Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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.

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.

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..

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