My Testimony

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Good Morning and welcome. I am so glad that we can be here this morning. I want to begin our service by reading the passage for this morning because it is a powerful one and it is a moving one.
Turn with me to Romans chapter 6
Romans 6:1–14 NIV
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

The Testimony

One thing that is interesting is a could probably stand up here and could ask for someone to come share their testimony. To share with us the story of faith that they have in their life. We would all be moved and amazed at some of the stories that we would hear from this stage if we did that. In fact, I know my own story of defeating sin and what I have overcomed I have used on many occasions to help spread the message of the Gospel.
This is a good thing. Testimonies are a beautiful thing. There is a problem though, we often fall into the trap of misunderstanding our testimony.

Definition

Testimony can be defined as.
A testimony is a statement for the purpose of establishing and recording truth.
Or a more basic understanding from Hebrew—Bear Witness
Which we can also understand to be.
to solemnly assert something, offering firsthand authentication of the fact; often concerning grave or important matters.
Testimonies in church though are often about the past. Which is valid. There is a lot of truth and benefit to using the past to help us understand and see the value of where people have been so we can step forward. However, sometimes we forget the present in doing that.

The Deacon

A rather pompous-looking deacon was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. “Why do people call me a Christian?” the man asked. After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.”

or maybe this will relate to us a little more.

The Farmer

An old farmer frequently described his Christian experience by saying, “Well, I’m not making much progress, but I’m established!” One spring when he was hauling some logs, his wagon wheels sank down to the axles in mud. Try as he would, he couldn’t get the wagon out. Defeated, he sat atop the logs, viewing the dismal situation. Soon a neighbor who had always felt uncomfortable with the farmer’s worn out testimony came along and greeted him, “Well, brother Jones, I see you’re not making much progress, but you must be content because you’re well-established!”

Testimony of the Established

Can we see it. Are we there? Are we established as a church. As individuals. Happy with the status quo. Happy to just do the same old thing.
This the place that we can find ourselves in if we aren’t acreful and this is contrary to the place we are supposed to find our selves based on the passage we read this morning. Do you need to hear it again?
Romans 6:1–14 NIV
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Testimony Doesn’t equal Past

Our Testimony is not limited to the past. It is not just about the moment when we entered into his death and died to sin. It is essential that we remind ourselves of that constantly. To be reminded of where we have come from. To warn and to bear witness to the truths of the past. Yet, if we live there we miss the power of the last couple verses in this passage.
Romans 6:11–14 NIV
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Testimony of the Present

We have to start recognizing that we have a current testimony. How we live our lives each and every day is a testament to the work of God in our lives. This isn’t to say that we all have to be perfect right now. It isn’t to say that we all have it figured out in this moment.
Our testimony as Christians is to be that we see the grace of God that has been so freely and wonderfully given that we do not want to live our lives in sin but we are drawn to Him.
Grace is our new master. The grace of God is to fill our lives and it is to be ever on our lips.
Grace is no implicit permission to sin with Reckless abandon.
It is the power of God that liberates sinners from Sin’s mastery.

Testimony of Grace

The testimony of Grace clearly is that God is openly and willing to forgive sinners who come to him. We know this is true. We know that this is preached and taught often in churches.
Grace is more than that though. Grace also encompasses--
His Empowering Presence that enables forgiven sinners to live in obedience and honor God with their transformed lives.
It is his grace that strengthens us and enables us to be who we are called to be. It is more than just a momentary forgiveness of sins but is the continuing presence of God in our lives.
Romans 6:11 NIV
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Dead to Sin Alive in Christ

No matter where you are right now in life. If you are just hearing the Gospel message right now that We are all sinners and we have all fallen short of the Glory of God and that none of us are exempt from the cost and pain of sin.
Or if you are the Christian who has been “Well established” and your testimony of the past doesn’t line up with the Testimony of your present we have to come to the realization that we need to live this passage.
It is time to come to him. What in your life right now do you need to give up to him?
What is he pressing on your heart?
How is he speaking right now?
What needs to change?
Do we need to Accept Jesus for the first time?
Do we need to Recommit ourselves?
It is time. Here right now there is no time to wait because God is moving. God is speaking. He is calling all of us to more. He is calling us to his Grace. He is calling us to be in his presence and to be a new creation.
Remember
Romans 6:14 NIV
14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Sin doesn’t need to be your master anymore. Only God needs to be your master. Give yourselves to him.
The Alters are open.
Refrain I surrender all.
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