Tithe & offering

Proverbs 3:9–10 NIV

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

This passage emphasizes honoring God with our resources, trusting that He will provide abundantly in return. It aligns with the sermon’s theme of remembering and testifying to God's faithfulness through our actions, including our giving.

Making Disciples 1\4

The Power of testimony

“The Power of Testimony"

Introduction

Good morning, church. Today, I want to talk about the power of testimony.

We often find ourselves facing trials and tribulations, moments that test our faith and strength. But it's in these moments that our testimonies are forged.

No one desires hardship, yet these trials can become our greatest tools for victory and encouragement.

Through our testimonies, we can wield a powerful weapon against the enemy and inspire others to find strength in the Lord.

Let's dive into three key aspects of how our testimonies can transform our lives and the lives of those around us.

1. Testimony as a Weapon

Supporting Scripture:

Rev 12:9-11 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

1 Samuel 30:1-6 days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone. When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

- Explanation:

- David faced one of his darkest moments when he returned to Ziklag to find it destroyed and his people taken captive. His own men spoke of stoning him in their grief.

- Instead of succumbing to despair, David "encouraged himself in the Lord." He remembered God's past faithfulness and drew strength from it.

V6. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

- David's remembrance of God's victories gave him the courage to pursue and recover everything that was lost.

- Illustration:

- Reflect on personal experiences where remembering God's past faithfulness helped you through difficult times.

- Application:

- Take time to remember God's past victories in your life. Let these memories fuel your faith and courage to face today's challenges.

2. Testimony as a Reminder

- Supporting Scripture:

Joshua 4:6–7 (NIV)

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord ’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”

Joshua 4:4–7 NIV

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

- Explanation:

- When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, God instructed Joshua to lift build a monument of stones to serve as a lasting reminder of His faithfulness in bringing them into the Promised Land.

- Physical reminders help us remember God's faithfulness and serve as conversation starters to share our testimonies with others.

- Illustration:

- Share the story of your… and how it serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness.

- Application:

- Identify items in your life that remind you of God's faithfulness. Keep these items close, and use them to encourage yourself and others.

3. Testimony as a Focus

- Supporting Scripture:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Job 2:9-10 'His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

- Explanation:

- Job's story is one of immense suffering, yet he never lost his focus on God's character and faithfulness.

- Our greatest pains can become our greatest testimonies. God can turn our mess into someone else’s miracle through our stories of redemption.

- Sharing our testimonies can bring others to Christ, even in the most unexpected places.

- Illustration:

- Tell the story of your friend, the plumber, who uses his testimony of loss to minister to others who have experienced similar pain.

- Application:

- Keep your focus on God during your trials. Share your testimony with those around you, allowing God to use your story to bring healing and hope to others.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, our testimonies are powerful tools that God uses to remind us of His faithfulness, encourage us in our present trials, and minister to others in their moments of need.

Remembering what God has done for us in the past strengthens our faith for today and tomorrow.

Practical Applications:

1. Reflect on Past Victories: Spend time each day recalling God's faithfulness in your life. Write these memories down in a journal to revisit when you're facing new challenges.

2. Create Physical Reminders: Identify items that symbolize God's faithfulness and place them where you can see them daily. Use these items as conversation starters to share your testimony with others.

3. Share Your Story: Look for opportunities to share your testimony with others, especially those going through similar trials. Your story can be the encouragement they need to find hope and faith in God.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in our lives. Help us to remember Your past victories and draw strength from them. Give us the courage to share our testimonies with others, so they too may find hope and strength in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.