“Today I’m Making A Difference!” (Making An Impact pt. 2)
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 08/18/24 (3rd Sunday Message)
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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
Message Title:
“Today I’m Making A Difference!” (Making An Impact pt. 2) Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Last week, we talked about Paul.
Paul was urging us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Begging!!
not just holy… but pleasing!
Meaning God is happy with what we’re doing. A living sacrifice!
Meaning that we are giving up something for him. What is the sacrifice??
Not fully living for ourselves.
Not doing exclusively what we want.
Not making decisions without praying about it.
Including HIM in our choices and decisions. God wants to be first in our lives.
He wants to be number 1.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
You are not your own.
You were bought at a price.
Our salvation wasn’t free.
Christ paid for our salvation with HIS life. He didn’t save us for us to do whatever we want. This isn’t “Jesus paid it all.”
We are not our own.We should honor God with our bodies? What are we doing with our bodies?
Galatians 5:13
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Serve…
serve…serve…serve…
Matthew 22:35
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
One is for YOU.
Love God
The other is an action for SOMEONE else.
Love someone else
We as believers have to get BACK to loving in ACTION. Action…action is something you DO.
And that action involves SOMEONE else!
Using our gifts…
to help someone else.
But it REQUIRES effort!
From last week:
The Life Of A Christian Is Defined By 2 Things:
One of these is internal. One of these is external.
but to be able to SHOW… it requires action.
The Lord is making this VERY important.
What We DO On The Outside Will Show What’s Really Happening On The Inside!
Matthew 12:33
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
A tree is recognized by its fruit.
Apple trees produce apples. Orange trees produce oranges. Pecan trees produce pecans.
That’s how you recognize the tree. by what it does.
Bearing fruit is an action.
What is in you will come out in your fruit.
If God Is In You, You Will Bear Good Fruit!
Bearing fruit is an ACTION!
If God is in you…
you will do something!
It doesn’t mean that every day will be perfect. It doesn’t mean that all fruit will be perfect.
But do you bear more good fruit than bad? Can others identify your tree by your fruit?
You Can’t Say You Love God And Not Show It!
If people can look at your fruit and recognize if you’re Godly or not…
do you not think God can do the same thing??
Matthew 10:8
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received, freely give.
Freely you have received…freely GIVE. Giving is a form of love.
It is a form of serving. God judges by your fruit also!
Matthew 25:14-30 tells the story of the talents.
When the master came back.
He settles accounts with his servants.
The one with the 5 said “Master I did something!”
Matthew 25:21
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
The master had a relationship with his servants!
The two who were considered Good and Faithful were the ones who did something. The person with the 1 talent…
He didn’t work.
He didn’t do with what the Master gave him.
Verse 26
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
No matter what the reasoning is. God expects us to act.
God expects us to do something with what he has given us.
What Will God Say To You?
Are you the good and faithful servant?
Or are you the wicked and lazy servant?
Make An Effort Today To BE The Believer The Lord Wants To See!
Today we have an opportunity to find out how we can serve others. This is how we show the Lord where our heart really is.
If we’re willing to be a sacrifice for him… He will honor that.
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)
For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.
God wants us to give ourselves to him.
And by doing HIS will do we get strengthened. What’s his will?
To love him….
AND
To love by serving others.
Even when you get tired…God himself will strengthen you.
We Aren’t Saved Just For Ourselves. We Are Saved To Serve Others!
