Anointed To make A Difference

Anointed to make a difference Acts 10:34–38 (KJV)

Acts 10:34–38 NLT

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

May God bless the reading, hearing, and understanding of His precious Word.

Let us have a word of prayer.

Prayer

Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, we thank You for another opportunity to gather around Your Word. Open our hearts and minds to receive what You have prepared for us today. Let Your Holy Spirit illuminate the Scriptures and empower us to walk in obedience. Break every yoke, destroy every burden, strengthen every weary believer, and remind us that the same God who anointed Jesus is still at work today. We give You glory in advance for what You will do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Confession Of Faith

I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel.

I am moved by what I believe.

I believe the WORD of God!

The victory is mine!

I have it now!

I can see it through the eyes of my faith!

In Jesus' Name!

Amen!

Sermon Introduction

Sermon Introduction

Family, have you ever noticed that some people leave a mark wherever they go? They don't have to be the richest person in the room, the smartest person in the room, or even the loudest person in the room. Yet when they leave, people say, "I'm glad they came." They brought hope to someone's discouragement, peace to someone's confusion, or encouragement to someone who was ready to give up.

Now imagine a world where every Christ follower, every believer , every Christian lived that way.

Imagine homes where peace walked through the front door. Imagine neighborhoods where kindness outweighed conflict. Imagine churches known not only for what they preach on Sunday, but for the lives they change every day of the week.

That's exactly what Jesus demonstrated.

When the Peter stood in the house of Cornelius, he didn't spend hours recounting every miracle Jesus performed or every sermon He preached. Instead, he summarized the entire ministry of Jesus in one powerful verse. He said, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good..."

Don't miss that. Peter reduced more than three years of ministry to one unforgettable description: Jesus went about doing good.

Wherever there was brokenness, Jesus brought healing. Wherever there was darkness, He brought light. Wherever there was bondage, He brought freedom. Wherever there was hopelessness, He brought hope.

And here's what makes this passage so powerful: Jesus didn't do these things simply because He was the Son of God. Peter tells us how He ministered—God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and with power. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus has been given to every believer who belongs to Jesus.

That means this passage isn't just about what Jesus did then. It's about what God desires to do through you and me now.

So the question before us today is not, "Was Jesus anointed?" We know He was.

The real question is, What are we doing with the anointing, What are we doing with the gifts, What are we doing with the opportunities, and What are we doing with the influence God has entrusted to us?

Family, God never anoints us to impress people. He anoints us to impact people. He never fills us with His Spirit so we can sit comfortably on the sidelines. He fills us so that we can become His hands, His feet, and His voice in a world desperately searching for hope.

Hear me now

Before Jesus ever performed a miracle, before He opened blinded eyes, before He raised the dead, before He fed the five thousand, something happened that made everything else possible.

The Bible tells us that God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and with power.

Everything Jesus did flowed out of His relationship with the God and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. His ministry was not fueled by human ability, His ministry was not fueled by popularity, or His ministry was not fueled by personal ambition—His ministry was fueled by divine purpose.

The same is true for you and me. We often admire what God does through people, but we must never overlook what God first does in people. Before God uses us publicly, He prepares us privately. Before He sends us into the harvest, He equips us for the assignment.

Now Lean In

Point 1: God Anoints People for Purpose

Acts 10:38 begins with these powerful words: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power..."

The first thing Peter wants us to understand is that Jesus did not begin His public ministry until He was anointed by God. Although Jesus is the eternal Son of God, He chose to minister on earth in complete dependence upon God the Father and in the power of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, He became the perfect example for every Christ Follower for every believer and for every Christian

Notice the order of the verse. It does not begin with miracles. It does not begin with crowds. It does not begin with success.

It begins with God.

Everything Jesus accomplished flowed from what God had done in His life.

Family, that's a lesson we cannot afford to miss. We live in a culture that celebrates talent, We live in a culture that celebrates charisma, We live in a culture that celebrates education, and We live in a culture that celebrates influence. Now, None of those things are wrong, but none of them can replace the anointing of God.

Talent may open doors, but the anointing changes lives.

Education may inform the mind, but the anointing transforms the heart.

Influence may attract a crowd, but the anointing draws people to Christ.

So What Is the Anointing?

As I have read In the Old Testament, anointing with oil symbolized that a person had been chosen, set apart, and empowered by God for a specific assignment. Kings were anointed before they ruled. Priests were anointed before they served in the temple. Prophets were anointed before they declared God's message.

The oil itself had no mystical power. It represented the presence and power of the Holy Spirit resting upon a person's life.

