What Is a Christian 11 Christian Is Influence

1 Thessalonians, and the very first chapter. Now the theme this evening, and has again been from this morning, the Christian as an influence. We read our scripture this morning from Matthew chapter 5, from verse 13 down through verse number 16, and we had a little look at the salt and the light.

We noticed that the Christian, he is the salt of the earth, he is the light of the world. The salt does its work in the dark, and very evidently the light shines out. And so we thank God for the meditation upon the salt as a preservative, as a purifier, as a health giver, and also as a flavor.

It's good for flavoring, isn't it? And so that's what we are as Christians. We're here as a preservative, we're here as a purifier, we're here as one to give health, over whom we come in contact day by day. The Christian should be a cordial, and bringing cordial and definite blessing into the lives of others, and we should be one that brings a wonderful flavor in and out among men and women.

I speak, brethren, to the Lord himself. Then, father, we find also that the Christian is the light. We are just reflectors.

The Lord himself is the light of the world, and he said we are the light in the world, and this light will be shined in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, and remember, the darker the night, the brighter the light should shine. But if our reflectors are dirty, then the light won't shine out at all very brightly. So let us keep the reflectors clean by yielding to the indwelling Holy Spirit, knowing the daily application of the cleansing power of the word applied to a life.

Then the Lord says, remember, I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. If we walk in the light of tears, in the light we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin. The Lord also says, if your eye is a single, your whole body shall be full of light.

Again, if you're walking in the light of his presence, and in the light of his word, our life shall be a wonderful reflector of the Lord himself. Isn't that true? Your life, my life, are now shining of the indwelling Christ. Let me tell you, Father, we're starting now on the letter I. The Christian, as an influence, is an inspiration.

It is an inspiring influence, and we look at that in John, chapter 20, verse number 19, when the Lord appeared in the upper room, and he says, He's beyond you, he is the bringer of peace, he is the prince of peace. Then, he also inspired the heart. He says, I never lived glad when they saw the Lord.

So, beloved, he's not only the bringer of peace, he is the inspirer of all true joy, and then he's the commissioner of his people. Remember what the Bible says, what the Lord says, As my Father sent me, even so sends I you. And so, the night, not only is he the bringer of peace, the inspirer of all true joy, but then God is the one who has commissioned us.

He's commissioned you. Says, As my Father sent me, even so sends I you. And there's not one of us here tonight who, having been saved by his matchless grace, cleansed by the precious blood, but who has been sent by the risen Lord, And we're in this world for one purpose alone.

We're here to represent our adorable Lord Jesus Christ, that your life and my life might be a reproduction of the life of Christ himself. Furthermore, Thomas, in the closing verses of that same wonderful 20th chapter, when he had seen the Lord, he prostrated himself before him and cried, My Lord and my God. Someone leaving this morning said, Don't you think that was an expression of Thomas' love? When he has seen the Lord, has seen evidence of the passion, he who has just so filled with love and gratitude, fell before them and said, My Lord and my God.

Yes, beloved, you can see him, without prostrating yourself before him and from your very heart crying, Take my love, O Lord, I pour at thy feet. It's treasured pour. Take myself, and I will be ever earning all for thee.

And may we find he's the best seller of all our doubts. When Thomas has seen the Lord, his doubts took flight. I want you tonight to get a glimpse of our adorable Lord Jesus.

I want your eyes to be filled with him, your heart's affection occupied with him, and you too will prostrate yourself before him and cry, O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee. For thou in thine atonement didst give thyself for me. I owe no other master.

My heart shall be thy throne, my life I give, and for to live. O Christ, I fall in love. So not only is the Christian influence an inspired influence, the letter A is a new influence.

Take a glimpse in chapter 5, verse 17. O Lord, in Christ are a new creation. All things have passed away, and behold, all things have become new.

That's where we got to this morning, but I want you now to go down to letter 8, and this is a faithful influence. And don't look strange here, will you? 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verse number 6. This is the first letter the apostle Paul wrote to, the first church, I mean, the first letter he wrote to them. And remember, he wrote to seven churches, and this is the first one, St. Thessalonica.

He says here in verse number 6, And ye became followers of us, and notice the expression now, and of the Lord. In another scripture it says, ye became followers of us as we followed the Lord. And as they were following the Lord, the infants were so great a follower of other dear saints, they also left all, and they followed them.

