The Power Of One

C. On a gloomy day in 1857 a man in New York City by the name of Jeremiah Lanthier scanned the morning newspaper as he rode to his office. He was distressed to read that the depression gripping the nation was causing fear and panic among the people. Factories were stopping production and thousands were unemployed. Although Lanthier was not a big industrialist (but only a clerk), he had one important distinction. He was a man who had great faith in God!

Concerned with the grim economic situation, he sent a note to all his business acquaintances, telling them that each day at noon a prayer meeting would be held in his office. With high hopes, he arranged 20 chairs in a circle, but the first day no one came. All alone, he prayed fervently that God would bring about a great change in him and in America. The second day he was encouraged, for a few friends joined him. A short time later, a similar gathering was started on Wall Street, another on Williams Street, and finally a fourth on Broadway. Then like wildfire, the movement spread to all parts of the country.

The moral tone of the nation was affected, and there was a great upsurge in the spiritual life of the people. Some historians say that this effort of united prayer and faith was an integral part of the improvement in the economy, which soon followed.

D. Matthew 17:20 "So Jesus said to them, "because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ’Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

V. One Man – foundational in redemption

A. Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

B. Through Adam, sin entered the world, and death as a consequence.

C. Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

D. "In God’s economy, one man redeemed the world by stretching out his arms and giving of himself a perfect sacrifice for us all. This was one man." - Abagail Nelson

E. "I’ve tried in vain a thousand ways, My fears to quell, my hopes to raise; And all I need, the Bible says Is Jesus. My soul is night, my heart is steel, I cannot see, I cannot feel; for light, for life I must appeal To Jesus. He dies, He lives, He reigns, He pleads, There’s love in all His words and deeds; All, all a guilty sinner needs Is Jesus. Though some will mock, and some will blame, In spite of fear, in spite of shame, I’ll go to Him, because His name Is Jesus." - (Author Unknown}