|||there is something about the testimony|||that instinctively breathes into our|||soul a courage for radical obedience|||it's a part of the process it's how you|||keep strong in your confidence and faith|||in|||god psalm 78 are you there|||we'll start what right with|||verse three|||
is referring to dark sayings and|||parables he says which we have heard and|||known|||and our fathers have told us we will not|||hide them from their children|||telling to the generation to come the|||praises of the lord and his strength and|||his wonderful works that he has done|||what just happened there now think while|||you're reading this|||
they are being exhorted to train their|||children on not only the report of the|||law of god the commandments but to train|||them with the report of his wonderful|||works which is what that's a testimony|||yes|||yes all right|||verse 5 he established a testimony in|||jacob he appointed a law in israel which|||he commanded our fathers that they|||
should make them known to their children|||that the generation to come might know|||them the children who would be born that|||they may arise and declare them to their|||children so if you can see this was a|||pattern of a value system for the spoken|||or written record of all that god's done|||to be given to this generation that they|||would give it to the next generation|||they'd give to the next generation now|||
it tells us why and this is important|||verse 7|||that they may set their hope in god|||there's something about the testimony|||that conditions or positions a child or|||an adult to position himself to place|||hope in god when a trial comes their|||instinctive response is i'm going to|||trust god he's the god who works wonders|||i don't understand what he's going to do|||
i don't know how he's going to do it but|||i'm going to trust him where did that|||come from it came because the cloud of|||their heart so so to speak was seated|||with this thought that god is faithful|||in impossible situations so here it says|||it says that they may set their hope in|||god and not forget his works the works|||of god keep his commandments are you|||guys still alive|||
you sure you're still alive|||all right|||what i want you to notice is is not|||forgetting the works of god and keeping|||the commandments|||the testimony and the courage to obey|||they're connected|||this is really a big deal because what|||we do for ourselves what we do for our|||children our grandchildren we set the|||
stage for them to have courage because|||it takes courage to obey god it takes|||courage we want courageous obedience|||radical obedience out of my life that's|||what i want so here he says we keep the|||testimony going multiple generations why|||so that they'll put hope in god and that|||they're there they won't forget the|||works of god and will have the courage|||to obey god|||
now he illustrates it in the next three|||verses all right verse nine|||that the children of ephraim being armed|||and carrying bows turned back in the day|||of battle they did not keep the covenant|||of god they refused to walk in his law|||they forgot his works and his wonders|||that he had shown them okay walk through|||this these three verses with me verse|||nine the children of ephraim are armed|||
in other words they're prepared for|||battle they're skilled they're trained|||for battle they've got all the equipment|||necessary he said the children of|||ephraim being armed and carrying both|||turned back in the day of battle so why|||did they turn back in in why did they|||become cowardly when there was a|||conflict|||verse 10 tells you because they didn't|||
keep the covenant of god they refused to|||walk in his law|||how do you know if you're not walking|||into obedience spiritual warfare is not|||where you want to be|||because you you become very vulnerable|||so they turn back in the day of battle|||why because they didn't they had not|||been walking in obedience why weren't|||they walking in obedience verse 11. they|||
forgot his works and the wonders that he|||had shown them there is something about|||the testimony that instinctively|||breathes into our soul a courage for|||radical obedience it's a part of the|||process it's how you keep strong in your|||confidence and faith in god|||what happens if if the the testimony of|||the lord if we decline in sharing|||testimony then we see miracles less|||
if we see miracles less we expect them|||less|||if we expect them less we talk about|||them less if we talk about them less we|||see them less we expect there's this|||downward spiral|||into the point where miracles have|||become a mere|||part of our history some time ago god|||used to do such and such which is where|||
so much of the church is right now it|||was in their history it was in israel's|||history it was in the the book of acts|||it was it was the memory of something|||that happened back there but it's not a|||current reality it's not a present tense|||experience|||and the testimony is supposed to become|||that which invites us into this|||relational journey where we learn how to|||
take we learn how to take these things|||that god has said and we simply trust|||god we put our lives on the line to take|||risk to see what he might do|||and it's simply because|||i've been built up by the record of the|||supernatural interventions of god|||i love it when|||god will give us a glimpse|||of what he's doing|||
