A Deeper Footprint
E.A. Johnston challenges believers to live fully consecrated lives for Christ, leaving a lasting and impactful spiritual footprint in their generation.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston draws inspiration from the life of D. L. Moody to challenge believers to live fully consecrated lives for Christ. Using Ephesians 2:10 as his foundation, Johnston emphasizes the importance of walking in the good works God has prepared and leaving a lasting spiritual impact. He calls listeners to evaluate their commitment and encourages them to be 'on the out and out' for God, making a deeper footprint in their generation.
Full Transcript
D. L. Moody did more for God than all of us put together. He refused to go to bed at night without having witness to a soul that day. Moody was an uneducated man who could hold the attention of ten thousand hearers at a time for a month at a time in major metropolises like London and Edinburgh.
Moody once said he wanted to cut a channel so deep and narrow for God that others would feel the influence of it. Moody left a deeper footprint for God in his generation. And that's the title of my message this evening, friends.
A Deeper Footprint. My text can be found in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. You can turn in your Bibles there now, friends.
We will be in chapter 2 and in verse 10. Let me read this verse to us at this time, and may the Spirit of the Lord attend the reading of His holy word. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
It's no accident, friend, that you are a saved individual. It's no coincidence that you are serving God in the capacity which you are. God is a sovereign God who works out all things in our life for our good and His glory.
So says Romans 8.28. Our text this evening speaks of good works that God has ordained in our life for us to walk in. How big a footprint we make in our generation is up to us. How big a footprint we leave behind is up to Him.
I know for a fact that God gets serious with those who get serious with Him. It's been a reality in my own life. I'm sure some of you can say the same about your own walk with God.
How deep a footprint we make in our generation is determined by how we live our life for God in that generation. Are we living for this world, or are we living for eternity? Are the things which grip us and motivate us the things of eternal worth? Do we have a burden for the souls of men? Do we pursue a deeper walk with God and a deeper experience of Him? Men who leave large footprints learn to walk closely with their God. Before Moody was famous, he overheard a man say, the world has yet to see what God can do with the man entirely consecrated to Him.
Moody walked away and muttered beneath his breath, by God's grace, I will be that man. After Moody was a famous evangelist, he was out walking with a Boston minister in New England who asked, Mr. Moody, I have DD after my name, as I am a doctor of divinity. I notice you sign your name Moody OO, what does that stand for? Moody replied, I am Moody OO, I am on the out and out for Him.
Let me ask you, friend, can that be said of you? Are you on the out and out for Him? Is Christ the center of your affections and are you on fire for Him in a red hot love relationship to Him? Or has the flame died down and even gone out in your life and ministry? Others can tell even if you can't notice it. You are either salt, who makes others thirsty for Christ when they are around you, or you are an ice cube, which cools the fire of others. I repeat, the footprint you make in your generation is up to you.
The footprint you leave behind is up to God Almighty. But I can tell you this, friends, this generation of nominal Christians desperately needs to feel the force of a deep footprint for God. They need to be stirred by God, by a man of God who walks with God, who has the spirit of God upon him, and who will make a deeper footprint in his generation for God.
It's up to you, friend. Moody was no seminary dee-dee. You don't have to go to seminary to be used of God, but Moody was an O-O for God.
You can keep on walking in the ways you've been walking and try and leave your mark on this generation. Or you can go all out for God and risk everything and gamble your reputation away on Christ Jesus and leave a deeper footprint behind you than you ever realized. How bad do you want to join that club of the out and out for Christ? It only has a few members, but those rare individuals leave a deep footprint behind.
Let us pray.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to D. L. Moody's legacy
- The concept of leaving a deeper footprint for God
- Scriptural foundation from Ephesians 2:10
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II
- God's sovereignty in our salvation and service
- The importance of walking in good works ordained by God
- The choice to live for eternity versus the world
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III
- The necessity of a deep, personal walk with God
- The example of Moody's consecration and commitment
- Being 'on the out and out' for Christ
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IV
- The impact of a believer's spiritual footprint on their generation
- The call to risk everything for Christ
- Encouragement to join the rare group fully devoted to God
Key Quotes
“Moody once said he wanted to cut a channel so deep and narrow for God that others would feel the influence of it.” — E.A. Johnston
“I am Moody OO, I am on the out and out for Him.” — E.A. Johnston
“The footprint you make in your generation is up to you.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Commit yourself daily to live fully devoted to Christ, impacting those around you.
- Seek to walk closely with God to deepen your spiritual influence in your generation.
- Be willing to risk reputation and comfort to serve God wholeheartedly.