One of my instructors in seminary, Dr. George Sweeting, shared how God began to do a powerful work in his life. As a child, he had made a profession of faith in Christ. But like many others, he was self-centered, and often insensitive to the teaching of Scripture.
Ego still ruled my life. I had my own plans and was committed to accomplishing them. Then there came a time of special meetings in our church, and I made a commitment to ‘seek first the kingdom of God.’ I clearly recall that I had a strong desire to be alone where I could listen to God and seek whatever guidance He might have for my life.
To get to my home meant a bus ride of ten miles and an additional three-mile walk. The ride and walk were different that night as I felt carried along by the excitement of my new calling. That bus ride and walk gave me my special time alone with God.
My mother was the kind of parent who never went to bed until all her six children were home and settled. That night she seemed intuitively to realize that something life-changing had taken place in my life. She shared warmly about spiritual matters, and then we knelt by her special chair to pray, as she asked for God’s unique guidance in my life.
My bedroom was a small ten feet by ten feet unheated room that had once been part of the attic. That night alone in my room as I knelt to pray, I wrote down my first goals. These four goals have intensified over the years.
1. Seek to bring glory to God (1 Cor. 10:31).
2. Cultivate the inner life (2 Peter 3:18).
3. Disciple as many people as humanly possible (Matt. 28:19-20).
4. Win as many people to faith in Jesus Christ as possible (Prov. 11:30).
As I knelt, aglow with divine love, I promised to become a faithful follower and witness. My commitment was as serious and as total as I knew how. The very next day, I began to share my faith at my high school in Paterson, New Jersey. Most of my schoolmates, were like Paul who sat next to me in mechanical drawing class, they were not Christians. He was a likable friend, and I was concerned about his spiritual future, but where would I start and how would I begin a meaningful conversation? What would Paul think of me? What would I say if he just happened to show interest? Those were just a few of the questions racing through my mind.
…I went off to school seeking divine guidance. I’ll never forget my very first try [to share my faith]. Paul, I said, here’s a booklet that means a lot to me. Please read it and tell me what you think of it. Without hesitation Paul took the booklet and promised to read it. In fact, he was flattered that I was interested in his life. It was a weak start, but it was a start. The booklet I gave him began, ‘You are traveling from time into eternity, and who knows how near you may be this moment to the final terminal? Let me ask you then, ‘What class are you traveling? There are just three classes. First class are those who are saved from sin and know it. Second class are those who are not sure of their salvation from sin, but anxious to be so. Third class are those who are not only not saved, but who are totally indifferent to it.
The next day, Paul told me that he was in second class, not sure of his salvation but anxious to have assurance. Because I was shy and fearful of what others might thing or say, I invited Paul to my home after school, where at least I could attempt to answer his questions in the quietness and privacy of my room. Fear is normal and universal. We’re all fearful. I was fearful for at least three reasons. First, I was afraid of being personally rejected and maybe mocked. Secondly, I was afraid that Jesus might be rejected because of my limitations. And third, I feared that Paul might be unimpressed and considered neither of us worth accepting or rejecting….
Witnessing, or sharing our faith, includes infinitely more than rattling off verses of Scripture. It includes first of all what I am, as well as what I do and what I say. Some Christians tend to be ‘all life’ and no lip while others are all lip and no life. A powerful combination is living and lipping the ‘good news.’
…The reading of Scripture and the Holy Spirit did their work, for Paul was ready to commit himself to Jesus Christ. He welcomed Jesus into his life and became by faith a child of God. I will never forget that happy day.
Over the years I have seen Paul as he has grown spiritually strong. In spite of my fears and inexperience, God used that faithful witness. Paul was the first of more than a dozen classmates I had the thrill of introducing to faith in Jesus Christ.[i]
Elton Trueblood, in his powerful little book, ‘The Incendiary Fellowship,’ wrote:
Evangelism occurs when people are so enkindled by contact with the central fire of Christ that they, in turn, set others on fire. The only adequate evidence that anything is on fire is the evidence that other fires are started by it. A fire that does not spread must eventually go out! This is the point of Emil Brunner’s dictum [comment] that ‘the Church exists by mission as fire exists by burning.’ A person who claims to have a religious experience yet makes no effort to share or to extend it, has not really entered into Christ’s Company at all. In short, an unevangelistic or unmissionary Christianity is a contradiction in terms. …The obsolete man is the alleged Christian who proudly says, ‘I keep my faith to myself.’ The late Samuel Shoemaker spoke for an entire generation when he said, as a reflection of his own experience, ‘There is no Church where evangelism is not living and current.[ii]
As Jesus was about to ascend into heaven after his resurrection, He told His early followers that they were to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued [literally clothed] with power from on High. That was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when God’s spirit came upon them. It states in Acts 2, that it rested on them as tongues of fire. What an interesting description. Of all the members of our body, the tongue is the one that gets us into the most trouble. It’s the one that communicates to the outside world who we are. For us to be effective communicators of the life of Christ within us, it must first we cleansed and empowered.
