The Power of "Your" Story

The Scripture Matthew 7:12 "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets". This scripture affects every aspect of life, but I find it especially true in Evangelizing, and the motivation which the Lord uses to move you as an individual or outwardly as a group. This is the power of your story.

There are many different motivators the Lord uses to accomplish what He states in 1 Timothy 2:4 which is that He desires "...all to be saved". One of which is the Word in and of itself, not used as a weapon, but as a Love Letter to those that don't yet know Him, promising salvation, compassion, healing, prosperity and on and on. His promises are endless.

Another is through church or ministry programs and outreaches, some profoundly hear that call and others heed it because it's what they are supposed to do. Another is crusades, salvations en masse, such as Andrew Palau's in Brevard County in 2021, CFAN's ongoing worldwide harvesting movement, or Franklin Graham's ongoing crusades and outreaches. The most powerful, I believe, is the empowering of the Holy Spirit, with the promise left by Jesus as He was about to ascend into Heaven: Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth". These were not suggestions by Jesus, but declarations made empowering His people to tell the world your story and accomplish His plan for mankind.

It is here where I want to make a note; where you live is your Jerusalem. Unless you are called as a missionary to another country, you are called right where you are to be His witness. Your Jerusalem, the place closest to you. The definition of evangelism is announce, proclaim, witness, preach the Gospel; it denotes action. Let me add here that I believe prayer and proclaiming are both immensely important parts of evangelizing. I believe it was Billy Graham whom, before hosting a crusade in a city or region, would send intercessors to that city to identify its strongholds, meet and pray, walk and proclaim that Jesus is Lord over that city.

During the Covid Pandemic, when both my husband and my employment positions came to a standstill, the Lord re-positioned us to an area that is very much in the forefront of our multicultural and diverse society. The alternative lifestyles lived openly by so many surround us on all sides. I could complain, but I see it as the call of God on our lives (my life) to pray over and be fruitful where I have been planted. The compassion of Christ also surrounds us and is stronger than the spirts that hold so many of these people captive. I have asked the Lord to lead me to those in whom He is cultivating the soil of their hearts, and whom He is preparing for salvation. I pray and sing from my balcony (not too loudly, of course) over this part of our city.

I am determined that I will do to these people what others, especially Jesus, have done to me; lead me in the right direction, save my soul, fill me with the Holy Spirit, abolish the lies of the devil, break strongholds, heal me emotionally and put the absolutes of His Word in my life which keep me grounded, miraculous physical healings in myself and my family etc.

My motivation is that God would do to others what He has done to me!
So now I ask you, what is the motivation of your story?