When Samuel anointed David, the Bible says:

1 Samuel 16:13 NKJV

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

The action on the outside pointed to something inside—God's presence that strengthens.

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. That moment marked the beginning of His public ministry. From there, He was led into the wilderness, victorious over temptation, and then returned "in the power of the Spirit" to begin preaching, teaching, healing, and delivering.

The anointing was never about making Jesus famous. It was about fulfilling God’s mission.

Hear me now

The Anointing Is Always Connected to an Assignment

One of the greatest misunderstandings in the church today is thinking that the anointing exists to make us feel good or look spiritual.

The Bible teaches something different.

God never anoints someone without also giving them an assignment.

Moses was anointed to lead Israel.

Joshua was anointed to conquer the Promised Land.

Deborah was anointed to lead with wisdom and courage.

David was anointed to shepherd a nation.

The apostles were anointed to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

In Luke 4:18 we see this

Luke 4:18 NKJV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

Man, The pattern is consistent from Genesis to Revelation: God's anointing always serves God's purpose.

Here’s what I mean

Suppose someone gives you the keys to a brand-new ambulance. It has flashing lights, advanced medical equipment, and everything needed to save lives.

But instead of answering emergency calls, you park it in your driveway every day so the neighbors can admire it.

People might compliment the vehicle, but it would never fulfill its purpose.

An ambulance is valuable only when it goes where the hurting are.

In the same way, the gifts, the abilities, and the anointing God gives us are not trophies to display—they are tools to serve.

Check this out - you can even write this down

Every Christ follower Has a Purpose

Sometimes people think only pastors, evangelists, or missionaries have a calling.

That's not what the Bible teaches.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Every believer has a ministry.

Your workplace is a mission field.

Your family is a mission field.

Your neighborhood is a mission field.

The people you encounter every day may never walk into a church, but they may encounter Jesus through your life.

God has strategically placed you where you are—not by accident, but by assignment.

Can I ask you a question this morning?

When people cross your path, do they leave encouraged—or discouraged?

Do they experience the love of Christ through your words and actions?

Would your coworkers say there is something different about you?

Would your family describe you as someone who reflects the character of Jesus?

God has not called us merely to attend church. He has called us to be the Church wherever we go.

Hear Me Now

God doesn't anoint people to impress the world; He anoints people to bless the world.

Your occupation may pay your bills, but your calling gives your life purpose.

The anointing isn't measured by how loudly we shout in church; it's measured by how faithfully we obey God when we leave the church.

God is not looking for perfect people—He's looking for available people.

So maybe you are thinking does your life matters.

Maybe you've felt overlooked, forgotten, or insignificant.

watch this

John 1:46 NKJV

46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus was called "Jesus of Nazareth"—a town so insignificant that people questioned whether anything good could come from it . But God chose that humble place as the backdrop for the Savior of the world.

If God can use Nazareth, He can use your neighborhood.

If God can use fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds, and persecutors turned apostles, He can use you.

You are not an accident.

You are God's workmanship.

You have been redeemed for a purpose, empowered by His Spirit, and sent into the world to reflect the life of Jesus Christ.

So don't underestimate what God can do through one surrendered life.

Because when God's anointing meets a willing heart, lives are changed, families are restored, communities are transformed, and God receives all the glory.

Remember God anoints people for purpose,

So I needed to ask God this question - for myself What does that purpose look like in everyday life?

Because it's one thing to say you're anointed, but it's another thing to live an anointed life.

The anointing is not measured by how high we jump, how loud we shout, or how eloquently we speak. The true evidence of God's anointing is seen in the way we love people, serve people, and point people to Jesus.

Peter could have described Jesus by saying, "He went about performing miracles," or "He went about preaching powerful sermons." While both statements would have been true, that's not what the Holy Spirit inspired him to write.

Lean In

Peter says something really simple: he said

"He went about doing good."

Now Don't let the simplicity of that phrase cause you to overlook its significance. Those five words summarize the earthly ministry of Jesus. Everywhere He went, goodness followed Him. He didn't wait for people to come to Him—He intentionally went to where they were. He went to where they were ! He entered villages, He walked dusty roads, He visited homes, He touched lepers, He comforted mourners, He welcomed children, and He sat with people society had pushed aside.

Jesus didn't just preach about God's love—He demonstrated it.

Can I ask you a question this morning? If someone followed you for a week, would they see evidence that you "go about doing good"? Would they see patience instead of anger? Compassion instead of criticism? Generosity instead of selfishness? Grace instead of judgment?

