What is your story?

What is your story?

Read out scriptures

Philemon vs6 John chapter 1 vs 35-42 John chapter 4

Acknowledge God, Aaron, and family.

Philemon 1 verse 6

that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

This is a difficult letter to understand. But I want to deal with one section of this scripture.

It is so important that we share our faith. Sharing your faith is about your story. So for a title and a first point What is your story?

I.) What is your story?

Tell my story from when I got saved 2/11/2001.

Been in church whole life

Never missed Sunday school

God did not make logic since

There were three things that I was afraid of

1 No one would want to know me.

2 I would not fit in so I would not be wanted.

3 I would not understand any of the service.

That was answered

1 Brother Robinson happens to be the youth Sunday school teacher

2 Sister Lavelle Dyer happens to have a son my age and she is a teacher

3 God would provide, the need to get baptized

Pastor Bailey’s sermon in bad shape.

Without Christ you were dead

Without Christ you are defiled

Without Christ you are doomed.

I asked God what do I do and told me without Him I would be doomed.

So that moment I gave my life to Christ.

That next Sunday we came to church and it changed the whole trajectory of my life.

My story started that day. That is my story. Everything before did not matter.

Your story is what you are supposed to build on. It is the foundation. It not when mom told us about him but when God reveals him to us in such a way you cannot ignore Him.

The reason I tell you this is because it is also my testimony. It can be the most effective evangelizing tool you could possible have. That is because it is not based on something that you read or heard. It is because something that you have experienced. I went from being someone who heard about Him was told to sing about him and forced to pray to him. To somone who loves to talk to him sing about His name. I became Someone who was ready to prove that He is was real. I met the Lord through preaching and now I'm preaching.

The initial encounter with God is so vital.

Mosses through a burning bush That was not being consumed. Look what he did with that.

Paul was blinded by the bright lights of Haven on the road of the demracus. Look what he built with that.

Their Initial encounter with God can changed the course of your life

Their encounters are what started their Story

That is where the foundation of your Christianity needs to be built on.

That is your story.

II) what you can do with your story

Your story is the building block of the foundation of your life. Using your story is a great method of soulwinning.

I want to discuss 2 examples of what people did in the Bible with there story.

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the [a]Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

A) Andrews story

-Verse 37 they followed Jesus. Andrew and John were the first disciples of Jesus. Notice their response to Jesus. He said come and they did. When the Lord tells you to do something then please do it. There is a blessing in your obedience. What happens when they went with Him?

-Verse 39 they spent some time with Him. Before I can share my Jesus, I must spend some time with Him. This is how you understand who He is. We cannot do this the same way Andrew did but there are ways that we can spend time with him. Notice he call Jesus teacher then after spending some time with Him he calls him Messiah.

Bible study. The same God that ruled in the Bible rules today. So, if I can understand who He was at that point I will understand the way He works today.

Prayer. Before I get out of bed in the morning, I have to say the Lord’s prayer. It was a way that I trained myself to always talk to God before I do anything. This became part of my morning habit. This became part of my morning routine. I wanted to make it where it would feel off if I have not talked to God today. And as time would go on, I would add more to the Lord’s prayer. And what I started noticing eventually is that if I did not pray first my day was off. I was aware that something was off. The whole day I became off balance. Prayer must be so important in your life that if you're not doing it every day then you notice there's something wrong. I have to realize that I'm off balance without contact with God. I'm out of sync without God. So make prayer an essential service in your life.

The last one is worship. Worship is so important. There are many times where I worship God and when I say worship it is not just singing a song. There are many times that I worship on my way to work without any music at all. You do not have to have an angelic voice. It is about you taking the time to worship Him. When you are worshipping you are dwelling with the Holy Spirit.

Why is it so important for me to dwell with the Holy Spirit every day? Because as a Christian what do we constantly say? We say that we are living this life so that we can be with the Lord for eternity. Yet while we are here, we cannot find time to worship Him. He gives us access to his presence understand what that means. When Andrew and John met Jesus the first thing, they did was spend time in His presence. People who followed Jesus often left their families so they can spend time in His presence.

Yet in today's world we have every excuse on why we cannot. But he has sent the Holy Spirit so that we can dwell in his presence whenever we desire whenever we want but instead, we choose to only do it whenever we need to. There are so many times when I am worshipping, and God drops things in my spirit and that is so encouraging. Sometimes they are not even about me but it is about encouraging for someone else. So, we need to understand worship is not only good for you it is essential for you. There is nothing special about me. This is about me taking time to be in His presence.