because it's fun to gain an|||understanding|||but oftentimes he moves and i'm just|||clueless|||i'm a clueless observer that's just|||frantically trying to learn|||i'm not a facilitator you know in the|||sense that i made anything happen i'm|||just i'm i've told him i said god i just|||want to be in the room it doesn't have|||
to come from me i just want to be a part|||and there are there are things that he|||does the moment in dallas where|||pray for this individual who|||with the lightning oh god literally goes|||through him from head to toe and he's|||completely delivered and healed of|||schizophrenia|||completely he comes to me a year later|||in his right mind completely|||
because god brought a miracle to him he|||ended up going to africa and ministered|||i think he personally was able to bring|||liberty and freedom through his own|||testimony to about 40 people that were|||considered insane mentally gone|||it's a testimony it's it's like|||god has give imagine being given um|||you know a priceless|||gem|||
uh how many know if you've been if|||somebody comes to you and says i'll give|||you a million dollars if you can wear|||this ring it's worth 10 million dollars|||you can't lose it|||but you have to wear it you can't put it|||hide it away|||how many of you think you've got that|||ring on your hand you're going to be|||looking at it all day long you're going|||
to be wrapping tape you're going to do|||all kinds of stuff to make sure we don't|||lose this thing all right|||i'm aware of the value of what's on my|||hand|||are you aware of the value of what's in|||your mouth it's the record it's the it's|||the revelatory|||testimony of the heart the nature the|||covenant of god that actually invites|||
people into a personal relationship with|||jesus|||paul when he was in trouble he would|||revert to his personal story into his|||own testimony it's not just the miracles|||of healing it's the deliverance|||salvation is the greatest miracle of all|||and everybody in this room has that kind|||of a story|||i believe that god wants to give us an|||
upgrade|||and this will sound a little strange but|||but actually the whole thing's been|||rather strange so|||it's that's|||if|||if you want to if you want to change the|||atmosphere of a room|||go to you know say a restaurant|||go into a restaurant three or four|||
people sit down and take the first 20|||minutes only to share miracle stories|||i don't mean miracle stories so that you|||impress people around you i mean so that|||the atmosphere changes because the|||angelic realm is fascinated by your|||perspective of jesus the son of god and|||they love hearing the stories of what|||you've had happen what you've seen what|||you know about him they are enthralled|||
with him but every story we share they|||catch another glimpse of what he's like|||through the eyes of someone who is|||redeemed|||sharing stories|||i i feel like the lord would just give|||us an upgrade in this area we're going|||to be touching|||you know i'm thankful beyond words on|||what i've seen happen what we've seen|||
happen we've seen happen in this room|||what we've seen happen in our city it's|||just it floors me sometimes i i get in|||here early sunday morning i just walk|||around and i just i just remember oh|||colon cancer was healed here|||a woman after 50 some years in a|||wheelchair gets out right there after a|||stroke she walks|||right over here|||
um ms multiple sclerosis was healed west|||nile vir or noah uh m.e uh this same|||person had several conditions they were|||healed just walk around this room the|||guy who was run over by a 14-ton truck|||completely crushed his ankle and he|||receives prayer over here there's a pop|||his nut his ankle turns cold there's a|||pop and it's completely totally healed|||completely|||
just go through the story one after the|||other the woman who who could hardly|||open her mouth just very little movement|||because he broke her jaw ten years|||earlier and there was very little|||movement extreme pain to open her mouth|||wide the dentist they didn't have time|||to give her any kind of|||novocaine or anything uh because of the|||pain she suffered with and yet one|||
sunday morning just simply praying for|||those with broken bones she's instantly|||completely totally healed|||right back over here a man with prostate|||cancer that's healed a woman right down|||here a tumor in her breast just simply|||devol dissolves and the stories go on|||and on and on and on there are hundreds|||and hundreds and hundreds of them|||but none of them are|||
badges of honor|||they're all records of a|||of a god who is willing to work|||in and through very imperfect people|||he just he just looks for people that|||have a value for his nature|||and will give him an opportunity to do|||what he does best|||he works in the impossible|||i'm there in the journey|||
and i believe in this fall season we've|||got some stuff coming up in another|||couple weeks three weeks maybe|||we're going to be targeting this even|||more not the testimony side but the|||miracle route because i believe it's a|||season for an upgrade|||this season five|||and it's it's honestly for everybody in|||this room you know jesus asked the|||
questions of his disciples once they|||were they were bewildered by the|||challenge that he had just given him|||they they just it's one of these moments|||they're they're literally just beside|||themselves bewildered|||and so he then asked them this series of|||questions and these series of questions|||have helped me a lot|||he asked his disciples because they were|||
