HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   OceanSide’s theme for 2026 is:  WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

 

B.   The word “difference” carries several definitions.  This is the one we are using to define our theme:  “a significant change in or effect on a person, a situation, or a life.”

 

C.   Most of us are very obscure, lowly, unknown individuals.

1.    We have done the normal things that everyone does in life:  school, marriage, work, have children, then reach our Golden Years.

2.    The world in which we live our lives is very, very small.

3.    We have this belief that says:  “Regardless of how much effort I put into something, I will never make that much of a difference.”

 

D.   The reality, however, is that we can make a difference.  In this lesson, let’s ask the question:  “ How Can I Make A Difference?”

 

I.             WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   Making a difference does not mean that we must be on the world’s stage.

 

B.   Making a difference does not mean that we must be known by all.

 

C.   Making a difference does not mean we must be a person of wealth.

 

D.   Making a difference does not mean that we must win a national or universal honor.

 

E.   Making a difference does not mean that we must lose our life on the battlefield.

 

F.    Making a difference does not mean that we must come up with a new discovery.

 

G.   Making a difference does not mean that we must develop some new medication that brings healing to the world.

 

II.           WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   We can make a difference by simply walking with God.

1.    Did a man by the name of Noah make a difference? 

2.    Answer:  Yes!  He saved humanity from being completely destroyed by God.

3.    Look at the simple contrast we find in Genesis 6.

a.    The world (Gen. 6:5)

 

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

 

b.    Noah (Gen. 6:9)

 

These are the generations of Noah:  Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

 

4.    By simply taking a path that was different from the world, Noah was given the opportunity to make a difference for all of humanity.

5.    Question:  Can you walk with God?  It only takes two simple actions.

a.    First, we must trust Him with our hearts (Heb. 11:7).

b.    Second, we must obey Him in all things (Gen. 6:22).

c.    Can you do these two things?  If so, then you can make a difference.

 

B.   We can make a difference by praying fervently to the Father.

1.    In 2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah the prophet comes to Hezekiah who was sick, and says:  “Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.”

2.    This news caused Hezekiah to pray fervently to his God (2 Kings 20:2-3).

 

Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.  And Hezekiah wept sore.

 

3.    This prayer was immediately heard by God.  Before Isaiah could exit the courts of the palace he was sent again to Hezekiah with another message (2 Kings 20:5-6).

 

…Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears:  behold I will heal thee:  on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.  And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

 

4.    Question:  Can you pray?  It only takes two simple steps.

a.    Open your mouth and speak to God (1 Thess. 5:18).

b.    Make certain the prayer comes from a sincere and earnest heart (James 5:16).

c.    Can you accomplish these two things?  If so, you can make a difference.

 

C.   We can make a difference by pointing individuals in the right direction.

1.    Naaman was a powerful man in the Syrian army, but he was a leper.

a.    His disease involved tremendous amounts of pain.

b.    His disease separated him from friends and loved ones.

c.    His disease would eventually bring death.

2.    There was a little maid who was the servant of Naaman’s wife who pointed this man in the right direction (2 Kings 5:3).

 

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria!  for he would recover him of his leprosy.

 

3.    We are all familiar with this account in the life of Naaman.  He finally found Elisha who commanded him to dip seven times in the Jordan River.  When Naaman obeyed the command, there was a major difference that took place in his life (2 Kings 5:14).

 

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God:  and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

 

4.    Question:  Can we point individuals in the right directions so their lives can be blessed?  The right doctor, the right agency, the right organization, the counselor, the right mechanic, the right teacher.  When a person finds the right person at the right time, that person’s life can be radically different.  Again, can you point a person in the right direction?  If you, you can make a difference.

 

D.   We can make a difference by taking the gospel of Christ to other individuals.

1.    In Acts 19:1, Paul came to Ephesus and found “certain disciples.”

a.    These men had been taught by Apollos, “an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24).

b.    They had submitted to John’s baptism (Acts 19:3).

c.    They believed that they were in a right relationship with God following their baptism.

2.    Paul could have left these men alone.  He could have left them with their false beliefs, but he did not.  Instead, he asked a question (Acts 19:2a).

 

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? 

 

3.    There answer was not a simple, “No” (Acts 19:2b).

 

And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

 

a.    In the first century, the gift of the Holy Spirit, that is, miraculous gifts could be bestowed upon new converts by the laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 2:38, 8:14-17). 

b.    These men not only had not had miraculous gifts given to them; they had not even heard about the Holy Ghost.

4.    This caused Paul to question their baptism.  When he heard they were baptized with John’s baptism, he taught them about the Lord’s baptism, that is, the baptism of the Great Commission.

5.    This information made a huge difference in the lives of these men (Acts 19:5-6).

 

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

 

6.    Question:  Can we take the gospel of Christ to other individuals?  Can we ask a few simple questions, then point others to the plan of salvation revealed in the pages of the New Testament? If you can do this, you can make a difference.

 

E.   We can make a difference by supporting those who are taking the gospel to others.

1.    Paul makes an interesting statement in Philippians 1:3-5.

 

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.

 

a.    Paul notes the Philippians’ “fellowship in the gospel.”

b.    Fellowship involves joint participation. 

c.    The Philippians had participated with Paul in the spread of the gospel by supporting him in his efforts.  In fact, in this epistle, he acknowledges another gift they had given to him (Phil. 4:10,14).    

d.    Even while in prison, Paul continued to preach the good news of salvation in Christ.  He work as “manifest in the palace, and in all other places” (Phil. 1:13).

2.    Question:  Can we open our pocketbooks and contribute to various works that are spreading the gospel of Christ?  If so, then we can make a difference in the lives of others.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Isn’t it wonderful to know that we can make a difference in this world even though we do not occupy positions of power, and are not rich, and do not have large platforms open to us?

 

B.   We only have to be able to do a few things to really make a difference.

1.    We can walk with God and make a difference.

2.    We can pray fervently and make a difference.

3.    We can point others in the right direction and make a difference.

4.    We can teach others the gospel of Christ and make a difference.

5.    We can support others who are proclaiming the truth and make a difference.

 

C.   Like our them affirms:  WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!