Becoming a HIStory Maker

A fresh look at our vision and mission of Serving God in Our World and what it means to SERVE. I have called this three week series "Becoming a HIStory Maker," because o want us to be a people who ;eave their mark in life, but also that we are more importantly remembered for Jesus. We become living examples of His story in our lives.

Basecamp Scripture:
Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

What does it means to Serve God in Our World?
It could mean the planet - after all the world belongs to  everyone right?
It could mean the world the church lives in - like a Christian bubble, insulated from the world outside.

What we mean by this though is anywhere you are, you’re called to serve God. We need to do this with wisdom, compassion and gentleness.

Serving God in Our World means we are increasing our influence, changing the flavour of the places where we spend our lives.
Our statement does not say, "Serving God in Our Church," although church ministry is obviously part of what we do, but it is not the only place where we are called to minister.

Matthew 5: 13-16: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Once salt is in a glass of water it affects the whole of the liquid. (Try and get someone to drink the unsalted bit).

Once light shines in the darkness it pushes darkness away but can be seen for miles. In fact giving the luminosity of a candle, the limitations of the human eye and curvature of the earth a single candle can be seen from 2.47kms or just over 1.5 miles (https://www.technologyreview.com/s/539826/how-far-can-the-human-eye-see-a-candle-flame/)

The lamp Jesus was referring to was probably an oil lamp, which gives light to the whole house.

Influence is an amazing thing. You're doing it even when you don't know you are doing it. Negativity or positively.

What does this mean for serving God in our world. Let me show how many things go into my world, there are other things and relationships, but you'll get the idea:

God - Wife - Kids - Church - Church Work - Elim Missions - CTiC - Area Pastor - Writing - Weekly Shopping - Gym - F1- Neighbours

That’s my world. In that world I interact with hundreds of people at some level each week.

In that world I need to be a fragrant aroma spreading His Good News where I go.

2 Corinthians 2:15: For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

But you know what, so do you! It’s not just the role of the pastors to influence. We all do.

When we add these spheres of influence, or worlds, together we discover that we are affecting a lot of people and their lives. True, they influence us too, but actually, light is stronger than darkness, salt is powerful: therefore everything we do is powerful and significant in the hands of God.

So how do we serve God in our world. Here are things that will affect the lives of people without you really trying to evangelise them (but will lead to interesting conversations):

1. Love People Graciously - 
To live graciously can conjure up many picture for us but the primary aspect of graciousness is forgiveness.

Matthew 18: 21: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Peter thought he was doing well with the idea of forgiving people seven times. Some of the rabbis of the day were teaching that to forgive someone three times was enough - a kind of three strikes and you're out rule. So he doubles it and adds one for good measure.

Jesus blows the notion away - we get hung up on the number but the it's not overly clear (77 times or 7 x 70), but that's not the point. The point is that you forgive so much out becomes second nature. Forgive so much it becomes a lifestyle. Forgive so much and so often that people can only describe you as gracious.

1 Corinthians 13: 5 reminds us that love keeps no records of wrongs. Keep short accounts with people. Let people know they matter more to you than what they do.

2. Live Life with Gladness - 
If anyone has a right to display happiness and joy it is the child of God! Being miserable is an option for the Christian that some seem to have taken but the truth is when we reflect on Jesus, on God's immeasurably great love for us, on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives then our response should be joyful.

Joy is a sign of His presence - Psalm 16:11

Joy is a sign of His strength and power in your life - Nehemiah 8:10

Joy is a sign new Kingdom priorities - Luke 15:8-10

Joy is a sign of victory in your life - Psalm 27:7

Joy is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit - Luke 10:21

Joy in the Lord is always expressed through praise and worship (Psalm 28:7; 33:3; 98:4; 100:2; 126:2).

Happiness is a state of mind. You can choose to be happy and content in any circumstances.

You cannot learn joyfulness, that unspeakable joy comes from the Lord. It is a result of Who He is and what He has done. It does not depend on circumstances or even our feelings.

When we think of Him joy should well up within us!
Live life with gladness.

3. Model Generosity - 
If you want to influence people be generous with them.
Generosity does not simply mean with money, although it can do. It has to do with time, with love, with kindness.

“It is not enough for the church to talk about generosity, nor is it enough for individual Christians simply to commit to being generous. What makes generosity a real and powerful witness to God’s love is our action. Generosity flows from an understanding that all we have, are, and ever will become is not ours to possess, and it results in sharing what we’ve been given with others for the advancement of the kingdom and the glory of God.” (Chris Willard and Jim Sheppard: Contagious Generosity).

