Power Verses……  The last words of Jesus to His disciples.  “God authorised and commanded me to commission you; go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, making them by baptism in the threefold name; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you I will be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18 - 20  The Message" Translation.)

British author and historian James Burke has made a career out of demonstrating the way that history reveals life’s connections in the most unexpected ways….how the smallest act or incident can set off a ripple effect far beyond expectations. In his “Connections” books and video series, the following anecdote is one of hundreds he illustrates.

The timing is precise at 5.16pm on the 9^th November 1965 events were set in motion that brought one of the richest, most industrialized, and vastly populated areas in the Western world to a complete standstill. A back-up electrical relay switch was tripped at the Sir Adam Beck Power Station in Niagara Fall, Canada. It turned out that the switch had not been updated to keep pace with the increasing power transmission, and in less than three seconds the entire northeastern power grid, affecting both Canada and the United States, went down big time!

There was no energy to heat, to light, to communicate, to power any kind of machine, to operate pumps that move sewage, water, gas, or to run life-support systems at many hospitals. An estimate 800,000 people were trapped in underground trains and stations. Only half of the 150 hospitals had emergency power systems available. The 250 flights arriving at J.F.K. airport in New York had to be diverted, and some of the planes were in the process of landing as the runway lights went off. Without any light, heat or phone systems, 30 million people found themselves in a dark, silent and frightening world; all because a spindle on a little metal cup in a small box touched a metal contact.

Think for a moment about the greatest ripple effect in history…..the impact of the “One Solitary Life” of Jesus of Nazareth. The following well known piece of prose, written in the last century, said it so well:

 “Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman……He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put one foot in a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place He was born……When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were every built, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life”.   Dr. James Allan Francis

The words ripple effect do not appear in any of the four Gospels, but it is abundantly clear that the earthly ministry of Jesus did indeed have its ripple effect. In John’s gospel we read how Jesus impacted John’s life, John's influence impacted Peter and James (John’s brother), and the three of them formed an inner circle within the twelve disciples. These disciples were the core of the largest post-Resurrection group of 120 who gathered in Jerusalem to await the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:1 – 8). As a result of the pebble from the pulpit that Peter tossed into the sea of Jews gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost, the waves of the Spirit washed over 3,000, a number which shortly grew to 5,000 men and undoubtedly many more women and children (see Acts 2:41; 4:4). So the influence of Jesus went, in a short space of time, from one disciple to three, then twelve, then 120, then 3,000 then more than 5,000…….and the rest as they say, is HIS-story. Down through the centuries this ripple effect has impacted the world in quite an amazing way, transforming millions of lives.

Today, Sunday 9^th November is the 90^th birthday of Dr. Billy Graham. He is without doubt, this generation’s greatest evangelist. His faithfulness to God and God’s calling on his life has resulted in global ministry with countless thousands upon thousands of people being won for Christ. A remarkable modern ripple effect. To know more click here.

 Do you feel convicted to know more about becoming a Christian? Click here.