Verse 40-41 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon

So, after spending some time with Jesus notices it says he first found his brother Simon. This is interesting because imagine how many people he passed over to get to his brother. This does not say that all those people were not significant but what it does say is how important his brother was to him. Tell a story about when I first got a car I wanted to show that car off to people who were important to me. Because at that age I believe that it was important for everyone to understand what I was driving. I honestly believe that there is two reasons why Andrew went to Peter first. It could have been He knew peter's potential and that this was going to take him to the next level. Second reason could be that he knew Peter just absolutely needed this guy. Both reasons are good. Last week Aaron challenge everyone to tell people the things that they're supposed to tell. Because those people may be drowning without hearing about those things.

So, you're called speak those things into people’s life. Now can we imagine if Andrew did not do his part. As far as I am concerned, he had one of the most important parts in the in the New Testament. He had to introduce Peter to Jesus and three years later Peter was basically the leader of the apostles the spokesman. He preaches the first sermon Of the New Testament after Jesus died. And even gave his life for Christ. The old saying is you may not lead millions but you may be the one to lead that one person that may lead millions. I often try to make that comparison. We love doctor King and all that he stood for but Can you imagine the one who impacted his life how great of a man he was.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. The last part of the scripture is so important. 42 and he brought him to Jesus. Can I tell you that last part that's up to God? But there are times God will lead you to people that he needs you to introduce him because one day they are going to want to come to him. And you can bring him to Jesus, but you cannot bring anyone to Jesus without first telling him about Him.

Some of you may say that Oscar that's just not my style I don't Feel comfortable talking to people about these things because I don't understand it fully. So, the first thing you have to understand is that it is absolutely not about you in your comfort zone. I applaud Genni so much because she has said this is not her comfortable zone. She does not like talking in front of people but what she did was answered a call that's an example of not making it about yourself. And God rewards you in those areas the second thing is if you don't feel comfortable about him perhaps it's because you don't understand enough about him.

So spend some time with Him. Pray to him read your Bible about him and worship him and I guarantee what happens is that something starts to evolve inside of you that you don't feel like I can contain it to yourself. But even in those moments where you still feel like I'm too much of a introvert which I absolutely AM. Some people don't understand that about me but I am an extreme introvert. But I was able to say it's not about me so I pushed myself to get out there more. But can I tell you that you can say a lot in your daily Walk.

The question used to be raised in my church was what kind of Bible are people reading when they see you. What kind of Bible they reading when they see janay go into work what kind of Bible they reading when they see a vet at the grocery store what kind of Bible are they reading when they see shell at the dinner table? Are they reading that it's OK to lie all day reading that it's alright to steal if no one gets hurt are they reading that it's OK to commit adultery? Are they reading it you're always patient are they reading that you're always kind are they reading that you never are judgmental, and you always seem to find the positive aspect and everything?

The Bible that people are reading in you is louder than anything you could ever say with your own mouth. So that is Andrew's story and my pastor my spiritual father once said it was Andrew's method of soul winning.

B. John 4 Samaritan Women summarize

For the sake of time I want to summarize this whole scripture this whole section But I do encourage you to go back and read it. So Jesus was in samaira and he was sitting out of well by himself and a Samaritan woman walked up. And Jesus tells her to give me some water. And the Samaritan woman being Samaritan say if you knew who you were asking for water you wouldn't want me to make your. this is because of the racial differences . Racism was a real thing as long as life goes back. And Jewish people did not want samaritan's shadow to touch their food otherwise they would throw it away it would be considered tainted. Where Jesus is the same did the Samaritan woman give me more and they had a conversation together Jesus goes on to say that water that you could give me I would only get thirsty again but the water I could give you you would never thirst again And a woman believing that Jesus is just playing games with her says give me some of that life giving water. For I don't have to go into this well anymore.

And at that moment you can tell that there was a tonal shift in the way Jesus was talking to her he tells her to go get her husband she says I have no husband Jesus says you've been married four times and now the Man that you were living with is not even your husband. So you have told me the truth. The woman looks at him and says I can tell that you're a Prophet. She goes on to tell ask Jesus questions that were important to her about worship. She's spending time with the master. She tells him how I know the Messiah will One day come. And Jesus tells her the day that the Messiah has already come and I'm here instantly she drops her bucket and runs away. She's already spent time with the master . She got to know him he revealed himself to her. Notice what she does she runs to individual people anyone who came into our path and said come meet the man who told me everything about myself could this be the Messiah.

I like to stay right there because there's a lot in this but I just wanna deal with a few things. Come meet the man who told me everything I've ever done 2 how she went to everybody. So the first thing is her method was completely different in Andrew. She didn't go home to the man that she lives with. But it seemed as if she was going to each and every person that she crossed her path. That is the right kind of zeal to have. She said I don't know who you are but you need to come see the savior. I don't care what you are going through I don't care what your situation is you need Him in your life because this is what's going to enhance it. Can I tell you this is a great way to Share your story.

