ONE THING CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   All of us would like to make a difference, but we often think it is not possible.

1.    To make a difference, I need a lot of money.

2.    To make a difference, I need to be in a position of power.

3.    To make a difference, I need to have a huge audience.

 

B.   We need to change our thinking about making a difference.  The reality is that “One Thing Can Make A Difference.”

 

C.   In this lesson, we want to prove that this is the case.

 

I.             ONE MESSAGE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   There are times when we may only get to speak to someone one time.  However, the message that we deliver just might make a difference in the life of the individual.

 

B.   This is seen in the Hebrew maid who was a slave to the wife of Naaman (2 Kings 5:2).

 

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.

 

C.   That one message altered the life of Naaman.  He ultimately found the prophet, obeyed his commands, and was cured of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:14).

 

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

 

II.           ONE INTERVENTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   There may be a time when we need to inject ourselves into a conflict between two individuals.  We never know when one intervention can make a difference.

 

B.   David was very upset with a man named Nabal because he refused to pay for the services David and his men rendered in protecting his sheep and shepherds.  In fact, David was so angry he was going to destroy all the males of his household.

 

C.   It was the wife of Nabal, Abigail, who intervened on this occasion.  She took gifts and met David in the way (1 Sam. 25:24-31).

1.    Reverence of David (1 Sam. 25:24)

2.    Recognition of Nabal’s folly (1 Sam. 25:25)

3.    Request for David’s enemies (1 Sam. 25:26)

4.    Reception of Abigail’s gift (1 Sam. 25:27)

5.    Remission of the trespass (1 Sam.25:28a)

6.    Reality of the future (1 Sam. 25:28b-30)

7.    Regret not to be found (1 Sam. 25:31a)

8.    Remembrance of Abigail, David’s handmaid (1 Sam. 25:31b).

 

D.   Her intervention worked and stopped a massive amount of bloodshed (1 Sam. 25:32-33).

 

And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day unto me:  and blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

 

III.         ONE ENCOUNTER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   As we go through life, there are some people with whom we will cross paths only once in our lives.  That one encounter, however, can make a difference.

 

B.   Jesus had an encounter with a woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well (John 4:7).

 

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water:  Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

 

C.   That one encounter did much in the life of this woman.

1.    It introduced her to a relationship without prejudice and hatred (John 4:9).

2.    It introduced her to living water (John 4:10-14).

3.    It introduced her to the prophet of God (John 4:15-19).

4.    It introduced her to a future under the New Covenant (John 4:20-24).

5.    It introduced her city to the Jesus Christ the Son of God (John 4:28-30).

 

D.   John 4:35

 

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest?  behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 

IV.         ONE LIFE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   There are times when one person’s life makes a difference in a major way.

 

B.   Joseph is a prime example of a life bringing blessings many people.

1.    Joseph was a good son in his father’s house.

2.    Joseph was a loyal steward in the house of Potiphar.

3.    Joseph was a diligent superintendent while in prison.

4.    Joseph was a wise superior in the land of Egypt.

5.    Joseph was a faithful servant of God in all circumstances of life.

 

C.   His life ultimately saved the life of his entire family when the famine came to the land of Canaan (Gen. 50:20).

 

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

 

V.           ONE ACTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   Sometimes a single action can make a difference, even in the course of the world.

 

B.   Noah built an ark at the command of God (Gen. 6:22).

 

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

 

C.   That one action saved Noah and his family.  That one action saved the entire human race from utter destruction (Heb. 11:7).

 

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became the heir of righteousness which is by faith.

 

VI.         ONE DECISION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   One decision can radically alter a person’s life.

 

B.   This was definitely the case with Saul of Tarsus.

1.    He was an opponent of Jesus and of His church (Gal. 1:13).

 

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jew’s religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.

 

2.    On the road to Damascus, Jesus Christ appeared unto him (Acts 9:5).

 

And he said, Who art thou Lord?  And the Lord said, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest…

 

3.    He was told to go into the city, and it would be told him what he must do.

a.    Ananias brought him his orders.

1)    He would be made an apostle of Jesus Christ.

2)    He had to obey the gospel of Christ which meant giving up all for the Lord.

b.    Saul had a choice to make.  Paul noted his choice when he spoke to king Agrippa about his conversion (Acts 26:19).

 

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.

 

C.   Many, including ourselves, have been the beneficiaries of Paul’s decision.  Half of our New Testament was written by this man who chose to become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

VII.       ONE EXAMPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

A.   Examples are powerful teachers.  Sometimes an example is as powerful as an entire lesson of words.

 

B.   In John 13, Jesus proves that an example can make a difference in the lives of others.  In this chapter, we have the example of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:4-5).

 

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

 

C.   In John 13:15, Jesus’ words are recorded.  “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

1.    To be like Jesus, we must do it.

2.    To be obedient to Jesus, we must do it.

3.    To benefit others, we must do it.

4.    To find happiness, we must do it (See John 13:17).

 

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   There are times in our lives when just one thing, one simple thing, can make a difference in our life, the life of our family, friends and neighbors, to the Lord’s kingdom, and to the entire world.

 

B.   We have seen:

1.    One message brought healing.

2.    One intervention spared bloodshed.

3.    One encounter introduced Jesus to a community.

4.    One life saved a family.

5.    One action saved humanity.

6.    One decision shaped the first century church.

7.    One example raised servanthood to a new level.

 

C.   Never believe Satan’s lie that you can’t make a difference. 

1.    God has used ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

2.    He can use us in extraordinary ways as well.

 

D.   Perhaps you can make a difference today by submitting yourself to Jesus Christ in obedience to His gospel.  It will definitely made a difference in your life now and in the world to come.