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"OUR TESTIMONY!"

 

Let's consider the "TESTIMONY of one more of whom the Apostle Paul wrote, namely, his son in the Faith, TIMOTHY. Note with me the charge that was given to this Young Man in this letter that was directed to him. The Apostle wrote,

 

"Timothy, be a Vessel of Honor, Sanctified and Useful for the Master, Prepared for every Good Work. Avoid foolish and ignorant Disputes, knowing that they generate STRIFE. Do not Quarrel, but be Gentle to all, and In Humility correcting those who are in Opposition. Continue in the things which you have learned and are assured of: for from Childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you Wise unto Salvation. For ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is Profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness, that you may be Complete and thoroughly Equipped for every Good Work. Preach the Word! Be Ready in Season and out of Season. Be Watchful in all things. Endure Afflictions, fulfill your Ministry."

 

What a Charge and Challenge for this Young Man who was exhorted to "WAGE THE GOOD WARFARE, HAVING FAITH AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE. LET NO ONE DESPISE YOUR YOUTH, BUT BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE BELIEVERS IN WORD, IN CONDUCT, IN LOVE, IN SPIRIT, IN FAITH, IN PURITY."

 

At the conclusion of this Second Letter to Timothy, the Apostle wrote, "CONTENTMENT WITH GODLINESS IS GREAT GAIN!" "Fight the Good Fight of "THE FAITH!" Take hold of Eternal Life to which you were called when you MADE YOUR GOOD CONFESSION IN THE PRESENCE OF "MANY" WITNESSES. I CHARGE YOU TO KEEP THIS COMMAND WITHOUT SPOT OR BLAME UNTIL THE APPEARING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."

 

Timothy indeed made a very clear STATEMENT! Even though only a Young Man, he was greatly RESPECTED in his Hometown. He was the Apostle Paul's SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE on a number of occasions. He was given tremendous responsibilities in the Teaching of the Word of God. And just think, this Young Man received TWO LETTERS from Paul that are among all the Books of the HOLY SCRIPTURES. 

 

O yes, Friend, YOUTHFUL TIMOTHY was not about to turn to the left or to the right, but he Kept his Eyes on JESUS, the only One who has the words of ETERNAL LIFE. What "STATEMENT" do our lives make for our LORD AND SAVIOR?

 

ARE WE AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVER IN WORD, CONDUCT, LOVE, SPIRIT, FAITH AND  PURITY? WE "ALL" MUST "PERSONALLY" ANSWER THIS QUESTION BEFORE THE LORD!

 

"I BECEECH YOU THEREFORE BRETHREN, HAVING YOUR EYES WIDE

OPEN TO THE MERCIES OF GOD, PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING

SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE; AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE YOU TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE

WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD."

                                         ROMANS 12:1-2

 

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     "IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST JESUS HE IS A NEW CREATION

           THE OLD IS GONE AND THE NEW HAS COME!"

"OUR TESTIMONY"

Chapter Eleven of the Book of Hebrews gives a tremendous list of past hero's of the Faith. Of this Great Cloud of Witnesses recorded, which includes such Men and Women as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, King David, Daniel, Samuel, who "through Faith subdued Kingdoms, worked Righteousness; Obtained Promises,

Stopped the Mouths of Lions; Quenched the Violence of Fire, Escaped the Edge of the Sword; Out of Weakness were made Strong; Became Valiant in Battle; Turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens; Women received their Dead Raised to Life again Others were Tortured, not Accepting Deliverance, that they might Obtain a Better Resurrection. Still others had Trial of Mockings, and Scourgings; Yes, and of Chains and Imprisonment. They were Stoned, they were Sawn in Two, were Tempted, were Slain with the Sword. They Wandered about in Sheep Skins and Goat Skins, being Destitute, Afflicted, Tormented, of whom the World was not Worthy. And "ALL" these, having Obtained a GOOD TESTIMONY! Hebrews 11

 

What are those last two very important words? They are "GOOD TESTIMONY!" O my Friend, WHAT A STATEMENT! What a DECLARATION! Cost what it may, they would serve the Lord, and Run the Race with Endurance as they looked to the LORD! What a Great Challenge for us Today! What tremendous INSPIRATION should Fire our Hearts as we read how this body of Redeemed Men and Women, this Great CLOUD OF WITNESSES STOOD STRONG FOR THE LORD! COST WHAT IT MAY, THEY KNEW THEY HAD A LIVING HOPE TO BE WITH THEIR CREATOR AND SAVIOR.

 

THEY KNEW THIS WORLD WAS NOT THEIR FINAL HOME. How true, Christian Friend, "This World is not our Home, We're just a Passing Through! We are just Pilgrims on a Journey that will ultimately take us into the very presence of GOD! What Amazing Grace! We will then be with the ONE who was Pierced for our Sins on the Cross, Yes, JESUS CHRIST THE LORD, who "LOVED US, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US!"

 

How can we do LESS, than give HIM our BEST, and LIVE for HIM completely, after all HE'S DONE FOR US! STAND UP, STAND UP, FOR JESUS!

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"HAVE YOU FELT HIS "PRUNING" HAND LATELY?

 

Much has been written about Chapter 15 of John's Gospel, "THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES" but regardless of the diverse opinions that have been given, one TRUTH STANDS OUT VERY CLEARLY; Believers cannot become "FRUITFUL" servants of Christ, unless there is an "ABIDING" relationship with CHRIST. The KEY to such an Abiding Relationship is found in the

 

                              "PRUNING" WORK OF THE LORD.

