Telling THE Story of our HOPE, part 3

Part 3 of a 3-part series challenging us as believers to go beyond sharing just our "faith" but also #HOPE as we tell OUR STORY.

 

 

 

 

We have this #HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Hebrews 6:19

   
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

What steps can I take to make sure others not only see my life of faith but ALSO see my HOPE?

(see parts 1 & 2 of this series)

"The first step in effectively sharing our own HOPE with others is LIVING OUT the following of HIS leadership.  We must "set apart Christ as Lord" of OUR lives as a living example of what it means to be a Christ follower.  Christ said we are the Salt.  He did not say we could be or might be.  He said we ARE the salt.  It our choice as to just how salty we will be and it will be based on our level of surrender to Christ...."

Step 2:  Be Prepared
Be prepared.  Many times Christ followers have surrendered their lives to Jesus.  They have made Him Lord and master of their lives.  They have "set apart Christ as Lord" of their hearts.  And the result is others are asking about their hope.  The problem is they don't know how to answer the question.

Someone says, "Why are you up beat all the time?"  

Their response, "Well...I don't know...I just am."  

"Well thanks...that helps."

They’re thinking to themselves:

“I don’t know what to say”

“I’m afraid I’ll mess it up!”

Here's my response to that:  Remember that woman at the well?  She had a "chance encounter" with Jesus which changed her life for eternity.  And what did she do?  She ran all over town NOT ONLY #TellingTHEStory like it was her job!  She ALSO brought everyone in town back to meet this Jesus for themselves!

Can I just tell ya something?
She had no seminary degree.  She had no formal Bible training.   She was one of the least likely candidates on the planet for a ministry leadership position.  By the way, the disciples had gone on in to town to get some lunch.  They apparently did not tell a living soul about Jesus OR bring anybody back to meet Him!  So… that happened.

Can I just tell ya something else?
The beauty of sharing YOUR HOPE….Is that it is YOUR HOPE!  It is what YOU have experienced.  It is what you have seen and heard.  You don’t have to have any fancy pants theological answers.  

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

Why do YOU have hope in Christ?  What is YOUR story?  Are you telling your story?

Telling the Story of our HOPE, part 2

 

Part 2 of a 3-part series challenging us as believers to go beyond sharing just our "faith" but also #HOPE as we tell OUR STORY.

 

 

 

 

We have this #HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Hebrews 6:19

  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

What steps can I take to make sure others not only see my life of faith but ALSO see my HOPE?  And how can I help them to find their own HOPE?

Our first step in chasing after any part of God's best plan for our lives is always to "set apart Christ as Lord." Literally here "Lord" means master.  That is the one who is in charge.  That is the one who calls the shots.  That is the one who is the boss.  

We simply must move from a place where WE decide what is best to a place where we trust our Father in Heaven for what is best and where we follow HIS leadership.  We must let go of the world's best plans.  We must let go of whatever "common sense" we may think we have. We must really, for real trust in His leadership.  We must live it.  Reading it, singing it, and wearing t-shirts about it are considerably different than LIVING it.  

The first step in effectively sharing our own HOPE with others is LIVING OUT the following of HIS leadership.  We must "set apart Christ as Lord" of OUR lives as a living example of what it means to be a Christ follower.  Christ said we are the Salt.  He did not say we could be or might be.  He said we ARE the salt.  It our choice as to just how salty we will be and it will be based on our level of surrender to Christ.  

S.A.L.T.Save A Life TodayShare A Living Testimony

Chances are very good the people in your own life who have had the greatest influence in your Christian walk and whose character and qualities have been the most contagious in your life, are people have a humble spirit, a vulnerability, a lack of pretense and who are sold out to Jesus.  In other words, they have set apart Christ as Lord of their lives.  Those who influence our Christian walk in a positive light, encouraging spiritual growth, challenging us to a deeper faith are never those who are dead in their faith, stagnant in their own walk, or stuck in their growth as a believer.

When we set apart Christ as Lord of our lives - FOR REAL - we are more likely to love like He loves with a depth of real concern and without judgment.  We are more likely to sympathize and empathize with kindness and generosity.  We can become the positive influence in someone else's life.

Can I just ask you a question?  If all we do is point out how the lost are falling short and focus on how BAD they and their SIN are, how are they going to find out about our HOPE?

Can I just tell ya something?  We can absolutely go against the grain of society and still stand for something WITHOUT being a hater!  We need to "set apart Christ as Lord."  He hates the sin, not the sinner.

