Sunday, Pastor Paul Radke III, preached on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If you missed that message find it on our Website or FB page. Paul talked about how the Holy Spirit working through us will change the world around us… we just have to let Him do that. He changes the world because he changes us… how we think, how we speak, how we act.

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We receive power to witness from the Holy Spirit… not for ourselves, but from the Holy Spirit. The first part of being a witness is receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to live for the Lord. The Holy Spirit coming into our lives brings change. He changes us and empowers us to live for him.

So for a few weeks I want to do a series I am calling, Change our World because I believe that the Lord, through the work of the Holy Spirit wants to change the world through you and I… I know this, He can change the world around us…

When you become a Christian, you receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord and you become a new person.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Listen to me, if you are in Christ, you are a NEW person. The Holy Spirit rebirths you or re-creates you into a brand new person. Then you continue to grow as the Holy Spirit fills and leads you.

Maybe you were a mean and nasty person… cynical… running from God… doing things you never should have been doing. Maybe you have hurt people… been hurt… stolen… whatever.

Paul is saying right here that you are a new person. You know what? It feels good when you become one.

I remember when I made the decision to follow Jesus. I had a temper … not happy … pleasant person you see today. When I received Jesus one Thursday night in October, I changed. It felt good. All of a sudden, I had a peace inside of me that I could not wait to tell my friends about. One of them had made the same decision as I did. We became part of a small group that has kept up with each other for years.

Here’s what happened, I had changed and when you receive Jesus, you will be changed too.

God changed me to change to others

Then I realized that not only was my life changed, but I realized that my life was changed to help other people’s lives be changed. I was part of an ongoing story that needed to be told to others.

The fact of how God has changed me, gives me the faith that God can change anyone. And as a young Christian, I wanted to change the world… that’s why I went to work with YFC. When you see what the Holy Spirit has done in your life, you will want others to know it as well.

Think about how good it felt to have that load of guilt off of you? Don’t you want people you know to feel that? Free of Shame? Peace when you sleep at night? Joy you didn’t have before? Pain of past healed? The Holy Spirit brings you and I through these things so that we can help others experience the same freedom we experienced. Why? Because…

God wants you and I to Change Our World

So let’s look at how we do that.

Matthew 5:13–16 The Message

13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

This passage shows us that Jesus has a plan for us to make a difference in our worlds. His plan is for you and I to change our world.

Someone asked Mother Teresa, how do you feed the world? She replied. You begin with one. IOW, go small. Movements begin with a few people that want to make a difference… a few people who will allow the Holy Spirit to turn them into positive change agents. Spirit led followers lead people though positive change… they make things better for others.

This is challenging because we get into our comfort zones… right? Let me show you…

Cross your arms… we always do it the same way. Try it the other way. It’s not a comfortable is it? Same with clasping hands.

We have to get out of our comfort zones and life a life that God can use.

God wants us live a life that attracts people to want to change their lives

For God to change people’s lives, we have to be such a positive influence on people’s lives that we attract them to want to have a change in their lives. That happens as the Holy Spirit lives every day in and through you.

Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. … You make things better.

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. … You make things brighter.

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Let your good deed shine so people can follow you to Jesus.

Let’s look at change for a moment.

How does change happen?

So how does change happen. Let me suggest 4 ways that all play a part.

1. We make changes when we hurt enough to have to

Most of us have made changes in our lives out of pain. We were forced to change. eagle takes the soft stuff out of the nest..

Proverbs 20:30 GNB

30 Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.

When things are going great, we don’t want to change and we will resist change. Judges… Israel…

2. We make changes when we see enough that we are inspired to change

Usually, we see someone who is an inspiration to us. You will meet, hear or know someone who inspires you to be better as you walk in the Spirit and see people the way God sees them.

Maybe you can think of people who have been that for you? dad, mom, Jon Elder and many others.

3. We make changes when learn enough that we want to

As we grow in our faith walk, we learn about our faith and how to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and begin to live out values. When we do this we become more valuable to ourselves and others.

