Even If … Believe! – Carla Shipp
As believers we must step out in faith, often times simply on the fact of who we know God to be. There are many times we wait to hear God’s instruction. We want Him to tell us what to do. However, God has told us who He is and that’s where our faith has to stand.
An example of this is found in the book of Daniel in chapters two and three. First we see Daniel, a young man brought as a captive from all he knew to a strange, foreign, and godless nation. He knew and feared the God of Israel and purposed in his heart to live for him. Through a great test he and the other Hebrew boys with him proved that the God of Israel’s ways were greater and wiser.
The day came when King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream that he could not remember, but one that disturbed him greatly. None of his counselors or wise men could tell him the dream or its meaning and in his rage the king commanded that all the wise men should be slain. This decree would include Daniel and his companions. When Daniel heard the tragic news he boldly went to the king and asked for time to show him the interpretation. The king agreed and Daniel went to his companions and asked them to “desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his friends should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel acted in faith and sought the Lord for help.
When Daniel went to the king and made his request, God hadn’t yet told Daniel the meaning of the dream or even said that He would show him. Daniel however knew that “wisdom and might are His and he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding; He revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him” Daniel 2: 20 -22.
Daniel stepped out in faith based on who He knew his God to be. He was living a life of humility, completely surrendered to God for his well-being. He wasn’t presumptuous, but completely dependent on God. God was faithful and revealed to Daniel the dream and its interpretation. The king was pleased, the wise men were spared, the God of Israel was exalted among the heathen, and Daniel and his companions were given great influence in the province of Babylon.
Another example of stepping out in faith on who we know God to be is seen in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. You know the story of the idol, the command to bow down, and the punishment of the fiery furnace if they didn’t. The three Hebrew boys answered the king boldly with who they knew their God to be. “[… O]ur God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve they gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” “ But if not.” These words are a statement of faith in the God they knew. He hadn’t told them that He would protect them. He hadn’t sent assurance that they would survive, just as Daniel didn’t know that God would reveal the dream, but they trusted who He was and gave their lives to serve Him, the one true God.
I pray to live my life, not waiting on God to give me every instruction in times of trouble, but to step out in obedience and faith in who God is so that He will receive the glory … even if!
Here I Raise Mine Ebenezer – Carla Shipp
One of my favorite hymns is “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Though all the words are powerful and full of meaning for believers, there are two lines that have especially stirred my heart as of late.
Here I raise mine Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I’m come
These words refer to 1 Samuel 7:12 where Samuel erects a stone of remembrance to recognize the help of the Lord in delivering the nation from the hands of the Philistines. He desires for them to have a constant reminder of God’s protection and victory. “A commemoration of divine assistance.”
God has been so faithful in our lives and in the life of First New Testament Church and I feel led to raise an Ebenezer to recognize His help in every moment and His grace poured out to supply our every need. It is essential to our faith to remember the past, how God has cared for us, led us, moved in our lives and brought us through. Just as we are to learn from our history as a people and nation, we are to learn from our history with our God. Remembering His faithfulness and past deliverances gives us strength to trust Him today, and we continue to pray “for grace to trust Him more.”
I remember God’s goodness to call Lee to ministry as a young man in college. When I first met Lee I was so surprised by his love for the Word of God, his knowledge of prophecy, and his love for Jesus as his Savior. God had revealed Himself to Lee in ways I had never experienced and during our college days, God called him to ministry. It was a very clear, undeniable call and in God’s goodness confirmed the next day in an unusual circumstance. While preparing to attend chapel service at the Baptist Student Center, his old youth pastor from the Presbyterian Church walked into the courtyard of the center to share in the day’s service. Surprised to see him there (at the time only Baptist ministers were asked to speak for chapel) we were even more surprised by what he said. He took us aside and told Lee, “It happened didn’t it…God called you!” That confirmation from the Lord was so timely and loving. It gave Lee the assurance and confidence to further seek the Lord’s will.
As our relationship became more serious, the Lord spoke to Lee and told him he could not marry me if I wasn’t baptized in the Holy Spirit, we would be unequally yoked. God knew that what faced us would require unity in His Spirit. At the first opportunity, Lee shared the Word of God with me and by His grace through faith I received the baptism. God was so good! So kind and loving! He doesn’t want us to miss what He has for us. He just wants us to surrender and trust in Him. Here we were reminded by God how important His Holy Spirit is in the life of the believer.
