Well, good morning once again to you.
It was interesting this morning as I was driving up to church
and I had Hope 103.2 on.
Simon Manchester today is preaching on Galatians,
which was somewhat intimidating, I have to say.
But it was Galatians chapter 3.
And he has done a couple of other sermons in previous weeks.
So if you want to hear some more on Galatians,
I'd commend going to the website of Hope
and listening to Simon's messages also.
Let me pray for us.
Our Father and our Lord, we thank you that you give us your word.
We thank you that you give us the privilege
of being able to meet together today
and to look at your word.
And so, Father, I ask that you would use the words that I say,
that by your spirit you would touch each of our hearts
that we would be changed people,
that we would serve you,
that we would be people of influence
for your gospel's sake, in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, I've titled this message
Being a Person of Influence.
And I'm wondering, is that you?
Or is that me?
Do you want to be a person of influence?
Do you want to influence how other people think?
What their attitudes are?
How they act?
I looked up who the Times magazine
believe the top 100 most influential people are.
Now, you'll be pleased to know that Jesus is number one.
Martin Luther comes in at number 17.
Albert Einstein is 19.
Elvis Presley is down at 69.
And way down the list is John Calvin, who is at 99.
Now, the question for you today is,
do you want to be a person of influence?
With humility, you might answer that question
by saying, no, no, no, my goal is not,
that is not my goal in life.
My goal isn't to be egocentric.
It's not about influence.
It's about God's influence.
I don't want to be influential.
I want to be faithful.
Which all sounds really quite wonderful.
And it's a great sentiment.
But in actual fact, I'm not sure that it's biblical.
If you are a parent,
I am quite certain that you would wish
to be influential towards your children,
towards their behaviours, their attitudes, their values.
If you are a boss or a leader of any kind,
I'm certain you will be wanting to influence
those people under you in a positive way.
If you have siblings,
if you have nieces and nephews,
if you're a godparent,
hopefully you are wanting to influence in the right way.
Jesus is the most influential person.
We know that.
Even the Times Magazine knows that.
And even those who do not even know Jesus
or follow Jesus have been influenced by him.
And Paul, the writer of this letter to the churches in Galatia,
is certainly the second most influential person
in the history of the church.
Although in the Times list,
which of course we're not going to place a lot of credence on it,
but in the Times list,
Paul comes in at number 39.
But we know better if we're looking at church history.
As Christians,
we are called to influence
for the sake of the gospel
and for the grace that is shown in the gospel.
For some time,
I actually thought Paul was extremely arrogant.
In actual fact,
when I first became a Christian,
I didn't like anything Paul said.
And I based it all on the verse that he had in 1 Corinthians,
where he said,
imitate me as I imitate Christ.
I couldn't think of a more arrogant thing
that somebody could say.
But I've learnt over the years, thankfully,
that the emphasis is about imitating Jesus.
Jesus is the one who is doing the influencing here.
Further, in 1 Corinthians,
in chapter 11,
we see Paul say,
follow my example
as I follow the example of Christ.
Christ.
It's all about Jesus.
And the Bible says
that we are to be the light of the world
and the salt of the earth,
which is just another metaphorical way
of speaking about influence.
We are called to be lights
so that others will move away from the darkness
toward the light of Christ.
Now, we're not shining our light
so that people will follow us.
If we're making it all about us,
then we are being ungodly
and we are being sinful.
We're letting our light shine,
we are letting the light shine through us
so that others might know
what a great and glorious God
that we are serving.
And if we want to follow,
if we want to influence others
to follow Christ,
we will be greatly encouraged
and they too will come to a relationship of Jesus.
Influencing others
so that they influence us
is not what we're on about.
But how do we do that?
Well, back to our passage,
Paul founded the churches in Galatia
during his missionary travels in Asia Minor.
Most of the converts were Gentile pagans.
The Galatians had heard
Paul's preaching of Jesus Christ crucified.
