NU THANG 5

New Influence.

Bruce Chant

generation-j

13/09/2002

Intro.

This week we witnessed the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We relived and revisited the horrors of evil those terrorists inflicted on those people.

What have we learnt from living through this? One thing is that EVIL IS REAL.

CS Lewis said the biggest stunt the devil pulled was to convince the world he doesn’t exist. But he does and we can see that in the events of 9/11 for sure.

New Creations – New Influence.

We have been looking at being a new creation in Christ. The new life Jesus gives us is the best – the old is old and gone.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ^“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

We are now a new creation and God did not intend for us to keep that to ourselves. Jesus did not die on the cross and take your punishment so we could have a club. He made us new creations so that in a world that spews out evil we can be an influence, with the Holy Spirit within us, for good. To lead people away from sin and to Jesus.

In world where there are tonnes of bad influences – God has made us to be good influences.

Influence.

in·flu·ence (nfl-ns) n.

A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events, especially one that operates without any direct or apparent effort: relaxed under the influence of the music; the influence of television on modern life.

Influence is important – it is about changing things. Being an agent of change. Bringing change to people, their actions, their outlook on live, their beliefs and actions.

So how?

Here’s the thing: we often think of ourselves as nothing special - most people see themselves as being better than average – but nothing special.

I couldn’t really be a good, powerful influence in this world.

And the truth is – you’re right. You can’t. On your own.

But when you give your life over to God, who came down to earth, took the humble position of a man, lived a sinless life, defeated our enemies of sin and death, and to take the punishment for our sins, we can be forgiven and be made a NEW CREATION – it’s not US that is the influence but the Holy Spirit within us that is.

Look at the twelve disciples. They were average guys – fishermen,

It doesn’t take anything special. Christians go looking for the next big thing. The next blessing. The next breakthrough. The next powerful encounter that will totally transform me from a sinful man/woman to a super spiritual superhero. If I get to that conference; or if I get that CD, or if I get that person to pray for me, or if I get a job, or if I quit my job. There are so many “things” that we have to do to add to our faith before we can be “any good”.

There is nothing wrong with desiring to be effectively used by God – that is a good thing. But God isn’t so interested in you find the “cheats” to the game of life as He is about faithfulness. He says “well done good and faithful servant” not well done good and smart or tricky or cunning servant. Just be faithful.

The simple things were what the disciples were good at:

1. Love Jesus

The number one thing a Christian needs to worry about is this. Do you love Jesus?

Luke 10:27
²⁷He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'"

What do I need to do God? Love God and Love others. And? Nope that’s it.

What about doing good stuff?

John 14:15
¹⁵"If you love me, you will obey what I command

It’s all about LOVING Jesus.

Paul says in Galatians “⁷You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”, who distracted you from the race you were running. It used to be all about Jesus and loving him – but you got distracted.

Do you go to church because it’s the right thing to do or because you love Jesus?

Do you want to stop sinning because you feel guilty or because you love Jesus and it takes you away from him?

Do you say no to drugs, or crime, or sex or whatever because of fear or because you love Jesus?

It’s about how much you love Jesus that counts. If you set your eyes on Him and develop a relationship with Jesus through time, prayer and the Word of God you will grow to love Him more and more.

And the thing about Jesus love is it transforms, it never fails. And as you experience & receive God’s love for you, you are able to share that love with others. God uses people to share His love. That’s why we do “good” things. The world we live in is devoid of love and attention.

People go to Uni and never make a friend. They need love.

People can go to work and get harassed and come home and it’s a warzone. They need love.

People can live in a street for years and never make friends with their neighbours. They need love.

Be a new creation influence thru love.

2. Trust God

One of the basic things a Christian does is to trust God.

Psalm 25:1-3
¹ To you, O Lord , I lift up my soul; ² in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. ³ No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

The bible is full of paradoxes – two things that seem to contradict each other but are actually both true. Give and you will receive. Lose and you will gain. First will be last.

In the world we live in – this doesn’t make sense.

Try telling the first will last to the guys in the school canteen! You can be killed down there.

Everywhere we look people live by trusting themselves. In Australia we have some of the highest levels of car ownership, mobile phone ownership, internet ownership – its all about independence – I trust myself and no one else.

We need to go totally against that and trust someone else: Jesus.

It is simple – no matter what the situation, no matter what the problem, no matter where or when or who or how – TRUST GOD

The way the people around us is to trust self. The enemy will come at you and sow seeds of doubt into your head – God will let you down. But just Trust God.

Numbers 23:19
”God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

People will let you down – but God is our rock. He is not going anywhere. That gives you security – he will never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you and you can know that and trust Him.

When things are going well – trust in God too. We tend to think its God when things are bad – and us when things are good. Trust God in life. Seek Him and His guidance. Know that He loves you and can be trusted.

When people see that – that in times of stress (exams, work), hurt (loss, family), pain (relationships), hardship (financial) whatever you remain steady and consistent BECAUSE of your trust in God – you will stand out like a beacon! And God will get the glory.

3. Walk in Grace.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Did you know you are free?

Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

As a Christian God has set you free. You don’t have to follow the 632 laws of the Old Testament anymore because you being saved is not dependant upon keeping all the laws and “earning” your way into heaven.

It’s got nothing to do with you.

There are two ways we go about life: living by rules and living by self.

Rules create legalism. Dumb rules create more legalism. People break rules. And then we make more rules for the people who break rules. It shows sin is the biggest problem in the world – courts, police, lawyers, magistrates, jails – all set-up because of sin. So rules are not the way to lead us to God.

Should I forgive you because you kept the rules or were good? No. It’s impossible for you to be that good. That’s why you need Jesus. He was that good.

That’s how we have freedom – the pressure to meet God’s standard is lifted. Will God forgive you if you commit fornication? Yes. Will God forgive me if I go and rob a servo? Yes. Will God forgive you if you belt me with an axe and kill me? Yes.

There will be consequences to my actions? Yes – emotional/sexual/spiritual/ relationship problems, criminal conviction problems, jail problems.

Romans 6:1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

So can we do what we want? Yes. Will it lead us to God? No. Replacing one sin with another will not lead you to God – it’ll take you away.

Living by rules is futile. Living without rules is futile.

The only rules Jesus gave were love God, love people. He was saying look to me – I’m your example – follow me, not yourself, not someone else. It isn’t you who are good and who deserves eternal life – it’s through my free gift. God said my gift to you is grace – undeserved, unmerited.

Ephesians 2:4-6
⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Living by grace is knowing God will forgive – you can earn nothing. You don’t live by legalism/rules or by a hypocritical selfish motive. God has given you grace to live in. You are free to love God this way because you can see that you are totally loved and accepted by God and He gives you the freedom to show you love Him in return.

Summary.

Change the world through the influence of God’s Spirit within you.

The change is for good in an evil world. Like the disciples who had a simple faith.

Love Jesus. Trust God. Walk in Grace. And like them turn the world upside down.

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