Good Test....Great Testimony!

Lamentations 3:20-25 (New Living Translation) “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends, His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.”

You and I may have thought we have gone through some trials and tribulations but I heard a man today that put all of my petitions to God in a ‘new’ light, a lesser light. In fact, his testimony was so powerful it made me feel as though my problems were the most insignificant issues known to man. Think about it, I heard a testimony today that made me feel like losing my mother at 13 and ‘back to back’ strokes in my mid-fifties seem like inappropriate petitions for me to convey to God.

God wishes to release His miraculous power in our life. And, for all eternity, I know He will lavish on us His honor and delight. The speaker in our church today proved to me today that some of us are “pulling 18-wheelers without air in the tires.”

This speaker even brought pictures, blown-up poster size so that we could see validity of his testimony. He had a large picture of himself when he was in the hospital in 2002 with a brain tumor that was removed. I believe he had Dr. Jesus in the operating room.

In 2006, he was hospitalized three times. One from high blood pressure, that was eventually brought under control. Then, he was in a train wreck where hazardous chemicals spilled and ate through the lining of his lungs. He had pictures of this awful train wreck. Last, but definitely not the least, he witnessed an accident, and while attempting to save someone else’s life – he broke his neck. The pictures of the accident brought tears to our eyes. Not only is he standing, I say he was preaching in a very animated style. He said that sometimes he still has pain, but not today. He laid on the floor to show us how he envisioned the crucifixion of Christ...he laid on the floor and then jumped to his feet to demonstrate The Resurrection. I know he has Dr. Jesus.

People in the advertising business have always known that one of the most effective ways of selling a product is to use a satisfied customer -- someone who can say, “I have tried this product and, it works for me, I can recommend it to you!” There Is something tremendously powerful about a person being able to say this is what Jesus has done in my life and what Jesus has done for me He is able to do for you.

A personal testimony does not relate views but news. People debate Scripture and argue over views of different natures, but when it comes to the personal testimony it is uniquely yours. We must never ever underestimate the power of a Christian testimony.

We are called to be witnesses and not lawyers; a witness is somebody who tells what he's seen and heard, a lawyer is somebody who argues a case. We are witnesses of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My dear friend, a Christian with a glowing testimony is worth a library full of arguments.

Now, I'm not against a well reasoned presentation of what we call an “apology” for our faith. We ought to be able to give that defense of our faith, but there are many Christians out there who are not theologically trained yet they still can be a dynamic witness for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Bible says concerning the devil that those early Christians overcame him by the word of their testimony and those last day Christians will overcome him by the word of our testimony. We need to learn how to give our testimony and again I want to say you don't have to be a theologian to be able to give your testimony.

In this song "The Anchor Holds", Ray Boltz gives this testimony that I think is mighty powerful:

"I have journeyed through the long dark night out on the open seas.

By faith alone, sight unknown, and yet His eyes were watching me.

The anchor holds though the ship is battered.

The anchor holds though the sails are torn.

I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas.

The anchor holds in spite of the storms.

I've had visions. I've had dreams.

I've even held them in my hand.

But I never knew they would slip right through like they were only grains of sand.

I have been young but I'm older now and there has been beauty these eyes have seen.

But it was in the night, through the storms of my life,

Oh that's where God proved His love for me.

The anchor holds through the ship is battered.

The anchor holds though the sails are torn.I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas.The anchor holds in spite of the storms."

Take delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart!

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”