You Can Make A Difference.
At Lifepoint Hampton Roads, we often say that God created us on purpose and for a purpose. Because we have purpose, we know that our lives matter and our lives have great potential to make a positive, God-honoring, eternal difference in the world.
The good news is that YOU WERE BORN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
3 Commitments we need to make if we want to make a difference for God:
1. Embrace Your Purpose
Verses to Study: Exodus 33:12–18
Moses had clearly embraced his purpose as a servant of God, a leader, a deliverer of His people. He said, “I want to lead your people and represent you among other nations, Lord.”
What is your purpose?
Glorifying in the Old Testament meant acknowledging His presence and glory in everything. The word for glory in Hebrew means “weighty, important.” Nothing is weightier than God. We don’t make Him glorious because He just is. All creation declares His existence; it reveals His glory and power.
Verses to Study: Exodus 40:34-37
Essentially the whole life and ministry of Moses were about glorifying God.
To glorify in the New Testament means to magnify God/Jesus. What this means is that we live in a way that displays His beauty, it makes Him clear, it draws attention to His supremacy over all else.
This is what Jesus was doing with His life, and He was about to do it to the full measure at the cross. Look at this passage as Jesus is near the hour of the crucifixion.
Verses to Study: John 12:27-33
At the cross, God was glorified in the most incredible way! In that awful and beautiful moment, the indescribable holiness and the unmatched love of God are put on full display.
You were created ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE.
Our purpose is to glorify God in all that we do. You have a purpose at home, in your dorm, on your street, in your apartment building, at work, in the barbershop. We demonstrate our purpose anytime we show the love of Christ through our deeds and our words.
Embracing your purpose to ultimately glorify God can and will make a huge difference in your life and your outlook! But embracing your purpose is only the beginning.
2. Determine to Persevere
Moses persevered. He made mistakes – after he engaged with God. He doubted God. He once had such a bad misunderstanding with his wife that she all but gave up on him. More than once, he got mad at the congregation and took too much credit for providing for the Israelites. But he kept moving forward.
Becoming a difference maker requires taking one step at a time. Here are a few tips…
- Start by focusing on your relationship with God. Let God fill you, and let God form you.
- Set reasonable expectations about the journey ahead. We can’t allow the illusion of perfection to prevent us from getting started. Just get started.
- Be less goal-driven and enjoy the process every day. Enjoy the journey! As you get involved with the Lord, know He’s going to shape you and help you grow.
3. Delight in Your Progress
Verses to Study: Deuteronomy 32:48-52
Moses was an old man who had been on the adventure of a lifetime with God. It was sometimes scary, costly, irritating, and disappointing. But He grew in his faith, intimacy with God, and love for the hard-headed people of Israel.
I believe Moses could leave the scene of national leadership with delight because he could trace the difference his life had made in the people he loved.
What does this have to do with you and me?
We want to see generational curses broken, and limitations lifted, addictions defeated, depression lifted, abused people healed and renewed, people who see themselves as failures restored to confidence and living with renewed purpose.
I’ll leave you with this:
You are a child of God. You have the Holy Spirit helping you. You can fail and make mistakes, but you can’t possibly be separated from God’s love. You don’t know everything, but you know what Jesus has done for you He can do for others. You can get knocked down, but you will get back up. You will get depleted, but you won’t be defeated. You will stand on God’s Word. You won’t quit if it’s not about you.
Amen.
Pastors Eddie and Jessica Cole
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Our lead pastors, Eddie and Jessica Cole have had a heart for Hampton Roads for many years. While dating – more than 25 years ago! – they were visiting Jessica’s parents in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and started dreaming about planting a church in the area.
It wasn’t until 2020, while Eddie was serving as a denominational Vice President in Minneapolis, that it became clear God was calling them to take a big leap of faith. They had helped others plant churches for years – now God began to confirm it was their turn. Within months they knew the time had arrived, they were supposed to plant the church they dreamed about in Hampton Roads.
Throughout their entire relationship, they have been doing ministry together. Most of this time was spent leading Salem Church in Staten Island, New York, and doing regional and national denominational work.
They are known for their passion for helping people experience the love and power of God. They have committed themselves to use all their God-given resources to help as many people as possible joyfully embrace and fulfill God’s purpose in their life.
Eddie earned a Doctorate in Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary and has two Master’s Degrees from Liberty Theological Seminary. Jessica is a graduate of Gateway Theological Institute and has a Bachelor of Science in Religion from Liberty University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership from the Liberty University School of Business.