Generosity isn’t just about the amount of money I give. It’s about how much of myself I give.

Perhaps no biblical character illustrates this idea better than the “Good Samaritan," in Luke 10, the Samaritan was traveling along the road from Jerusalem when he saw another man who had been mugged and left for dead on the side of the road. When the Samaritan saw this bruised and bloodied man, he knew he had to do something to help. In do doing, the Samaritan paints us a wonderful picture of what generosity really is:

Generous with Emotions: “he took pity on him.” He felt compassion for this stranger. The Samaritan opened up his heart to this man in need.

Generous people are people whose hearts are open to help others. They see the needs of those around them and feel a need to take care of them. They don’t make excuses or assume someone else will help.

Generous with Resources: The Samaritan was also generous with what he had. Upon seeing the stranger’s pitiful state, he took some bandages and oil out of his bag and used them to bind his wounds. Once he got the man to an inn, he even went so far as to use his own money to pay for the his expenses.

If we want to be generous, we must use what we have for others. That means taking our possessions – whether we use them or not – and sharing them with those who have need.

Generous with Time: After the Samaritan bandaged this guy’s wounds, he took him to an inn to recover. Can you imagine the time commitment for something like that? The Samaritan had to make an extra stop! He might have even had to go out of his way to make it to an inn!

Time is our most precious and valuable resource. We never seem to have enough of it, and we’re never going to get more of it. Thus, sharing our time with those in need is one of the greatest acts of generosity.
(http://onecornerstone.org/blog/2012/11/lifestyle-generosity-11-06-12/)

4. Respond Genuinely - 
One of the things people notice about Christians is that they are authentic, real, people of integrity.

I was in the changing room of the gym and heard two guys talking. One was saying to the other about some kind of business deal that had gone sour and he'd lost some money. What was worse, he was owed money by another party involved who denied it and it was causing him some stress; both these guys new this other man. As the conversation progressed they began to run this guy down - language that I cannot repeat. Then one of them starts to talk about this miscreant's faith - yes, friends, he apparently was a born again Christian. Their conclusion as they left the changing rooms - never do business with a Christian! They didn't just see this one guy as trouble, but the whole of the Christian faith.

That is not living genuinely.

We must understand that our witness and the way we live have consequences - good and bad - for the whole Church, not just our little corner of it.

Let's take a look at five hallmarks of authentic Christianity, taken from 1 John.

Confesses Jesus as Lord: 1 John 4:15: If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.

Christianity must begin with a verbal acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. The Bible says that even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). True Christians should be able to say that Jesus Christ is their Lord.

Miserable sinner: you will be unhappy or miserable when you're sinning.
1 John 3:9: No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

This doesn't mean you will never sin if you are a Christian (1 John 1:8). There is a difference between recognising that we will fail in some way, shape, or form in the future and going on a wilful, continual track of sin.

Hangs out with Christians: an authentic Christian enjoys fellowship with other believers.
1 John 5:1-2: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

A true Christian will want to be around other Christians. Those who isolate themselves from other believers do so at their own peril, because the Bible tells us that it is important to get together, encourage one another, and correct one another (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Obedient to Jesus: an authentic Christian obeys the commands of Jesus Christ. If you are a true believer, then you will obey the commands of Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:3: In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome...

These commands they protect us from potential harm. The person who blatantly and continually breaks the commandments of God simply does not know Him.

Loves the Bible: an authentic Christian loves and obeys the Word of God.
1 John 2:5:  But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them....

You cannot effectively live the Christian life without a love for, and obedience to, God's Word. All true disciples of Jesus Christ will be students of Scripture and will walk according to its teaching.

This is vital to authentic Christian living, because the Bible is indeed the very textbook of life (2 Timothy 3:16).
(http://www.jesus.org/following-jesus/discipleship/what-makes-for-an-authentic-christian.html)

If you desire to genuine in your Christian walk then you will need to live out these Christian basics, these foundations, to be build a strong, authentic life.

Wrapping This Up:
These four G’s - Graciousness, Gladness, Generosity and Genuineness - will lead to a G-force effect in your life. G-force is to do with gravity. Strictly speaking it isn't a force but is related to the weight of an object.

However, we all understand we are drawn to the earth's surface and do not fall off due to gravity that is exerted upon us. In the same way by showing these four characteristics in our lives we will find we exert a gravitational force on those around us.

People will be drawn to us. Drawn to Him who is the centre of all we do.