HIS STORY YOUR STORY

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Know HIS story, Know YOUR story.  – Anna Brooks

We then need to add, be ready and prepared to tell BOTH stories!

Yesterday Anna Brooks, the FIRST LADY of my church in Xenia Ohio, shared a powerful WORD from this passage:

1 Timothy 3:16(ESV)

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,

Vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels,

proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world,

taken up in glory.

I also like this from Peterson’s perspective from the MESSAGE translation:

some things are clear enough:

He (JESUS) appeared in a human body,

was proved right by the invisible Spirit,

was seen by angels.

He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,

believed in all over the world,

taken up into heavenly glory.

Regardless of translation this little passage sums up the STORY of JESUS.

He came, He was perfect, He was the conduit for the Holy Spirit for all of us.  He was welcomed and administered to by the ANGELS. (Luke 2:14, Matthew 4:11), He proclaimed the GOOD NEWS to all He encountered, and that message was embraced, leaned on, and even died for. And then in a blink He overcame DEATH to bring eternal HOPE before returning to GLORY as He waits in patience and great anticipation to return for ALL who EMBRACE Him. (2 Peter 3:9)

In a nutshell that is HIS story.  

Coupled with the crucifixion, you have the “bullets” and the key “talking points”!

But ANNA yesterday declared the IMPORTANCE and the “obligation” of each of us to SHARE with others how THAT story has impacted OUR story!

Why?

Because HIS story + OUR story has the power to OVERCOME; overcome sin, overcome challenges, overcome trials, overcome hopelessness… (Revelation 12:11)

Truth is WE EACH need to be able to CLEARLY articulate the STORY of our SAVIOR.  1 Timothy 3:16 helps us in that, giving us Paul’s ELEVATOR speech when it comes to JESUS.  But when we can be BOLD enough to SHARE what JESUS has meant and done in our lives to another person, miracles happen, and lives are radically changed!

For if you know my sister Anna then you know HER STORY includes divorce and betrayal, loneliness, and devastation.  But thanks to the STORY of JESUS, she withstood those fiery darts and now she and Pastor Mark’s testimony of the healing and reconciling power of this JESUS has been on display for more than a decade and lives have been changed; sin conquered!

Recently, I have been blessed to forge a relationship with Darryl and Tracy Strawberry another couple whose story coupled with the story of JESUS is radically changing the lives of the ADDICTED, hurting and lost.

I could site many more examples. Friends like David Morris, Richard Matteoli, Kip Morris, the list goes on an on.  Folks who Jesus’ amazing story has helped to REWRITE theirs and as a result lives are being impacted!

The point today is a simple one.

Make sure that you have your ELEVATOR speech as to what JESUS is ALL ABOUT.  Lean on that passage from 1 Timothy 3.  Parse it out so that it is familiar and at the ready.  Grab John 3:16 for good measure!

Then do the same with your STORY.

How has JESUS radically changed things for you?  How has your life been changed, advanced, and improved because you KNOW not just the STORY of JESUS but KNOW HIM?

Then when given the chance, SHARE BOTH.

FOR:

Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone's life for eternity.

I love you all!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!