WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE THE WORLD? (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     The title of our lesson is:  “Would you like to change the world?”

1.       Most would answer the question in the affirmative.

2.       The danger is found in another question?  What would the world look like after you changed it?

 

B.      When a Christian thinks about changing the world, he thinks of the universal fulfillment of Christ’s mission on earth (Luke 19:10).

 

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

C.     Most of us probably do not believe we can change the world to this degree. 

 

D.     This does not mean, however, that we cannot change the world.  Each one of us is like the sun.  We have a world that revolves around us.  It, like this world, consists of different times, different places, different people, and different events.  And just like the sun, we have the power to change the world.

 

E.      Someone may ask:  “How?”

1.       The answer is not new.  It is quite old.

2.       The answer may not excite you.  It may even bore some individuals.

3.       The answer is not mine.  It is an answer provided by God.

4.       The answer is not difficult.  However, it will be difficult for some.

5.       The answer has been tried, but it hasn’t been tried very well in some places.

 

F.      The answer is found in two words:  “the gospel.”  Yes, we can change the world by the gospel.

 

I.                    BELIEVE THE GOSPEL

 

A.     When we refer to the gospel, we are speaking about the precious Word of God.

1.       This is not a book produced by the imaginations of man.

2.       This book was revealed by the Holy Spirit to men of God who penned the message the Spirit gave to them (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

 

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

B.      Before we can change the world with the gospel, we must be assured in our hearts that this book is the very Word of God.

 

C.     One of the greatest proofs of the Bible’s inspiration.

1.       There are many evidences:

a.       The unity of the Bible

b.      The scientific accuracy of the Bible

c.       The historical accuracy of the Bible

d.      The indestructible nature of the Bible

e.       The prophecies of the Bible

2.       The greatest proof lies in Messianic prophecy.

a.       Messianic prophecy refers to the prophecies found in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah (See John 5:39).

 

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:  and they are they which testify of me.

 

b.      All of these prophecies were definitely written before Jesus came to earth.  In other words, they were not written after Jesus lived and were simply said to be prophecies.

c.       The prophecies are numerous, over 300 in number.

d.      The prophecies are not general in nature, they involve minute details about Jesus and His life. 

1)      Examples:

a)      He would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2).

 

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old to everlasting.

 

-          His parents lived in Nazareth in Galilee.

-          Jerusalem was the capital city.

b)      Parting his garments and casting lots for his vesture (Ps. 22:18).

 

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

 

2)      How would David and Micah know these intricate details hundreds of years before they happened?  There had to be an all-knowing mind that revealed these things to them. 

 

D.     This book contains Words that originated in the mind of God and were spoken to man by the Holy Spirit of God.

1.       Moses wrote:  “In the beginning God created…” (Gen. 1:1), but it was God who spoke the words to him.

2.       John wrote:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16), but God gave the words to him.

3.       Mark recorded the words:   “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16), but God gave the words to him.

 

II.                 COMMIT TO THE GOSPEL

 

A.     Simply believing the gospel to be the Word of God is not enough. (Ex., Intellectually, I believe that a basic knowledge of how to invest one’s money in stocks can make him a wealthy individual, but I am not wealthy).

 

B.      The next step involves commitment.

1.       Definition:

a.       The word commit comes from a Latin word that means:  “to give over completely.”

b.      “Burn the ships”:  In 1519, a Spanish expedition led by Hernan Cortes landed in Mexico.  When his men landed, they were tired and distressed from their journey.  He committed them to forward exploration by burning the ships.  There was no going back at that point.

2.       If we are going to change the world, we are going to have to fully commit to the gospel of Christ.

 

C.     Commitment involves at least three concepts.

1.       All/Whole/Total             nothing is left out                               Mark 12:29-30

 

And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment.

 

2.       First/Chief/Primary        nothing comes before                         Luke 14:33

 

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

3.       Real/True/Genuine         nothing is fake or superficial              Philippians 2:20—22

 

For I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state.  For all seek their own, not the things that are Christ’s.  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served me in the gospel.

 

D.     I will commit my all to the gospel.

The gospel will be my primary concern all the days of my life.

My commitment is true, genuine, and real, having nothing that is counterfeit.

 

III.              LIVE THE GOSPEL

 

A.     Once we believe the gospel and commit to the gospel, there is another step for us to take in order to change the world.

 

B.      We must live the gospel.

1.       The gospel is to be read.

2.       The gospel is to be studied.

3.       The gospel is to be taught.

4.       The gospel is to be defended.

5.       But, the true purpose of the gospel is for it to be lived in our lives.

 

C.     Paul teaches us in several places that the gospel and all that it teaches is something that is to be put on and worn.

1.       Romans 13:14

 

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

2.       Ephesians 4:24

 

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

3.       Ephesians 6:11

 

And put on the whole armour of God…

 

4.       Colossians 3:10

 

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

 

5.       Titus 2:10

 

…that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

 

D.     The Christian takes control of his thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5).

The Christian bridles his tongue (James 3:2).

The Christian crucifies his affections and lusts (Gal. 5:24)

The Christian refrains from sin (1 John 2:1).

The Christian manifests the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

The Christian displays the qualities of Christ in his life (Phil. 1:21).

 

E.      Titus 2:11-13

 

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     We have the ability to change the world through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

B.      It first begins with us.

1.       We must believe the gospel.

2.       We must commit to the gospel.

3.       We must live the gospel.

 

C.     If we are the center of our world, and we change, then everything that revolves within our world must change as well.