A CUT ABOVE THE REST!
Influence is a strange thing. Even though we make some kind of impact on nearly everyone around us, we need to recognize that our level of influence will vary from person to person. To see this principle in action, try ordering your friend’s dog the next time you visit them. You may have not thought about it, but you probably know instinctively which people you have great influence over and which ones you don’t. While one person may think that all your ideas are great, another may not even give you the time of day. Another person may be very skeptical about what you say, and yet that same skeptical person may love every single idea presented by another colleague. This just shows that our influence may be strong with one person while it may not have much impact on another.
Our Scripture Text for this Morning is: Acts 9:21-23 “But all that heard him were amazed, and said; ‘Is this not he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?’ But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.”
Our impact on people using our own ability is not what I am referring to today. I am speaking about the way we impact the world around us because of the One who lives within us! Paul clarifies the manner in which we ought to live. This is what he says: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” [Galatians 2:20]. When this text becomes alive in our lives and Christ truly lives within us, we need to realize that with the power of the indwelling Spirit of God comes His wisdom, knowledge and understanding. This is why even in Old Testament times, those who were covered by the Spirit of God spoke with authority and all were amazed at their words. When our reliance is based on God and His Word, how we respond is totally out of this world. It comes from God above!
Those that were amazed in our Scripture text for today, realized that Saul was doing something that was contrary to what he was commissioned to do. He had been sent for one purpose but now he was accomplishing another. He was sent to destroy those of ‘The Way,’ but now he had turned out to be one who propagated this new Way. What happened to Saul? He met with Jesus on his way to Damascus. This reveals a fantastic fact to the Christian community at large. One can never meet with Jesus and ever be the same again! If there is no change in the lives of many that profess to have met Jesus, then they seriously did not meet with Him. The outcome of such a meeting is so amazing that everyone will recognize the difference. It would be radically opposed to what you were about before meeting Jesus. Throughout the Scriptures everyone who met with Jesus and received Him as Lord and God, went away changed, healed, restored and set free – no one remained the same!
When Jesus enters your life things take a different turn – not always for the good in our understanding – but always best because it is the will of God for our lives. When God leads the way, every obstacle will be removed, every mountain will be flattened, every enemy will be destroyed simply because the footsteps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord. This does not mean that one accepting Christ will live without problems, trials and persecutions – that may be even worse for the believer, but because Christ lives in me, I am able to withstand every assault of the enemy against my life and I can stand as one who is more than a conqueror. When God’s Word is the final authority in my life – His Spirit is my Guide – His Wisdom is my source – His Knowledge becomes my library which causes my Understanding to be expanded so that I see the glory of the Lord even in the trials of my life. Nothing and no-one will separate me from the Love of God!
- Pastor Rickey Naidoo
- Ekklesia Family Church
- Banking Details: Standard Bank – Savings Account
- Account Number: 220620873
- Contact: 083 960 5026