Most of us cannot comprehend doing anything to change the
world. Yet God wants all of us to be a world changer. We may feel insignificant
on our own but when we allow God to work in and through us, we can impact the
world!
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do the thing and you’ll have the power.” Most of our problems are
between our own two eyes. We think we cannot do anything big so we do nothing.
The key is to do what you can and then allow God
to do what you can’t. The Bible says that God will bless the work of our hands
(Deuteronomy 2:7). Today, I want to stir you up to become a world changer.
In order to support the family, my father had to quit
school when he was in seventh grade. He was a Christian man but he was very
limited in his environment. For generations, his family lived in poverty and
lack. When my mother passed away, leaving him with four young boys, all he
could do was to pray. He struggled through most of his life until we all came to know Christ.
Many years went by without any sign of my father’s
prayers being answered. At one point he lost touch with me and two of my
brothers for several years. However, my father never stopped praying for his
sons to serve God. Long story short, today not only are all of his sons, but
over two dozen other family members are serving the Lord. I say it humbly but
together we’ve ministered in over 150 nations, touching millions of lives. What
was once an impossible dream of my earthly father was made possible by our
Heavenly Father. My Dad is around 85 years old now.
Next month, we’re going to celebrate his life while he is still with us. He is
a prime example of how you can change the world through prayer!
Today, you may live in a limited environment. You think
that everybody else is more talented than you. You look at yourself and think
that you have nothing to give. Some of you feel like you’ve wasted your time in
the world and now you’re too old to do anything big for God. This may be how
you feel but this is not true. God is not finished with you. If God didn’t have
a plan and a purpose for your life, you wouldn’t be here. Your greatest days on
earth are still out in front of you. He wants you to impact the world with your
time, talents, and treasures.
In 2 Kings 5, there’s a story of a man named Naaman who
was a commander in the king’s army. He was a valiant man but he had leprosy. Naaman’s
wife had a slave girl from Israel to help her around the house. When this young
girl heard about Naaman’s plight, she told his wife about Prophet Elijah in
Samaria. She suggested that if Naaman would go and meet Elijah, his leprosy
will be healed. Through a long string of events, at
the instruction of the Prophet, Naaman dipped in the River Jordan and his skin
was cured like a young boy. Consider how it all started. God used a slave girl
working in the kitchen to perform a mighty miracle. If a slave girl can start a
miracle-working power of God, imagine what God can do through you!
On October 23rd, we’re leaving for another mission trip
to India. Our goal is to touch 30,000 people in three weeks. It takes only $1
to reach one person! People are waiting in anticipation for the Good News.
We’ll lift Jesus in worship in front of thousands. We will encourage, and
minister to the poor and persecuted Christians. Like my father, you can impact
the world through your prayers. Some of you can support this mission trip.
Others of you can share this information with friends and on social media and
empower others to action. President Ronald Reagan said, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”
Friend, your influence has a great impact. Today, I urge
you to attempt something big for God. It doesn’t have to be anything big but do
something. Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop said, “If you think you are too small to make a
difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Don’t minimize your involvement
in world missions. Pray. Give. Go. In the hands of our big God, our small act
of service can turn into something great. Together, we can change the world!
“How, then,
can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in
the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone
preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent” (Romans
10:14-15 NIV).
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