The Value of Your Testimony
Acts 22:1-22:15
1. HE ESTABLISHED COMMON GROUND WITH HIS LISTENERS.
Paul began by finding common ground with those with whom he wants to share his testimony. He says in verse one,
“Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. (2) (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,).”
Paul begins by telling them that he was once just like them. He addresses them as brothers and he speaks to them in their native language.
2. PAUL DID NOT GLORIFY HIS PAST LIFE OF SIN.
Sometimes when you hear a testimony today you do not know if they are testifying to the glory of God or glorying in their past sinfulness. Paul said in verse three, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. (4) And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. (5) As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.”
And continuing in verse nineteen he says, “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: (20) And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”
Paul tells of his past but he does not glory in it.
3. PAUL DOES NOT PROMISE A LIFE OF EASE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE
“ It’s Sunday AM and you’re “channel grazing” through the TV channels. Your attention is drawn to a popular “Christian Talk Show.” The Host (immaculately dressed, hair perfect) is all smiles–”Today is a special day for the Christian Health & Wealth Show! We’re going to have a very special guest! He has done more for the cause of Christ than any other man! Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome … Saint Paul the Apostle!”
The audience is stunned. There is silence except for a few isolated PTLs & Hallelujahs — slowly the audience musters a dazed applause. The camera focuses in on a rather small man, dressed in a ragged tunic. Face is sunburnt & wrinkled. Looks like someone who’s spent a lot of time out-of-doors. All eyes follow him as he slowly walks across the set.
1) HOST: “It’s a real thrill to have you on the show, Paul; or should I call you Saint or Apostle? Which do you prefer?”
2) PAUL: “Just Paul would be fine.”
3) HOST: “Very well, Paul. We’re all eager to hear what you, a great servant of the Lord, might have to say to us! Tell us about the wonderful things that happened to you when you invited the Lord Jesus into your life!”
4) PAUL: “Well, let’s see. First I was struck blind. I got over that but then somebody tried to kill me and I had to escape in a basket. Then they stoned me, threw me in jail, beat me with rods …”
5) HOST: “Uh, Paul, heh, heh, I think you misunderstood. Tell us, what has the Lord done for you?”
6) PAUL: “That’s what I was doing! Then the Romans arrested me, I was shipwrecked–a night and a day I spent in the deep …”
7) HOST: “Uh, excuse us folks. It’s time for our first commercial break.”
Paul tells his listeners that being saved changed his life, but he does not tell them that it was that things have always been great since he was saved. He did not say, “I just wanted to tell you how the Lord has blessed me materially. My tent making business has never been better.” He does tell them;
4. IT IS THE POWER OF CHRIST THAT MAKES US DIFFERENT.
Every conversion story is as dramatic as that of Paul, but every testimony is a “before and after” account of the transformation of a human life by Jesus Christ. Paul described the man that he was and the man that Christ had enabled to him to be. Paul was not saying how good he was, or what he had done, but how good Jesus was and what he had done. All though his witness he clarified that it was Jesus who had changed him. In verse six he says, “And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. (7) And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (8)
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. (9) And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. (10) And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do”
“A missionary who was speaking to a group of Hindu women was surprised to see one of them get up and walk away. Soon she returned and listed more intently than before. ‘Why did you leave in the middle of my message?” asked the missionary. ‘I was so interested in the wonderful things you were saying that I went to ask your servant if you live like you teach. He said you do. So I came back to hear more about Jesus,’ said the woman.” [Spiros Zodhiates. Illustrations of Bible Truth. (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 1995). # 895]
Paul life displayed the changes that had been made in his life and so should ours.
5. PAUL PRESENTED HIS CONVERSION AS A FACT NOT AS A FEELING
Paul’s story was based on verifiable facts. Things that others could attest to, not just how he felt.
(11) And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. (12) And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, (13) Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. (14) And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. (15) For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
I WILL BE A PART OF THE FEW AND THE PLENTIFUL
A letter to jump start the hearts of those of the many.
Luke 10:7Luke 10:7
English: World English Bible - WEB
7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.
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“Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.
