I have a testimony

My brothers and my sisters, is there anybody here this morning who can say that life has not always been charming, appealing, pleasant, friendly or sweet? I believe I have a witness this morning who can say with me, "I've had my share of life's bumps and bruises. I'm sure there is someone here who can say, I've had more than my share of sleepless nights and tear filled days." There is someone here this morning who knows all too well what it feels like to have your best friend or even a family member turn into your worst enemy. I submit to you this morning my brothers and my sisters, but regardless to how turbulent, sever, hard, arduous, or unpleasant life may get; I don't know about you but, I get joy knowing, God will always be right there with me! How do you know that Pastor? I'm glad you asked! God reminds the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." the Son's of Korah wrote in Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." David said in Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 27:10, "When my father and my mother have forsaken me, the LORD will take me in." I heard the song writer say, "I've had some good days, I've had some hills to climb. I've had some weary day's, and some sleepless nights; but when I look around and think things over. All of my good days out weigh my bad days and I won't complain. Is there anybody here this morning who can testify, "God is good all the time?"

Here in our text this morning, my brothers and sisters, the Psalmist begins his testimony by inviting everyone around him in verses one through four to remember how good God is. After the Psalmist invites those around him to praise the Lord he begins his testimony by saying, there was a time when he was in distress and needed some help. The word distress in the Hebrew suggest being in a "tight spot". Is there somebody here this morning who knows what it's like to be in a tight spot and need some help? While in a tight spot, the one thing you are looking for is some breathing room. If you look at verse 8 of this Psalm it would suggest that the Psalmist must have called on somebody around him to give some assistance in getting out of his distressing or tight situation. However, he found out like many of us, those people who often say, "whenever you need me just call" are only saying something to get you out of their face. He must have found out those friends who were there when he was on the top of the mountain, are nowhere to be found now that he needs some help. But the writer says in verse five of our text, "I called on the Lord." I don't know what prompted the writer to call on the Lord. He may have heard of how God gave Daniel some breathing room in the Lions den. He must have heard how God gave Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego some breathing room in the fiery furnace. I don't know, he must have heard how God blessed Jabaz with some breathing room after he prayed, "Lord enlarge my territory". I don't know what caused the Psalmist calling on the Lord all I know this morning is he called. My brothers and sisters, text says when he called God answered! Is there anybody here this morning who has called on the Lord? Did he answer your call? If you know the Lord has answered your prayer, you ought to tell somebody, "I know the Lord will make a way!" I heard the old saints testify and say, "I love the Lord, He heard my cry!" There is something you should know this morning about calling on the Lord. God is not concerned about what you look like or where you've been. I heard Paul when he said in Romans 10:13, "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 102:17, "he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer." What are you saying this morning Pastor Stanley? I'm trying to tell you what ever you need worked out in your life turn it over to the Lord. When you give it to the Lord, I have a witness who knows God will work out your situation. Somebody here can testify they were once lost in a world of sin, but one day they fell down on their knees and asked God to forgive them. I read in my bible where 1 John 1:9 said, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Is there anybody here this morning who knows God is able and He will pick you up, turn you around and place your feet on a solid Ground? The hymn writer said it like this: I came to Jesus just as I was, weary wounded and sad. I found in him a resting place and he has made me glad!

Somebody here may be wondering this morning, "How can God deliver me from what I am in"? The Psalmist answers that question in verse 6; he says "the Lord is on my side!" My brothers and sisters, when you have the Lord on your side; it does not matter how many people come up against you. Well, how do you know that Rev.? I'm glad you asked! The Psalmist says in verse 10 the whole world came against me, but all I had to do was call on the name of the Lord and he said it was in that name; he destroyed all of his enemies! 1 John 4:4 says, "Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world". Romans 8:31 says, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us"? David said in Psalm 27, "The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear"? It's a good thing to know this morning that the Lord is on your side. Is there anybody here this morning who knows there is something about the name Jesus! Jesus, the lily of the valley. Jesus, the bright in the morning star. Fredrick Whitfield put it like this: "There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing it's worth; It sounds like music in my ear the sweetest name on earth. O, how I love Jesus, O, how I love Jesus, O, how I love Jesus, because he first loved me! That same Jesus, who healed the sick and raised the dead. That same Jesus, who fed five thousand with a few fish and some bread. That Jesus who turned water into wine; was led up the via del a rosa........