Your Story Can Change The World

Your Story Can Change The World

Acts 20:24 (NLT) 24  But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Confession Of Faith: I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God The victory is mine! - I have it Now!I can see it through the eyes of my faith

No Worries

Psalm 121:1–2 NKJV

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

If you know people who are nervous about the election tell them "NO Worries:

The Elephant In The Room

1. Wednesday Nov. 5th CNN announced that Presidential hopeful Donald J. Trump had been selected according to the Electoral College as the next Commander and Chief of these United States Of America. In my humble opinion what a man says and what a man does are intimately and inextricably tied to who a man is. Our President Elect has publicly made xenophobic, misogynist, racist and blatantly comments that Muslims, women and people of color and common decency and respect for others

I guess the most succinct synopsis of President Elect Trump could be summed up by a video of a little girl who cried when she heard who won for President?” When we told her the results of the election she simply replied- “But he’s mean!”

So we at UCF are charged to honor the position in spite of the person.

Whatever else my job is, it at least to be a calming presence in the midst of fear and uncertainty. To bear witness to this immutable reality- No matter what happens- GOD IS IN CONTROL! This 121st Psalm reminds as thousands of us are walking around in a kind of biblical bewilderment trying to figure out what God’s Word has to say about the believer’s position in times of uncertainty and ambiguity. The Psalmist to put it plainly and dare I say ebonically in Psalms 121 –he basically says - NO WORRIES!

1. Some of the people who are marching chanting “Not my President, did NOT Vote! Now to be clear I have nothing against those who are peacefully protesting- They have a constitutional right and some might argue a righteous responsibility to hold our President Elect accountable and make him prove himself! So let's be clear about how I will attempt to handle myself during this period of social transition and the inaugurating of a new president. My bible tells me to “WATCH AND PRAY!” I’ll sincerely be praying for Mr. Trump. But I’ll also be WATCHING Mr. Trump! When he has to make tough choices I’ll pray for him! If he drops the Affordable Health Care Act A.K.A. Obama Care and leaves over 20 million people with no coverage- I’ll hold him accountable!

If he’s willing to shift I’ll root for him, if he shows his racist proclivities by I’ll hold him accountable! But we must follow God's word

Romans 13:1 (NLT) 1  Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Becoming A Difference Maker

Your Story Can Change The World

God has given you a story to tell and that story can change the world! The catch is you have to be ready and willing to tell it!

Tell your story in an ordinary way that will have eternal impact on the people around you! But like a gift that never get's open a story that is never told cannot serve the purpose it was meant for!

If you don't tell your story God can't use it to impact the world.

John 9:1–25 NKJV

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

Now I Can See

When the blind man woke up on the morning of his healing he had no idea that by the end of the day he would be able to see! But God came into his life and transformed his circumstances, put him on a new path and gave him a story to tell! Because the Blind man was willing to share his story of what Jesus had done in his life he became a major difference maker!

Your Story is a powerful tool that God will use to lead others to faith in him

If you follow Jesus your story is a powerful as the blind man's At one time you were spiritually blind and God gave you eyes to see

No one can argue with what God has done in your life!

1. People have known you all your life and see the change! They will have questions, but like the blind man said

John 9:25 (NLT) 25  “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

The people in your life will be interested in your story!

Your story has the ability to touch in a unique way

People care about you

Tell your story humbly and authentically

You are simply relaying the truth as you have experienced it

God will multiply your efforts to connect to others!

Because the blind man told his story - people are touched today

He conveyed his story with enthusiasm

You have no idea what God will do with your story as you begin to tell it

God has given you a story precisely so that you can tell it

1 Timothy 1:16 (NLT) 16  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

God has done magnificent work in your life so he can use you as an example!

Don't undermine your purpose by keeping your story to yourself!

Tell it every chance you get

Who knows - he might use it long after you have gone to be with him in heaven

Be A Difference Maker