November 12, 2018
Misti Coker
Jeff Jackson was the visiting pastor last Sunday. His sermon was entitled “Title or Testimony.”
Love it? I do.
Just what is a TITLE vs. a TESTIMONY?
Title: name that describes your job or position (what you achieve)
Testimony: recounting of conversion or experience (what God does)
Leaving the airport last night, I began thinking about my dad. My dad flew a widow maker in WWII. He was the pilot of a bomber plane. For many years I heard stories of his ventures in France. Living in the cold of winter in a tent! Can you imagine?
As we took off the weather was stormy, and the visibility was 0! I’m a little frightened of flying, but every time I fly I go back to my dad and the stories he told. If he could take off with no visibility on where he was going or what he was going to encounter, I could ride in a commercial plane into the friendly skies.
My dad lived through the war to tell about it. Many veterans have done the same, and all of us have learned from them through their testimonies.
We all have stories, we all have testimonies, we all have war stories.
What makes the difference? Us SHARING OUR WAR STORIES.
I was led to an article, “REFLECTIONS OF LEADERSHIP.” A pastor of a church had recognition Sunday much like what I think of when I think of our senior Sunday. The students stood up and told where they were going to college and what they were studying.
After the students were finished, the pastor began to speak. He told them,
“You are all going to die, be thrown in a hole, covered with dirt and everyone is going to go back to the church and eat potato salad. You were the only one crying at your birth, and everyone else was happy. At your death, you will be happy. What will everyone else be? It depends on what you have lived for. Do you live for a title or testimonies?”
The pastor then proceeded to go through the bible, Pharaoh had a title, Moses had a testimony, King Nebuchadnezzar had a title Daniel had a testimony, Pontius Pilate had a title, BUT JESUS has a testimony.
This is true, one day we will die what are people going to say about us? Are they going to tell that you were president of this board and that board or are they going to speak on what a good person you were and what you did for others as a servant for Christ?
SO, ARE YOU GOING TO BE A TITLE OR HAVE A TESTIMONY?
1 Peter 3:15 1 Peter 3:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyonewho asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
When we tell our stories, we give honor to God. No matter whether we have a spectacular story or an ordinary story through your account you show others how God changed your life. When we share our stories, we bring others hope and draw them closer to God.
1 Peter 3:15 tells us to be prepared to give our testimony no matter whether we are in the grocery store or at church. The Bible tells us always to be ready to explain our hope in Christ.
All of our testimonies are different. Mine began during my childhood, but I experienced a conversion in 2010. That spring Mrs. Avery told me that God had told her to put me on their prayer list at church. I am still on that list today. That story is for another day, but it is for you to realize that all of us have stories, different stories, at different times for various reasons.
No matter what my testimony or your testimony through your story you are giving honor to God and sharing hope and helping others to press on.
Share your story of your warzone!
CHALLENGES OF THE WEEK:
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Keep your daily appointment with God
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Dive into scripture studying daily
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Look at yourself in the mirror and ask, “Am I living for a title or a testimony?”
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Fill yourself with Christ so that you can fill others with Him
Prayers, love and hugs,
Cupcake
Referenced Articles:
Preparing Your Personal Testimony
https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/evangelism-principles/preparing-your-personal-testimony.html
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