Isn't that wonderful now? And when we too, as God's beloved people, are faithful in our allegiance and wholehearted devotion to our adorable Lord Jesus, and we're faithfully following Him, this faithful influence will influence others to do likewise. Oh, may God so find in you and find in me, right here at the heart of the clouds, such a wholehearted devotion, complete allegiance to His authority, that we're following hard after Him, with the result others too will follow the Lord. But lead on, Father, will you please? Verse 6. Having received the word in much affliction, but notice now, with joy of the Holy Ghost, put your example to all who believe in Macedonia and Nicaea, for from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Nicaea, but also in every place your faith in God's word is spread abroad, so we need not to speak anything.

These are expressions I want to give you regarding our influence, being a faithful influence. Verse 6. They became followers. Verse number 7. They became ensembles.

Verse number 8. They became echoes, or if you like, heralds, and they heralded out, they echoed out the word of the Lord. Now isn't this just lovely? Those dear saints in their first love, and that dear old church at Thessalonica, were filled with love, and with faith, and with hope. They were looking for the Lord's coming, and were so occupied with Him, that when the apostles Paul and Silas and the team arrived there, there was no need for them to preach.

No need for them to preach. Why? The assembly was a sounding board, and from them sounded out the word of the Lord. And it said, your faith in God will be so spread abroad, there's no need for us to speak.

And also in chapter 4, verse number 9, it speaks there about no need for us to speak about love. Why? You're so in love with one another. You're just so much in love with one another.

No need to speak to you about love. Oh, I wish to God I could see that more exemplified amongst God's beloved people today. Remember in John chapter 13, verse number 34, our adorable Lord Jesus says, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.

The old commandment, love thy neighbor as thyself. Thyself love. But the new commandment, love as I have loved you.

Now, isn't that rather a high standard? That's the standard He's given us. Why? We've got the Christ light now. We have the love light pouring through us.

And certainly He says, now love as I have loved you. Then the next verse says, And by this shall all men know your mind is titled by your love one for another. There you have now the influence, the faithful influence.

They were sounding out the word of the Lord, and the faith of God was spread abroad. And they had no need to speak regarding love, no need to speak about love. They called the love one another.

And further down He said, But let your love abound. Let your love abound. The word love's a beautiful word, you know.

But love is not real love unless it is practical. Oh, I thank God for this practical manifestation of love that we see right here in part of the psalm during each particular day. But the Spirit would say, Let it abound.

Let it spill over. The word abound comes 26 times in Paul's letter. And the word is being spilled over.

Let it run over. It's a picture of the pail being under the water tap. The water's running into the pail, and it's still running.

The pail's full, and the water's running all over the place. That is the picture. And Paul says, Your heart's filled with love, for that's not enough.

Let it spill over. St. George's Church will remember in Romans 5, verse number 5, where it says, The love of God is shed abroad, tormented abroad in our heart by the Holy Ghost who is given unto us. Please notice that.

Shed abroad, tormented, coming full flood, it's spilling all over. Years ago at Norwich in Norfolk in England, I was standing outside a meal mill. And I was watching the water trickling underneath the smoosh gate, down into the mill pond.

Just in that moment, a couple of men came out with spanners and they screwed two knots. And the smoosh gate lifted, and all the hole in the port of water at the bottom of that smoosh gate. I was there, pot of grass, piece of wood, tin can, even an old dead cat, lying at the bottom of that smoosh gate.

And I think whenever that smoosh gate was opened, the port of water took all the debris along with it. So I stood there, I said, Lord, is thy love just trickling through my heart, or is it coming full force? And I looked, and I received, all the debris had gone. You might like to call it debris, but the whole thing had gone.

May I pause here? When the love of God is shed abroad in your heart and my heart, in the energy of a hungry Holy Spirit, all the debris, my friend, all the trash is gone. It can't stand before the force of love and illustration. I was preaching at Keswick Convention some time ago, and during the interval, a man came up and said he was a spectator of the convention.

He said, I was rather struck by the ministry this afternoon. He said, you know, I've been a secret smoker for years. And I said, I never said a word about smoking, did I? He said, my ministry is not a negative ministry.

It's something positive, something that's alive, not condemning. He said, yes, I know. But he said, when you spoke about the love life flowing through the heart, and the love life sinking through the veins, willing through the will, looking with compassion through the eyes, speaking through the lips, and you spoke about the love life getting down to the fingertips, and you spoke about the love life walking ground in shoe leather.