Lee began to minister in the church we were attending and about a year later the Lord revealed more of His purpose for us. God showed Lee 10 things that would take place and then He told him he was to start a church. Up to this point, Lee planned to attend seminary as most young men do who feel called to the ministry. But the Lord was saying, “Now.” True to His word the events took place. God gave us the faith to step out and with the support of family and a few friends we held our first meetings as a church. I remember meeting in Kim Shaw’s home to decide what we would name our church. Many traditional and familiar names were thrown out but none felt right. We expressed our desire to be like the church in the New Testament and with that First New Testament Church began, September 1986. This was the beginning of the last year of college for Lee and our first year of marriage. He was a young man of 22 yrs. I’m thankful for the support we received and the faithfulness of God to give us the strength and confidence to step out in His will. He has never failed to speak and lead us. This has taught me to not discount the call on a man’s or woman’s life despite their young age.
The next ten years would bring many transitions. We met first in Lee’s uncle’s home, then in many different buildings. God would lead us to a place to rent at a reduced rate, the building owner would be blessed to find a buyer for his property, and we would move on. At least eight locations in ten years, but God was building a body. During this time many battles were fought, victories won and lessons learned. Early on the Lord showed Lee, at a time when he was feeling burned out from his attempt to be the “best pastor he could be,” that his call was to minister at His table, to Him. He gave Lee Ezekiel 34 – 35 and from then this has been his desire, to minister to the Lord and let the Lord minister to the body. God taught us the importance of the Body of Christ and His desire for its proper functioning for His glory. During these years we also saw the loss of our first child, Susanne, and the birth of three children, Jordan, Ethan & Hadyn, who minister by our side today. He also added to the body many individuals and families who are still ministering with us. We are so grateful.
In 1997 we had an all-night prayer meeting for direction concerning buying property and building. The next day the Lord led us to our property at 3235 Aubin Ln. We purchased 4 acres at an incredible price and began plans for our first building. The Lord provided a local bank to support us when no other bank would. There were many outstanding moments in our first building, but two stand out to me. These would continue to express our heart and mission as a church. One of these occurred when there was a heated discussion over the placement of the sound booth in our newly built facility. We knew how the enemy could work and cause division through the most carnal means and he was attempting to do just that. Lee left the meeting abruptly and went to the altar. He reminded the Lord, “this is Your church, not mine!” God spoke to him that He had already taken care of it. Meanwhile I was in the meeting and saw the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repentance come on the group miraculously. By the time Lee returned, the Lord had healed the division and we walked on in unity.
It was also in this building that we began our weekly prayer meetings. Many churches no longer had prayer meetings, finding them boring or not well attended. Lee told the Lord, “If I have just a prayer meeting, no one will come.” The Lord answered, “If you don’t have a prayer meeting, I won’t come.” Needless to say, we began our weekly prayer meetings and the Lord has grown them to be our best services of the week! He taught us the importance of His presence and His power. The altar became so valuable to us and times with the Lord there necessary to heal the wounds that were laid bare by the Word of God spoken to us.
Another defining moment for FNT was our involvement in missions. Lee was always very patient to seek the Lord and wait for his leading on whom to support in mission work. Growing up in a denomination, this was all provided for my church through the associations and conventions. We at FNT however, were non-denominational. I began to think of who we might support, but Lee was patient. The Lord opened a door for us to attend Victory Temple Mission Convention in Beaumont, Texas where we were to become acquainted with Bro. B.H. Clendennon. Shortly after we began attending these yearly meetings, the Lord used Bro. Clendennon to begin the School of Christ International, what would soon become a world-wide missions organization. We established relationships with ministers all over the United States and the world. Lee was invited to travel and preach in many places and our church was given opportunities to go on numerous mission trips. There is not enough space in this article to speak of all the people and places, lives and ministries, that we’ve been a part of. However, we’ve learned one thing – God knows how to open doors when you desire to follow Him.