They had accepted the message
with glad hearts.
They were baptised
and they had experienced
dramatic manifestations of the Spirit.
The churches were running really well
when Paul had left that area.
But time went by
and then Paul had heard
what was actually happening then, now.
And at the time of Paul writing this letter,
the churches were experiencing trouble.
Paul's work was being undermined
by a group of converted Jews
who were trying to
blend the traditions
of their Jewish heritage
with the Christian gospel.
And to do so,
were preaching
what Paul calls
a different gospel.
They tried to convince
the Galatian churches
that they needed to be circumcised
to be full or true Christians.
Now, when Paul heard about this teaching,
he immediately sent off
this letter to the churches.
And in verse 7,
we see that Paul believed
that the different gospel
that they were hearing
was in actual fact
a perverted gospel.
Pretty strong word.
He's shocked that they are
turning to a different gospel.
And in verse 7 says,
which is no gospel at all.
Evidently, some people
are throwing you into confusion
and are trying to pervert
the gospel of Christ.
Therefore, he wanted
to influence the Galatians
toward the gospel of grace.
And we too
need to become people of influence
for the sake of the gospel
of Jesus Christ
and the gospel of grace.
You might be thinking
that you don't wish
to be a person
of influence at all.
But let me say very clearly,
as far as the gospel goes,
we have to be
a person of influence.
And whether we like it or not,
we are people of influence.
The difference is,
we will either be
influencing people
toward Jesus
or we will be
influencing people
to ignore him
and to turn their back
on him.
There is no middle road
for a Christian.
Let me repeat it.
It will either be
influencing people
toward Jesus
or we will be
influencing people
to ignore him
or to turn our back
on him.
At the end of chapter 1,
Paul concludes a defence
of his leadership
and message
in the regions
of Syria
and Cilicia
and Jerusalem
by saying,
and they praised God
because of me.
One of those statements
that in years gone by
I would have had trouble with.
Would you like people
to say that of you?
Would you like people
to say
they praised me?
Would you like them
to say that they praised God
because of what you did?
Paul wasn't saying
that they praised me
because of what I did.
He's saying
that they praised God.
This is an enormous
responsibility.
I want to commend
Paul's statement
to us here at St. Paul's.
Chatswood
wouldn't it be
just terrific
if the people
in Willoughby
in Chatswood
were to praise God
because of what
the people
at St. Paul's Chatswood
did and said
and were
and are.
Wouldn't that
be fantastic?
We would be testimony
to the gospel of grace
and all that God
has given us.
What did Paul do
to lead to this
praise of God?
And consequently
what must we do
to have a similar influence?
Because it's all
well and good
to know that Paul's
done this
but we need to
actually learn from it.
So first of all
we need to seek
God's approval
over above
all else.
Listen to Paul's words
again from verse 10.
Am I now trying
to win the approval
of men
or of God?
Or am I striving
to please men?
If I were striving
to please men
I would not be
a servant of Christ.
Right away
we see
the beginning point
in becoming
a person of influence
is grounded
in our seeking
God's approval
rather than
man's approval.
This is the
great irony.
To become a person
of influence
influence
for Jesus Christ
you cannot be
motivated
by pleasing
men and women.
You are being
called
to have people
follow you
who aren't
necessarily
going to be
pleased with you.
Our base
instincts
tell us
that we must
please
people
if we want
to influence
them.
They must
like us.
They must agree
with us.
They must
think like us.
Politicians
preachers
and people
in all walks
of life
make this
mistake.
Every time
you are
disappointed
by another's
reaction
or a lack
of reaction
to what you
have said
or done
I want you
to ask
yourself this
who is
in my
grandstand?
That is
if we
are doing
good deeds
and saying
nice things
so that we
are applauded
by people
or applauded
by a person
then they
are the ones
in our
grandstand.
They're the
ones we
are performing
for.