Years ago, when I returned to Living Stones Church, we worked through a number of biblical texts to discern what God desired of us as a church family. We looked at numerous passages from the New Testament as it relates to what we are both to be and do. The New Testament is all about the great commandment of loving God by loving people, and the great commission of reaching people with the good news about Jesus Christ. We distilled the N.T. passages into six words: Passion for God, Compassion for People. When you distill it all down, that’s what it’s all about. Being a Christian is about having a passion for God, and compassion for people. The greatest need of our nation, province, city, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods, is that people come to know the Lord. God has entrusted His people with that commission. God entrusts us to be His witnesses, His ambassadors to the people in our worlds. So, how do we live a transformed and influential life? We begin by looking at four ingredients of that kind of life. These ingredients are found in 2 Corinthians 5:11-14. These are Paul’s reasons why he was willing to risk all, even his life if necessary, for total strangers.
2 Corinthians is Paul’s defense of his ministry to a group of people that owed their knowledge of Christ to him. He was the one who went to them and preached the good news and established the church. The background to this text is that Paul was under severe criticism from this congregation, because other people were coming to them distorting the gospel. He wrote to defend his methods and motivations for sharing the good news about Jesus. It is from these godly ingredients in Paul’s life that we learn what transformation and influence look like.
THE FIRST INGREDIENT OF A TRANSFORMED LIFE IS THE INFLUENCE THAT COMES FROM AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
This knowledge is not just informational, but rather it is an understanding based on a life transforming experience. It Is an experience that changes us from the inside out. We all need a heart change.
A. Transformed lives impact others.
We cannot read the book of Acts, which is an account of the early church, and not realize that people who have an encounter with God impact the lives of others. Then we must conclude that if we are not impacting the lives of others, it is either because our lives have never been impacted, or we have allowed the deceptive nature of this life to choke out the vitality that living in daily communion with Christ brings. When the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2: 41, we find that 3,000 were added to the church. As they were living godly, committed lives, we read a little later in that chapter.
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.[iii]
So the Word of God spread [suggests to me that people were communicating it]. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.[iv]
There are many more examples that could be cited in Acts, but in 2 Corinthians we hear the heart of the apostle Paul and his intense passion to communicate the good news about Jesus to others.
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.[v]
We can only share with great conviction what we have experienced. Our life-changing understanding can really light a fire under us. Paul understood that we would all stand before Christ one day. In light of his commission, he did not want to live a wasted life.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad [can be translated worthless, without value, not effective].[vi]
Paul knew that he would have to give an account for his life to Christ, whether he was effective or ineffective. This was one motivating factor in his ministry.
Paul is not afraid of the Lord, but he does have a ‘reverential awe’ of him and recognizes that his whole life and ministry will come under God’s scrutiny. It is with this awareness that he persuades men. There are two possible ways to understand Paul’s reference to persuading men. First,…his awareness of his accountability to God motivates him to be diligent in his efforts to persuade men. …He sought to remove intellectual barriers, to overcome prejudice and ignorance, to convince by argument and testimony, and by the straightforward proclamation of the gospel.[vii]
This suggests that we ought to learn as much as possible about our faith. It speaks of diligence, effort, and study on our part to understand our faith, and be able to intelligently present it. However, even the most unlearned person can share their personal story of faith.
Probably the best explanation of this text is that Paul is about to explain his motives for ministry. He wanted these believers to know that his passion to communicate the gospel came out of a heart full of gratitude toward God. He was doing this out of a pure heart, a heart of integrity. He was not doing this for what he could have received from it.