In 2006 we moved into our present church building. FNT continued to grow as a healthy church going on “stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.” A Call to the Heart, the preaching and teaching ministry that God had birthed in 1986 through Lee was very involved in radio programs, television broadcast and audio distribution. The Word of God from the pulpit of FNT was a blessing to many. In 2010, God would show Lee again something that would grow our church on to more of what the Lord desired for us. He showed Lee several things that would take place, much like 1986. These things were to take Lee into a valley of trial that he knew he could not bear. In this God would teach him of His grace, as Paul learned in 2 Corinthians 12. As these events would unfold, and Lee would press in closer to the Lord and more dependent on Him, God would pour out such a powerful message to our church and believers around the world. We began to know the grace of God that we had always believed and stood upon, but now experience abundantly. As Lee says, with any move of God there’s always a move of Satan, but God brought victory and glory. Through these years we as a church have seen the goodness of God which has humbled us and caused us to love him more. We’ve learned that the grace of God will teach us and that as we walk in faith, we will be conformed to His image. He has given us a love for one another even beyond what we had experienced, a desire for His presence among us and to lift up our voices in praise.
In these latest years the Lord has taught us the power of praise to God, the fruit of our lips offered to Him. The Lord brought Lee to passages in Psalms of thanksgiving to God. As he studied the Lord showed him the meaning of the “choir of praise” that went before the people. This has strengthened and grown our times of worship together as we have opportunity to gather at the altar together, lifting our voices in praise to God for who He is and how we love Him. It has been so beautiful to stand with my brothers and sisters and hear our voices raised in praise to God.
The Lord has given us a beautiful body of believers at FNT and we are so humbled and grateful to serve them and know them. I believe around me are the most humble, gracious, faithful, courageous, loving, and devoted servants of the Lord. He has been so good to make us what we are and to continue to work in us by His Spirit. As we wait on Him, we look forward to His soon return!!
Love for God, The Word, The Holy Spirit, Prayer, The Body, The Altar, The Gospel, The Lost, Grace, Faith, Praise, His Presence, His Return ………The Heart of FNT….The Ebenezer Stone of all that God has done thus far!
I love you church!
Carla Shipp
No division, no gap, no split! That’s God’s desire for His body. He has “tempered” together the body of Christ, with its many and varied members, in such a way that they should have the same care for one another. The members are to suffer when one suffers and rejoice when the other is honored (1 Corinthians 12: 24-26). This can only happen when we receive and live in the grace that God has given each of us in our giftings and operations as Romans 12 tells us.
So why do we see the schisms? For surely each one of us can testify to them, even when they came from our own minds and hearts. I believe Paul tells us the reason for the schisms in verses 15-20 of 1 Corinthians 12.
“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” Think a moment what is being said here. What fleshly attitudes do we see in this statement? Self-pity? Jealousy and envy? Competition? Discontent? Search your heart. Have you seen these in yourself?
Just as the human body has particular members for particular purposes and each is so necessary, so too the Body of Christ. Your hand could never take the place of your ears, or your feet could never take the place of your eyes. They have such different purposes. Neither one can accomplish the task of the other. Why would they seek to unless there was jealousy and envy, or discontentment. How ridiculous it sounds to think the ears would be jealous of the hand! Yet we see this in the Body of Christ. We are not trusting in the Lord to use us where He has placed us or worse, we think He has made a mistake in where He has place us.
“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” How about the attitudes here? Self-importance, pride, willful independence? If you think that you are the part that’s necessary and others aren’t, perhaps you are actually that more feeble part that God has honored. Please don’t miss this sobering thought. The Word tells us that God gives the feeble members honor so all will be necessary.
Is that why you are honored in your role in the body? Are you actually the most feeble without the Lord’s work?
Your struggle may be to know your part in the body. You may feel that if you understood better where you belonged in the body you could function there properly. My dear friends, REST!
The Word tells us He has placed us in the body as it has pleased Him. It also tells us He has given us grace. Rest in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead you, make you and live through you.
Your endeavor is not to know your task. The hand knows its task, not because it seeks to discern its place, but because it’s connected to the body to give it ability and strength and it’s connected to the head from which all instructions flow.
Seek the Head not your place. Jesus is our focus. The Holy Spirit is our power. Grace works in us. So guard against the schisms that find their roots in your own heart. Love the Lord, follow as He leads, and follow the more excellent way – Love and Spiritual Gifts, the next chapter!