Luke 10
The Context
In this chapter of Luke the Lord appointed seventy followers and “sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.” The Lord said to them ” “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” The word harvest is used figuratively of the gathering of men into the kingdom of God. Keep the great commission and discipleship in mind when that word is dropped because those things work together. So this was the beginning of our calling! Yes, OUR calling! REMEMBER this passage next time you find yourself bored and sitting in your room at night listening to Copeland and shutting your Rob Bell book asking yourself, “what is God calling me to do?” Meditate on this chapter and you’ll find God quicker than Waldo in his Completely Crazy Activity Book.
Pray and “beseech the Lord” ask the Lord urgently and fervently to do something! Pray a fixed prayer diligently and mean it! “Lord, send out laborers into your harvest! Lord send even me since you’ve empowered me to do so!”
The Application for today.
Today I believe this applies to more than just the homes we visit. I believe it’s where we reside as servants in ministry and you’ll see what I’m saying if you haven’t already closed this window and got back on facebook or COD:MW2. House has expanded a bit to where we reside as servants in ministry! We’re all called to be laborers today! but so many of us find comfort in only being apart of the great harvest. remember what the Lord said? “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”
The Command to to remain and abide.
The word stay means (to remain and abide) not to depart and to remain as one, not to become different. I really see the double meaning for the use of the word stay here. “Remain” where He’s placed you! Labor there! Sacrifice your time there and do what you can do to expand the harvest! The other meaning dropped is abide. Remain as one, not to become different. I immediately think of one of the greatest men of God I’ve ever known, Pastor Brian Brijbag. That man is truly allowing himself to be spent spiritually and physically for the Lord’s harvest. It takes it’s toll to abide! Life gets hard but this man abides to the best of his ability and will remain as one and not become different so he can continually keep serving the people he loves. What a blessed man!
The command to accept blessings!
“eating and drinking what they give you” Obvious blessings from God! It is not meek to reject blessings! Accept blessing! To not accept could reject the blessings God has for those blessings you! I’ll accept whatever God throws my way so God will receive his FULL glory in those situations!
The addressing of Flakiness…
Do not keep moving from house to house.
To quote myself in an earlier part of this blog about the application for today, “House has expanded a bit to where we reside as servants in ministry! We’re all called to be laborers today!”. If we are serving somewhere, DON’T JUST UP AND LEAVE IF LIFE STARTS GETTING HEAVY. Abide! Remain! “for the laborer is worthy of his wages.” I don’t think temporary laboring make us a laborer. It’s our daily laboring. It’s the love for believers and the love for the lost. It’s serving them. It’s being spent. Even when your girlfriend breaks up with you, abide! Even when your band breaks up or your pet dies, abide! You worked over 70 hours this week and you just feel like lounging at home, remain and serve! You got into a fight with your mom/dad/wife/girlfriend boyfriend/you find out your pastor is Calvinist or Armenist or baptist or he’s a little too pentecostal or not pentecostal enough, REMAIN AND ABIDE!
“for the laborer is worthy of his wages.” God will bless us and hold us up when we abide to His Word and calling. We’re all called to be laborers today! but so many of us find comfort in only being apart of the great harvest. Remember what the Lord said? “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” I WILL BE A PART OF THE FEW AND THE PLENTIFUL! I AM THE LORDS FAITHFUL LABORER BECAUSE THAT IS MY CALLING!
Dealing with Doubt
Written by Brennen Lesser
Reposted with Permission
Doubt is a big issue in all our lives. It attacks daily! It could be through our finances or abilities. It’s just when doubt enters the picture we have a decision to make. Trust God or trust ourselves.
I feel I’m a pretty decent drummer. Lots of room for improvement, but decent none the less. Would you believe I got kicked out of my first band for being a terrible drummer? I practiced a lot, but despite my huge efforts to improve I just didn’t cut it. They cut me loose and I was sitting there knowing God called me to play this instrument, but I sucked at it. I began to doubt if this was the right decision in direction for my life. I believed God called me to play, so I trusted God and kept practicing. Less than a month later the band requested my assistance once again because they described my playing went from night to day! The moment I trusted God he took the wheel! 
There was a ton of doubt that followed Christ and His ministry. Read Mark 11:12-14Mark 11:12-14
English: World English Bible - WEB
12 The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry.
13 Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
14 Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.
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The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
To quote my friend Dustin, “He was talking to a tree, everyone thought homeboy was crazy!”
