You and Your Sphere of Influence | Change Your World | Pastor Rodney Thrift
Change Your World
You and Your Sphere of Influence…
Galatians 6:4 (NLT) 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
Galatians 6:4 (MSG) 4Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.
You and Your Sphere of Influence…
Sphere: The place or world in which you exist; a field or activity of operation. A walk of life; a particular social world or a section of society.
Influence: The capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.
- Know God.
- Build Community.
- Discover Purpose.
- Make a Difference.
Soul Tattoo: The ultimate purpose of my life is to make a difference.
2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV) 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.
We have to recognize our influence before we can exercise our influence. Pastor Chris Hodges
Galatians 6:4 (MSG) 4Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.
You and Your Sphere of Influence…
Acts 16:16-31 (NIV) 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:31 (NIV) 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.
Household = Greek word “oikos”.
“If you believe in the Lord Jesus, you will be saved—and you will have a profound impact on your sphere of influence.”
1. My People. Those closest to me in proximity.
Mark 5:19 (NCV) 19Go home to your family and friends. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.
2. My Place.
Psalm 118:5-7 (NIV) 5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
Church.
Government.
Sports & Entertainment.
Education.
Business.
Media.
Family.
3. My Passion.
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT) 1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Ephesians 4:7 (NLT) 7However He has given each one of us a special gift (Kairos) through the generosity of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11 (NLT) 11Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) 16He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Isaiah 58:5-12 (NIV) 5Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
8“Then your light will break forth like the dawn (ONE), and your healing will quickly appear (TWO); then your righteousness will go before you (THREE), and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard (FOUR). 9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I (FIVE). If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday (SIX). 11The LORD will guide you always (SEVEN); he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land (EIGHT) and will strengthen your frame (NINE). You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail (TEN). 12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations (ELEVEN); you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings (TWELVE).”
Soul Tattoo: The ultimate purpose of my life is to make a difference.