You are Necessary
Our human bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. The Lord continually uses the structure and operation of the body to teach us spiritual lessons. What we see in the natural is a picture of the spiritual. In 1 Corinthians 12 we find an example of this. The Holy Spirit uses the physical body to give us an understanding of how the Body of Christ is to function.
Just as the one physical body has many members, for example the hand and the eye, the body of Christ is one body with many members. The Holy Spirit draws an example from the physical body. “But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of thee. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary;” 1 Corinthians 12: 20-22.
In the human body, every part is necessary to the health and well-being of the body. If one member of the body is weak or suffers, the whole body is affected, even by the smallest part. The tiniest bones in the body are three bones in the ear, the mallus, incus and stapes. Do you think because they are tiny or unseen, that they are unimportant? These three tiny bones enable the ear to function properly and allow vibrations to travel in the ear so we can hear!
Without these tiny bones, our hearing would suffer.
How about the thinnest skin on our body? It’s the skin of the eyelid. Without the eyelid, our eyes would be unprotected and unlubricated. Yet this skin is the body’s thinnest.
Do you see the picture the Holy Spirit is drawing? Every part, no matter how small or seemingly weak, is necessary! And such is the structure of the Body of Christ. You are necessary, no matter what part you play.
Our mistake comes when we decide what part is necessary. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” 1 Corinthians 12:18. When Jesus ascended HE gave gifts to men. In Romans 12 the Word tells us that He gave gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. “For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office, so we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Back in 1 Corinthians 12 the Word tells us that GOD has placed people in the body in the way that pleases Him – the way He wants them to be. In verse 24, He tempers the body together.
In metallurgy, tempering is a heating/cooling/heating process that makes the iron-based alloy tougher, harder and more flexible so that it can be used for the purpose for which it was needed and intended. One result of this process is that internal stress is removed and the metal is normalized (given a uniform, fine-grained structure and avoid excess softening).
In the spiritual, God takes every born again believer and places him in the body where he wants them, giving them grace to fill that place. He brings the body through trials, testings, and triumphs in order to be strong, useful, flexible so that the Holy Spirit can minister the life of Christ to this world, so God can be glorified. You will never be forgotten or slip through the cracks if you are necessary to the body!
To summarize: as a born again believer, YOU ARE NECESSARY
God gives you GRACE to fill the place you are in
God uses trials and testings to make you stronger and to Benefit the body
“…and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it” 1 Corinthians 12:26
How beautiful is the Body of Christ!! I love this song by Twila Paris. Be Blessed and pray for the Body!
How beautiful the hands that served the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful the feet that walked the long dusty roads and the hills to the cross.
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the heart that bled that took all my sin and bore it instead.
How beautiful the tender eyes that chose to forgive and never despise.
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ.
And as He laid down His life we offer this sacrifice
that we will live just as he died: willing to pay the price, willing to pay the price.
How beautiful the radiant Bride who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes.
How beautiful when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives so that others may live.
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the feet that bring the sound of good news and the love of the King.
How beautiful the hands that serve the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ.
His Glory in the Heavens – Carla Shipp
“There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.” There he was, the prince of darkness, doing his evil work and coming before God to accuse. No doubt part of his purpose in “going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” was to “seek whom he may devour,” who he might accuse before God. Satan wants to slander the Lord, to prove Him an unworthy God. Perhaps he reasons that if can go before God with the failure of his creation, he will show himself to be greater than God. After all, that was what was in his own heart. Satan, Lucifer, was full of pride. He desired to steal God’s glory. He wanted to show himself greater and God a failure. What better way than to point out the failings of God’s creation, man himself?
God sees this and offers an example of a just and upright man, His servant Job. “Satan answered the Lord and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house and all that he hath on every side?…But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy face.” Here he goes, accusing Job before God, seeking to rob glory from the Lord of Heaven.
God saw Job and knew His servant. He knew his heart and after all the tragedy that came upon His life it was said of Job, “In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” In the midst of the trial Job would make such incredible statements as, “I know my redeemer lives…in my flesh I shall see God,” and “though He slay me yet will I trust Him.” At the end of the tremendous trial and testing of Job’s life he confesses, “I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” God would say of Job that he had spoken rightly of him and God would accept Job’s prayers.