Family , the world doesn't just need more Christians who can quote Scripture. It needs Christians who live Scripture.

It needs believers whose faith is visible in everyday acts of kindness, whose faith is visible in mercy, whose faith is visible in forgiveness, whose faith is visible in generosity, and whose faith is visible in compassion.

Stay with me

Point 2: When you operate in The Anointing it will Lead to Acts of Compassion

Say This With Me

"He went about doing good."

Again ya’ll At first glance, those words seem simple. In fact, they almost sound too ordinary to describe the ministry of Jesus. But Peter, with the help of the Holy Spirit, uses this simple phrase to sum up the life of our Lord and Savior.

Think about that.

He could have said, "Jesus went about raising the dead."

He could have said, "Jesus went about opening blinded eyes."

He could have said, "Jesus went about casting out demons."

Every one of those statements would have been true.

But instead, Peter chose the broader expression: "He went about doing good."

Why?

Because every miracle Jesus performed, every sermon He preached, every life He touched flowed from the goodness of God.

His ministry wasn't motivated by a desire to gain popularity. It wasn't about proving His power or building His reputation.

Jesus simply reflected the heart of His Father.

Man, Ya’ll Goodness is not an Event—It is a Lifestyle

Notice that the text says Jesus "went about."

Those two words tell us that doing good wasn't an occasional act.

It was His way of life.

Everywhere Jesus traveled, goodness traveled with Him.

When He entered a town, hope entered that town.

When He entered a home, peace entered that home.

When He entered a synagogue, truth entered that synagogue.

When He met hurting people, healing met hurting people.

Wherever Jesus went, the atmosphere changed because the presence of God was with Him.

Family, here's the question we must ask ourselves:

What changes when we walk into a room?

Do people experience peace?

Do they experience encouragement?

Do they experience the love of Christ?

Or do they experience criticism, do they experience negativity, or do they experience division?

As Christ followers, As Christians, As believers we should leave every place better than we found it because Jesus lives in us.

You know what i see in the text - Compassion Always Moved Jesus

One of the beautiful characteristics of Jesus was that He never overlooked people.

When everyone else saw a crowd, Jesus saw individuals.

He saw Zacchaeus hiding in a tree.

He saw the woman who had suffered for twelve years.

He saw blind Bartimaeus sitting beside the road.

He saw the widow burying her only son.

He saw children whom the disciples tried to send away.

He saw the thief hanging beside Him on the cross.

Family, Jesus saw people others ignored.

That's what compassion does.

Compassion notices what everyone else overlooks.

Sometimes the greatest ministry isn't standing behind a pulpit.

Sometimes it's sitting beside someone who's hurting.

Sometimes it's making a phone call.

Sometimes it's sending a text.

Sometimes it's preparing a meal.

Sometimes it's listening without interrupting.

Sometimes it's simply being present.

check this out

Imagine walking through a hospital.

Some people walk through looking only at their destination.

Others walk through noticing the people.

A worried husband sitting in the waiting room.

A mother praying for her child.

An elderly patient with no visitors.

A nurse who has worked twelve exhausting hours.

Compassion notices what busyness overlooks.

That's how Jesus lived.

He wasn't so focused on His schedule that He missed people's needs.

Your Faith Must Become Action

James 2:14–17 NKJV

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James tells us that faith without works is dead.

Our faith should never remain confined to Sunday morning.

Real faith shows up on Monday.

It shows up in how we treat our spouse.

It shows up in how we speak to our children.

It shows up in how we treat coworkers.

It shows up in how we respond to difficult people.

Anyone can be kind when life is easy.

The anointing enables us to love when it's difficult.

To forgive when we've been hurt.

To serve when we're tired.

To give when it's inconvenient.

That's the work of the Holy Spirit.

Lean In

If you don’t know by now - the world is watching the church

Family, our world is watching.

People may never read a Bible before they read our lives.

They may never hear a sermon before they observe our character.

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Notice this carefully.

Our good works don't save us.

Jesus saves us.

But our good works point people to the Savior.

The kindness we show becomes a testimony.

The compassion we extend becomes a witness.

The generosity we display becomes an invitation for others to ask, "What makes you different?"

And when they ask, we have the opportunity to tell them about Jesus.

ya’ll, "doing good" doesn't always require a large platform.

Sometimes it looks like:

Calling someone who feels forgotten.

Praying with a coworker during lunch.

Helping a struggling neighbor.

Buying groceries for a family in need.

Visiting someone in the hospital.

