The Difference One Person Can Make

Commencement

Good morning Church! I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and I know that everyone is excited about the long weekend. Since you do not have plans to work tomorrow, I think I might just preach a little long today!!

I would like to invite each of you to join me in the Book of Acts 8:4-8.

As everyone is finding their spot, I would like to share that we have been in the Book of Acts now for a little over 3 months. We started our first sermon in Acts on May 30th. We are now at the beginning of Ch. 8, which means we are almost 1/3 of the way through this wonderful book. That is to say that we still have some time here together. Acts is a wonderful book that shows us the beginning of the Church. We must be sure to pay close attention to it and glean all that we can from it.

Last week, we spoke on the topic: “The Difference One Letter Can Make”.

Today, we will be speaking on a similar topic: “The Difference One Person Can make”.

I want to share with you today that one person can make a difference. We have been told, and many of us still tell ourselves, that we cannot possibly make a difference in and of ourselves. The Word of god tells a very different story. As we journey through the Word of God, most of time, God is moving and working through one man to move and develop an entire nation. Just one man! You and I can make a difference! We can influence change! We can change the culture of this Church, our homes, our work places, our families, and so much more. As we will see today, each one of us were designed to be change agents. Each one one of us were designed to make a difference!! Will you join me today, as we see, “The Difference One Person Can make?”

Now, look with me at the text today:

Acts 8:4-8

Acts 8:4–8 ESV

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

If you are ready to dig in, would you say Amen? Alright, let’s get busy!!!

Content

Context

All of those who had been scattered, preached the Word of God wherever they went. Phillip was one of those people. They had been so impacted by what they had experienced within the Church, that they couldn’t help but tell people about Jesus. They wanted to live in that moment of triumph and expansion forever!!!

It says that they preached the Word, but then it tells us that Phillip proclaimed Christ. The Word they preached was fully about Jesus Christ.

Two of the important words within these verses both come from v. 5: Samaria and Messiah. The Jews hated the Samaritans. They despised each other. Jesus was able to bridge a gap that nothing else could span.

When Jesus was preached, things happened. Signs and wonders were done, people started to listen, demons were cast out, paralyzed and lame people were healed, and ultimately, joy came to that land. When God comes in, He bring His joy with Him!!!

The impure spirits came out with shrieks. They did not want to leave. They were comfortable where they were, but when Christ came into that place, they had to go somewhere else.

When someone was willing to address the physical needs of the people (love them), then they were willing to open up and listen to what they had to say spiritually.

Crossing Over

Differences:

We are not under heavy persecution as they were. We were not forced to flee from our homes.

We do not witness miracles as Phillip performed today. This was largely the reason why the people began to listen to him in the first place.

We are not in the midst of a major spiritual movement here in DeKalb County, as they were. We have not seen thousands come to Christ within the last couple of weeks or months.

Though we are surrounded by people who have not acknowledged Jesus as LORD, we are not in Samaria. We are not in a place that has historically hated us.

Similarities:

We do have the freedom to speak the name Jesus wherever we go. Not everyone in the world has this liberty, but we do! Praise God!

We too have the Gospel of Christ to share with the world. We have the same message that Phillip had. Christ came to take away the sins of the world!

We have the ability to show love to others. This is what Phillip did. He went to a place that was broken down and beaten up. He showed them the love of God by telling them about Jesus and helping them in physical matters as well.

Commitment

Acknowledge that God wants everyone to know His Son Jesus, and He has went to great lengths for that to happen.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Acknowledge that God has chosen His people, the Church, as the source of that truth.

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Embrace that God has equipped us to reach the world!!

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We have been given by God, several things to reach the world:

The Gospel of Christ.

The Word of God.

The calling of God upon certain people to be leaders amongst the people.

We have been given the Holy Spirit.

We have been given the fruit of the Spirit.

Conclusion

If we can embrace these simple, yet profound truths, we can truly change the world!!!

I want to show you one more important detail from the text as we come to a close:

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Phillip showing up in Samaria was no accident. Before the Church began, before the Spirit came down, before the movement started, and before Phillip was called, Jesus had already declared what would take place. He stated that after the Spirit came, the Church would expand and go out into the world and be witnesses for Him. This is exactly what happened. Phillip went there by divine decree.

This theological principle still stands today. We are to be His witnesses. We are to shine the light. We are to take Jesus unto the world.

Who is ready to stand for Christ? Who is ready to study the Word of God like never before? Who is ready to reach the world with Gospel of Christ? Who is ready to see, exactly how much difference, just one person can make?