What triumph before the witnesses of heaven! What glory given to God in this victory over the accusations against God and his servant Job! All principalities and powers in heaven and earth and under the earth, and all people on the earth would see and hear of the mighty power of the Lord God and His worthiness to be worshipped and praised.
But what I want to add to this is something the Lord brought to my heart of the glory He received throughout Job’s testing. Glory that wasn’t seen by Job or his wife, or his friends, or the people on the earth. This glory was visable to the heavenlies. It was seen by the enemy and I can see Satan grow with wicked excitement at each arrow thrown at Job only to cringe and groan at every triumph of the grace of God in Job’s life.
What the Lord began to bring to my heart was this thought: It is not only in the final victory over our trials that God is glorified. It is not only when people around us can see us come through and we can testify of God’s deliverance that He receives glory. But, when we are in agony, when we are in pain, when we despair, yet we look up to God in faith, we call upon His name, we cry out to Him and continue to trust, continue to hope, continue to believe, God is glorified! Even when we cannot share with others the depth of our pain, the hardship of our trials, but we continue to lay our all on the altar, heaven sees! There is a witness to our trusting and holding on! Every cry to God, every whisper for help, every praise in pain, brings defeat to the enemies efforts to cause us to curse God. I can see the cheering in the grandstands of heaven! What glory is given to the power, love, mercy and grace of Almighty God. His servant loves Him because He is worthy!!
Even when no one else may know what you go through. Even when no one else may see the moment by moment trial and your moment by moment victory, “seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Know this, God is receiving glory in the heavens and Satan is defeated again and again and again!
Don’t Stop Praying & Believing!
We’ve recently been reading through the book of Judges as a church and there was one small instance where I found a mother who thinks like me, and many of us. In chapter 5, Deborah sings of God’s might and the victory he brought to Israel. In verse 28 she mentions the mother of the defeated King Sisera. This poor mother is waiting for the safe return of her son and asks, “Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariot?”
Reading this made me immediately think of the things I still tell my 25+ yr. old kids. “Let me know when you get home.” “ Text me when you get there,” etc. I remember as a teenager (pre-cell phone days) that my mom would ask us to hang a white t-shirt on her doorknob so that if she would wake in the middle of the night, she would see it and know we were home. I’ve often gotten out of bed to go look in my kids rooms and make sure they had made it home safely. Other nights I had more faith and stayed in bed!
There is a deep concern for our loved ones, friends and family, that never leaves us. This burden can only be carried with constant intercession before the throne of God, laying it at His feet. This concern must not become a weight to our spiritual well-being, but a responsibility to intercede; to pray without ceasing!
I want to encourage you today to continue standing in the gap for your family, your friends, those that the Lord puts on your heart. Their trials can be overwhelming. Situations can seem hopeless. This life is hard! They could be turning to the world for help and direction. They could be running from the Lord. Maybe they are battling sickness. Perhaps there’s a life-changing decision before them. Sometimes it can be discouraging when we look at the circumstances or the mountain that is in the way. In Matthew 21: 21 -22, Jesus instructs his disciples in the faith that will move mountains! Believing prayer! Prayer to God is an expression of our faith in Him. When we go to him with our petitions we are testifying of our faith in His power and willingness to hear and answer!
In Psalm 3, David expresses his faith in God to answer amid the contradictions of his enemies. He prayed believing that his help came from the Lord and that the Lord would hear him.
Believer, we have the promise of God to hold on to. We can go boldly before His throne by the blood of Jesus and receive grace and mercy in our time of need. In Acts, chapter 10, we find Cornelius, a roman soldier, faithful in prayer. God hears and remembers his prayers! How much more will he hear and remember those of us who come to Him through His Son! Remember also that we have the Holy Spirit to help us in praying and our faithful High Priest, Jesus Christ, at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.
I’m not talking about a sentence thrown up to God when it occurs to me. I’ve done this before. But I’m talking about a burning in our hearts that will not ease up until it has touched the throne. Praying over them while they sleep at night. Finding a quiet place where I can pour out my heart for my loved ones. Praying God’s Word in faith to defeat the enemy. “This is how I fight my battles!”
When I’ve been pressed in intercession this way, I’ve seen the deliverance and the work of God in the lives of my loved ones! It’s believing prayer! It’s believing that God is the only hope and that He is able! Satan tempts me to despair, but I go before the Lord, he comforts me and shows me His salvation!
