a dead Lazarus out of the grave
Heal the Blind
Restore the hearing to a deaf man
Walk on water
Turn water to wine
Cause a chief tax gatherer to run a tree
Say to this mountain – “Be thou removed...”
You can:
Overcome Cancer
Out live Dr.’s expectations
See a prodigal return home
Do away with drug addictions
Pour out the alcohol you thought you had to have
These are just some of the many things you can do when you get WIRED up into God’s power source.
(Example: Lamp not on but plugged in)
3. Stephen was WILD –
When you get wired up with the Holy Spirit, you will do things that you normally would not do.
Background: read v.9 – v.12
(Stephen stood in the midst of his opponents and preached the Gospel… chapter 7)
What do you mean about going “Wild”?
Building an ark when there has never been rain
Killing a giant with sling and a stone
Being thrown into a den of Lions for praying
For you it might be:
Leading prayer before Sunday School
Singing in the choir
Sharing your testimony with a co-worker
Visiting people in your community
Cooking a meal for someone you don’t even know
When you become Willing and get Wired you will be able to go Wild do the unthinkable for the sake of Christ.
------ How can I do this?
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
When you become a Christian, you can no longer say “I Can’t” because through Christ “You Can”
You have been offering excuses long enough:
I am not a success because of my parents
I am a victim of abuse
Our church has never done it that way before
Our church is like it is because of Him/Her…
Quit trying to do everything yourself and
· get willing to do whatever
· get wired up with the power of the Holy Spirit
· And get ready to go wild for God.
Because through Christ all things are possible!
When you read about Stephen’s message you will soon find out that it “cut to the heart” of those who were listening.
The salvation message of Christ is not popular. It’s not popular because it causes sinners to become uneasy in the current state.
Your testimony of God’s deliverance in your own life will not be popular with this world. That’s why you have to be
Willing to do whatever
Wired with the power to overcome
Ready to go Wild when others are not supporting you.
4. Stephen was WORTHY -
Mark 16:15, Jesus is sharing his final moments with His disciples. He encouraged them to go into the entire world and to preach the Gospel to all creation. Jesus said, “He who had believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
Verse 19 tells us that when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven and that Jesus then sat down at the right hand of God.
When Stephen finished his sermon, the Bible says the people turned on him. When you want to talk about being worthy – you can look to Stephen as the example.
He was carried out of the city where people began stoning him. But I want you to notice something. Just before Stephen called to the Lord to accept his spirit, just before he died, before he became a martyr for Christ, he looked up.
(not to anyone else but looked UP to his source of strength.)
Verse 56 tells us that the heavens parted and Stephen saw the Lord Jesus Christ –
In Matthew – He is referred to as the Messiah
In Mark – He’s known as the Wonder Worker
In Luke – the son of man
In John – the Son of God
In Acts – the Holy Ghost and fire
In Romans – He’s our Justifier
In 1/2 Corinthians – He our everlasting love
In Galatians – He’s our Redeemer
In Ephesians – the Christ of unreachable riches
In Philippians – the God that supplies our needs
In Colossians – the fullness of the God-head body
In 1/2 Timothy – the one mediator
In 1/2 Thess. – He’s our soon coming King
In Titus – our faithful pastor
In Philemon – He’s our intercession to the Father
In Hebrews – our Superior from the old covenant
In James – he’s known as the object of our faith
In 1/2 Peter – He’s our grace and power
In 1/2/3 John – our never ending love
In Jude – our soon coming King
In Revelations – our returning champion victorious over death, hell and the grave…
Stephen saw Jesus Christ standing as Stephen gave his all for the man who died for his sins.
Jesus was giving Stephen a standing ovation!
----------
“I Want to Make A Difference”
But How?
Willing to do whatever
Wired up with the power of the Holy Spirit
Ready to go Wild for Christ and do things out of our comfort zone
Then and only then will you become worthy to serve.
Invitation: If you could see the face of Jesus today, would he be giving you a standing ovation for your service or would He be looking away in shame?
