You Have a Story

Everyone has a story to share. But those who follow Jesus Christ have an amazing story to share. When you read through the Book of Acts, you observe how Paul shared his story. His story, like every follower of Jesus Christ, can be shared with three headings. We begin with our life before Jesus Christ. We are all born in trespasses and sins, separated from God the Father because we all rejected Him as our King. While some spent years without Jesus Christ, other chose to follow Jesus at an early age. Yet all have a time in which they lived without Him.

All believers also can share about the time they came to receive life in Jesus Christ. You may not remember the exact day or what you were wearing. That isn't what is most important. The most important aspect is remembering the time that we, by faith, trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Unless we can remember the time we surrendered to Him, our story isn't much of a redemption story. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We must share that we came to receive life, abundant life and eternal life in Jesus.

Finally, we as Christians can share about life since following Jesus Christ. Jesus changes our lives. He directs our pursuits and passions. Even though being a Christian does not guarantee an easy life (in fact we know we will have trouble and persecution), when we follow Jesus He sustains and strengthens us in time of trouble. He provides for our needs. He comforts our hearts. He directs our steps. Those who follow Jesus can point to His continual activity and work in our lives. This is an important part to our story.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you have a story. Your story is a unique and powerful way to communicate the wonderful love and redemption in Jesus Christ. People love to hear stories and you have one of the greatest stories that can ever be told. Are you ready to share? Read Acts 22 and Acts 26 for two accounts of Paul sharing his story.

The Final Word

Humanity consumes itself, for good and ill, with the opinions of others. If you want to buy a new item these days, we often post on Facebook and ask opinions. Trying to figure out which new restaurant to try demands a tweet to see what responses are provided. This isn't bad. I'm not suggesting it is in the least.

In fact, the Bible teaches the value of godly wisdom from counselors. Proverbs 15:22 says, "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed." Even the Psalmist wrote about the danger of listening to the counsel of the ungodly or sitting in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1). It is good and right to take godly counsel from others. God speaks always by His Spirit and primarily through His Word. However, He does use others to speak to us and confirm what He is doing in our lives.

Herein lies the caution, though. Who gets the final word? Too many are enamored with the opinions of others, fearful of letting down friends, parents, spouses, coworkers, neighbors, etc. with their decision(s) or action(s). Yet the final word must never go to another person, but to the God who has called us by His own glory and goodness.

The Book of Acts records in chapters 20 forward the journey of the Apostle Paul to Jerusalem. He acknowledges by his own words that the Spirit of God has indicated to him that affliction and suffering await him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:23). Nevertheless, he knows Christ has called him to go to Jerusalem, for the Lord has purpose for him there. Even as he travels on, he finds in two places believers are encouraging him not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4; Acts 21:10-12). Even so, the final word rested with Jesus Christ. Paul continued on, willing to be bound and to die (Acts 21:13), knowing it was the will of God to go. Had Paul listened to the counsel of other believers, others who did love and follow God, he would never have traveled to Jerusalem.

The final word in our lives should come from the Forever King who rules and reigns over our lives. What is He speaking to you? Will you allow anything to dissuade you from accomplishing it for the glory of God?

The Spirit of God

In his book Forgotten God, Francis Chan writes about the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity. Chan is accurate when he says we often talk about the Father and the Son, but we rarely speak or teach about the Holy Spirit. In the opening verses of Acts 19, we find a group of about 12 men who trusted Jesus Christ as the Promised Messiah who came to redeem humanity from sin. As a result, we find that they were baptized with water and baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter that all who believe in Jesus Christ receive the Holy Spirit. It is true that outside of the Book of Acts there is no gap between trusting Jesus Christ and receiving the Spirit of God. Yet it still remains that many fail to understand the work and role of the Holy Spirit.

What follows is not an exhaustive look at the Spirit of God's work in our lives or the world. But I pray it lays a foundation for our study of Him and our growth in knowledge of His work.

The Spirit of God Convicts – Jesus stated that the Spirit of God would come after His departure to convict the world of sin. (John 16:8)

The Spirit of God Helps – Jesus called the Spirit of God a helper. In fact, Jesus said when He departed He would ask the Father who would send another helper. Jesus came to help the world by delivering us from sin. The Spirit too has come to help the world in many of the ways we are listing here. (John 14)

The Spirit of God Comforts – Jesus forewarned that believers would face trouble in this world. How amazing that He promised to send the Spirit whom He also called a Comforter. He comforts us in trouble. He comforts us in sadness and difficulty. The God of all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1) has sent the Spirit of comfort to be, live and go with us.

The Spirit of God Guides – Jesus stated that the Spirit of God guides us into all Truth. Everything the believer needs is in the Scriptures. However, God also desires that we know how to walk in greater obedience and walk in His ways perfectly. To do so, we need guidance. We are not always sure. The path is not always clear. His Word will give light as the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to guide us into all truth and obedience. (John 14)

The Spirit of God Empowers – We know from Acts 1:8 that Jesus declared how the Spirit of God would come and empower Jesus’ followers to obey His Word and faithfully proclaim His message. The Spirit of God is our strength and power to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

The Spirit of God Prays – Yes! The Spirit of God prays, but not for Himself. He prays for us. Paul writes in Romans 8:26 that he Spirit of God prays on our behalf to the Father with groanings that are too deep that they cannot be expressed with words. So even when we don’t know what to pray, but we go before our Father in heaven with elated or broken hearts, the Spirit prays for us.

The Spirit of God Gives – Paul told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12) that the Spirit of God provides a variety of gifts. While there are a variety of gifts, there is but One Spirit who provides those gifts.

The Spirit of God Seals – Redemption begins when we trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sin. However, redemption will be final at the moment in which we are glorified in the presence of Christ in heaven. Until then, we have been sealed for salvation. Ephesians 1:13 states that the Spirit of God has been given to believers as a promise of the ultimate and final redemption.

The Spirit of God Renews – We are the broken but loved creatures of God, created by Him and for Him in His image. Salvation is the means of cleansing and renewing. In Titus 3:5, the Spirit of God is said to renew us having washed us by regeneration and renewing us by the Spirit.

The Spirit of God Testifies – The Spirit testifies to God or Himself. But even more, He testifies to us. The Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are His children. The Spirit testifies to our spirit the truth of God. (Hebrews 10:15)

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and thereby receiving the Holy Spirit cannot be overstated in its importance. The only way to receive the baptism of the Spirit is through genuine faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sin.

The Spirit of God dwells and works within us to will and to do His good pleasure. May we allow the Spirit of God to dwell in us richly and work in us freely for the glory of God and the blessing of His people.