There is Christ in the home, Christ in the office, Christ in the college, Christ in the hospital, Christ in the travel. No longer I, but Christ. And he said, sir, whenever you mentioned the fingertips, that was enough for me.

I could never think of a holy guy staying with nicotine, and he said, I'll never smoke again. That's some years ago now, as far as I know, that man's never smoked again. I'm in a studio all afternoon condemning smoking, the wrong to smoking, how selfish it really is, how unclean a habit.

I did not. The love life began to flow, and touched that man's habit, and it had to go. Also in that particular building that day, there were two women weeping in the aisle of the building, really weeping very visibly.

Someone said, go near and see if you can help those two women. Said, not me. I have nothing to do with brethren's problems.

I'm not touching women's problems. They said, go up and see if you can help. So, going near, I said, may I help you? No, they all said, you can give me your damn helpers anymore.

So, what's the matter? We've hated each other for three years. We haven't spoken to each other for three years. I never said a word about getting right with one another, did I? Said, no.

But you spoke about the love life flowing, and the love life kind of flowed through my heart, and I got something against her, and she thought the same thing at the same time. And they were reconciled to one another. Beloved, I don't care what your problem may be.

I don't care what your habit may be. You let the love life touch it, and it's got to go. My friend, the love life is God's answer.

The love life, my friend, is the pattern God has given to us. Now, we're looking to the Lord for a real, definite Holy Ghost blessing tonight, aren't we? May we just bow quietly before Him, think again of these words ringing in your heart. What are they? The love life flowing.

The love life abounding. The love life spilling over. The same word is used, you know, in Marikai chapter three.

So, it says, bring all the ties into this storehouse. Curl me now herewith, and see if I will not open you to the goodness of heaven, and pour you out such a blessing, there will not be room enough to receive it. As good as spill over.

Spill over. Same word is used in John chapter seven, and verse thirty-eight. Christ says, if any man thirsts, let him come unto me and drink.

Then it says, and in him shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life, and from him shall pour forth rivers of living water. I quoted John 4.14 just now. In him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7.38 says, and from that in a man shall pour forth rivers of living water. In John chapter three, we got the intake. In John chapter four, we got the upflow.

But in John chapter seven, we got the overflow. And that's what the Lord wants for us to have tonight. Not just knowing the fact that Christ now endures me, that Christ now serves my heart and serves my life for the glory of his presence.

But it's got to be an overflow. And from you and from me shall flow forth rivers of living water. All of whom may come in contact shall be blessed.

Isaiah chapter 44, you got the same idea. There's a name, three names there in the first two verses, which are very precious. Jacob, Israel, Jeff, Joram.

Jacob, the old supplanter, the old christer, unreliable, could not be depended upon. I am so sorry that James means the same as Jacob, the old supplanter. There we have it now.

But a crisis came in Jacob's life. Remember, as the wrestling match went on, they said, I will not let thee go until thou has blessed me. And the praise, my friends, of singing became the praise of confession.

It became the praise of breaking. And it became the praise of blessing. James would allow me to go back over these four.

I trust he got them. And then remember the words, thou shalt be no more Jacob, but Israel, the prince of God. You're to avail with God, you're to avail with man.

You're a part of God, you're a part of man. Then next, then, comes Jeff, Joram. And what does Jeff, Joram mean? It means my darling.

My darling. What does my darling mean? You don't claim that? My darling, I'll illustrate it for you by means. Here, the husband's going away to work in the morning.

The wife goes to the gate with him. She doesn't, she ought to. At least to the door anyway, you see.

I'm talking about the good old-fashioned days. And when the man went to work in the morning, and the wife stayed at home, you see. And so she said goodbye, darling.

She kissed her and she kissed him. He's going away to visit city. Coming in contact with all different types of people during the course of the day.

So you're my darling, you're my trusted one. I can rely upon you, I can depend upon you. He kisses her goodbye, goodbye darling.

He leaves her in the home. She keeps coming in contact with all different types during the course of the day. So you're my darling, you're my trusted one.

Once again, the next Thursday, I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry grass. When? When he can trust us. And then on the husband's book says, that lovely quarter, that hymn writer, can you be trusted to shine? Can you be trusted to shine? Jesus comes upon you, we are loyal and true.