Steps to peace with God … your testimony… who you were, what caused you to change, what God is doing now…

3. We make changes when we receive enough that we are able to

We receive enough knowledge, pain, inspiration and we are now able to change.

I think most of us want to make a difference in those around us… especially those in our sphere of influence.

One of our 4 purposes as a church is to help you learn to make a difference. Last week Pastor Paul Radke challenged us to go out and use our gifts for the Lord. I know several of you did by going to encourage and pray for someone, by keeping a young child for a few hours, by serving others in need, by taking food around and keeping tabs on those who need prayer. We have some prayer warriors in this place.

So how can we do that? How can we be salt and light in our world?

How can I be Salt and Light?

This is good stuff and it will work. Look at your neighbor and tell them, these 4 things will help you…

1. Value People: Connecting

If you value people, you will connect with them. Jesus valued people and He connected with them.

If you want to be like Jesus, do what Jesus did, and Jesus valued people… everyone… even people the culture didn’t value. It didn’t matter who they were … where they came from… He valued people.

Here is a picture of how Jesus made it look.

Matthew 25:35–40 NLT

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

When you add value to people, Jesus takes it personally.

You want to get close to God, go help someone.

You want to hug God, hug someone.

When you want to connect with Jesus, value people When you want to connect with people connect with them.

2. Add Value to people: Influencing

You begin to influence people when you add value to them. When you add value to people you act in a way to make them better.

When you add value to people, it gives you influence in their lives. Then you can be salt and light in their lives. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what areas you can add value in your daily interactions with people.

You can do something to add value to people every day.

5 Things we need to do to add value to people.

Value people. It’s a decision we make daily under the leading of the HS.

Think of ways to add value to people. note to a waitress… prayer for someone… a card… a comforting word… food… a text.

You have to look for ways to add value to people. This is why some people see how to add value and others don’t. The Holy Spirit will show you as you live a Spirit filled life.

Do things that add value to them. Good intentions don’t do it. You have to act on it.

Encourage to others to add value to others.

Paul understood this. He knew to add value to others he had to

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 The Message

19 Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: 20 religious, nonreligious, 21 meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, 22 the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. 23 I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

Paul entered their experience so that he could understand how to reach them. … Man on the subway with the kids... He didn’t take on their values or their lifestyle but wanted to reach them effectively. He did that because the Holy Spirit led him to so he could be used to change his world.

This is important because My perspective towards you determines my attitude towards you. If see you as weak, I’ll help you. If i see you as broken, I’ll fix you. If I see you as valuable I’ll serve you.

If you want to be salt and light,

3. Live good values: Attracting

When you live good values… living out what we speak, it’s attractive. Living good values is being Salty. Salt makes people thirsty … thirsty for what you have that they don’t have. These are attractive qualities. These qualities all come from the Holy Spirit’s divine love that he placed in you and I. It’s his love that expresses itself in

Galatians 5:22–23 TPT

22 But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

These attract people because they don’t have them in their lives… I didn’t and I wanted them… so do those the Holy Spirit is leading us to.

4. Share good values: Transforming

This is about transformation… It’s were transformation take place. God wants us to share good values. You have to have connected and built influence, lived it out in a loving attractive manner, and now you can share… to speak into someone.

Value people Add value to people Live good values Share good Values

Values are important

The Golden Rule is a good value… forgiveness… loving others…

Good values create stability

They make us bigger on the inside. Transformation begins on the inside. If you have good values on the inside, you don’t need validation from outside. But if I lack good values within me, I seek validation from outside of me.

Good values establish trust

If you get people around tables and begin to talk about values, it begins to change people. Studying good values is a good thing. We have a values deficit in this culture.

All of us want to make a difference in people’s lives. Jesus wants us to change our world.

Matthew 5:13–16 NLT

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Romans 15:1–2 The Message

1 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. 2 Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

VBS… Fuel the Future… Fall Festival… Back Pack Distribution… Homeless ministry… Candy for inmates… Christmas presents for inmates kids … Serve Days … Security … usher … greet … invite … share …

Prayer -