Can Christmas Transform Your Story?

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Who has seen a Christmas Carol?

See as I grew up and Scrooge was a duck

But you have an insanely selfish man that only wanted for himself, and then he gets a visit from a old work partner that ushers in 3 ghosts that show him his past, present, and future, and he didn’t like what he saw and changed his life.

Every single person has a story, it’s your story.

Some of our stories are good and faith filled while some of us had to learn the hard way and our stories are filled with tragedy.

Sadly some stories end without ever knowing Jesus, or not living our lives to in a way that glorified God.

What is your story? Where are you at right now in that story.

See The story of Christmas changes everything for us, Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, and was crucified for our sins.

We talked about the shepherds, and how in the night of Jesus’ birth their lives, their stories changed and that change echos through out the history.

But today I want to look at something that happened later on after Jesus went up to heaven.

Today we are going to be Ac ts 9:3-9

As you turn there I want to ask a question, if someone in the future was retelling your story, would you be happy with what they would say?

There was a time in my life that I would not have been happy, in fact I wished that if something would have happened to me, everyone would just forget.

Saul Thought his story was going to awesome, but an encounter with Jesus would change that for sure.

Acts 9:3–9 NIV

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

The first week of Dec. we talked about the shepherds and how their live was forever changed

Last week we talked about how Jesus is the Light of the world and changes everything

and now Paul,

when you have a genuine encounter with Jesus things change.

Saul’s story was one of persecution, murder, and fear

but Paul’s story was filled with hope, inspiration, and life

When we start following Jesus instead of ourselves things change, WE change

Paul even writes about who he was

1 Timothy 1:13 NIV

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

This does not mean that Paul’s life was all roses

Paul had rocks thrown at him

put in prison

beaten

And ultimately killed because of his faith

BUT Paul’s story is one of faith and as he went home I believe there was a mass celebration.

We all want meaning in our lives, some even strive to have their name live on, but after a couple of generations the name fades, But living a life for Jesus we live for more then our name, but for Jesus

I look at this way, should I try to gain the approval of those who I will only see for a short time or the one that I will spend eternity with

Galatians 1:10 NIV

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

When we live for ourself it is easy to get lost and end up like Scrooge, selfish and trying to become more for their glory.

I saw a video this week from a former christian singer that decided that he wanted to be more famous and even said that he was ok with going to hell to achieve it.

Matthew 16:26 NIV

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

This singers story if he were to pass on into eternity ends in tragedy, it ends with himself

Jesus gives us the chance to live for more, to have our story one of faith and meaning, and when we more on to eternity, our story is still going strong being with Him that saves Us

The question I want to leave you with is this, How will your story be told?

Your story does not have to be one of

selfishness

bitterness

unforegiveness