“VISION FOR SUCCESS”
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A SUCCESS STORY LESSON TEXTS: John 21:15-17, John 14:15, Matthew 22:36-40
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Once upon a time a young man named Johnathan (formerly known as Little Johnny) rose up one morning, bright and early. Throughout the previous night, Johnathan dreamed a reoccurring dream about a question from the Lord. In his dream the Lord asked him, “Johnathan do you love me?” Johnathan replied, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” The Lord answered back and said, “Prove it.”
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Q. What if God ask you to prove your love for Him, how would you respond?
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While Johnathan was pondering this question, the Spirit of the Lord brought to his mind a scripture; “But watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist make full proof of your ministry.” II Timothy 4:5
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Q. What is the work of an evangelist? __________________________________
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An evangelist is to be a bearer of the glad tidings (Good News) of Jesus Christ. Every born again believer should act in the capacity of an evangelist by adhering to the will of God and His Great Commission.
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Matthew 28:19-20 reads, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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Now the rest of the story…..
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Jonathan was encouraged to go and win souls expanding the Kingdom of God. He went out into the streets, neighborhoods, Walmart and the local mall sharing the Good News about Jesus. His efforts seems to be in vain because no one wanted to hear his message, no one was interested in the Good News. Some people started teasing him, calling him names and mocking him; others just simply
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ignored him, while other pushed him away. There were even those who invited him to go outback (not the steakhouse). The Spirit of God reminded Johnathan of God’s Word:
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Matthew 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
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John 15:19-21 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.”
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Matthew 24:9 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.”
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Discussion:
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Why do we act surprised if we are not accepted while delivering the Good News to others? ____________________________________________________
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Why do you feel that people are not interested in hearing the Word of God these days? ________________________________________________________
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Describe persecution and the “side effects” an individual my encounter while being persecuted. ______________________________________________
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Johnathan worked all morning and all afternoon with no success in converting or convincing even one soul with whom he spoke to. He got tired of the mistreatment, tired of hearing other say no, go away, tired of being ignored and tired of being invited outback. So he decided to quit, but the Spirit stirred up a Word of Encouragement, “And let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
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What are you tired of when ministering the Word? (What makes you weary?) __________________________________________________________________
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Why do people get tired of dealing with PEOPLE? _________________
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Share an incident that happened while you were witnessing that made you want to give up. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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He continued throughout the evening hours when he found himself on the other side of the tracks. He was in unfamiliar territory, on strange ground. Johnathan began to be frightened, but as you know, the Spirit of God moved on Johnathan and a Word came unto him, “God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7
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What are you afraid of when it comes to witnessing or being a witness?
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This is supposed to be a success story but it seems more like a failure. Guess what? There is more! Johnathan stumbled across (and I do mean stumbled) a man and his dog in the street and he simply asked the man, “How can I help you?”
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HOMEWORK: Next week I will need you to finish this story, include scripture and make it a success.
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“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:4