Over the past 7 weeks we have studied that each one of us is precious and valuable to God. He loves you so much that the value He placed on you was the price of His son Jesus Christ dying on the cross for you. Because of our value God gave us purpose and He gave us each unique gifts to serve His purpose. Our gifts are not to serve ourselves but to serve others. Last week we learned the value of others as they are made in the image of God and loved by God just as each one of us are.

This week we will put it all together.

How can you use all God has given you to serve His purpose?(serve, share, testify, help others, mentor)

From Pastor Weston’s message Sunday:  Luke 8:38-39, “38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”

John 4:28-29,39; “28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”…39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, (Luke 2:20; Acts 3:8; Acts 4:18)

Many times we saw Jesus telling people to “Come and follow Me”. 

Why didn’t Jesus allow the demon possessed man to follow Him?

The people in these Scriptures experienced Christ in their lives and could not keep quiet about it. They had to share what Jesus did for them.

What has Jesus done for you that you can’t keep quiet about, that you want to share with others?

Others saw them praising God for what Jesus did in their lives. What good does it do to keep quiet about what God has done for you? God received the praise not Jesus. Others will come to Jesus and be saved because they will see what Jesus has done for you and also through your testimony as you praise God.

 Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

You are so valued by God that he has given you the ability to proclaim Him and His gospel to others, to be His witness. He could do it Himself but He chose to use you!! We should recognize the value God has in others as we studied last week and share what God has done for us so that they can share in God’s saving grace as you do. (2Peter 3:9; 2Peter 3:11-12)

1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (Jude 1:3)

The best defense can be a good offense. Be prepared to not only defend your faith and what you believe but to have the other person defend their beliefs.

Have you faced opposition to your beliefs and if you did, how did you deal with the opposition? 

What opportunities do you have today to fulfill God’s purpose for you and to serve others? (at church, in your home, at work, wherever God has placed you)

You can recognize your value to God by seeing the value God places in others. God is asking each of us to see others value and share the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ so that all will be saved and none perish. Have your testimony ready and be ready to share at every opportunity that God brings to you. James told us that faith without works is dead. Please don’t just sit on everything God has given you and do nothing. There is no blessing to you or to anyone else if you don’t use what God has given to you. God made you in His image and sent His Son to die for you because you are treasured, precious, and valuable to Him.

We will be on break through July.