Don’t give up praying! Don’t despair! Don’t take their lives out of the context of what God is doing and bringing about for His glory and their good. Think of Naomi, Hannah, Esther. What would they tell us of God’s faithfulness, of His ability to restore, to redeem, to deliver!
In the book of Ruth, Naomi, unable to see the plan of God, returned home broken and thinking God had dealt with her bitterly, that He had testified against her and afflicted her. But after seeing God’s greater purpose and plan in the kinsman redeemer she could rejoice “God has not left off his kindness to the living and the dead!” The women said of her grandchild, “ he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thine old age.” Her grandchild would be in the lineage of the Messiah!
Hannah went year after year weeping before the Lord, not able to enjoy the favor and love of her husband because she was childless. Little did she know that God would give her a son that would be a mighty judge and priest to Israel and anoint King David! This would stop the provocation from Penninah and cause Hannah’s heart to rejoice! The Lord also blessed Hannah with other children. ( 1 Samuel 1)
Esther, a captive in Persia, blessed with beauty, is recognized and raised to an honored position. When asked to risk this all, she feared for her life. In making the decision to honor the Lord and Mordecai’s request to go before the King, she had no idea what her future would hold. What rejoicing would fill her life later to know that through her, the people of God had been delivered and protected. (Esther 5)
I mention these women to encourage you to not look at the present circumstances that your loved ones are facing or the situations they may be living in, but believe God to work for Christ’s sake in their lives to do above and beyond what we could ask or think! That is God’s way! So don’t stop believing, don’t stop interceding. God hears and answers!!
Carla Shipp
Carla Shipp – May 22, 2020
So many times in our desire to be “fishers of men” and to share the Word of God, we act in our own strength and knowledge, often unsuccessful in our endeavors. At least I can say that this has been my own experience and failure. Maybe we seek to apply a method that worked for someone else or a tactic we learned that was successful in the past, but to no avail.
Our desire is sincere. So what can we do? Speak what I’ve seen and heard! I’ve been praying for God to make me a “fisher of men” for that was Jesus’ promise to his disciples (Matthew 4:19). I want to share with you what I feel He has placed in my heart for my own life and I believe for all followers of Jesus.
The disciples saw Jesus : on a daily basis they witnessed His love, power and wisdom, they saw Him touch a leper and speak hope to those in despair, they saw Him walk out of His way to sit by a well, to bring living water to a rejected Samaritan woman. The disciples heard Jesus: on a daily basis they heard Him talk to His father, they heard Him amazed the crowds with His doctrine, they listened as He confounded and silenced the Pharisees with His wisdom and understanding.
In all that they witnessed, it was not until they received the promise Power of the Holy Spirit, that all that was in their hearts and minds poured forth in such an anointing that made the Pharisees say, “they have been with Jesus!”( Acts 4: 8-21).
Dear believer, what have you seen and heard? Are we walking daily, listening to what God is saying? Are we hearing Him in His Word? Are we taking notice of what God is doing on a daily basis? It’s so easy to be distracted, but WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!
Jesus asks His disciples a question in Matthew 16: 13-20. “Who do men say that I am.” And then, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” This answer was the basis for Jesus’ statement, “upon this rock I will build my church…” We have to answer this question, not just with our intellect, but with what we know to be true in our hearts and our experience. We have to have a testimony of Jesus (a record, evidence in support of a fact or statement). Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean a rehearsed, planned message, but a living message from a relationship that is alive in His Spirit and in communion with the Lord. He will supply the words. That’s what He did for His disciples. Even Paul, who was learned and experienced in scripture asked the church to pray that utterance would be given to him to preach the gospel (Colossians 4: 3-4).
We as the church need to know who Jesus is, not just in theory or in history, but who He is to us, to me and you. It is out of this knowledge (intimacy), that “what we have seen and heard” will come forth. “The Holy Spirit will take what is mine and show it unto you!”
Take a moment and meditate on what you’ve seen and heard of Jesus in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more.
Redeemer, Ransom, Friend, Savior, Healer, Brother, Peace, High Priest, Righteousness, Propitiation, Atonement, Deliverer, The Word, Creator, Soon Coming King…
This is your testimony. What have you seen and heard? This is what will make men marvel and desire to know for themselves. They will know that you’ve been with Jesus!