Even in Jesus home town of Nazareth they didn’t receive him! In the Gospel of John, Nathaniel asks, “can anything good come from Nazareth?”. The Gospel of Mark argues that Nazareth did not believe in Jesus and Christ hands were useless there. He couldn’t do mighty works! In the Gospel of Luke, the Nazarenes are described as attempting to toss Jesus off a cliff to kill him! Nazareth sounds like a real rough crowd!
Even in the pregnancy of Jesus there was much doubt. There was thing thing called the betrothal. It was the first part of the Jewish tradition involving marriage. They’d get married but then instead of having sex they’d abstain from it and live at home with their parents for another year. The bride proved herself sexually pure while the husband built an addition onto his parents home. When the time came to when they were ready to finally unite together and become the new couple, they were carried to their new home by their family and friends! Now when Gabriel appeared to Mary, this was during their betrothal. A pregnant Mary was a BIG deal. You can’t appear sexually pure with a baby bump! Joseph could of divorced her and by law she would of been stoned to death. Luckily Joseph caught on and took the unspoken blame to preserve the life of our saviour and his soon to be official wife. So when they celebrated and carried them to their home together, they were carrying a VERY knocked up Mary and it would safe to assume a very loosely moral couple. They doubted their faith I’m sure! Just as they doubted their son Jesus!
Even John the baptist expected more from this Christ! He sent letters from prison asking, “are you actually Christ? or should we expect someone else?”. He sent this letter after pointing Jesus out and shouting, “There he is, the one and only, yada yada yada”. Christ was doubted! but He still got through it and was proven to be the perfect Man, and the Son of God who took our sins.
Christ put His faith in His Father. Just as We should. Let’s talk about Elijah who put his faith in God and his own abilities.
God called Elijah to confront a wicked King and Queen.
1 Kings 17:11 Kings 17:1
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17
1 Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
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Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe [a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
Awesome! What a might bold move to follow God’s Word! but the thing the God tells elijah to do next is quite weird
1 Kings 1:2-41 Kings 1:2-4
English: World English Bible - WEB
2 Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.
3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.
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Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”
…If I heard a voice in my head that said, “go and hide, I’ll feed you with birds”, I’d see a doctor. I would really doubt that kind of conviction. I would fight the idea of it being God, but he didn’t!
1 Kings 1:5-61 Kings 1:5-6
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
6 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.
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So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
Read this Chapter to the end and you’ll see that God eventually called Elijah west to a town named Zarephath where a widow would take care of him. West. Right back through a town where a King and queen wanted him killed because he brought a major drought on them. West, right through a desert DURING A DROUGHT. Once again, I’d be saying to myself, “totally not God’s voice, It must be the boredom”. But Elijah traveled and obeyed the Lord’s Word. He arrived and a widow took care of him! and quite sometime while living there the widows son had died. The widow blamed Elijah! Elijah could of put her in her place since he had done no wrong to her but instead took the boy up stairs and it says that he “stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”" stretched himself out on the boy three times, what an awkward thing to do but I assume this was a conviction from God. Elijah’s obedience and faith were the result of the first resurrection miracle!
Elijah didn’t doubt.
Read 1 kings 18:16-451 kings 18:16-45
English: World English Bible - WEB
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 It happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel?
18 He answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you have followed the Baals.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, who eat at Jezebel’s table.
20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
21 Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people answered him not a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under.
24 You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh; and the God who answers by fire, let him be God.”
All the people answered, “It is well said.”
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any who answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
27 It happened at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god: either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleeps and must be awakened.
28 They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
29 It was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening offering; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any who regarded.
30 Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that was thrown down.
31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, Israel shall be your name.
32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.
34 He said, Do it the second time; and they did it the second time. He said, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time.
35 The water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 It happened at the time of the offering of the evening offering, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37 Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Yahweh, he is God; Yahweh, he is God.
40 and Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; don’t let one of them escape. They took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
41 Elijah said to Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
43 He said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. He went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. He said, Go again seven times.
44 It happened at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, Go up, tell Ahab, Make ready your chariot, and get you down, that the rain not stop you.
45 It happened in a little while, that the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel:
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16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the LORD’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs [a] of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”
34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!”