The fear of the Lord is described in Scriptures in both a positive and negative light. This passage is not talking about the fear that causes us to hide from God, like Adam in the garden, because of his sin and shame. This is the positive reverential fear, of being in awe of God’s majesty and glory. When Isaiah, the priest, had an encounter with God in Isaiah 6:1-9, we are struck with Isaiah’s response. “Woe is me!” I cried. “I am ruined”—he saw his sinfulness in light of God’s sinlessness. God sends the angel to cleanse the prophet lips, then Isaiah heard the commission, “Whom shall I send?” And who will go for us? And I said, “Here I am. Send Me!” God spoke and said, “Go…” When we have had a revelation of Christ, all the forces of hell can’t keep us from going and telling others.
B. Paul’s motives in sharing the gospel.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.[viii]
This is a critical concept. What we do must come from our hearts. We don’t share our faith just because we see needs, but rather we share our faith, because we want to obey our God. We do what we do because our eye is upon Him.
Paul is very sensitive about self-commendation. …and it is quite likely that some of the criticism directed against him was related to this. So, he denies that, in defending the straightforward character of the persuasion he practices, he is indulging in self-commendation.
…Paul realizes that there are those present in Corinth who are critical of his motives and methods, and he makes this defense of his ministry so that these converts may be able to deal with the criticisms of men. He wants his readers to be able to feel justly proud of the way in which their spiritual father conducts himself and so be able to answer his detractors.
The detractors who lurk behind the scenes in the Corinthian correspondence Paul are described as those who pride themselves in man’s position and not on his heart. From hints provided in chs. 1-7 and the later chs. 10-13 we can see the sort of outward matters upon which these men prided themselves. These include the letters of recommendation they carried, (3:1), their Jewish ancestry (11:22), their ecstatic visionary experiences (12:1) and the apostolic signs they performed (12:11-13). Paul implies that for them such outward matters were more important than the condition of a person’s heart, which is what God sees.[ix]
Like Paul’s ministry, our ministry must come from a full heart, concerned about what God thinks, and not about impressive outward aspects. What we have learned about God ought to motivate us. When we really understand that Christianity is about the inner life, the heart condition and the ultimate future of each person, we will become more effective in both word and deed.
THE SECOND INGREDIENT OF A TRANSFORMED LIFE IS THE INFLUENCE THAT COMES FROM A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE
Our lifestyles are shaped by a number of factors: how we were raised, the culture in which we are surrounded, our experiences or lack of experiences with God, and what we have or have not been taught. These all shape our belief system, and our beliefs shape our behaviors.
If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.[x]
Out of mind” is the general sense of the intransitive. Literally, it meant to become separated from something or to lose something (ek “away” + histēmi “put, stand”) and was used figuratively of losing one’s wits (Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich 1979). Part of the difficulty is that Paul employs the verb nowhere else. Mark, however, uses it of Jesus, whose family thought him “mad” (3:21). Most translators follow suit here.
In what sense was Paul “mad”? On the face of it, the comment is obscure. This may well have been a charge leveled by his opponents. That Paul would consider persecution and adversity something to be proud of might well have appeared mad to those who judged by the world’s standards (4:8–9). Yet, whatever Paul does, he does not out of self-interest but for God and the Corinthians (for you).[xi]
It is obvious that Paul was considered beside himself. He was considered different, out of step with his times. Some considered his lifestyle difference as madness. Notice in his proclamation to Festus and King Agrippa as Paul was accused of being mad.
At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. ‘You are out of your mind, Paul!’ he shouted. ‘Your great learning is driving you insane.’
‘I am not insane, most excellent Festus,’ Paul replied. ‘What I am saying is true and reasonable.’[xii]
We ought not to be surprised that people who share a different value system will think of us as strange. Peter challenges us in this regard.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.[xiii]
How we live impacts others. People watch carefully how we speak and how we treat others. If we are a people of God’s presence, they will feel the weight of God’s glory coming from our lives. People who are in the presence of God are affected, and in turn affect others.
Even a man known for his careless and sinful lifestyle, when he was in the presence of God, his behavior changed. Filled with jealousy, King Saul sought to kill David. But notice what happens when he comes into the presence of the prophet Samuel, and into the presence of God.
When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. Word came to Saul: ‘David is in Naioth at Ramah’, so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men and they also prophesied. Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, ‘Where are Samuel and David?’ ‘Over in Naioth at Ramah’, they said. So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’[xiv]
If we are going to impact the lives of others for God and for good, we must be people that walk with God on a daily basis.
