The Call to Testify (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28) Acts 1:8 (NIV) You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Witness: Someone that bears testimony to things seen, heard, transacted, or experienced. Testimony: A solemn statement made under oath or as part of a covenant. The verbal evidence of a witness by which something is affirmed to be true. Testify — To give testimony in a legal context.
We have the evidence of a changed life.
1 John 1:1–4 (NIV) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
“We heard about Jesus. We have encountered Jesus. Now we share Jesus.”
The power of a testimony. “The greatest revelation you will ever have is Jesus.” Revelation 12:7–11 (NIV) 7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Nikao: To conquer/overcome. To carry off the victory. Romans 16:20 (NIV) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. “Your story is a weapon.”
What is our testimony? 1. The expression of faith The evidence of a changed life.
Stop Your Striving 1. Remain in Him relationally Luke 10:38-42 NLT “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.“”
Being at the feet of Jesus wasn’t just Mary’s position in the room but the posture of her heart. 2. Remain at His feet in grieving John 11:32-33 NLT “When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.”
3. Remain at His feet with thanksgiving John 12:1-3 NLT “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” How to stop striving: 1. Make time for Jesus
2. Honor the Sabbath
Exodus 20:8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” God designed us with a need for rest
3. Remain in His love You don’t have to work for His love or approval
God already loves you as much as He ever will, infinitely, and nothing you do can change that.
John 15:9 NLT “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.”
Mark 2:22 (NIV) And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”
Colossians 1:28-29 (AMPC) 28 Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).29 For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the [c]superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (AMPC) 8 For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret [it now], though I did regret it; for I see that that letter did pain you, though only for a little while; 9 Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did. 10 For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].
1. Spiritual Growth Comes With Pain
2. Spiritual Growth Comes With Grace
2 Peter 3:18 (AMPC) 18 But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!
Hello Todd, I just wanted to circle back around and see if you had a chance to talk to the church about any possibilities?
There are preferences, there are opinions, and then there is reality. The bad news…. Romans 3:23(NLT) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Here lies the issue: We have equated value with morality.
The good news. Romans 3:24–25 (NLT) 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
The Gospel. Mark 1:14–15 (NIV) 14 Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” 1. The time has come 2. The Kingdom of God is near. 3. Repent Matthew 4:17 (NLT) Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Repentance: A deep and fundamental shift in thinking.
4. Believe Put faith in: Entrust. John 3:15 (NLT) Everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) Without faith it is impossible to please God…
5. The Gospel.
Romans 5:8–11 (NLT) 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
... John 8:34–36 (NIV) 34 “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Ephesians 1:7 (NLT) 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you w/ everything good for doing his will, & may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever & ever.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Landmarks: 1. Life Verse/ Scriptural Themes 2. Life Purpose Statements 3. Standards 4. Patterns 5. Pivotal Moments 6. Mistakes & Success Loses are redeemed when we learn from them. 7. Personal History
Bad experiences can define you or refine you.
Matthew 7:24–27 (NIV) 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Thoughts on wisdom: 1. Wisdom ≠ knowledge Colossians 1:9–10 (NIV) 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
"We are not considered wise with the knowledge we have, but by the choices we make."
2. Wisdom is costly. "Knowledge is free, but wisdom will cost you." Proverbs 4:7(NLT) Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
3. Wisdom > Fear "Our experiences in this Adventure are to deepen our dependability, not increase our independence."
Proverbs 9:10(NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
4. Wisdom visualizes before it verbalizes. Proverbs 17:28(NLT) Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
"Wisdom asks before it answers."
5. Wisdom lives in response. James 3:13(NIV)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- James 1: 5 & 6(NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