Can you be trusted to shine? Beloved, we long to see floods upon dry ground, don't we? For we see water poured upon them that are thirsty. For we see a mighty movement in the spirit of God. Herein lies the secret.

We must be faithful in our influence. Faithful in our whole heart of allegiance to our beloved Lord Jesus. And others too are going to get this influence and they will be influenced to follow after our adorable Lord.

Oh may the love light flow to us day by day. And of course, when that takes place, in chapter five of the same one, chapter four, five of the same letter, one says to learn in chapter five verse one, it's every God in the Lord's coming. There is no need to write them about that.

Now get the picture, will you? Regarding faith, regarding love, and regarding hope, no need to write about these things. Now here is a healthy condition for the individual believer and for the collective company. What is that, my friends? May God help us to recognize this.

I don't know what's going on tonight, but we're having a moving time, aren't we? We're having a moving time. Well, the Lord knows what he's doing anyway, he's just trusting me. May I help you right here? Now you've got those five main points.

No need regarding faith, no need regarding love, no need regarding the blessed hope. Why? Because here are those there who are faithful in their allegiance to the Lord Jesus, and the influence is having effect upon others. I must hurry now to the next one, chapter six of the Romans, shall we? Romans chapter six and verse number four.

And we find here that this is now a living influence, not merely a vague dogmatism. Oh no, it's something alive, fulfilling with life. Verse number three, reads like this, is Romans chapter six.

Know ye not, says the apostle, that the man that was baptized into Jesus Christ was baptized into his death? Therefore we are better with him by baptism into death. The Magus Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so he also, here it is now, should walk in newness of life. For if we've been planned to get in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Precincts Paul wants us to know, verse number three through five, the meaning of our baptism. Six through verse number eight, the meaning of a cold crucifixion. That when Christ died, I died.

May I read verse number six? Follow carefully. Knowing this, that our old man, now that doesn't refer to your dad, by the way, and don't you call your dad the old man. No, no, no, you're in love with your own woman.

Have respect for them, they're very real and very precious to us, aren't they? Now it says, knowing this, that our old man, all I am is a child of Adam, was, as in the past tense of the revised version, crucified with Christ. And the bond which Satan might be destroyed, may be offered a footer of action, unemployed, idle. And henceforth it should not serve sin, for he in this day is free from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe we shall also live with him. The first thing he wants you to know, the meaning of my baptism. The second thing, the meaning of my cold crucifixion.

That when he died, I died. His death is my death. I'm not trying to die.

I'm not trying to crucify myself. Beloved, you may put yourself out of the world by taking poison, by shooting yourself, by drowning yourself, but you'll never put yourself out by crucifying yourself. There's another impossibility.

You'll never be able to crucify yourself. Now isn't that remarkable statement? Isn't it really now? Now go to verse number nine. Third thing he wants me to know, during the Christ being raised from the dead, dies no more.

Death has no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died in sin once. For in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Now he wants me to know the meaning of my cold resurrection. One, the meaning of my baptism. Two, the meaning of my cold crucifixion.

Three, the meaning of my cold resurrection. Now that's God's great picture regarding my union with Christ. Now that is a fact that can never be altered.

In God's reckoning, he reckons by grace, it is each and every believer baptized into the death of the Lord Jesus. Now this is a natural fact, whether or not we pass through in the waters of baptism or not. God sees each and every believer, my friend, planned to go in the likeness of the death of the Lord Jesus.

It is baptized into Christ. I love that word in, don't you? Tonight we are in Christ and by the mysterious operation of the Spirit of God, each and every believer, we are in Christ. In Christ when he died.

In Christ when he was buried. In Christ when he arose. In Christ when he ascended.

In Christ now at God's right hand. That's why I don't believe in this fallen away theory. You're going to stay today and lost tomorrow.

My friend, tonight we are in Christ. In Christ in his death. In Christ in his resurrection.

In Christ now. And because we're in Christ, we can never, no never, be lost. The wonder of all this.

So there now you've got the meaning of your baptism. In our baptism we confess we have died. We have died with Christ unto sin, unto self, unto the world.

What you do with a dead person, you have buried him. You have buried him. And what Christ in true actuality, we go through and figure in that watery grave.

And what a privilege. What a joy. What an honor.