Encouraging a young person who needs direction.

Forgiving someone who never apologized.

Speaking hope into someone who has lost theirs.

These acts may seem small to us, but they become powerful when offered in the name of Jesus.

Never underestimate what God can do through ordinary acts of obedience.

Family , remember this:

The anointing isn't proven by how loudly we worship—it's proven by how faithfully we love.

People may forget what you said, but they'll never forget how you made them feel when Christ's love flowed through you.

Maybe you're thinking, "Pastor, my acts of kindness seem so small."

Remember a little boy who offered five loaves and two fish.

Remember a widow who gave two small coins.

Remember a woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume.

Remember a man named Simon who simply carried a cross.

None of them realized that their simple act of obedience would be remembered for generations.

The same God who multiplied a little lunch can multiply your simple acts of love.

Never believe the lie that your kindness doesn't matter.

Every encouraging word...

Every whispered prayer...

Every visit...

Every sacrifice...

Every act of generosity...

Every moment of compassion...

God sees it all.

And when His people consistently "go about doing good," the world catches a glimpse of Jesus.

Church, let's be known not only for what we believe, but for how we love. Let our homes, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and our communities be better because the people of God have been there.

Because when the Church lives like Jesus, the world cannot help but notice Jesus.

Ok let me close out

Family, the scripture shows us that God anoints people for purpose, and it shows us that the anointing produces compassionate action. But Jesus didn't stop at simply doing good deeds. His compassion always led Him to confront the deeper issue—the spiritual bondage that held people captive.

You see, Jesus didn't just make people feel better; He came to make them free.

Acts 10:38 NKJV

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Hear me now

Point 3: God's Power Brings Freedom

Luke 4:18 NKJV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

Throughout His ministry, Jesus encountered people bound by sickness, bound by fear, bound by sin, bound by shame, and bound by demonic oppression. Wherever He went, He brought hope and freedom because God's power is always greater than the enemy's power.

The devil's goal is to keep people in bondage, but Jesus came to break every chain. That's why He declared that He had come "to proclaim liberty to the captives."

The good news is that the same Jesus who delivered people in the Bible is still delivering people today. He still heals broken hearts. He still restores families. He still forgives sins. He still gives peace to troubled minds. And He still sets captives free.

Whatever chain you may be carrying today—fear, addiction, guilt, unforgiveness, or discouragement—it is no match for the power of Jesus Christ.

As Christ Followers , as Christians, as believers, we are called to carry this message of hope to a hurting world. We cannot free people by our own strength, but we can introduce them to the One who can.

Never underestimate the power of your testimony. Your story of God's grace may be the key that unlocks someone else's hope.

Family, remember this:

Where Jesus is present, freedom is possible.

If God is with you, you don't have to live in defeat. The same power that anointed Jesus is available to strengthen and sustain every believer through the Holy Spirit.

So walk in faith, stand on God's promises, and remember: the chains may be real, but our Savior is greater.

Because when Jesus shows up, freedom follows.

family, as we close of this message, let's remember what we've learned from Acts 10:38.

God anointed Jesus for a purpose.

Jesus went about doing good.

Jesus brought freedom to everyone who was oppressed.

That same Jesus is here today.

He is still calling people to Himself. He is still healing broken hearts. He is still lifting heavy burdens. He is still breaking chains. And He is still saving souls.

The greatest miracle in Acts 10:38 wasn't just that people were healed—it was that they encountered Jesus. Because when you truly encounter Jesus, your life is never the same.

Perhaps you've been listening today, and you realize that while you've heard about Jesus, you've never surrendered your life to Him. Or maybe you've drifted away and today you sense God calling you back home.

Hear my heart on this : Jesus didn't come just to improve your life—He came to transform your life. He died on the cross for your sins, rose again with all power, and offers forgiveness, peace, and eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.

Church, no matter where you've been or what you've done, God's grace is greater than your past. His mercy is available right now. His arms are open wide.

Today is your opportunity to say "yes" to Jesus.

Don't let this moment pass you by. The same Savior who went about doing good is here today, ready to do the greatest good He can ever do for you—save your soul and make you a new creation.

If you're ready to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I invite you to pray this prayer with me from your heart.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I need of Your grace. I believe You died for my sins and I believe that God raised You from the dead. I ask You to forgive me, I ask You to come into my heart, and I ask You to be the Lord of my life. I place my faith in You alone for salvation. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me live for You every day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer in faith, welcome to the family of God. Continue growing through prayer, reading the Bible, and joining a Christ-centered church!