Sharing Your Life Message
June 8, 2008 1:20 am Posts From Pastor EdSHARING YOUR LIFE MESSAGE
(Message by the Rev. Edward S. Yoshida - 5/18/08)
Scripture - I Peter 3:13-18r 3:13-18
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
INTRODUCTION -
We continue our series on Rick Warren’s THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE. The 5th Purpose is: “You Were Made For Mission.” Under this title we learn today that SHARING YOUR LIFE MESSAGE is part of that Mission. There are 4 parts to sharing one’s life as a testimony:
- 1. Your life message includes your testimony.
- 2. Your life message includes your life lesson
- 3. Your life message includes sharing your godly passion
- 4. Your life message includes the Good News.
I YOUR LIFE MESSAGE INCLUDES YOUR TESTIMONY
The essence of witness is to share one’s personal experience. I Peter 2:9r 2:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; Gentile: Gr. Greek
-…who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Acts 1:8Acts 1:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. power...: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you
- But you shall receiver power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea…& unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”
The role of the witness is sharing one’s own experience. Just like in a court of law. He does not judge or condemn or charge-like the Crown Attorney. Recently we had a visitor from Banff, Ms. Hayashi. At 78 she was recently saved at the Sunnyside Bible Camp near Calgary. She is still a “baby Christian.” But when she visited Toronto, she came to our church & just shared what happened to her-formerly a Buddhist.
Rick Warren gives 2 reasons why personal testimony is so important.
- Because your testimony is so unique. Yes, it may have similarities with others, but they are not the same. Since you have authority over your own life, your testimony is more effective than any sermons. Most non-Christians shy away from professional pastors/ministers. But your testimony is like a statement of a satisfied customer. People love them and remember them more than a pastor’s sermon.
The story of the Samaritan woman is a good example. (John chap. 4). She has had 5 husbands in her life. The present man was not her husband. With a sense of shame she could only come to draw water when no other women came to the well. When she met Jesus & received his living water, she went into town & broadcast all that Jesus said to her & did for her. That was her testimony. This brought out the whole town to hear Jesus.
2 - The 2nd reason why personal testimony is so effective is that it bypasses any prejudice or arguments that might arise over God’s existence, Evolution, the authority of the Bible and the variety of translations-which is superior. (These are some issues which non-believers love to pursue as a defence mechanism.)
Your personal testimony has 4 essential parts:
1 - Your life before you met Jesus.
- How you realized your need of Jesus
- How you committed your life to Jesus
- The difference Jesus had made in your life.
Rick Warren says every Christian has a testimony. Some are more dramatic like the Apostle Paul or others are more quiet & natural, like Timothy. But each testimony is unique. When is the last time you shared your testimony to a seeker or a non-Christian?
II - YOUR LIFE MESSAGE INCLUDES YOUR LIFE’S LESSON
These are the truths that God taught you, from your experience with Him. These are the lessons you learned in your relationships, your problems, your sufferings, your temptations, etc. (Over my life I had some unpleasant times with my two sisters, one older the other younger. I could have chosen to server my relationship with them, but Jesus in me would not permit. Without expressing my anger & discontent I was able to enjoy a happy relationship with them until both passed away.) This was one big lesson I learned in life & I am sharing it with you today.
When we reflect on the history of Israel, she failed to learn from the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. At each crisis they murmured, complained, disbelieved and disobeyed. Until that generation perished in the desert.
Rick Warren says that while it is wise to learn from one’s own experience, it is still wiser to learn from the experience of others. We can still avoid the pitfalls, pains & consequences from bad judgments by learning from others. This is what Paul says in Romans 15:4Romans 15:4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
While the knowledge of the Bible alone does not save, it has much to teach, guide & encourage us in our walk of faith.
Friends, some of you are still young Christians. Others are veteran Christians. But if you learned something from God in your poverty, your weaknesses, your sicknesses & your disappointments, that is your life’s lesson & part of your life’s message. God loves to use our life’s lessons to touch other lives.
III - YOUR LIFE’S MESSAGE INCLUDES YOUR SHARING YOUR GODLY PASSIONS
Rick Warren says that God is a passionate Being. He loves passionately & He hates sin passionately. As one matures in faith, he should get more passionate about God & His kingdom. David showed much zeal for the house of God (Psalm 69:9Psalm 69:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
) (This verse was quoted by Jesus as He cleansed the temple (John 2). Jeremiah was so passionate about the Word till it was “burning within his bones.” (Jeremiah 20:9Jeremiah 20:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
). Eric Wong from our church had a passion to keep the grounds of our church tidy & beautiful. After he was gone it took many volunteers to organize a Working Bee to clean the yard… Not everybody has the same passion. God gave me a passion for Japanese souls, but our girls do not share the same passion. Yes, they love the Lord, & are serving in two other churches, but they don’t have the same passion as their father.
The founder of the famous Peoples Church is Dr. Oswald Smith. He authored the book, PASSION FOR SOULS. As a young man he was keen for foreign missions, but his healthy kept him going abroad. He then did the next best thing for Missions. He & his congregation bought an old Methodist church near Bloor E.& Jarvis, & began to emphasize Mission. He is gone now but his church is the most famous Missions church in Canada. They have over 300 missionaries on their “payroll” & supporting each one more than $300.00 per/month. Are you a passionate Christian? Are you a committed Christian? Then you need to become passionate about Jesus & what He commanded us to do.
IV - YOUR LIFE’S MESSAGE INCLUDES THE GOOD NEWS
Someone said there are really 5 Gospels-Matt., Mark, Luke, & John. Then there is the Gospel According to You. Oswald Chambers writes: Sacrament of your life.”
Paul in 2Corinth. 5:19 says: Christians are committed with the Word of Reconciliation. And that we are all ambassadors of Christ.
2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
says that God is not willing that any should perish. God has never made people He doesn’t love. As long as there is one more person who does not know God, He loves him, & we need to pray for him, & serve him & share with him.
I invited a Christian lady in her 80’s for our Mother’s Day Service. But she could not attend. And this was the reason why. On that day she had invited 4 other seniors who were older than she & could not prepare any dinners. They included her sister, Mitzi, her friend, Jack, Billie the Irish woman & Maria, a Portuguese. Why was she doing all this? She was sharing the Good News with her kindness & voluntarily missed the chance to attend the Mother’s Day Service. She was simply obeying the words of Colossians 4:5Colossians 4:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
, making available every opportunity to spread the Gospel.
CONCLUSION
Rick Warren says that eternal salvation is more important than money and material things. They do not last forever; only people do. Therefore, sharing the Good News is the most important thing you’ll achieve in this life. Of the 5 purposes of life, only sharing the Good News could be done on earth. The other 4 purposes could still be fulfilled in eternity.
Friends, your life is your message. How are you sharing it?
