The Testimonies of Jesus Christ

I began with reading this story this morning to remind us of a few things:

God hears our cries!

God provides people to help us carry the load!

At this time the Israelites had been led out of captivity and Egypt and were wondering around in the wilderness.

They were obviously hungry and started complaining.

Some of them resolved that they were actually better off in Egypt where they at least had some fish to eat.

I wonder this morning how many of us struggle with similar thoughts....

God, you have promised to provide for us, but things sure seemed to be a bit better off before we totally surrendered to you....

Sure you rescued us from captivity, but now we are hungry....

You promised to take care of us....but here we are…hungry...

So, they complain to Moses and then Moses goes and complains to God.

God tell him:

Numbers 11:16–17 NIV

16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

So God hears the cries of Moses comes up with a way to help him....

He takes some of the Spirit that is on Moses and puts it on the elders so that they can help carry the load....

Here in a few weeks we are going to be talking about pentecost when they Holy Spirit comes on the disciples after Jesus ascended back into heaven

So, what God did for Moses to help Him, He also did through us starting on the day of Pentecost...

So now, when we are saved and have submitted our lives to God, He sends His Spirit to us to help us and guide us.....but He also sends us other people to help us share the load.

Sometimes in our Christian walk, things get difficult...

We start feeling and thinking that we are all alone....

God, you promised that you would never leave us or forsake us, but sure we feel alone.....

God you rescued us from captivity, but now we are hungry....

And His answer is often similar to, I have given you My Spirit to comfort and guide you and I have given you the church to help you in your times of difficulty....

So, when I was wrestling with what to preach on today, George stopped by as he faithfully does to deliver the mail.....and he shared a story with me that encouraged me....

And, so in returned, I shared a couple with him....

It was just and encouraging time of remember what God has done for us!

It was a great time to share some testimonies of God’s work, faithfulness, and encouragement through one another....

In John Chapter 4 Jesus stops at a well in Sychar and talks with a Samaritan woman there....

He asks her for a drink and she was taken aback because Jesus is a Jew and she is a samaritan....and they didn’t associate with each other...

Jesus tells her that is she knew who He was that she would have asked Him for a drink and He would have given her living water....

Jesus tells her to get her husband and come back and she says she is not married....Jesus knows that she has had 5 husbands.....

Jesus shares that He is the Messiah...

The disciples come back are surprised to see Him talking with her....she leaves and goes back into the town and starts sharing with them about Jesus...

John 4:39 NIV

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”

So, because this woman was willing to share about who Jesus is, many came to believe in Him...

A scripture that I use a lot comes out of Revelation when a battle breaks out between Satan and the angel, Michael....

Satan loses of course, but what sticks out is verse 11

Revelation 12:11 NIV

11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

The power of the blood of Jesus and the testimonies of His people have the power to overcome the enemy...

In Mark 5 Jesus shows up and there is a man possessed by demons and Jesus sends them out into the pigs and they run off the cliff.....

At the end while Jesus was leaving, the man who had been possessed wanted to go with Jesus and He tells him

Mark 5:19 NIV

19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Go and tell them what the Lord has done....

So, this morning, I want us to edify, and encourage each other by sharing what God has done for us!

How has He been working on our lives?