Then will it say, rise the world in newness of life. So this is a living influence, isn't it? But our part comes in in verse number 11. Notice it says in verse 11, Likewise reckon you yourself to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I wonder are we in the good of this? Are we living in enjoyment of it? Now we may know this doctrinally. We may know this theoretically. We may know this my friends scripturally.

But is it a living vital reality in your life and my life tonight? Doctrine that does not lead to duty becomes dogmatism and leads to death. Principle that does not lead to practice goes paralyzed. So my friends what I know regarding doctrine, it must be put into duty.

What I know as a principle must be put into practice or not it brings death and paralysis. May God give us grace to reckon my friend by faith for God has reckoned by grace the fact I am crucified with Christ. I've been buried with Christ.

I've been raised in Christ. I'm seated in Christ at God's right hand. The wonder of it all.

A union, an influence of life is a living influence. I love this number 11. I've got a chorus on that.

May teach you one day. The words are, Reckon you yourself to be dead indeed to sin. Crucify with Christ that he now may reign within.

Raise together with the Lord who would lighten you. Thus the Spirit doth accord victory for you. We are nourishment and I open the meeting in prayer.

Story about a nourishment too. Back three. These two nourishment met and there was a tortoise.

You know, there's a tortoise. And it was run over by a car and its head was severed from its body. So Mike says that thing's dead, its head's off.

Pat said it's not dead because its legs are still moving. So Mike, I tell you that thing's dead because its head's off. Pat said it's not dead at all because I know its legs are still moving.

Well then, so Murphy goes along. So Murphy says, Pat says to Murphy, come here Murphy. I say the tortoise is dead because its head's off.

Mike says it's alive because its legs are moving. What do you say Murphy? I say sure me dad did walk right. He said the poor thing's dead but doesn't know it.

And you know, there are not a lot of Christians who are just like that. They're dead but they don't know it. And they're trying to crucify themselves.

They're trying to put themselves upon a cross. And God said he put me there 2000 years ago. Isn't that just wonderful? When did I die? And Christ died.

His death is my death. And he wants me to reckon by faith. And what he's reckoned by grace.

I love to develop that but time must allow me now. Please go down next ladies. Prayer now is a letter.

What? A living influence. And notice now please, the letter U. It is a useful influence. The Christian influence is useful.

Turn to 1 Peter chapter 3 will you? 1 Peter 3 verse number 15. And just see what it says here. 1 Peter 3 verse 15.

But sanctify the Lord God in your heart. I am here ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks of you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and faith. The words are be ready to give an answer to every man asking of you.

So we become useful. We are useful Christians. It's an influence that is useful.

Yes, why? Because Christ has sanctified his Lord. Where? In your heart. And in my heart.

Even in Lord Supreme. In your life and in my life. And when everything is under his control then shall the God will become useful Christian.

There shall be a such a great in our handshake. There'll be a spring in our step. There'll be a gleam in our eyes.

There'll be a glow in our suns. Why? Because Christ has sanctified his Lord in our life. And we are useful Christians.

I must hurry on. Remember now Philippians chapter 1 and verse 14. Philippians 1 verse 14.

And you'll find this is an encouraging influence. An influence that brings such encouragement to all believers. Here the apostle Paul's lying in a Roman dungeon.

A damp, cold cell. We were there just over a year ago. In that very prison there in Rome.

In the inner prison where Paul lay. In a cold, damp prison. Yet this man was praising and praying and preaching.

My friend Paul turned adversity into advantage. Opposition into opportunity. The prison into the pulpit.

He was a wonderful man. He was in touch with the living Lord. Though he may indeed imprison and bind the servant.

The word of God was not bound. And all those dear men who came to attend to him. And the guardian.

Paul my friend preached the living word to them. They'd never come across a prisoner like this. If he was grumbling and grousing and complaining with his lock.

He was praising and praying and preaching. Oh he was rejoicing always. Nineteen times this letter says rejoice.

With joy unspeakable and full of glory. Oh his heart was bubbling over. And these men were so stuck with this.

Those very same men my friend. Who were attending upon Paul. Probably the very next day would be in Caesar's household.

And then it says in verse fourteen. And many of the men in the lawn. Wexing confident by my bond.

Are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Now isn't this lovely? Because of Paul preaching and witnessing in the prison. Those men who were stuck by the prison.