I believe setting apart Christ as Lord in our hearts is absolutely pivotal.  We simply MUST get this as Christ followers.  I believe it is the first step in sharing our HOPE!  Christ must rule in our hearts.  We cannot rule.  Pleasure cannot rule.  The world cannot rule.  Even the religion of the church cannot rule.  Your pastor cannot rule.  Christ must rule.  Jesus must be king, Lord, master.

Does it mean we are perfect.  Absolutely not. Does it mean we give Him priority.  Yes it does.  And it means that even though sometimes we blow it, in our hearts, we know His way is the best.  In our hearts, we know it is always best when He is in charge.  I believe that is what attracts others to our HOPE!  It is when they see Jesus in us.  I hope you know that Jesus is attractive to people who are looking for HOPE.  

If there is a contradiction between what I want and what He wants, I must yield to what He wants. 

If I want to gossip about somebody on account of how they have hurt me....and I want to get them back...  But He wants me to keep my big, fat mouth shut...

Then I need to keep my mouth shut on account of how He's Lord and I am NOT Lord.

Can I just tell ya something?  When that is our response, others cannot help but see Jesus in us and the HOPE which is in Him!

Friday Focus: Top 5 List 07/25/14

Happy Friday ladies and gentleman!  Below is my weekly Top 5 list of my favorite blog entries and posts for the previous week.  If they made my list, they had an impact, made me LOL, challenged me, or stepped on my toes and ultimately stuck with me.

I hope God is blessing your socks off this fine day in your surrender and service to Him!

Enjoy and keep telling THE Story!


TOP 5 LIST - Friday, July 25, 2014

• Dr. Joe McKeever - @drjoemckeever
• "Ten Deadly Preaching Mistakes..."
• Alan Rudnick - @alanrudnick
• "The Beards of Ministry"
• Brandon A. Cox - @brandonacox 
• "You've Been Called Out"
• Brian Davis - @tbriandavis 
• "You Don't Know It All"
• Jonathan Pearson - @jonathanpearson 
• "Use What You've Got"

Telling the Story of our HOPE, part 1

Part 1 of a 3-part series challenging us as believers to go beyond sharing just our "faith" but also #HOPE as we tell OUR STORY.

 

 

 

 

We have this #HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Hebrews 6:19

 
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

The Apostle Peter had some things to say to the Christ followers of the 1st century who were under persecution for their faith.  As a missionary, I have spent a few years with a lot to say about sharing our faith with others.

Our theme this year at Evident Ministries is:  #TellingTHEStory.  Telling the story like it's our job.   We've challenged ourselves and others to "Tell THE Story"... not just any story... THE Story. 

But, THE story we are telling is not only about our faith.  It is also about our HOPE.

We spend a lot of time as Christ followers talking about sharing our faith.  But what about our sharing our HOPE?  I do believe there is a difference.

Are you ready for this?  Because here it comes...  The difference is this:  When we share our faith without talking about our HOPE, we are looking back.  

When we share our faith without talking about our HOPE:

• We are looking back to the cross of Jesus where He DID die for our sins.
• We are looking back to the resurrection where Jesus absolutely proved there IS life after this life and it is eternal life.
• Maybe we are even looking back as far as the old testament prophecies Christ fulfilled.
• Or maybe other times we are just looking back to what we used to be before we gave our lives over to Jesus...and what He has done for us.

But, can I just tell ya something?  When Jesus died on that cross, He said something important.  He said, "It is finished!"  Listen, when we share the HOPE we absolutely have in Christ Jesus, hey, we are looking ahead!  We are saying to folks who don't yet know Jesus:

“Hey, listen up!  Here’s why I’m confident about the future!”

“Here’s why I’m optimistic when everybody else is pessimistic!” 

When we share our hope we are looking forward!  When someone says to us:

"Why are you always so optimistic?”

“Why do U have joy even when bad stuff happens?”

“Hey, where does that hope come from?”

The Bible says, “Always be ready with an answer.”

Now, I don’t about you.  I don’t know your life.  I don’t know about your mountains or about your valleys.  But, here’s what I know about mine:

“Life is hard, but God is good!”

Can I just ask you a question?  Do you believe that or not?  I mean, God IS good…right?  Yes, sir He is!  AND, it is because of God’s goodness that we, His people, can have HOPE!  We have ourselves HOPE for today.  And we have ourselves tomorrow.

Now I don’t know how a person could truly believe that and somehow NOT have a burden to be #TellingTHEStory like it's their job!

Can I just tell ya something?  Church... we need to get after it church and really, for real, be about HIS business, making a ruckus in Jesus name every where we go!

I'm back!

Boy, about that blog I started though...

Let's give this another try shall we?  Ok, here we go:

Can I just tell ya something?