Leadership Challenge - Week of Feb. 1-7, 2009

  • Pastor Skip Hawks
  • Feb 8, 2009

Leadership Challenge - Week of Feb. 1-7, 2009

ONE PERSON CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

There was a man in the Bible who made a big difference in the course of the world.  God used him to save humanity from extinction!  His name was Noah.

Genesis 6 tells us that in Noah’s time, mankind’s wickedness had grown so great that every intent and thought was constantly on doing evil.  God was sorry he’d ever made people and determined to destroy every living thing on earth!  Then we read something amazing…someone made the difference. Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

What caused Noah to find “grace” in God’s eyes?  He had been living a life of integrity and obedience.  And though it may seem just a “personal thing” as you daily battle your flesh and choose what is right, such a way of living will always impact others.  It doesn’t just benefit you, it saves others too.  Your simple obedience and daily righteous choices are the most powerful way in which you lead.  And here is where we each  begin to make a difference in the world around us.

·         You Can Make a Difference For Your Family.  

Genesis 7:1 Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

The first benefactors of Noah’s righteous life was his own family.  The greatest witness to your own household will not be your fiery sermons, your excellent organizational skills, or even how many you won to Christ this week! The great testimony to your family – that thing which will benefit them most – is your daily life of obedience to God and His Word.  The simple daily things, like, how you handled your taxes, responded to a police officer at a traffic stop, or answered a grumpy spouse will be what is your most powerful pulpit.  And in that, you family will experience the truth, the power, the grace and the love of God in tangible form they will never forget.

·         You Can Make a Difference for Future Generations.

Your actions today help those who come behind you.  Because of God’s covenant with Noah, we who live thousands of years later, are confident that God will never again destroy the earth through flood.  We are all still receiving the benefit that came from one man’s life of righteousness!  In the same way, you and I can also impact future generations as we serve them and encourage them.  You can create a chain of impact that outlives you!

·         You can Make a Difference No Matter What

Many people today say they can’t be a leader or make a difference in others lives because of their past, lack of education or influence, or age.  But with God, one person can always make a difference if we would just believe and obey Him!  When Jesus fed the five thousand in John 6:1-13, it was a poor boy with a small lunch that made the difference.  Noah was a 600 year old man when the rain began to descend.  The people around him thought he was nuts!  You’re never too old, too young, too poor or too anything for God to use you!

 

·         You Make a Difference For God By Loving Him                                                                           2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

God is constantly looking for someone to love Him, serve Him and steadfastly obey Him.  These are the people He chooses to partner with people. In Noah’s case, God was discouraged with the people of the earth.  Yet Noah found grace and favor in God’s eyes and God.  What attracted God to Noah.  Noah chose to honor and love God over all the world offered him.  Because of this, God used Noah to save humanity.  Because of his relationship with God, Noah changed the entire course of history! 

Make a difference this week!

Pastors Obed and Rae