God Magnets

by

The dictionary definition of a magnet is “a material or object that produces a magnetic field; a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.” From this definition we can deduce that a magnet:

  • produces a magnetic field

  • pulls on elements that are highly susceptible to magnetism

  • It attracts or repels other magnets

These next three weeks, I want to look at our lives as God’s magnets. I want to look at three areas:

  • A Christian’s sphere of influence – your magnetic field

  • A Christian’s active power of influence – your ability to magnetise – your pulling power

  • A Christian’s sustaining influence – your sustained ability to remain magnetic

What am I talking about? Well, I’m doing a little soul searching and inviting you to do the same. I’m asking myself a few critical questions.

How much of an impact does my relationship with God have on the people around me?

How active and effective am I in drawing people to Christ?

How consistent am I in my relationship with God to stay effective as a change agent?

Jesus was a magnet.

He had a vast sphere of influence. He had an incredible ability to draw people to God. He had power to influence and He sustained his influence throughout his life on earth. The Gospels reveal the impact Jesus had in such a short span of time He walked on earth. Mark chapters 1 and 2 give us dome idea on how effective Jesus was in attracting and then transforming those who came to Him. His ministry begins with his baptism and his temptation in the wilderness; then he begins to preach the Good News of the Kingdom.

We first see the effect on the disciples.

Mark 1:16-20 (NKJV) And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Then we see the effect on others around him.

Mark 1:32-34 (NKJV) At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Mark 1:45 However, he (the leper who was healed) went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

Mark 2:1-2 And again He entered Capernaum after some days and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them. And He preached the word to them.

Jesus was a magnet that had a strong magnetic field. Everywhere he went he attracted crowds. Why? People encountered God when they hung out with him. When Jesus was in their midst, Divine encounters happened. People had life transforming experiences.

Mark 1:22 – the people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

Mark 1:26 – at that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.

Mark 1:31 – so he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.

Mark 1:34 – so Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons.

Mark 1:39 – so he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 1:42 – instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.

Mark 2:12 – and the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “we’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Our relationship with Christ must be such that we experience daily a transformational encounters that produce transformational encounters when we walk out into the community around us.

The early church was a magnet

Not only was Jesus a magnet that drew people around him to God, the early church became a body of believers that attracted people to God and God encounters.

Acts 2:43 – a deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

Acts 3:7 – Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk. Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the temple with them. All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Acts 4:4 – But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

Acts 5:14 – Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

The church was full of transformed lives that produced transformational encounters.

We are called to be magnets.

Jesus was a magnet, the disciples were magnets, the early church was a magnet. We are called to be God magnets. The church was never meant to be a group of holy rollers, huddled up in protective bunkers waiting for the return of Christ. We are called to Go – Go and preach the Gospel. The Gospel of power. As we Go in obedience to Christ, we are anointed with the same anointing. To be magnets that draw people unto God.

2 corinthians 2:14 But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.

We are all in the same triumphal procession. We are heading part of the victory procession. That procession is drawing crowds. It’s spreading. Why? Because it is fragrant. It’s spreads like sweet perfume. May our lives be that sweet perfume everywhere we go. Attracting people to God. Let us be transformed lives producing transformational encounters everyday, everywhere. Jesus was a magnet, the disciples were magnets, the early church was a magnet. Let us let God shape us into God magnets.