Designed to Make a Difference

Pericope: Genesis 1:26-28 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,

    in the image of God he created him;

    male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Sermon Text: Genesis  1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Sermon Title: The Difference Maker, Pt 4 Designed to Make a Difference

#1. Is it a design flaw? Psalm 139:14 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

Acts 17:28 - for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

#2. Have you read the operating instructions carefully? 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Psalm 119:11 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

2 Tim 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

#3. Have you ever had these problems before?

1 Cor 11:28 - Everyone ought to examine themselves…

#4. Have you nullified the warranty? Lamentations 3:40 - Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!

2 Cor 13:5 CEV 5 Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn’t living in you, you have failed.      2 Cor 13:5 MSG Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted.

#5. Do you know the Designer when you call the help desk?

Prov. 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [live according to his design]

John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Born for Greatness

Pericope:  2 Sam 23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Sermon Text: 2 Sam 23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Sermon Title: Difference Maker:  Pt 3 Born For Greatness

Point 1: Outside looking in. Vs. 22- 23 - 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three…

Point 2: You are stable in your status – vs. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

Point 3: Opportunity will knock. Vs. 23B… and David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

How do you discover, develop and deploy your greatness?

1.  Embrace the fact that you were born into greatness – 500,000,000 to 1

2.  Be born again!

3.  Tell somebody who made you great.

Running from Greatness

Pericope: Jonah 1:3a 3 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God

Sermon Text: Jonah 1:3a 3 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God

Sermon Title: Running From Greatness

Jonah 1:1-3 One day long ago, God’s Word came to Jonah, Amittai’s son: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.” 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish—as far away from God as he could get.

Point 1: Jonah was Anxious. Vs. 4:1  4 1 Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! 

Jonah 3:1-10 - Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”  10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Point 2: Jonah Anticipated what God would do through him. Vs. 4:2 I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!

Point 3: Anger was his emotion of choice. Vs. 4: 3 4 God said, “What do you have to be angry about?”.    

Point 4: Allow God to work through you. Vs. 4:11 So, why can’t I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike people who don’t yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?” 

Point 5: Accept your call. Vs. 1:3a 3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God

How do you avoid Jonah’s battle with making a difference?

1.  Correctly define greatness! 

2.  Detect Define and Direct your emotions

3.  Remember everyday is an opportunity to be great

Difference Maker Pt 2 - Discerning the Difference

Pericope: Acts 16: 6-10 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Sermon Text: Acts 16: 10 10 And when Paul[a] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Sermon Title: The Difference Maker, Pt 2 Discerning the Difference

Review: 1) We are born to make a difference. As Ezekiel was born to make a difference. In order to make a difference you have to have a healthy sense of who you are. 2) In order to make a difference you must speak to the situation (you are a prophetic utterance). 3) You must create an army (New Life is ready to create an Army). 4) In order to make a difference… it is a spiritual endeavor.

Vs 10  And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Point 1: You must be near God to hear God!  Vs 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

        a. Walk with God.

        aa. Affiliate. Jerimiah 33:3 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

        bb. Accord. Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place

        cc.  Agree. Amos 3: 3 “Do two walk together,

    unless they have agreed to meet?

Point 2: You must obey God. Vs 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

        a. Obedience is better than Sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

Point 3: You must press to the place to Make a Difference. Vs. 10 And when Paul[a] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.    

        a. Power. Vs 26  and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

        b. Philippians jailor. Vs 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

        c. Church at Phillippe.