The Power of Your Personal Story

Notes: The Power of Your Personal Story
Pastor Greg Laurie
Harvest OC
February 23, 2014
John 4

One of the best tools we have is our own story of our testimony and how Christ has affected us.

John 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 

1. We need to go to where people are.

2. We need to care about the people we speak to.

3. We need to keep at it even when we are tired.

4. We need to use tact.

The objective is to build a bridge one not to burn one. We should all be able to share our faith. Its not to win an argument it is to win a soul.

Some times Christians with good intentions and no tact can keep people from Jesus Christ.

Its been said there are two reasons people don’t go to church. 1 is they don’t know a Christian. 2, they only know hypocritical Christians.

5. We must adapt to the situation.

6. We must know when to pull the net in.

Know when to close the deal. To ask if someone wants to follow Christ.

John 4:25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

John 4:26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

John 4:24  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Where should we worship?
Answer: Everywhere!

You cannot effectively worship and know a God you know nothing about.

John 4:24  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

We must worship God in truth.

Hebrews 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

Church is more than just listening; it’s also participating!
(Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.)

I cannot worship God when I knowingly have sin in my life.
(Psalm 24:3-4 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.)

We are also to worship God in spirit.

John 4:26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Read: John 4:27-30 ust then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

1. Telling your story is a powerful bridge for the gospel message.

John 4:28-30 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

John 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 

Don’t glorify or exaggerate your past.

We know that who we were in the past and how miserable we were. It was a garbage past and should be portrayed that way. Dispose of the past as the garbage that it is. 

Don’t boast about what you gave up for Him, but what He gave up for you.

It’s not about you, but Him.

Every testimony is valid.

Erol Senses' story was shown on the screen. He was someone who was drug addict wanting to commit suicide prior to being saved. 

Read: John 4:35-38 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

John 4:35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 

1. Souls are of the greatest value to God. 

John 15 stories of lost people that have been found.

2. God is looking for laborers to harvest the crops.

The Christian secret weapons are prayer and preaching.

(John 4:36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together)

To not preach the gospel is a sin!

3. A farmer needs to be patient.

John 4:37-38 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Our job is to preach the gospel; God’s job is to convert people.

1 Corinthians 3:6-8 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

There is a special reward waiting for those that do their part in evangelism.
(John 4:36  Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.)

The Crown of Righteousness given to those who love His appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.)

The Crown of Life given to those who resist temptation.
(James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.)

The Crown of Rejoicing, the soul-winner’s reward.
(1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?)