40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
AMAZING! Elijah didn’t doubt and it allowed the Lord to flow through him like no other at that time! Fire from heaven! The end of a three year drought! and the “power of the LORD came upon Elijah” and he out ran a kings chariot! all in one day!
But in 1 Kings 19 doubt finally hits Elijah. The queen threatens his life and splits. He fell apart.
I’m sure you get it now. We need to put faith in God and not our abilities, but how do we do that? We have to understand what faith is – Hebrews 11:1Hebrews 11:1
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1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
WP-Bible plugin (Amplified Bible) NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses! My senses tell me I’m not a good person. My senses tell me I’m too stupid to type out blog of this length. My senses tell me most of you haven’t even read this far into this. But faith is the assurance of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see. I believe someone out there will read this and get a lot of it!
We have to believe and expect God is going to pull us through and guide us! We must operate like He already is!
Now that we understand Faith, let’s put it in His Word for when we are feeling doubtful.
2 Timothy 1:72 Timothy 1:7
English: World English Bible - WEB
7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
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For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
You see! If we are born again believers then we are entitled to this! God promises us we have a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. Even if our senses tell us other wise, God’s Word is where my faith is.
We all get attacked with doubt. That’s why this war on doubt doesn’t stop at us regaining our footing on our own. We need to ask for help, and we need to help others! Even Moses asked for help several times! Here is one passage that clearly puts faith and team work together!
Exodus 17:8-13Exodus 17:8-13
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8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s rod in my hand.”
10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 It happened, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset.
13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
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8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
They held his hands up all day. They helped him in his time of weakness. To simply conclude this; Use faith in God’s powerful Word to defeat doubt and our various weaknesses, and help others in their doubt and weakness!
Praise God for His amazing love and promises!
I don’t mean to alarm you but …
Don’t be surprised, you live in a Post modern world..
• Post Modernism is Pessimistic: The Post modern society has rejected the confidence in Self. We don’t believe that science can really solve all the world’s problems. So we are looking to religion, new age philosophies, meditation. We don’t see the future being any brighter than today (e.g. Green house dilemma). There is a general feeling of despair which explains the growing suicide rate, particularly among teenagers. What hope can we as Christians give in a seemingly hopeless world?
• Post Modernism is Relativistic : For the Post modernist – there are no universal principles that apply to all cultures and all people. You just have to look at the supposedly absolute scientific laws being called into question by Einstein’s theories of relativity and chaos theory. There is nothing transcendent which is constant regardless of us. There is nothing objective either in the scientific world or the moral area. Everything is relative to our understanding at this particular time. As Christians, we believe we have absolute universal truths and guidelines on how to live our lives, but they can not be accepted by the Postmodernist because they are …
• Post Modernism is Subjective : The Post modernist believes that truth and all moral values are created by society and adopted by individuals. Every truth that we hold to is therefore subjective.
“Truth to the postmodernist is purely subjective; it is merely what happens to make sense to me. Something quite different may make sense to you; it then becomes your truth. Moreover there are no documents of law, history, tradition, or religion which can guide or unite us. For what is decisive in the interpretation of a text is not the identity and intension of its author, but rather the impact which it makes on each reader” (John Stott).
The Post modernist doesn’t recognize the authority of the Bible as an absolute. Truth comes from what I perceive to be true, not from what an old book says is true. Therefore truth is in a constant state of flux. How do Christians communicate with people who don’t care one bit what the Bible says or what you say it says?
• Post Modernism is Experience Focused : The Postmodernist is focused on the present and on experiences. Experiences are far more important than logic or reason What I feel and what happens to me now is important. I don’t care about the past or the future, I live for the present. Life is seen as end in itself. There is no benefit to living a moral life, because there is nothing after death. Life is the prize, so enjoy it. “The old paradigm taught that if you have the right teaching, you will experience God. The new paradigm says that if you experience God, you will have the right teaching” (Gene Veith). So if we feel truth in Buddhism or meditation, then it is the right way to go – for you.
• Post Modernism is Personal : Because truth is based on my personal beliefs, ethical decisions remain within the sphere of my life only. They are a private matter and have nothing to do with society or corporate life. Society can not tell me what is right or wrong for me. We see this again and again in the legal system. Listen to these beauties
Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $780,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little toddler was Ms. Robertson’s son.
A 19-year-old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently didn’t notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor’s hubcaps.