They were encouraged to go on and present the glad tidings. That preached Christ the living Lord. Oh my friend listen tonight.

Many of those dear men attending to Paul. Those praises of God were gloriously converted. Look at verse number twelve.

Saint Hecker. But I would that you should understand brethren. For the things that happened unto me have fallen out rather.

Unto the providence of the gospel. But in my bond in Christ as manifest in all the palace. And in all the places.

Now go to chapter four verse twenty two. See what it says there. There it says.

The one says. Through every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

Now verse twenty two. All the saints salute you. Chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

Now where did they hear the gospel? For this cruelest man in prison. Ah my friend isn't it wonderful. And most other people now were encouraged.

To go forward with the message of the evangelist. If he could do it in the prison. Now my friend what about you and what about me? We are yonder tonight in Russia.

The mighty mover of the spirit of God. We have about three hundred assemblies. And all large assemblies tonight in Russia.

The word of God is still being smuggled into Russia. Most people my friend of the great persecution. And great adversity.

And going forth. And it's a reproduction. And souls are being slain.

Same thing happening in other parts of the world. Czechoslovakia. They say don't pray for our release from Russia.

From the Russians. Pray God will give us grace. We've been praying that Russia might have the gospel.

And God brought Russia to us. And if there were soldiers. And many of those officers.

And captains in the Russian army are being slain. Being slain. Because those people are buying up the opportunity.

In this land. All of us so complacent aren't we? We're so smug. We're so humble.

Friends what are we doing with the liberties we've got? How long has God gone to let us have such liberties? Offer plenty of grand tidings. All of us buy up every opportunity. It's an encouraging influence.

When we see this man. May we be encouraged to pray on. And I must just do that very thing.

And chapter two please. Verse number four. Chapter two.

I'm saying three things rather. The fourth chapter in verse number three. And we come to our little little alien.

The word is. Is it a necessary influence? It is necessary. What does it say? But if our gospel be hidden.

It will take to them that are lost. So my friend you see how necessary. Is the influence of the Christian.

In the world today. Your own world. For it's placed you.

In the office. In the hall. Among your friends.

Among your neighbors. Your associates. Colleagues.

Right there. And if the gospel is hidden. It will take to them that are lost.

Now the gospel treasure is in place in you. And place in me. And my friend it wants to shine through us day by day.

I hurry to my next point now. Chapter one of Philippians. Philippians again.

Chapter one. And this time verses twenty and twenty one. Now here's the music.

I do like that rusting among the leaves again tonight. Verse twenty. According to my earnest expectation and my hope.

That in nothing I shall be ashamed. But that with all boldness as always so now. Also Christ shall be magnified in my body.

Whether it be by life or by death. Now verse twenty one. For he who lives is Christ.

And to die is not of Christ. What is this influence? A Christ centered influence. Not I but Christ.

And Paul says whether by life or by death. That Christ might be magnified in my body. 2 Corinthians chapter four verse eleven says.

Are the life oils of Jesus might be made manifest through my mortal flesh. And now he says in my body Christ might be magnified. Then he comes out triumphant and says.

For me to live. Christ to die is gain. It is more of Christ.

I would love to ask a question here to this. For me to live is a question mark. Would you like to fill in the last word? For me to live is Christ.

Is that true? Or is it pleasure? Is it popularity? Is it my profession? My career? Is it money? Is it self? John the Baptist had the answer remember. John three verse number thirty said. Christ must increase.

I must decrease. Oh to be saved from myself dear Lord. Oh to be lost in me.

Oh that it may be no more I but Christ that lives in me. That takes me to my last letter. It is an evangelizing influence.

Evangelizing influence. Acts chapter one verse number eight. And he shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you.

And ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Isn't that an amazing statement? Listen friends. Christ went up.

The Holy Spirit came down. And they went out. They went everywhere preaching the word.

When? Christ went up. The Spirit came down. And they went on.

Look at Acts chapter four for a minute please. And one verse. Verse number thirteen.

Acts four and verse number thirteen. This does something in my heart. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John.

And to see that they were unlearned and ignorant men. They marveled. And they took knowledge of them.

What is it? That they had been with Jesus. Oh friends you can't be in his presence without others being influenced. Oh no.

So may God give us grace to spend much time alone with him. Our friends must come that will know that we're in communion with him. Remember again the word.