If we are
serving quietly
knowing we
are serving
the Lord
and it is
only the
Lord who
we are
wanting to
please
then it is
the Lord
who is in
our grandstand.
Now
don't get me
wrong here
it is
right and
proper
that we
give thanks
to people
and that
people
and are
given thanks
for the
things that
we have
done.
The difference
is we
are not
dependent
on the
thanks from
another person
to know
and to
feel
whole and
secure
as a
person.
and the
reason for
that is
because we
are secure
in Christ
and his
love for
us in
all that
we do
and say
and be.
It is
that freedom
in Christ
that you
have heard
me mention
in years
gone by.
Here's the
common mistake
though.
There is a
difference
between
being people
of influence
and being
people
who are
popular.
Someone
can be
very,
very popular
with large
masses of
people and
not exert
any influence.
Someone
like Paris
Hilton
is very
popular.
Maybe not
so with
this group
of people
and certainly
not with
me but
she doesn't
exert
much influence.
The same
goes for
many television
stars,
for sports
heroes.
Yes,
they're all
well known
and yes,
the sporting
stars might
be able to
give some
very good
tips on
how to
kick that
ball or
how to
hit that
bat but
do they
influence for
good in
an eternal
sense?
They may be
very popular
but they
are not
influential.
Paul had
made his
commitment to
Jesus Christ
known in
the churches
of Galatia.
He was a
servant to
Christ and
that was
his baseline
priority.
Naturally,
he wanted to
win the
Galatians to
his point of
view.
The gospel
of grace
that he
preached
didn't need
to be
supplemented
by a
legalistic
commitment
to the
Mosaic
law.
He preached
Christ
crucified
and Christ
as the
only hope
of salvation.
There was
nothing else
necessary for
salvation
other than
a simple
faith in
Christ.
In the
end,
his devotion
to the
revelation
given him
increased his
influence and
today we
require no
one to be
circumcised in
order to be
a Christian.
But we can
fall into a
similar trap
in the Christian
church today of
adding to the
gospel in a
similar way.
church.
When I first
became a
Christian,
there was a
huge movement
that said to
be truly
Christian you
must speak in
tongues.
That speaking in
tongues was the
confirmation that
you were born
again.
Now this of
course is wrong,
we know that
now.
I personally
believe that
speaking in
tongues is a
gift of God's.
religion.
But those who
speak in tongues
are no more
saved, they are
no more important,
they are no more
spiritual than any
person who
doesn't.
That very strict
movement has
changed over time
and it has
nearly disappeared
but I still know
of one church or
maybe you'd call it
a denomination
Christian that
still believe it
to be true and
so any member of
their church has
to speak in tongues
for them to be
truly Christian.
And I would say
and I think
scripture also
says that it is
a perverted
gospel.
But even today
there are some
more subtle ways
that we might like
to add to the
gospel.
Some might
question what
version of the
Bible you use
will determine
how spiritual
you are.
I remember a
friend of mine
many years ago
being invited to
a church and she
took a good news
Bible.
She was told to
take a Bible to
the church so she
took a good news
Bible, that
version.
She wasn't allowed
to take it into
the church.
She had to leave
it at the door.
So there are some
very odd things
happening in our
world.
But there are
things of what
sort of Bible we
use.
Others might
think that a
true Christian
might say set
prayers or do
church in a
particular way and
that makes you
more spiritual.
Others might
think that the
ministries that
you are involved
in makes you
more spiritual and
confirms that you
are truly saved.
Now these things
in themselves,
there's nothing
wrong with them.
The problem is
that if you
elevate them and
believe that they
are essential to
you being saved
or that you
are better than
others or that
Jesus loves you
because you are
doing these things,
then dare I say
you have perverted
the gospel of
grace.
And if you want to
be a person of
lasting influence in
your life, your
home, your family,
your work, your
school or university,
people will need to
see a similar
unwavering devotion
to Jesus Christ as
we see here with
Paul.