Terrence Dickson of Bristol, Pennsylvania, was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn’t reenter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation, and Mr.Dickson found himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found and a large bag of dry dog food. He sued the homeowner’s insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed to the tune of $500,000.
This is society we live in when people are concerned only for them self and not for society at large. They are able to justify their own behavior no matter what. Yet, somewhere down there is a belief in something absolute. No post modernist would accept that you choosing to kill them is right or good, regardless of what they believed about ethics being personal – though they say that ethics is personal, their beliefs don’t quite stack up. So how do we communicate to people like this that there is a standard of ethical behavior which is right and one which is wrong and it is based on God’s standard?
• Post Modernism is Tolerant : Post modernists demand tolerance. “Because truth and ethical decisions are based on what I hold to be true, and because they are personal and not open to comment from society, you must accept them. You must be tolerant of all truth claims”, says the Post Modernist. The only thing that can’t be tolerated is a superior “truth claims.” Anyone who claims to have an exclusive truth is branded as a fundamentalist and is denounced. This belief has led to Pluralism – an acceptance that all truths are equally valid and provide an acceptable path to salvation. When we talk to people outside of these 4 walls, we have to accept the fact that they are starting from a very different point of view than our own. How do we handle that?
How then do we operate in a post modern world???
What makes a rainbow?
A young boy once approached his father to ask, “Dad, why does the wind blow?”, to which the father responded, “I don’t know, son.” “Dad, where do the clouds come from?” “I’m not sure, son.” “Dad, what makes a rainbow?” “No idea, son.” “Dad, do you mind me asking you all these questions?” “Not at all, son. How else are you going to learn?”
One “Think Take” put forth this statement concerning knowledge: Knowledge is exploding at such a rate–more than 2000 pages a minute–that even Einstein couldn’t keep up. In fact, if you read 24 hours a day, from age 21 to 70, and retained all you read, you would be one and a half million years behind when you finished.
Knowledge is not a bad thing to have most of the time. In fact, I am so very thankful for the knowledge that has come forward that makes life a little easier. I thank God for the knowledge that brought forth new methods and new instruments that enable us to preach the gospel more effectively and to reach more people than ever before.
But knowledge alone is not enough. For knowledge to be as good as it can be, we must be able to use that knowledge with wisdom.
It has been said that, “Knowledge comes from what we have studied. Wisdom comes from using what we know with the wrong results.”
For knowledge to be useful, wisdom must be applied.
The problem is that most of the world uses its knowledge based upon the wisdom of the world without God. Man thinks that he is as good, or better than God, or doesn’t believe in a supreme God at all.
Proverbs 9:10Proverbs 9:10
English: World English Bible - WEB
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
WP-Bible plugin says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
The Apostle Paul even warned Timothy that in the last days, knowledge would be ever increasing, but that man would never be able to find the truth because he refused to believe in the source of all Truth. Jesus said that He was the “Truth, the Life and the Way.”
If mankind won’t accept that Jesus is Truth, and that God is the Creator, the source of all knowledge and wisdom, then how can mankind ever use what he learns wisely?
Knowledge, without the fear of the Lord, and the wisdom to use the knowledge we learn, is a very dangerous thing. It can become a hindrance instead of helping him.
Knowledge creates within the heart of man a desire for things that he does not understand or need. In other words, it becomes a source of temptation.
Knowledge will add greatly to the burdens of life that we must bear. Who can deny the fact that the more we know, the heavier our burdens will become? While I don’t think that we should remain ignorant, I am also keenly aware that the more we know, the more life will demand from us.
Knowledge also increases the risk of a prideful spirit entering into our hearts.
So knowledge is not always a good thing. Sometimes it can even be a dangerous thing. What is it that makes knowledge worth knowing? It’s knowing the source of knowledge in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we come to know the Lord, the knowledge that we attain suddenly has a deeper meaning than ever before. With knowledge, we gain the wisdom to use it through the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Sometimes knowledge can be a wonderful thing. I want to know more about my Lord. I want to know more about His Word. I want to know more about His ways. But, I must first know Him, as my Lord and Savior, and then that knowledge will be a blessing and not a curse.
James 1:5James 1:5
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
WP-Bible plugin, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
It is good to seek knowledge, but don’t forget to ask God for the wisdom to use the knowledge that you get.