You don’t have to have anybody in mine but just to tell everybody. Once again this can be through your walk. Or it could be with spiritual boldness and walking up to any and every person you know or that you don't even recognize and letting them know you need to Lord. I love the way she phrases could this be the Messiah. I don't believe this is because she doesn't know. I believe that she's saying it this way because she wants you to come now. She's challenging other people to come find out for themselves. So after you introduce people to Christ you tell them your testimony and then you tell them try it for yourself.

And more of a footnote here she says come meet the one who told me everything I've ever done. I find this interesting. Because the only thing Jesus told her from what we see is some of her sins. And could this be because this woman only felt like there was nothing more to her than her sins.

As I look at that I think to myself there's a lot of people hurting right now and they believe that the reason why is because their is nothing more to them than their sins. In case you're feeling that way today can I tell you your sins may be large and they may even feel bigger than who you are. But the good news is that God is bigger than your problems. his power is greater thing your circumstance. But more than anything else his love can reach you and any dark place that you're at. I guess I would sum this up by saying you're good enough for God. You're good enough for the savior. He shed his blood knowing who you would be. He knew the mistakes you were going to make. Yet only thing he wants you to do is come to him come to him today.

She was saying basically come meet the man that was greater than me. Come meet the man who knows all my faults and still loves me. She's saying come to him just as you are. God doesn't want you to come clean he wants you to come dirty. Because if you try to clean yourself the only thing you're going to do is make it worse. Let him do the work let him do the cleaning.

III) What can your story do for you

So we know now that our story is the beginning of our relationship with Christ. then we talked about what you can do with your story you can use it as an evangelizing tool. Now the only thing left is to understand what your story can do for you.

Tell the story of the foundation.

So, I tell this story because it is so important then we build our foundation our story. The reason is because eventually as we build our story we're going to go upstairs and we're going to continue to work and we're going to do other things and then there's going to be distractions in this world things that cause us to forget why we even started or why we're up here in the first place but can I tell you when you use your foundation as your story then all you have to do is go back downstairs.

There are days where I wondered if God even understand if God even cares. Those days that I've wondered and I struggled with understanding if God is even really looking at me or if I really matter.

Those are the moments I go back downstairs and I remember that I serve a God who had me go to a church with a man named David Robinson Who happened to be the youth Sunday school teacher to be at that door I was coming there I'm reminded how God strategically put me on a seat with a school teacher I'm also reminded how God told my pastor a week prior to prepare for his message that someone was going to be in there needs to know that there in bad shape because there without me and without me there being defiled without me their dead and went out without me they'll be doomed. And on a deeper I'm reminded on How God made my father believe enough is enough it's time to put me on a real punishment to get my attention I think about how God told my mother that you're not going to church this week because I got something for Oscar over here.

Your foundation is the place that you come back to whenever you're lost. And I have to be reminded not only who God is to me but how important I am to God. I had to go back to that place where he revealed himself to me. Can I tell you that none of that just happened and in your story it didn't just happen it was orchestrated it was ordained. So use your story stand on your story remember your story because it can influence someone else's story. SO I ask one more time what is your story and what are you going to do with it?

Taking my gift serious. Because it is my calling and it can have the same effect on somebody it had on me. We are all called to the great commission 1 Andrew last method of soul winning 2 the Samaritan women method of soul winning g 3 ?maybe the smell of a rose

Conclusion is my testimony strong enough. Been saved since five means the anointing was so strong that Satan could not break through. I did not have a near death experience means that you were hard headed enough to have to die to believe. End with I am blessed

I’m so bad and I’m so dirty and he still wants me. I’m going to tell everyone about His greatness. I talking to folando every morning this is the day that the Lord has made. Everyday led to me and Gary talking about my story. Talking about the goodness of God can open the door.

End of sermon reflecting when I met christ I now know it was God who sent brother robinson to me. Describe Lavell dyer and paster bailey Sadanna Anderson in bad shape

Smell of a rose

going downstairs when I forgot why i went upstairs

Samaritan women right amount of zeal. She did no go to friends and family she went to everyone. Come meet the man who is greater than me. Come meet the man who knows all of my faults and still loves me. We are supposed to bring people to Christ just as they are. Gay dirty that is what God wants us as we are. Then let the Holy Spirit work on them and at his time and they will develop their own story

Once you are truly seeking God you notice that he is not hard to find. John the Baptist tell John and Andrew