Day 37. Made for a Mission (The Purpose Driven Life)

Those who believe in the Son of GOD have the testimony of God in them
~ 1 John 5:10a

Your lives are echoing the Master's Word…The news of your faith in God is out. We don't have to say anything anymore - you're the message!
~1 Thessalonians 1:8

GOD wants to speak to the world through you
· 2 Corinthians 2:17b

You may feel that you have nothing to share, but that's just the devil trying to keep you silent
· You have a storehouse of experiences that can be used to bring other's to Christ
§ 1 John 5:10a

Your Life Message has 4 parts
· Testimony - the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus
§ Peter tells us that we were chosen by God, "to do his work & speak out for HIM, to tell others of the night-&-day difference he made for you" - 1 Peter 2:9
□ This is the essence of witnessing - simply sharing your personal experiences regarding GOD
§ Sharing your testimony is an essential part of your mission on earth because it's unique
□ Your personal testimony is more effective than a sermon
¨ Unbelievers see pastors as professional salesmen
¨ They see you as a satisfied customer to they give you more credibility
§ Personal stories are easier to relate to than principles, & people love to hear them
□ Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to others
§ Your testimony bypasses intellectual defenses
□ Many people won't accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal Story
¨ That's why on 6 different occasions Paul used his testimony to share the gospel
§ The Bible says "Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness & respect" - 1 Peter 3:15-16
□ The best way to be ready is to write it out then memorize the main points. Divide it into 4 parts
¨ What my life was like before I met Jesus
¨ How I realized I needed Jesus
¨ How I committed my life to Jesus
¨ The difference Jesus has made in my life
§ You have many testimonies besides your salvation story
□ You have a story for every experience in which God has helped you
¨ Make a list of all the problems, circumstances, & crises that God brought you through
· Life Lessons - the most important lessons God has taught you
§ These can be about God, relationships, problems, temptations, etc…
□ Psalm 119:33
§ Sadly, we never learn from a lot that happens to us
□ Psalms 106:43
§ Proverbs 25:12
§ Write down the major life lessons you have learned so you can share them with others
□ Mature people develop the habit of extracting lessons from everyday experiences
□ Here are a few questions to get you started
¨ What God has taught me..
◊ From Failure?
◊ From a lack of money?
◊ From pain or sorrow or depression?
◊ Through waiting?
◊ Through illness?
◊ From disappointment?
¨ What have I learned from my family, church, relationships, my small group, & my critics?
· Godly Passions - the issues God shaped you to care about most
§ As you grow closer to God he will give you a passion for something he cares about deeply so you can be a spokesman for HIM in the world
□ It may be a passion about a problem, purpose, principle, or a group of people
¨ Whatever it may be you will feel compelled to speak up about it & do what you can to make a difference
§ You can't keep yourself from talking about what you care most about
□ Matthew 12:34
§ God gives some people a godly passion to champion a cause
□ It's often a problem they experienced personally
¨ Abuse, addiction, infertility, depression, a disease, or some other difficulty
§ God gives some people a passion to speak up for a group of others who can't speak for themselves
□ The Unborn, persecuted, poor, imprisoned, mistreated, disadvantaged, & those denied justice
□ The Bible is filled with commands to defend the defenseless
§ God uses passionate people to further his kingdom
□ HE gives us different passions so everything he wants done in the world will get done
§ You should not expect everyone else to be passionate about your passion
□ Never belittle someone else's godly passion
¨ Galatians 4:18
· Good News - the message of salvation
§ What is the GOOD NEWS?
□ Romans 1:17
□ 2 Corinthians 5:19
§ You must learn to love lost people the way God does
□ God never made a person he didn't love. Everyone matters to him
¨ 2 Corinthians 5:14
§ Whenever you feel apathetic about your mission in the world, spend some time thinking about what Jesus did for you on the cross
§ We must care about unbelievers because God does
□ Love leaves no choice
¨ 1 John 4:18
¨ If you're afraid to share the Good news, ask God to fill your heart with HIS love for them
§ [God] does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives - 2 Peter 3:9
□ As long as you know 1 person who doesn't know Christ, you must keep praying for them, serving them in love, & sharing the Good News.
§ What are you willing to do so that people you know will go to heaven?
□ Invite them to church?
□ Share your story?
□ Give them this book?
□ Take them a meal?
□ Pray for them every day until they are saved?
§ Your mission field is all around you. Don't miss the opportunities God has given you
□ Colossians 4:5


Point to Ponder: God wants to say something to the world through me

Verse to Remember: 1 Peter 3:15b-16

Question to Consider: As I reflect on my personal story, who does God want me to share it with?