Great Impact

GREAT IMPACT

by Pastor Simeon Afolabi

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16)

God’s design for you is to live a life of impact and blessing to the people around you. This is how you can give Him glory. He desires a harvest of glory in the earth through the impact you make in people’s lives. Letting you light shine for others to see your good works is a primary way God derives glory. A life of impact is one lived not for selfish ends but for the good of others. This is a life that harvests glory for God. The glory of God is the end point of a life of impact. This should be the focus of your life’s endeavours.

This point is further stressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (NKJV). Therefore, in any area of human endeavour you find yourself; strive to give God glory by the display of your good works.

Bear in mind that God will not use everybody the same way, but He will use everyone for the same purpose of being glorified. Something else is evident, and it is the fact that God will not use everyone to the same degree of impact. This is because there are human variables that come to play. There are factors that affect level of impact we create.

1. Your Faith will influence your level of impact for God. Read Mark 11:12-24. Your potential as a child of God is not in your background or social status but in your faith in God. This faith is not just for personal end but to the end that glory is given to him through your impact on people around you. Hebrews 11 is a hall of fame of the heroes of faith. These men and women subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, stopped the mouths of lions, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, turned to flight the armies of the enemies, had their dead raised back to life again, etc.

All of these were done through faith in god and eventually brought glory to Him. You too can be listed as a hero of faith for God. This faith comes by customized hearing of the word of God for you. (See Romans 10:17). You cannot act on the faith of another person. Hearing a specific word from God can stir and grow your faith. When your faith is stirred, you starve your doubts. It takes faith in God to become all He has earmarked for you. Invariably, great faith produces great impact.

2. Your Effort will influence your level of impact for God. The word of God that is spoken to you is not to make you feel good but for you to act on it. Translate your faith in what God has said about you into action. Mere faith in God’s word without a corresponding action is futile.
Your faith needs action to be productive. Prophet Elijah, having received the promise of rain from the Lord, went up to the mountain and prayed again and again and again until the promise was fulfilled (1 Kings 18:41-45).The effort of the men that carried the paralytic man in Mark 2 was seen by Jesus as faith. Actually, your effort is the other side of your faith coin. To reach your prophetic destiny there are efforts and responsibilities to carry out. The effort you are willing to make in life will influence the level of impact. Those with bias for action are usually people of great impact.

Food for Thought: Effort is the other side of the faith coin!

*Pastor Simeon Afolabi is the Head pastor of the First Love Assembly. He pastors the Lagos branch at the Jevinik Place, GRA., Ikeja.