Even if this means
you will be unpopular
for a time, in the
long run your
influence will
expand.
If people see that
you are uncompromising,
see your uncompromising
devotion to our
Lord, that doesn't
mean that everybody
will necessarily
turn and become
a Christian, that
would be wonderful,
but they are more
likely to follow the
one you call Lord
if they see that he
truly is your Lord
seven days a week
and not just at
particular times of
the week like a
Sunday.
Secondly, to be a
person of influence
we need to understand
God's mission for
our lives.
Now verse 11
says,
I want you to
know brothers that
the gospel I
preached is not
something that man
made up.
I did not receive
it from any man
nor was I taught
it, rather I
received it by
revelation from
Jesus Christ.
Skipping down to
verse 15,
but when God who
set me apart from
birth called me by
his grace was
pleased to reveal
his son in me so
that I might preach
him among the
Gentiles, I did not
consult any man.
Now Paul here is
doing a number of
things.
He's giving his
testimony as to how
he came to know
Jesus.
He's also pointing
out that God spoke
to him directly
through his grace
contrary to what
those who were
teaching a perverted
gospel believed.
They wanted to say
that every revelation
had come to,
every revelation had
to come from people
in authority like
themselves who were
saturated in the
teachings from
Jerusalem.
Apparently in their
view the only place
where revelation can
come from is from
Jerusalem.
And Paul's testimony
is unique.
I don't know anyone
who has had the same
type of conversion as
Paul has, although
over the years I've
heard some pretty
amazing transformations
in people's lives but
not the same as
Paul.
But he is also
smashing the idea
that the gospel of
grace is from God
alone and does not
need additional
rituals or behaviours
that might come from
religious legalists.
Now don't
misunderstand what
is being said here.
We cannot go around
declaring whatever we
want and say we have a
revelation from God
alone.
Absolutely everything
needs to align with
scripture and the
gospel of grace.
That is, Jesus is the
son of God, died and
rose from the dead,
conquering death and
opening the way for us
to be forgiven of our
sins and to live
eternally in relationship
with him.
Paul's revelation from
God was from God.
He didn't consult the
apostles in Jerusalem.
He went to Arabia and
you might like to ask
what is in Arabia?
Well, we don't know
really.
But we suspect that he
spent the three years
reading the Hebrew
scriptures through the
lens of his experience
with Jesus Christ and
refining his
understanding of Christ's
revelation to him
through the scriptures.
After three years in the
desert, he finally went up
to Jerusalem to get
acquainted with Peter.
Even then, he only
stayed 15 days.
And during that time, he
met James, the brother of
Jesus, but he didn't
speak to any other
apostles.
Now, why give all of
this tedious detail?
Well, Paul wants to make
a point very clear.
Jesus came to him
directly and called him
to be a missionary to the
Gentiles.
No person persuaded him.
Remember those who were
perverting the gospel that I
mentioned earlier on?
They believed that any
revelation had to come
through men like
themselves.
So, Paul is making it very
clear that his conversion,
his revelation, the mission
that he is being given, is
direct from God.
Part of being a person of
influence is determining what
your mission in life is.
Now, in our 2020 booklet
here, we have, this helps us
know our mission.
In it, it tells us, in
Romans 12, 2, do not
conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of
your mind.
Then you will be able to test
and approve what God's will
is, his good, pleasing and
perfect will.
Romans 12, 2 encourages us
to be transformed and in so
doing, we will know God's
will for us.
We will be able to discern
what is good, what is
acceptable and what is
perfect.
This is our mission.
Our mission is to be
transformed into the likeness
of Christ.
Christ.
We can do that in any type
of work, any hobby, any
career.
We can be transformed.
Sometimes God will direct us
very clearly into a particular
mission.
Other times, our mission may
come through trial and error in
trying to serve God where you
are.
