What's Your Story?

 

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God  is love. This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us,  we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if  we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." I John  4:1-14

 

Oh what a testimony the disciples had!  Just imagine walking daily with Jesus, hearing his teaching, his opinions, his heart...  Imagine watching his interactions with the hurting.  The joy of being in the "in" crowd with the most influential man of your time (and for all time to come!)  What John, and his contemporaries, did was just testify to what they had seen. And of course, to their knowledge that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

 

What stories the disciples could tell.  Such influence they must have experienced!  Such curiosity from all they encountered!   Surely it was easy to win converts with that kind of testimony.  But what about me?  What kind of testimony do I have?  How can I win someone for Jesus? 

 

I think we get too hung up on making witnessing about having the right technique, or the most dramatic testimony.  We are basically given the same call as the early disciples.  Go and tell what you have seen and heard.  If you are a believer, you have a story to tell.  Maybe you were not delivered from crack cocaine.  Maybe you were not delivered of 7 demons.  You still have a testimony that will reach people who are just like you!  Firsthand accounts are so much more interesting and thrilling than second hand information.

 

It is good for us to know key scripture passages to share with people about how to know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.  These are things we should strive for.  But certainly, we must always remember the simplicity of  the gospel.  The Lord made the good news easy enough for a child to understand.  We do not have to be theologians- we just need to be real people, with real problems, who found The Real Solution!

 

 

Dear Lord, help me to be a faithful witness, to be willing to go and tell what I have seen and heard.  Make it obvious to me when you are opening a door of opportunity and grant me boldness to obey. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri

 

What's Your Story?

 

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God  is love. This is how God showed his love: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us,  we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if  we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." I John  4:1-14

 

Oh what a testimony the disciples had!  Just imagine walking daily with Jesus, hearing his teaching, his opinions, his heart...  Imagine watching his interactions with the hurting.  The joy of being in the "in" crowd with the most influential man of your time (and for all time to come!)  What John, and his contemporaries, did was just testify to what they had seen. And of course, to their knowledge that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

 

What stories the disciples could tell.  Such influence they must have experienced!  Such curiosity from all they encountered!   Surely it was easy to win converts with that kind of testimony.  But what about me?  What kind of testimony do I have?  How can I win someone for Jesus? 

 

I think we get too hung up on making witnessing about having the right technique, or the most dramatic testimony.  We are basically given the same call as the early disciples.  Go and tell what you have seen and heard.  If you are a believer, you have a story to tell.  Maybe you were not delivered from crack cocaine.  Maybe you were not delivered of 7 demons.  You still have a testimony that will reach people who are just like you!  Firsthand accounts are so much more interesting and thrilling than second hand information.

 

It is good for us to know key scripture passages to share with people about how to know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord.  These are things we should strive for.  But certainly, we must always remember the simplicity of  the gospel.  The Lord made the good news easy enough for a child to understand.  We do not have to be theologians- we just need to be real people, with real problems, who found The Real Solution!

 

 

Dear Lord, help me to be a faithful witness, to be willing to go and tell what I have seen and heard.  Make it obvious to me when you are opening a door of opportunity and grant me boldness to obey. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri