The Power of One 

How can one person change the world?

 History has proven that one person has the ability and potential to change the world, for massive world destruction, and unbelievable torment. How much more can one person bring change for good upon their world?

 I have been considering people who through their lifetime, made a huge impact on this world for the greater good of mankind.

 One person can start a domino effect upon thousands of people.

 Mother Teresa was born in very humble circumstances in Skopje  Macedonia, on August 27, 1910. Her family was of Albanian descent.   She devoted her life to serve the unlovable and unwanted in India.  By the 1990s there were over one million Co-Workers in more than 40 countries of the Missionaries of Charity which Mother Teresa founded in 1950.  She changed her world.

 Something often said here at Hillsong Church is “Together we can do it”.  But this starts with one person.  When each of us rise to our potential and destiny, then together we can do it, but in fact it starts with one.

 Rahab the prostitute (book of Joshua, Old Testament),hid the two Hebrew spies from her own people.  When Jericho was destroyed, Rahab’s house was the only house not destroyed, and she was brought to live amongst the Hebrew people.  She changed the course of her entire lineage.  She is the mother of Boaz, and the great-grandmother of King David.  Rahab did not know her children would become famous - she just followed her heart.  Jesus Christ is one of her direct descendants.

 We all have different purposes and callings in our life, and that is the beauty of the “together we can do it “ philosophy.  If we were all the same in our gifting and callings, it would be unbalanced.  We are all different so that together we can reach the world.

 I believe the challenge is that we do go for the things that we individually were born for.

 Ray McCauley says – that “God doesn’t give us a calling because we were born – but God had a plan and a purpose, and then because of that we were born to fulfil that purpose.”

 One person must be brave enough, to stand up for a cause that may be bigger than themselves.

When we look at people who have dramatically changed their world, and the circumstance of the decisions that affected their future course, often these moments were quite obscure, and could almost be missed. 

There were not always a great lightning bolt moment.  There was no voice from heaven declaring “this is your moment of opportunity - take note”.  

Often it was in these people doing the right thing, consistently, and following a still small voice that led them on a path where giant doors opened before them. 

Nelson Mandela’s life’s work of resistance to apartheid, and many long years he was held prisoner due to his beliefs, then finally the fruition of his life’s work, is such an inspiration.  27 years were behind bars in the Robben Island prison, yet he never lost sight of the passion needed to fulfil his cause when he would finally be released.

In 1412 a young French girl - Joan of Arc led her armies against the British to help recover her homeland at a tender age of 17, and then was martyred at 19.  She was not raised in an era were woman went off to war, let alone this brave child leading the national army to end a 100 year old war.

One person can change their world in their lifetime. This seems to be irrelevant of the amount of years their life spans.  Nelson Mandela spent many years in prison because of his beliefs, but then when released, in his latter years was still able to see his world radically changed.  Joan of Arc only lived 19 years, and yet freed her nation from a 100 year hold by the British, and her legacy remains to this day.

I have also considered that in many of these examples, these people had great opportunities of influence open to them, however they never lost sight of the real goal – which was “the one thing” that they were put on this earth for.  The influence was simply a tool or a gift to help them further the cause.

   What is the one thing you were put on this earth for?

 For each one of us - this picture will look significantly different.  Some of us will rescue children some of us will be the godly grandmothers, who pray for our families and some of us will actually have incredible influence in the spheres of life God has placed us in. 

  For some of us there is great personal sacrifice required to help others and make a significant change required.

Approximately 500bc Queen Esther, who was born a Hebrew slave in Persia became the 2^nd wife of King Ahasuerus.  Her life went from simple living to opulence overnight.  But then a day came when the existence of her own Hebrew people was under threat of being eradicated.  Esther was the one person who could save them, but to do this she had to put her own life at risk. 

If I perish, I perish

 She needed to break with tradition and custom and go before the King – without an audience, trusting that he would extend the sceptre to her.  The King did extend the sceptre, and Esther the nation was given the chance to survive.

 Oskar Schindler – was a german man, who during the holocaust rescued almost 1,100 Jews being sent to the concentration camps. He rescued those who his own country were trying to destroy and eradicate.   Oskar Schindler spent his life’s fortune on rescuing and helping the Jews.

It is for each of us to follow the God given dream within our hearts – as this is His thumbprint on our life.  In following after the dream and pursuing his call on our life, is how the world can see Him in us, as we become His hands and His feet to them.

 What does this look like to you – How can you change your world?  You can do it – you are the one person designed specifically for that task.

 Whatever we do, let’s do it with all we have within us and remember that

WE can change OUR world.