Now I have to develop cover, put placements etc.
Tell your story
In John 4 Jesus reveals three key principles:
the principle of progressive revelation,
the power of story,
and the principle of sowing and reaping.
In the chapter, we see the impact one woman’s story had upon an entire town. Jesus was speaking with a woman at a well. As He spoke with the woman she received more than she bargained for. She was looking for water; she received revelation. The revelation of who Jesus really was changed her life. As the conversation developed, Jesus encouraged the woman to go and bring her husband.
“I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her,
“You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
I love her understatement,
“Sir, I perceive you are a prophet.”
At the end of the conversation, Jesus plainly told the woman He was the Christ.
Here’s the progression.
She first saw Jesus as a nice Jewish braking all the rules man.
Next, she defined him to be a religious person and questioned the where of worship. He explained it was not the where that was important. It was the Who and how which was most important.
Then He revealed knowledge about her life. She knew he had no way of knowing, so she perceived him as a prophet.
Finally, as the light entered her heart, she responded by boldly asking Him if He was the Christ. His affirmative answer revealed who He really was.
She was so moved by the insightful encounter that she left her water pot, went back to her town, and told her story to the men of the city. She said,
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29, NIV)
Jesus had not told her everything she had ever done, but just enough to let her know He knew. Her simple story had power. All the men of the city came out to see Jesus.
The result.
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him”…and then they asked Jesus to stay. He stayed and interacted with them for two days. Because of their encounter, many became believers.They said to the woman,
“We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:3942, NIV)
Her simple “come and see a man, could He be” story had the power to draw the people of the city toward Jesus. As they were drawn to Him they were then able to hear for themselves, and hearing Jesus for themselves, they believed. The whole region was transformed.
Your story has this kind of if-it-happened-for-you, maybe-it-can-happen-for-me kind of power. Your story can ignite faith and draw people to Jesus. Then as they spend time seeking Jesus, and as they begin to hear Him for themselves, they believe.
This is the main purpose of all of our stories—that people would hear for themselves, and that by hearing, they would believe and come to saving knowledge of the mercy and truth found in Jesus.
Your story is powerful.
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