Impact - 1
The Power of a Significant Life

Every Humans Desire

The desire of every human being to have their life mean something.
“What will my legacy be?”
“If only I had...then I could…”

At the root of all fear is the lack of purpose.

When life gets difficult and things seem to be pressing in from every angle,
we shrink back and cower into our creature comforts because we fear
those difficulties more than we have a desire to stand and conquer.

Fear tomorrows difficulties - and that jobs us of a future.
Fear the challenge - and that robs us of our impact.

Psychologists have a theory: Terror Management Theory

According to this theory: One defining characteristic of human beings is
self-awareness: we’re alive and we know it. Although awareness of this life
that we have can give rise to unbridled awe and joy, it can also lead to the
potentially overwhelming dread engendered by the realization that death is
inevitable and the pleasures of life can be taken through circumstance at
any moment.

Humans consume this terror theory.
Marketers leverage it to sell you things you don't need.
Politicians use it to gain your vote.
Pharmaceutical Companies maximize it to promote their wonder cures.
Businessmen turn it into get rich quick schemes.

Humans have lost their courage to stand.

We have accepted this new way of living. (Ephesians 2:2)

…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

How do we respond? – Props.

How is it working for you? How is your fear management system working?

Ecclesiastes 1:14 - I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. (the air)

What happens deep inside of you when I mention this fear, this loss of
impact?
How do you feel when I describe to you how we cower behind our
comforts?

If we can’t fix it – we blame it for being broken.
If we can’t afford it – we go into debt to have it.
If we can’t change it – we leave it alone and say that’s how it will always be.

Its hopeless. Frustrated?

The message of the gospel is not a fire and brimstone one. Its not one of
believe in Jesus so you don’t go to hell. No, its one of believe in Jesus so he can rescue mankind from its hell.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NKJV)
For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but
also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we
said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived
when we were with you.

The Gospel message brings hope.
It creates in you the ability to impact this life… right now.

Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl once wrote, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.

What Does A Life of Impact Look Like?

1. We don’t live in the past.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) - This means that anyone who belongs to Christ
has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT) - Even before he made the world, God loved us and
chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Ezekiel 18:31 (NLT) - Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?

2. It is a life not afraid of a change of desire.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 (NLT) - for they keep talking about the wonderful
welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the
living and true God.

Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT) - I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes,
everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

3. It is a Life of Character, Steadfastness and Integrity
Remember when Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times. When Jesus
turned and looked Peter, the Bible says that Peter departed and wept
bitterly.

1 John 3:19-24 (NLT) - Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will
receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things
that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the
name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

MY COMMITMENT AS A CHRISTIAN (Rwanda Man)

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The
die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth
knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and
dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, and my mission clear. I
cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back,
deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at
the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up,
paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I
must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work
until He stops me -- and when He comes for His own, He will have no
problem recognizing me -- my banner will be clear.

4. It Is a Life of Confidence.

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT) - Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) - Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the
evidence of things we cannot see.

5. It is a Life Made Alive - Conclusion

Ephesians 2:4-10 (NLT) - But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so
much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life
when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

This Week – Christ’s Impact On You

Next Week – Your Impact on the Body Of Christ