THE THIRD INGREDIENT OF A TRANSFORMED LIFE IS HOW IT INFLUENCES OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND OTHERS
Apart from love for God as a transcendent motivation, we would soon quit serving others. Love is the greatest and most powerful motivator in life. When God’s love is working in and through our lives, we will impact the lives of those around us.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.[xv]
Everything about the gospel comes out of God’s heart of love to mankind. Billy Graham once stated:
When we preach atonement [atonement means being at one with God, which obviously suggests that we are reconciled to God], it is atonement planned by love, provided by love, given by love, finished by love, necessitated because of love. When we preach the resurrection of Christ, we are preaching the miracle of love. When we preach the return of Christ, we are preaching the fulfillment of love.[xvi]
John reminds us, there is no greater love than someone would die for his friends. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).”
Forty-two-year-old David Saunders waited on the driveway of his Hanover, Michigan, home for his 4-year-old daughter, Danielle, to get off her school bus. A pickup truck was stopped behind the bus. Saunders crossed the street to meet Danielle at the bus and then the two crossed the street together and stood in the Saunders’ driveway.
Suddenly he noticed that a car behind the bus was traveling too fast to stop safely before entering the crossing zone. The car swerved to avoid the pickup and went into the Saunders’ driveway. Heading directly for them both, Saunders grabbed Danielle by the arm and flung her away from himself and into their front yard.
He was then struck by the car. Saunders was pronounced dead at the scene. Danielle was treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital and soon released. The 16-year-old driver and a 15-year-old passenger were not injured.
Sheriff’s Captain Tony Philipps said, ‘It was a heroic act by a father to save his child. He did everything he could, and in the process, he lost his own life.’[xvii]
But God demonstrated his love to us in that same manner, by dying, but in this case when we were totally undeserving of it.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.[xviii]
THE FINAL INGREDIENT OF A TRANSFORMED LIFE IS HOW IT INFLUENCES WHAT WE ARE LIVING FOR
Have you ever asked yourself what or who am I living for? Are we living for our family? Our spouse? A child? A parent? A lover? Yourself? Anything less than Christ, will prove disastrous.
We are always to put our trust in God first. Our Lord [the example of the perfect life], never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicions, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because he put His trust in God, [the Father] first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be-absolutely perfect and right.[xix]
Paul stated over and over again what the reason for living is.
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.[xx]
It was certainly true for Paul as he expressed it; “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).”
Notice that as a follower of Christ, we are not to live for ourselves, but for Him. It is the great paradox of life. For when we live for Christ, we really begin to live. However, if we try to live for ourselves, we will find ourselves dying a slow death within us. We can only be effective if we live for Christ. If He is the reason for our lives, we will become powerful witnesses of the rich life Christ desires for us to enjoy and influence the lives of many more than we could ever imagine.
John Maxwell in his book Developing the Leader Within You explains that “that according to sociologists, even the most isolated individual will influence 10,000 other people during his or her lifetime.[xxi]
The question is, what kind of influence will my life have on others? Will it be an eternal influence that helps them come to faith in Christ? When these four ingredients are operational in our lives: an experience with Christ, a holy lifestyle, service motivated by love for God and others, and finally living to please God, we will impact and influence the lives of others.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-sitting-on-stairs-outdoors-studying-7972287
[i] George Sweeting, The No-Guilt Guide To Witnessing, (Wheaton, Il.: Victor Books, 1991), 12-15.
[ii] Elton Trueblood, The Incendiary Fellowship, (New York, N.Y.: Harper and Row Publishers, 1967), 111-112.
[iii] Acts 2:47, The New International Version of the Bible, Zondervan, 2011.
[iv] Acts 6:7.
[v] 2 Corinthians 5:11.
[vi] 2 Corinthians 5:10.
[vii] Colin Kruse, 2 Corinthians, TNTC, (Grand Rapids, Mi: Eerdmans Publishing Co., reprinted 1989), 119.
[viii] 2 Corinthians 5:12.
[ix] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, (Grand Rapids, Mi: Discovery House Publishers, 1992), 120.
[x] 2 Corinthians 5:13.
[xi] Linda Belleville, 2 Corinthians, TheIVP New Testament Commentary Series, Vol. 8, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 2 Cor. 5:11-13.
[xii] Acts 26:24-25.
[xiii] 1 Peter 2:11-12.
[xiv] 1 Samuel 19:18-24.
[xv] 2 Corinthians 5:14.
[xvi] Billy Graham, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 1.
[xvii] “A Father’s Love,” Detroit Free Press (11-19-00).
[xviii] Romans 5:8.
[xix] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, May 31st.
[xx] 2 Corinthians 5:15.
[xxi] John Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You, (Thomas Nelson, 2000).