But we will never be clear of God
leading us if we are half
hearted about our commitment to
him.
Let me repeat it.
We will never be clear of God
leading us if we are half
hearted about our commitment to
him.
For many people, the Christian
faith is just one of many
options for them.
They are committed to God
unless it gets in the way of
making more money or unless
there is a better social
invitation or a relationship
that is not going to be helpful
to their walk with God but that
is chosen as a priority.
Or there are family engagements
that take priority.
Or there is sport becomes a
priority and when the season is
over, then they are back in
church.
They are happy to please God
as long as God is willing to
take a back seat to their
personal agenda that they have
worked out all on their own.
They want to find their purpose in
life but not if it means if they
have to sacrifice or suffer or take
some kind of risk.
Too often we want the mission of
God that he gives us to fit
comfortably around our chosen
lifestyle.
The truth is we will only see God's
purpose for our lives when we are
prepared to give ourselves wholly to
him.
Do you want to be a person of
influence?
Then get alone with God and allow
him to transform you in every way.
Which leads me to the third point.
And that is to become a person of
influence we must invest the time it
takes to establish credibility.
It's not something that happens
overnight.
It takes time.
In verse 18 we see that Paul spent
three years in Arabia and Damascus
preparing for his life's work and
in the beginning of chapter 2 we see
Paul waited another 14 years before
going to see the leaders of
Jerusalem.
He spent 17 years preparing for the
work that God had called him to do.
He didn't spend the 17 years doing
nothing I might add.
He was preaching the whole time.
But it took that long before he
received the full endorsement from
the church leaders in Jerusalem.
I find that absolutely staggering.
In other words Paul's message and
ministry were not based on a short
term whim.
He stood the test of time and he
proved that he was in it for the
long haul.
Are you in it for the long haul?
Paul.
Now we are not Paul.
We most probably, I'm you know sort
of a prophetic word here, not going
to be asked to go to Arabia for three
years.
I feel that I'm fairly safe on saying
that.
But we can make some plans for the
future under God to set ourself goals
for our devotion time with God.
Maybe have a goal of a specific reading
plan, specific Christian books that are
going to feed our soul so that we grow
spiritually.
Maybe we need to address our attendance
at church and be more regular in 2014,
2015 and so on.
Maybe it's about our community group and
the commitment that we have to our
community group.
We need to grow in confidence in sharing
Jesus with those around us, with our
friends and our family.
That indeed in our conversation we can
share Jesus in such a non-threatening
way that it is normal and it's not
freaky that we are a follower of Jesus.
And right here and without shame I will
just say to help you do that, just walk
across the room starts next week at 3.30.
I would love to see many of you at it.
This is a simple course that will help
you in those conversations that you have
with friends and family about Jesus, how to
start those conversations.
We need to learn and to take opportunity to
learn to be these people of influence.
We can put all opportunities for your
growth in front of you but in the end you
actually have to take them up.
So the Apostle Paul was the last person any
Christian would expect to exercise leadership
in the early church.
Remember he was a zealous persecutor of
Christians before God called him.
The impact that he spent the rest of his
life faithful to Jesus and committed to
carrying out the mission set before him.
He invested time and energy.
You may not have a call to be a missionary
or a preacher but God wants you to be a
person of influence for someone, somewhere.
It might be your children.
It might be your grandchildren.
It might be a neighbour, a co-worker,
another person in this church, a family
member, a fellow student.
It might be a young person needing a role
model.
It might be someone that you have not yet met.
God is preparing you to be a person of
influence.
If you will put him first in your life and
seek only his approval, discover and commit
to the mission of being transformed and
invest yourself daily in growing in your
relationship with Jesus.
Perhaps it might take years, it might take
decades, but you will exert influence for
which you have been called.
It won't happen today.
It won't happen overnight.
But it will happen.
But it takes a long time.
Remember, it is all about Jesus.
That's who we live for.
That's who we influence for.
Amen.