 

"Every Branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every Branch that bears fruit, HE "PRUNES" IT, that it may bring forth MORE FRUIT. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the Branch cannot bear fruit of itself, NEITHER CAN YOU, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME." John 15:2-4

 

We had some flowering bushes in our backyard where we formerly lived, and we knew how important it was to "PRUNE" them from time to time. This gives the bush much more strength, and the flowers just abound in their beauty. Friends, the "PRUNING" HAND OF GOD upon us Believers brings abundant results. 

                                   

 Allegra McBirney wrote:

 

"Lord, I got this booklet, "GUIDE TO PRUNING" supposedly to learn about my plants. But it turns out that I have learned far more about YOU as the Vine, me as a BRANCH, and the FATHER as the Gardener, than I have learned about my garden's care. I've seen that all these TESTING'S lately and the TEARS that I've been through, have really been the "PRUNING KNIFE" and not the ROD. MY guide to "PRUNING" says that "CUTTING BACK" will head off growth in the "WRONG" directions. Now I see that through these "TRIALS" YOU have done exactly that! It also says, "GOOD PRUNING" cuts the shoots that SAPS THE STRENGTH, and surely my distractions SAPPED me of the STRENGTH and TIME and LOVE that should have gone to YOU.

 

I NEEDED PROFESSIONAL ATTENTION! I used to think that all this "CUTTING BACK" was wrecking me, but now I see that it has "FORCED NEW GROWTH!" YOU knew it would! Now make me BEAR much more, and sweeter FRUIT. YOUR "PRUNING" was to bring my BRANCH perfection - not - destruction! YOUR guide to "PRUNING" is LOVE! The "CUTTING BACK" was painful and yet through it all, I felt YOUR closeness in a very special way. And now I know the Garden is never quite so near the Branch as when with HIS OWN HAND HE'S PRUNING IT." 

 

What a messge for you and for me. Jesus said, "I Am the Vine, you are the Branches. He who ABIDES in Me, and I in him, BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING." John 15:5 Fruit is the natural product of a living organism. The Church, the Body of Believers, is not merely an ORGANIZATION, BUT A LIVING ORGANISM, and the Fruit it brings forth is the result of a SPIRITUAL UNION with God. Remember, "The Fruit of the SPIRIT is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Faith, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness, Self-control, against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

 

               IS THERE A NEED FOR GOD TO DO SOME "PRUNING?"

                  ACCEPT IT FRIEND - THE RESULT IS GLORIOUS!

 

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Someone stated, "The way to find INNER PEACE is to "FINISH" the things you have started." A

number of years back we needed some work done on the interior of our home. We gave the work 

to a Painter who said he would have it all done in just a few days. Well, the few days turned into a

week, then two weeks, and we were wondering if the work would ever be FINISHED. In contrast,

when we had the exterior painted, and all the exterior vents replaced, in just 4 days they were

"FINISHED" and on to their next project. What a difference! What a contrast!

 

The person who stated "The way to find INNER PEACE is to "FINISH" the things you have started,"

also added, "that thought sounded good to me, so, I "FINISHED" the bag of Potato Chips, the box

of Cookies, the bar of Candy, and the large bottle of Coca Cola, AND I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER

ALREADY." All joking aside, WE DO CHERISH PEACE OF MIND, and we "ALL" feel so much better

when we can stand back and joyfully view the PROJECT we started, that is now successfully

                                                                          "FINISHED." 

 

Friend, on the Cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ cried out, "IT IS FINISHED!" The work of Redemption

was COMPLETED! In the Commentary of John Peter Lange we read: "Listen! At these words "IT IS

FINISHED" you hear fetters burst, and prison walls falling down; barriers as high as heaven are

overthrown. Every condition of the work of Human Redemption has been completed." Because of

the "FINISHED" work of CALVARY, God has made a promise that should give every Believer great

Peace of Mind. "BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHO HAS BEGUN A GOOD

WORK IN YOU WILL "FINISH IT" UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST." Philippians 1:6

 

That's right Christian Friend, The Lord is going to "FINISH" the work that was started in you when

you first opened your heart to Him, and claimed Him as your personal LORD AND SAVIOR. He may

have to use the rod of chastening along the way to keep our feet on the right path, BUT, IT IS FOR

OUR GOOD. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful, NEVERTHELESS,

                                                                   "AFTERWARD"

it yields the peaceable fruit of RIGHTEOUSNESS to those who have been trained by it." Heb. 12:11 

That is such GOOD NEWS! CHRIST IS FOREVER FAITHFUL TO HIS REDEEMED FAMILY. 

 

                     ARE WE, THE REDEEMED FAMILY, CONSISTENTLY FAITHFUL TO HIM?

 

What tremendous inner  peace of mind the Apostle Paul possessed when he could confidently say,

"I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE "FINISHED" MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH;

HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH THE LORD

SHALL GIVE ME AT THAT DAY; AND NOT TO ME ONLY, BUT TO "ALL" WHO ALSO LOVE HIS

APPEARING." II Timothy 4:7-8

 

                            DO YOU REALLY LOVE AND LONG FOR HIS APPEARING?

 

Or, are you silently saying, Lord, don't come too soon, for I haven't experienced much of life at this

point. I haven't enjoyed a marriage relationship; I haven't as yet made my first million; I haven't had

my chance for Major League Baseball, NBA Basketball, or NFL FOOTBALL. There's no question that

there is much to ENJOY here on earth, and with each passing day we do all we can to live one more

day, even though we get our share of its PAIN, and TRIALS. But, 

 

                                         PONDER THESE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE:

 

"EYE HAS NOT SEEN NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE

THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." I Corinthians 2:9 Let's keep

FOCUSED on what has LASTING VALUE, and not on that which is FLEETING, so that one day we

will be able to say, "I HAVE "FINISHED" MY COURSE" and hear those wonderful words of our Savior,

 

                         "WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!

 

                                         O YES, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

 

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