Who ever thought Christianity is a personal matter just between you and Jesus where no one else is impacted or expected that following Jesus is a way to an all-peaceful life, or that religion is a private thing between you and God, is sure to be challenged by Jesus’s words in the Gospel of Matthew. IF I was to ask you today, would you be willing to stand out, stand up, and tell people about Jesus—not that you couldn’t do it, but would you do it? Then if you did proclaim the Gospel to people, in our very primitive nature in the flesh, would you think our little minds, our sinful ways, our absence of peace, hope and love would disqualify us to make any difference at all? How many people today would actually think or believe that they couldn’t even attempt to make a difference with the life we live in the world we live today? I bring before you this proclamation friends that each one of us, can make a difference in this world, most importantly our own. Its made possibly only by the ways of Christ. In the title of the message today, it Only Takes A Spark, I would like for you to reflect upon it, and think soberly, with all reassurance that YES, I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
In starting our Journey today, we begin with the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10. This piece of scripture proclaims Jesus response to the peoples concern that indeed, we will be persecuted for Christ sake, but that is NOT to prevent us from spreading the good news to all mankind.
Starting at verse 24, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household! 26 So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”
The word disciple means learner. A teacher is to be a mentor to the disciple, just as Jesus is our teacher, we are to be His disciples. So, what some people seem to get stuck on is the mere fact, how can little oh me say or make any difference when there are so many others that could do it better, explain it more fluently, remember so much more than I? What did we just read, we are members of the teachers household, Jesus. Then we read in verse 26 a simple but powerful word called ‘fear’ which seems to answer all the doubtful questions, yet it’s the one word that we are NOT to live by, fear.
What is it we really fear? What are we truly afraid of? Pauls letter to Timothy tells us “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity [fear], but of power and love and discipline [sound mind].” Scripture does give us fear in several forms, and the most important aspect is the fear of the Lord which is defined as a reverence, Honor and respect of God, which this essence of fear is upon those who call Him Lord and Savior. However, for those who do not know Christ, they have full reason to live in sheer terror and fear. Scripture has no reassuring promise for those that live outside of Gods laws and in disobedience. NONE!
So why should we be so fearful, so distant, so diluted in spreading the faith, hope and love of Christ that we are just not willing to do it without having reservations? The simple answer is that we allow unhealthy fear to withhold us from not spreading the Gospel or good news of God. Fear! The one thing that continues to prove itself which allows us to be separated from God in body, mind and spirit.
Do you realize one of the greatest gifts God gave us today is free will! We can choose to spit in Gods face, shake our fist at Him and do all vile things against God. We can choose to live in fear, in anxiety, in absolute disarray. We can choose to say God I am worthless; I am nothing, I feel nothing, I am nothing, I am here by a mere accident! Or our free choice can also be able to choose to live with the one true God, who created and knows all things, who loves us unconditionally, who is omnipresent (he is everywhere), who holds back no good thing to those who love Him, who blesses, uplifts, heals, opens doors, saves lives, and so much more. Who created every blemish on our skins, every quirk in our personality; all for His will and pleasure. Our free will is a gift to choose who we serve. Do we serve ourselves, the world, or the living true God? All of which proves beyond words, it only takes the smallest spark, us, to make a difference.
If we truly want to feed the concept of fear in our lives, listen to what verse 27 says. “What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
No one on earth can destroy us, not even the evil one. Friends, rest assured, I tell you this day, there is hope! Rest assured my friends, no matter who you are, what you look like, what skills you have or lack, what sins you committed, there is no reason why we cannot be the spark to make a difference, all by way of speaking the truth, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In southern California, there was a minister who wrote a book called “When the Wicked Seize the City,” which entails of a true story of a man who quite literally went out to tell people about Jesus and defend God but in a way that wasn’t expected.
This man was known as very quiet, but diverse in culture and attitude. This man went and done Gods work the best he could, from helping those dying of AIDS, to feeding the hungry and much more, yet he was quiet for the most part, except to say, his life portrayed Christ in everything he did, meekly and subtlety. So basically, if you were to look at him, you would see him being an average-looking person, not well established and definitely not someone who you would think would make a difference.
So it was this same man that told of a story of how he sat amongst spectators in a local city council meeting as the council members spoke about approving of a subject that was very sinful in nature, which if approved would quite literally be devastating to the community. There were hundreds of people there listening and reviewing the comments and awaiting the council’s vote. Then the chairman said, “Is there anyone who has anything to say about this before we vote?” The man sharply rose from his seat and said, “I have something to say.” He moved forward to the microphone and started his proclamation. Council chair said “What would you like to say?” The man replied, “I would like to say nothing for myself, but I would like to quote three individuals that I’ve respected for years.” The man read to them Moses in Leviticus, another from Psalms by David, and from Paul in Romans. The man didn’t preach, the man didn’t scream, the man didn’t sermonize—he just closed his words from scripture and went to sit down.
