Friday, September 6, 2013

September 7, 2013

If you had a chance change the world, where would you start?

What if I told you that you DO have the chance to change the world?

If you are a Believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you are called to be a world-changer! It is your legacy! It is your history! It is your responsibility!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ACTS 1:8

The people who first heard those words 2,000 years ago were wondering “What on earth are we supposed to do?” And when they heard, they proceeded to change the world – and that is why we are here today!

The world in which Christianity was conceived was a very immoral one:

*Slavery was a universally accepted system
*Homosexuality was rampant
*Sexual permissiveness was the rule of the day
*Prostitution & sexual immorality were a major part of religion
*Human life was cheap & pleasure was primary

THEN, into their world of immorality Christianity was introduced and changed the moral climate of the world.

How on earth did they do it?

THEY WERE CHANGED!

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:1-4

Until you have experienced a fundamental spiritual transformation nothing changes. Have you been changed by God?

THEY CHANGED FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47

What’s your plan for reaching your family and friends?

Do you have a passion to reach them?


THEY CHANGED THEIR CITY

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Acts 5:28

These First Christians changed their city for Christ! Some historians estimate that half the people in Jerusalem were converted to Christianity.

Do you believe FredWes can change our city for Christ?

We’ll never know unless we try! Let’s minister with Power, with Purpose and with Persistence!

THEY CHANGED THEIR WORLD

They surrendered and served a world changer!

He was born in an obscure village the child of a peasant woman .He grew up in another obscure village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty.

He never wrote a book , He never held an office , He never went to college , He never visited a big city, He never travelled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things usually associated with greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He was only thirty three 

His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.  While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing the only property he had on earth. When he was dead  He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend .

Twenty centuries have come and gone and today Jesus is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed,  all the parliaments that have ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned put together have not affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that one solitary life 

“why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9

In other words, “Why are you standing around staring? Go change your world!”

You don't like the world the way it is?

Go change it!