The Third Step to Making a Difference for God

Introduction: God is searching…
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30

… for just one man or woman to “step out” and make a difference!

 Israel was far from God; wickedness and sin was thriving; God, through the prophet Ezekiel wrote “I sought for a man . . . and found none.” God throughout history has a plan that is carried out through ordinary people who assume that great things for God must be done by others; The qualifications are quite simple – He is looking for a man, a woman whose heart is fully His and when He finds a man or a woman whose heart is fully His, regardless of background, race, gender, stature, education of appearance, He will resource them to stand in the gap to build up the wall to make a difference. God is searching with His eye, going to and fro throughout the whole world for one who would forsake it all and step out and say “All I have is yours and I am willing to do what ever you want me to do, to stand in the gap to be your representative.

The Question:

Review - What does it take to make a difference for God? What kind of person?

1. The 1st prerequisite to make a difference is a Dislocated heart.
• Do you care?
2. The 2nd prerequisite to make a difference is a Broken spirit.
• Are you dependent? Do you have God centered prayers that says “God I can’t do this but I am asking you to do what only you can do”
The 3rd Prerequisite:
3. The 3rd prerequisite to make a difference is a Radical Faith
• Will you step out?

Our Model = Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:11 “O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer”.

We pick this story up where Nehemiah finishes his God centered prayer. Here is his request, after four months of fasting and praying God has revealed to Nehemiah that it is not an accident that he has this position, this education, this circle of influence and place near the King; God wants Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. God has given him a plan as he prayed; Nehemiah has gathered a group of people about him “. . . and to the prayer of thy servants. . .” as he prayed. He is about to walk into the Kings presence; he is putting his life on the line! Nehemiah was taking a radical step of faith; he was putting his life on the line; he will come out of his comfort zone and align himself with God’s agenda.

Nehemiah 1:12:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

The greatest things ever done by God’s people are done by people who are absolutely terrified and afraid of what they are about to do. But, they do not look at themselves; they don’t let the fear of finances, the fear of rejection, the fear of their physical life and they do what God shows them to do even though they are afraid.

"3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. “

He had a dislocated heart – he cared; this was not a knee-jerk reaction to bad news; he prayed individually, he gathered a group of people to pray with him for four months he had developed a broken spirit. And now he takes a radical step of faith.

Definition:

A radical faith is choosing to “step out” to fulfill God’s clearly defined will at great personal risk and sacrifice.

This is not just some wild thought that you get; this is God’s clearly defined will. He knew that it was God’s will that the wall be rebuilt. We know that it is God’s will that poor people receive love, lost people to get the gospel, we know that the gospel is to go into the whole world, we know that it is God’s will for fathers to love their family, We know that it is God’s will for mothers to take care of their children, we know that it is God’s will that single people to live pure lives and they are to be loved and encouraged. These are all the clearly defined will of God. You know that it is God’s will for His gospel to cross ethnic barriers.

When you look at churches where God is working and moving you will find people that have taken a radical step of faith. And these people oft times do it reluctantly; we get the idea that they are super-stars and they have super faith and they know so much more than we do. Remember Moses when God called him he said send someone else? And then there is Ester who said “not me please”. When God finds people that are willing to fearfully take a step in faith great things happen.

How Do We Develop a Radical Faith? There are four things to remember to develop a radical faith:

1. By remembering what faith is and is not. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith has to do with things you can’t see. Faith is not based on logic or facts. Faith is not emotions.

Faith is nothing more or less than trusting in the character and the promises of God to the point where you act whether you feel like it or not.

Old Testament example is manna.  God provided enough manna for the day,  If more was gathered than was needed it spoiled; on the day before Sabbath gather enough for two days and it did not spoil.  God was teaching them to trust in Him!

New Testament example is Jesus talking about money; He talked about money more than heaven and hell combined. He says that there are only two gods; it’s either God of money and you can’t serve both!

2. By remembering how deeply God values our faith. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Two things please God first that you know that He exists and secondly that He rewards those who seek Him. God is not impressed with your morality, He is not impressed with your knowledge, nor is He impressed with your success.

The number one agenda that God has for you is that you trust Him.

What would it take to trust Him? What would it take for you to trust God in your marriage, your job (or lack of having one), your relationships, your choice of a mate, your addiction, what would it look like to launch a project or ministry that He is leading you to do?

Where there is no risk there is no faith! The goal is not to be good but to trust Him!

3. By remembering what Jesus taught His followers about a radical faith.

The only time Jesus rebuked his disciples was for their lack of faith. In all four gospels someone asked “what is the work of God? What does it mean to be right with God? What does God really want?” His response in John 6:29 was 'This is the work of God that you believe'; believe what? Believe everything; believe that this book is God’s word, believe what it says about what’s coming and what happened in the past, believe and trust that you are made for eternity, believe that God can meet your needs, believe that God is sovereign, believe that God is good, believe that He is a rewarder, that He loves you, that He is for you.

Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God.(Romans 10:17) You will never be able to have faith in Him unless you are in the Word of God! It is “God I want to get to know you!” You will never be able to trust His character and know His promises unless the Bible is a part of your daily habit!

• Jesus called them to a radical faith.

Luke 9:23-27 “23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.”

You may say that you do not have enough faith to be the kind of person that makes a difference for God. But Jesus says that you don’t need much faith. He told his disciples that all they needed was faith the size of a mustard seed to say unto that mountain to be cast into the sea and it would be done.

• Jesus clarified the object of their faith. Luke 9:28-45 “ If you can ever see Jesus for who He is, how good, how kind, how powerful, how trustworthy, how loving, how much He wants for you. If you can ever see God for who He is you don’t really need a lot of faith!

Luke 9:28 – 45 “28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

Jesus was showing them who he was! He’s God. He’s all powerful. He will never let you down.

• Jesus warned of the dangers of having a radical faith.  Read Luke 9:46-56

1. Self; Missuse of power.

2 Exclusivity; Misuse of privilege: God will use many to accomplish his work

3 Zeal; misuse of talent: this produces a critical nature, one that criticizes other ministries or churches. It may be one that God does some things and you get carried away by the experience instead of the Lord.

• Jesus outlined the cost of having a radical faith. Read Luke 9:57-62

The first man: And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Translation: You can’t hang onto stuff; to follow me you will have to travel light. Don’t trust in material substance but trust in Him.

The second man: And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. Translation: You can’t hang on to people; there can’t be any higher relationship other than your relationship with Jesus. It can’t be your spouse, your children, your friends, your sibling, your parents. You can’t say “I’ll do whatever you want within this box.

The third man: Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Translation: You can’t hang on to the past.

4. By remembering you can’t “walk on water if you don’t get out of the boat.

Read Luke 10:1-27 After this in Luke 10, Jesus sends out 70 people out two by two to do what He sends them to do and He gives them power to do it; he tells them to not take an extra bag, don’t take an extra purse – in fact he says to take nothing; why? He wants them to trust Him.

Read Luke 10:17-20

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

God through them did miraculous things.

Summary:

What does it take for you to take a radical step of faith? Is it becoming the man in the house spiritually? Is it giving God 20 to 30 minutes every day to get to know Him? Is it launching your personal ministry? Is it giving back to God what is due him? Is it giving up an addiction or un-godly relationship?

Ezekiel 22:30-31 " And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.