Your Life Story 1 Everyone leaves a story

Your Life Story 1

Everyone leaves a story “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11: 4). 2

How will I be remembered? “Will you leave people trying to unravel your life to determine who you really were, and what you were really all about? ” (Guard your Heart, Gary Rosberg, p. 38). 3

Various Stories l Confusing stories: 1 Kings 11: 4 -12 l Tragic stories: 2 Timothy 4: 10 l Hidden stories: 1 Timothy 5: 24 -25 l Finishing strong: 2 Timothy 4: 7 4

Proverbs 20: 7 “A righteous man who walks in his integrity how blessed are his sons after him” “A bad legacy, on the other hand, requires no concerted effort for attainment. Do nothing different and a son or daughter will receive exactly what the parent left behind. Like water flowing downhill, so a bad legacy will pass effortlessly from one generation to the next” 5

Ecclesiastes 10: 1 “Dead flies made a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor” “It takes far less to ruin something than to create it” (Kidner p. 88). 6

What if I received nothing? l If we received an empty wallet, we are the ones to fill it. l If we were the first to obey Christ as Lord in our family chain, we need not be the last. l If we experienced negativism and “I can’t”, we can pass on positivism and “I can” 7

l If we grew up as perpetual victims, we can break tradition and be a generation of victors. l If we came from a home of broken promises and failure, we can choose to pass on a legacy of honesty and success (Joshua 24: 15). 8

The Legacy of Love l God always came first. l We loved the truth. l We loved our neighbors. l We loved our enemies. l We loved brethren (1 John 4: 11). l We Loved to put God first in everything. 9

What are our tendencies …. l l When we read the New Testament When we see commands to be fruitful Matt 7: 17 -19 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Christians must prove they love God by their obedience to his commands 10

The Legacy of Impartiality l Everyone stands on level ground. l Everyone can succeed. l We showed courtesy to all men. l We avoided thinking too highly of some (as if they could do no wrong) or too lowly of others (as if they could do no right). 11

The Legacy of Evangelism “So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present” (Acts 17: 17). 12

The Legacy of Discipline The importance of discipline is if you do not have it, no plan, no matter how large or great, will ever amount to anything unless someone has the discipline to follow through with it. 13

The Legacy of Prayer l We should live in an atmosphere of gratitude (1 Timothy 2: 2). l There is no reason to worry (1 Peter 5: 7). l We should be taught to pray regularly l We should pray for ourselves and others l The constant reminder that God is real. l Emphasis on His will and not mine. 14

When your time on earth is over, what will your “Legacy Be” ? Only you can change it ! 15