Ye shall receive power. Ye shall receive power. The Holy Spirit remember through Pentecost his wisdom.

The end of the day at Pentecost. But then he came upon them. And he said ye shall be witnesses unto me.

Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. The focus unto me. The scope the uttermost parts of the earth.

The power the Holy Ghost will come upon us. Oh may we know something of this beloved. As we rise to go forth on this week of meetings.

I wonder what does it mean to you. Do you rejoice to know that you are a Christian? I'm going to join my friend in Christ's life living in you. If you have a reality in your life.

May I go back over the cross on the word influence. Check it off. See my friend if you can say amen to all these wonderful words.

One. It is an inspiring influence. It is a new influence.

It is faithful. It is living. It is useful.

It is encouraging. It is necessary. It is Christ-centered.

And it's evangelizing. Remember if we don't evangelize we'll fossilize. We are born to reproduce.

God bless his word to your heart and mind tonight. A hymn number 344. Be much in prayer regarding the meetings this weekend.

Anyone you'd like us to visit do tell us. We're only too glad to go and visit with you. 344 make this a prayer from your heart and mind regarding the wonderful theme of influence.

Out in the highways and byways of life many are weary and sad. Carry the sunshine where darkness is light making the sorrowing glad. What an influence.

God bless each one. 344. I know you're going to challenge your heart as it challenges mine.

I always like to find a hymn to fit right in with the message. I think this one's really doing that now. And those are the last verse we sing it together thoughtfully and prayerfully.

All together. Have thy way father. Work by thy spirit.

Bring forth fruit rushes and choice for thy glory. For the advancement of thy kingdom. For the blessing of thy beloved people.

And the exaltation of thy beloved son. Father now with thy blessing. Keep it in the hollow of thy hand.

May the influence of this little gathering go with us. And characterize in all our ways. Our lives may prove to be what thou would have them to be.

And now shine of the indwelling Christ. Through Jesus Christ our wonderful Lord. Amen.

I'd like to make an announcement please. Our beloved brother Neil Lamont passed into the presence of the Lord just a few minutes ago. The doctor in the hospital just phoned.

And since then I have talked to his nephew in Chicago. And his niece in Fort Lauderdale. The dear old man was Mrs. Livingston saw him this morning.

Mr. Wardenburg and I were with him about four o'clock this afternoon. But he was absolutely unconscious and has been for about two days. And it was obvious that the end was very near.

Dear brother Lamont was 90 years and six months old. So he had a good long race. And we loved him very much.

Now I'm just wondering they're going to take the body to Chicago. It was his request that he be buried by the side of his wife whom he loved so much. He couldn't understand you know his wife was eight years older than he.

And she died four years ago when she was 94. And he often said to me I can't understand why Lamont took my wife home. She was 94.

So he wanted to be buried by her side. So they'll be taking the body to Chicago. Now I don't know I feel kind of constrained.

I think we ought to have a little kind of memorial service. What do you think? Could we do that? Or should we not bother? What do you think? What's the brethren think? Yeah well I suggested to them that they should get in touch with Derek Jones who looks after most of our funerals. And he has a nice funeral parlor up there in Stock.

And I thought if I got in touch with him we might arrange tomorrow afternoon to have a very brief service up there before the body is sent on to Chicago. What do you think? Would you agree with that? And shall I arrange it for say what time would you say? Three o'clock? Would that be a good hour if we could fix it? No? All right then. I will talk to Mr. Jones and see if we can arrange to have a short service there at three o'clock at the funeral parlor in Stock.

Three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. If I can't then I'll let you all know. But I think we'll try and fix it that way.

I think it'd be nice because we love the old man very much. He's a dear old brother and he's gone to be with the Lord. Now shall we just bow in the Lord's presence.

Blessed God we thank thee for calling to thyself our beloved brother who trusted thee so young in life and thou didst give him a wonderful partner and together they served thee all those many many years. And now Lord they're united in thy presence where there's fullness of joy and at thy right hand where their pleasures forevermore. We thank you for taking our brother home out of his suffering.

We thank you for the long long race he ran trusting thee to the end. And now Lord as we seek to arrange a little little morning service we ask you to give us guidance and we pray Lord that thy name might be glorified. A thousand, O Lord, His only surviving relatives are not Christian, not saved.

O God we pray thou speak to their hearts and out of this grant that salvation might come to these relatives. We ask it in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thank you.