## Make a Difference

## Jude 20-25

Today we are honoring our graduates for reaching a significant goal. They have not arrived, but they are on their way! This is but one of many that they will acheive in their lives. Again, I am reminded that the spiritual life of the Christian parallels the physical life of an individual.

All of us need to have some spiritual goals. Now if you are not a believer, God has a goal for your life. He wants you to be saved. The Bible tells us that He is not willing that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance. So the first spiritual goal for you today who are not Christians is to come to the cross of Christ and accept the finished work of Jesus on Calvary as an atonement for your sins. That you might be born again.

Note: Jude 20-25 (text verse 22)

God makes a difference! He always has made a difference in the lives of people. Note what He said to Moses.

(EXO 11:7) "BUT AGAINST ANY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL NOT A DOG MOVE HIS TONGUE, AGAINST MAN OR BEAST: THAT YE MAY KNOW HOW THAT THE LORD DOTH PUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EGYPTIANS AND ISRAEL."

The local church is here to make a difference. Grace Baptist Temple is not a social club or a place to play games. Although we do have fellowship and we enjoy ourselves as we serve God together, the purpose of this church is to make a difference in the lives of people. We may not change the entire world, but we are making a difference in the lives of some of the folks within our sphere of influence. Our sphere of influence reaches around the world!

(2 COR 5:17) "THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW."

The title of the message this morning is this, What does it take to MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

I. We Cannot Become Complacent.

A. As long as we are satisfied with the way things are, we will never change anything.

1. That is true in this church.

2. That is true in our lives.

3. That is true in our jobs.

4. That is true in our devotion to God.

B. We should never be content with our level of devotion to God.

(PHIL 3:12-13) "NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED, EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT: BUT I FOLLOW AFTER, IF THAT I MAY APPREHEND THAT FOR WHICH ALSO I AM APPREHENDED OF CHRIST JESUS. {13} BRETHREN, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED: BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE,"

C. We need vision.

1. A vision of the lost and dying world.

2. A vision for what God can do with us as a church.

3. A vision for what God can do with us as individuals.

D. Are we satisfied with our own spiritual condition?

1. Again, if you are not a Christian.

a. There is no reason to leave this place without Christ as your personal Savior.

b. Jesus died that we might have eternal life.

c. When we give the invitation, why not come and let us show you from God's Word how to be born again.

d. Better yet, why not come right now?

E. Are we satisfied with your friends and loved one's spiritual condition?

1. We can make a difference, because we can introduce them to Christ.

2. We can pray, witness, and encourage them to come to the Savior.

F. Are we satisfied with the condition of our ministry for God?

1. Sunday school teachers and workers.

2. Choir members, deacons, and leaders.

3. Where is our vision for what God can do?

II. We Cannot Forsake Our Convictions. v20

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHAT WE BELIEVE, BECAUSE WHAT WE BELIEVE DETERMINES THE DECISIONS WE MAKE IN OUR LIVES.

A. Convictions about the power of prayer to change things.

B. Convictions about the coming of the Lord.

C. Convictions about hell (v. 23)

D. Convictions about the worth and potential of a single soul.

III. We Cannot Waver in Our Commitment. (v21)

A. Our Personal Commitment to God.

(ROM 12:1-2) "I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE. {2} AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD."

B. Our Commitment to the power of the Gospel to change lives.

1. Think for a moment back to the time when you didn't know Jesus Christ as Savior.

2. Remember the hopelessness and helplessness that you felt with life.

3. Then remember when that person came with the message of the Gospel.

4. Oh what a change the Gospel makes in the lives of those who will believe.

(ROM 1:16) "FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK."

C. Our Commitment to invest in eternity.

IV. We Cannot Fail to have Compassion. (v22)

A. Compassion should MOVE US to action.

(MAT 9:36) "BUT WHEN HE SAW THE MULTITUDES, HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION ON THEM, BECAUSE THEY FAINTED, AND WERE SCATTERED ABROAD, AS SHEEP HAVING NO SHEPHERD."

B. What are our feelings towards the lost?

C. Do we CARE?

1. Enough to get involved.

2. Enough to give that others might hear the precious message that will transform their lives.

3. Enough to personally get involved in the lives of others.

Let's determine to make a difference in this world. We can do it if we do not:

Become Complacent.

Forsake Our Convictions.

Waver in Our Commitment

Fail to have Compassion.