La Casa de Fe
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights
of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly.
Defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31: 8-9Proverbs 31: 8-9
English: World English Bible - WEB
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
In the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And serve justice to the poor and needy.”
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If you haven’t yet … check out www.lacasadefe.org
This is a ministry dear to my heart and one I will be visiting again this July!
“Hard to be”
“And why it’s hard to be
Hard to be
Hard to be a decent human being
Childbirth is painful
We toil to grow our food
Ignorance made us hungry
Information made us no good
Every burden misunderstood”
-Hard to be
David Bazan
Since Adam and Eve, men have always tried to cover sin themselves. Some try to cover their sin by religion, by good works, and even denying sin.
But all fail dreadfully short.
Verse 21 of Genesis Chapter Three says “for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics/garments of skin, and clothed them.” Adam and Eve had tried to cover their shame with fig leaves but they couldn’t. Only God could do that, and it required a sacrifice and the shedding of blood. This was a defining sacrifice, the first sign of the coming Lamb of God who would shed His blood for a world of sinners that their sin and shame might be covered.
The truth is that every bad thing that ever happens in this world, whether it is disease, death, divorce, depression, or destitution is rooted in the events of this chapter.
We are all Adam and Eve. We have all been beguiled by Satan and have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The consequences of sin is why life is so hard. But God has sent His Lamb to the altar, and our guilt and shame can be forever covered by His precious blood. Adam and Eve let God cover their guilt and shame.
What will you do?
God Is God And Has Not Changed – Part V (Final)
God’s LOVE has not changed
Did you know that from the beginning of time… God has loved you? It is true. From the beginning of time God has loved you. 
“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Ephesians 1:4Ephesians 1:4
English: World English Bible - WEB
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;
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or
“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” Ephesians 1:4Ephesians 1:4
English: World English Bible - WEB
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;
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God loves us with an everlasting love.
God loves us with an unchanging love.
I have the honor and privilege of seeing my children grow up. My children have a tendency of getting dirty. I take them outside and they seemed to look for ways to get dirty. If there was a mud puddle, they would fall in it. They love to make a mess of themselves.
Do I quiet loving them because they are covered with filth?
Do I give them up for adoption because they are dirty?
Do I disown them for playing in the mud?
No!
They are still my children and there is nothing wrong with them that a little cleansing or a little scrubbing would not fix. I take them and wash them – scrub them up – make them clean again.
They are always my children … no matter how dirty they get.
The same is true of God. He knows that we have been playing out in the mud. He knows that we have gotten dirty. He knows what kind of filth is clinging to our clothes. He also has a way to clean us up.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:91 John 1:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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We need to confess that we have fallen – that we are dirty – and that we need to be cleaned up. We need be washed by the Father and He will do it! Why? Because He loves you … because He cares for you …
He has always loved you
He will always love you because His love is unchangeable.
It reaches to the highest heaven but it also reaches down to the lowest cesspool.
He knows our sins … He knows our faults and He wants to clean you up.
What are you going to do? Are you going to let Him clean you up? He is faithful – forever and ever and ever – to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. God’s love for you has not changed – no matter how dirty you have gotten.
God Is God And Has Not Changed – Part IV
God’s PROMISES have not changed 
Ah! We sure like to rest on the sweet promises of God – don’t we? But what if one of those promises changes? What if one of those promises turns out to be false. Where is the promise – if it turns out to be a lie?
You have been lied to, but here is a fact – you have never been lied to by God.
What He says – He does. His yes is always yes and His no is always no. He does not change. He does not give you a promise one day and take it back the next. God does not work that way.
“God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.” Hebrews 6:18Hebrews 6:18
English: World English Bible - WEB
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.
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A promise is never a promise if it is changing all the time. I don’t know about you but I want something solid … something that is sure … something that I can rely on … and that something are the promises of God.
God’s Word is full of promises and they do not change.
There is an old hymn that speaks about the promises of God:
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior,
Standing, Standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior,
Standing, Standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
You can rest assured that you can stand on the promises of God because God’s promises have not changed.
“I am God—yes, I Am. I haven’t changed.” Malachi 3:6Malachi 3:6
English: World English Bible - WEB
6 “For I, Yahweh, don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
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