The council chair said “Wait, before you sit down sir, who are those people—moses, David and paul?” Then, another spectator from the room stood up and said, “You’re reading from the bible aren’t you?” The man positively and proudly said, “I am.” Then, one by one, the council members looked around and voted down the proclamation that would have been a dreadful mistake if it passed. We don’t know what proclamation was being addressed here, but that’s not the point. This one humble man simply quoted truth and it made all the difference.
In scripture there are several examples that come to mind where simplicity, people of common value actually stood up to make a huge difference while themselves not being deemed worthy by the world. Jesus was obviously one, but I think about Jonah. A prophet of God that quite literally rejected Gods proposal in preaching to the people of Nineveh. In the end, Jonah spoke what I believe to be the shortest sermon in all history, and the entire city, population over 100 thousand, changed their ways and turned back to God. All because one person obeyed God, maybe not at first, but somewhere in their journey.
IN closing, let me ask you, where do you stand today before God when he asks you to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others? Are you ashamed of God? Are you in fear of what others may label you as, what they may say, think or spread gossip about you? Listen carefully, the only thing to be ashamed of is when we choose not to follow God, and in the end, we seem to live or thrive upon our emotions or feelings which pave the way to potentially sacrificing our salvation for something that is NOT of God, which includes rejecting him to others.
We should never sacrifice our salvation for something that is of sin, even to a moment of pleasure. Listen to what Jesus said in verse 32. “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Amen. There will be a price to be paid when we reject God.
Let me finish with two men that lived in two different centuries. Both shine of their willingness to serve God beyond obstacles of life.
First man’s name was Joseph Merrick born in 1862, also known as the elephant man in freak shows. Look at his picture. At the age of 5, he started to show signs of his deformity. Through his entire young life, he experienced pain, suffering, misery, ridicule and much more, that most of us would probably never experience—all he wanted to do was to live a life of normalcy, be like other people. One of which was his skeletal structure prevented him from laying flat when he slept. So, on April 11, 1890, whether by choice or by accident, Joseph laid flat to sleep, which cut off his airway and he ultimately suffocated. He was only 27yo. Josephs circumstance was extreme, and I can actually sympathize with him wanting to be like others. What I find most fascinating about Joseph is his remark he exclaimed in a statement he made early in his life, “‘Tis true my form is something odd, But blaming me is blaming God; Could I create myself anew, I would not fail in pleasing you. If I could reach from pole to pole, Or grasp the ocean with a span, I would be measured by the soul; The mind’s the standard of the man.” Joseph wanted to be known by the measurement of his soul and mind rather than his bodily defects. Those who blamed him for his bodily difference would be “blaming God,” and therefore, Joseph conveys that his deformity was part Gods divine plan, rather than a random genetic mutation. His deformity did not stop him from doing what God placed him on this earth to do. He chose to find and follow God regardless of his misfortune.
Another man is Nicholas James Vujicic born 1984 without arms and legs. See his picture. What a wonderful testimony he brings to all people. Just think of Nicholas’s challenges that Joseph Merrick didn’t have. Not to mention he couldn’t feed himself, walk or do other daily tasks. Nicholas exclaims his whole message and mission is to share the message ‘you are beautiful’ and that you don't need to become someone you are not and God has a purpose for you. And, when you go through difficulties, don't give up. That’s his simple message that has touched millions—from a man without arms and legs, but a huge spirit and loving heart.
So let me ask you, with the thousands of excuses we can give, give me one excuse why we cannot spread, share and exclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people outside these church walls? To those that need to hear the good news? Those lost, lonely and oppressed! Who don’t know there is actually hope and life found in Christ Jesus? What can we do? I tell you what we all can do, we say “Lord, Here I am, send me!” REPEAT I can be the spark to change things, I can be the spark to make a difference in someone’s life, I can be the spark regardless of how old I am, what I look like, how I feel, with no fancy words, and even what I think, all because I have full faith and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ who changed me.
BELIEVE IT FRIENDS! SURRENDER TO THE LIVING GOD. Fight the good fight, keep the faith.
Remember this, God has given us ultimate freedom to spread His word. One is not free to do something simply because it’s not forbidden, but one is free insofar as God has liberated us to perform His heavenly work here on earth, with all His power. Nothing about Gods message to save is secret. It should be shouted. Listen to the words from Peters first letter to the people in dispersion, As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him [her] speak as the oracles [divine responses or words] of God. If anyone ministers, let him [her] do it as with the ability which God supplies [not you alone] that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” Remember friends, it only takes a spark, to make a difference. Amen. “In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, let us join together with our prayer of confession…