Share Your God Story

Read the Text: Acts 22

Memorize the Text:   He said to me, “Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” (Acts 22:21)

Consider the Text: Acts 22

In Acts 22, Paul stood before the people in Jerusalem and declared the power of God for salvation by using his testimony as evidence. Paul demonstrated the impact one’s God story has on other individuals and the power it carries to encourage repentance in the life of the hearers. The same is true today. When believers use their God story as evidence of the power of the Lord for salvation, they are using the evangelistic tool of testimony to share the gospel. Notice Paul’s model for developing your God story. 

First, Paul spoke of his life WITHOUT CHRIST. Before his experience with Christ on the road to Damascus, the apostle sought to destroy Christians. He received the approval of the Sanhedrin to seek out followers of Christ and put them to death. Paul lived in a state of sin that existed in open rebellion against the Lord and desired to stop the movement of the early church. Paul’s life of sin formed a known status in the early church as a persecutor and one who wanted to stop the spreading of the gospel. This life existed against the Lord and faced the coming wrath of God because of the sinful condition. Paul shared this part of his testimony to aid people in understanding the cause of separation from God and the coming punishment of sin without repentance.

Second, Paul spoke of his life when he MET CHRIST. While the apostle sought to find and destroy believers, the Lord met him on the road to Damascus. Paul described the moment with the Lord and declared how the engagement brought forth the reality of his sin and condition. The moment of realization brought an invitation from Jesus to receive the gift of salvation. Paul testified the work of Christ in salvation and how salvation comes to the worse of sinners when the invitation from Christ for salvation is received.

Finally, Paul spoke of his life WITH CHRIST. Paul’s God story did not stop at the moment of meeting Jesus as Lord and Savior, but the story continued to include the constant presence and work of the Lord in his life. Paul shared about the calling he received to take the gospel message to the Jews, rulers, and Gentiles. The apostle’s God story demonstrates the constant working of the Lord in one’s life and the promised presence of the Lord through each moment in life. When Paul shares his ongoing relationship with the Lord, he reveals the constant nature of one’s relationship with Jesus and not a mere moment in time.

We need to develop our God story. Like Paul, we need to understand our life without Christ, when we met Christ, and with Christ. These three times of life form the outline of understanding our God story and developing our God story for sharing the message of the gospel. To help build your God story, simply answer these three questions to get started.

1.     What was your life like before you met Jesus as Lord and Savior?

2.     What happened when you met Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

3.     What is your life like with Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.