You Have A Story To Tell
“After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”
Acts 13:15
The gospel is called “Good News” for a reason. Paul knew as soon as he was invited to speak in Acts 13 that he had a word of encouragement for his listeners. Knowing his audience he would take them back to Father Abraham as he is the father of the Jews by his flesh, and all believers as the Father of faith. I’ll go a little further here and go back to the very beginning. Here’s the nutshell version of the “Good News”. God created man in His own image and then gave Adam and his wife instructions. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and when they did, sin and death came into the world and spread to every person ever born, minus one, Jesus Christ! Though God promised to one day fix what Adam and Eve broke in the Garden, it would be thousands of years until just the perfect moment in time would come for Mary to give birth to Jesus, the day our Messiah was born. To keep mankind in check until that time God gave laws, He gave prophets, He gave judges and even Kings until the day Jesus Christ was born.
The virgin birth would ensure Jesus deity making the sacrifice He would offer on Calvary’s Cross sufficient to save any and all who would come to God by faith, placing their hope and trust in Jesus. If Jesus was just a man His sacrifice wouldn’t have been enough to even save even Himself. Yet, being God, there was no sin in Him and therefore death could not hold him down. Only Jesus, the God man could take our place since He became like us when He took on human flesh as our “Goel” our “kinsmen redeemer”. And being 100% God He could satisfy the wrath that was against us because He was holy and righteous and true. The proof of our forgiveness is the empty tomb, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior is how we know that the Father accepted the sacrifice of His One and Only Son as payment in full for our sins.
Paul understood that without Jesus there remains no forgiveness of sin. That’s what compelled him to hit the mission field and become the apostle to the gentiles. God looked past the sins in the Old Testament through the sacrificial system to “cover” the sins of the people from year to year because He knew Jesus was coming to take away the sins of the world forever. It was only when Jesus gave His life on the Cross and rose again from the dead on the third day just as He said was the removal of our sin, our shame, and our guilt possible. The sacrifices offered in the Old Testament could only cover over mans sins, they could not remove them. Only the Cross removes them and that my friends is what makes the Gospel “Good News”. Actually that makes it great news! We can be 100% completely forgiven because of Jesus Christ, His death burial and resurrection.
What makes the “Good News” so important? Every single person you come in contact in this world is a sinner and in need of a Savior. We don’t have to guess if people need Jesus or not, like Paul and Barnabas we know they do. God saved me and you for a reason. He loves us and He has a plan for our lives, for eternity not just for the here and now. That means each of us has a story to tell. Our story is really His story. You have a God story and when you share your testimony with others you are sharing your story like Paul was doing here. We begin sharing about our own bondage to sin however great or small it was. Then we share how God saved us and the extent God in His infinite love and wisdom went in reaching you with the “Good News” of His Son. And then you can share how Jesus is changing your life today.
And the best part is, your story isn’t over! “Don’t put a period where God has put a comma.” God is not done with you, heck, He might just be getting started. God’s mercies are new this morning and great is His faithfulness. Remember that as you go about your day. God is still writing your story! Every day, every person is an opportunity to encourage others with the “Good News” about Jesus and what He did and what He’s still doing for you and me and as well for those who will believe our story and turn to Him.
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come”
Luke 4:18–19
I LOVE YOU!
Acts 13:15
The gospel is called “Good News” for a reason. Paul knew as soon as he was invited to speak in Acts 13 that he had a word of encouragement for his listeners. Knowing his audience he would take them back to Father Abraham as he is the father of the Jews by his flesh, and all believers as the Father of faith. I’ll go a little further here and go back to the very beginning. Here’s the nutshell version of the “Good News”. God created man in His own image and then gave Adam and his wife instructions. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and when they did, sin and death came into the world and spread to every person ever born, minus one, Jesus Christ! Though God promised to one day fix what Adam and Eve broke in the Garden, it would be thousands of years until just the perfect moment in time would come for Mary to give birth to Jesus, the day our Messiah was born. To keep mankind in check until that time God gave laws, He gave prophets, He gave judges and even Kings until the day Jesus Christ was born.
The virgin birth would ensure Jesus deity making the sacrifice He would offer on Calvary’s Cross sufficient to save any and all who would come to God by faith, placing their hope and trust in Jesus. If Jesus was just a man His sacrifice wouldn’t have been enough to even save even Himself. Yet, being God, there was no sin in Him and therefore death could not hold him down. Only Jesus, the God man could take our place since He became like us when He took on human flesh as our “Goel” our “kinsmen redeemer”. And being 100% God He could satisfy the wrath that was against us because He was holy and righteous and true. The proof of our forgiveness is the empty tomb, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior is how we know that the Father accepted the sacrifice of His One and Only Son as payment in full for our sins.
Paul understood that without Jesus there remains no forgiveness of sin. That’s what compelled him to hit the mission field and become the apostle to the gentiles. God looked past the sins in the Old Testament through the sacrificial system to “cover” the sins of the people from year to year because He knew Jesus was coming to take away the sins of the world forever. It was only when Jesus gave His life on the Cross and rose again from the dead on the third day just as He said was the removal of our sin, our shame, and our guilt possible. The sacrifices offered in the Old Testament could only cover over mans sins, they could not remove them. Only the Cross removes them and that my friends is what makes the Gospel “Good News”. Actually that makes it great news! We can be 100% completely forgiven because of Jesus Christ, His death burial and resurrection.
What makes the “Good News” so important? Every single person you come in contact in this world is a sinner and in need of a Savior. We don’t have to guess if people need Jesus or not, like Paul and Barnabas we know they do. God saved me and you for a reason. He loves us and He has a plan for our lives, for eternity not just for the here and now. That means each of us has a story to tell. Our story is really His story. You have a God story and when you share your testimony with others you are sharing your story like Paul was doing here. We begin sharing about our own bondage to sin however great or small it was. Then we share how God saved us and the extent God in His infinite love and wisdom went in reaching you with the “Good News” of His Son. And then you can share how Jesus is changing your life today.
And the best part is, your story isn’t over! “Don’t put a period where God has put a comma.” God is not done with you, heck, He might just be getting started. God’s mercies are new this morning and great is His faithfulness. Remember that as you go about your day. God is still writing your story! Every day, every person is an opportunity to encourage others with the “Good News” about Jesus and what He did and what He’s still doing for you and me and as well for those who will believe our story and turn to Him.
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come”
Luke 4:18–19
I LOVE YOU!
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