they were concerned about not having|||enough food after he just multiplied|||food you know like the day before which|||is|||it just comforts me to see other people|||that think as dumb as i do i just and|||when it's in the bible i just feel so|||much better|||and so they're puzzled by this and then|||jesus asked them a series of questions|||
he says can you see|||and you can tell they're not answering|||so he says can you hear|||and they're still just staring|||and he says can you remember those|||questions have helped me incredibly|||because there are times i'm i'm tr i i'm|||always trying to see i'm always trying|||to see what is god doing i'm always|||trying to hear what is he saying so|||
let's just say in a moment like this i'm|||just trying to discern what is it the|||lord is doing around the room and so he|||comes to me and he says can you see and|||my heartfelt response is|||no i i don't see anything|||so then he says what can you hear|||well my hearing's better than my scene|||but at the moment i don't hear anything|||and then he says can you remember|||
yes i can|||i can remember|||i can remember|||i can remember flying back from new|||zealand|||after having spent some time with great|||hero of the faith for me winky pratny it|||had a stroke his brain part of his brain|||literally just blew up|||and he was completely healed restored in|||
his right mind i was on the plane|||thinking about this miracle of healing|||with the brain|||and i recall to my mind roland baker a|||wonderful friend of our house had had|||x-rays of his brain actually dying|||and the lord completely healed him|||raised him up so i'm thinking on the|||plane flying back from new zealand these|||are the two smartest men i have ever met|||
and god restored their brains i'll bet|||god is healing brains|||i'll bet that's what he's doing|||can you see i don't see it and i don't|||hear it but i i can remember|||and the the more i remember the better i|||hear and the more i hear the better i|||see|||so we came in here on a sunday and i|||called out i said god is healing brains|||
went right back here you remember this|||kevin you were right back here praying|||for this young lady she's in fact we|||have the testimony in video she was|||dying|||she was dying terminal systemic lupus of|||the brain|||chris had a word of knowledge but|||somebody had a blow to the head she's|||right back there|||
and she would uh when she'd get up in|||the morning sometimes she'd pass out and|||she'd be unconscious for 30 days|||30 days|||she's dying of this of this disease|||and|||chris has this word of knowledge and|||pray here's this moment god is healing|||brains and what happens|||she's completely healed her mother looks|||
at her the next morning says you look|||like you did before the accident|||before the accident she then comes to|||the school of ministry i think she's in|||oxford right now she's in some smart|||school because she's a smarty|||smart|||so the lord heals|||a young kid over here he had a head that|||was misshapen|||
because of abuse he was two years old i|||think he was two|||and it misshapen he was very|||disconnected he didn't associate with|||people he'd wake up in the morning he's|||very disconnected|||and some of our students prayed for him|||after this announcement god is healing|||brains|||and they pray for this child the next|||
morning the child comes into his mother|||which is a mural comes into the mother|||and said i had a dream|||last night excuse me he was four so this|||happened until the time he was two|||he said i had a dream last night|||i'm okay now|||and they examined him and his head was|||back to normal shape|||god is healing brains|||
[Applause]|||why don't you stand|||can you see yeah i'm not seeing much|||can hear i try|||sometimes i hear|||can you remember|||can you remember|||folks listen to me|||you have a responsibility this is not a|||pastoral issue|||
this is not a ministry team issue|||this is a people of god issue|||what have you seen god do here's the|||great news you may say i've hardly ever|||seen anything happen i mean my own|||testimony is a great miracle but i've|||never seen healing or or deliverance or|||any of those things and that's you know|||that's totally fine i had a long season|||in my life where i'd never seen anything|||
but there's a verse in psalms 119|||verse 111|||and it makes this statement the|||testimony of the lord is your|||inheritance forever|||think about it the testimony of the lord|||is your inheritance forever what is the|||testimony of the lord it's the full|||record of anything he has ever done on|||planet earth|||
he did it with moses|||he did it with the elijah with david|||with paul with whoever it's your story|||it's your testimony|||no you didn't get|||it|||the full record of god's activity with|||people is your inheritance|||why is that important why is that|||important|||
because the scripture says|||they overcame him by the blood of the|||lamb there's the legal basis and the|||word of your testimony so now the word|||of my testimony is not just what i have|||experienced in my life but it includes|||what you've experienced so i hear your|||story that's a part of my weaponry|||that's a part of the tools that i use to|||ensure i walk in victory in this present|||
situation|||
Be the first to comment