Even though princes sit and talk against me, Thy servant meditates on Thy statutes. v23
My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Thy word. v28
I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed. v46
This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word has revived me. v50
I have remembered Thine ordinances from of old, O LORD, and comfort myself. v52
I am a companion of all those who fear Thee, and of those who keep Thy precepts. v63
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Thy statutes. v71
They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not forsake Thy precepts. v87
The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from Thy precepts. v110
Depart from me, evildoers, that I may observe the commandments of my God. v115
Trouble and anguish have come upon me; yet Thy commandments are my delight. v143
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not turn aside from Thy testimonies. v157
Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Thy words. v161
I hope for Thy salvation, O LORD, and do Thy commandments. v166
Let my lips utter praise, for Thou dost teach me Thy statutes. Let my tongue sing of Thy word, for all Thy commandments are righteous. v171-172
I long for Thy salvation, O LORD, and Thy law is my delight. Let my soul live that it may praise Thee, and let Thine ordinances help me. v175
Here is something to ponder: “Testimonies” as witnessing. Is this even Biblical? Perhaps testimonies are meant to encourage the saints, rather than witness to the lost. Someone help me out here? Right off, I can only think of this example from the Bible: the woman at the well who went and told everyone in her town what happened when she met the Lord. After a quick review of the words “testify” and “testimony” in the New Testament, it looks like the context is almost always exalting Christ and telling the content of the Gospel! The Samaritan woman was being an evangelist; a true witness of the Lord, telling the Gospel to everyone she knew.
Last week my daughter and I attended a midweek worship service at a huge mega church. A woman told her testimony. She described what sounded like her “false conversion” : church kid, “accepted Christ” at 8, then lived backslidden for the next 20 years. She only praised and gave glory to these things: 1. a relative, 2. the doctors, 3. the psychologists and, 4. the psych drugs they put her on. Now this subject she was speaking on is another topic altogether. But regardless, it was only about her. Jesus was not even mentioned; only a phrase in Psalms that she repeated to herself mantra style that helped her cope. She preached the gospel of “hope in psychologists and drugs”- only.
This is not the first time I have heard this exact testimony from a woman in a mega church. This is the fourth time. Once I also heard a man give his testimony in which he went on about how, being down and out on skid row, some men invited him to church and now he has friends, community and a place to belong (and support to get sober, etc).
We can only give “testimony” if we are actually born again. And if we are, let us not only tell what the Lord has done in our lives to help us, but let us exalt Jesus Christ, (the true encouragement for believers) and represent Him to the lost by testifying of faith in Him and the content of the gospel (the only true witnessing and hope for the lost).
He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. John 1:7
And this is the testimony (witness!), that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1 John 5:11.
We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 1 John 4:14
who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ.. Rev.1:2
Here is an excerpt from:
What Precisely is the Gospel?
by Jeff Purswell
If the gospel message expands to include “discipleship in the kingdom,” then the objective nature of Christ’s work is minimized. When the gospel is redefined as a call to a social or political movement, Christ’s work is replaced with ours. When the gospel includes my response, then the ground of my assurance lies in me rather than in Christ. Indeed, anytime we shift the definition of the gospel from God’s objective accomplishment to our subjective appropriation, the rock-solid foundation of our faith is misplaced—and the glory of God in the gospel is obscured.
Read the article here at Sovereign Grace Ministries.
The wedding approaches. The King will be so glorious, handsome, celebrated and blessed.
Grace is poured upon His lips. Mighty with sword on thigh, He is victorious in splendor and majesty, reigning forever in His Kingdom. He defeats His enemies, loving righteousness and hating wickedness. God anoints Him with the oil of joy and clothes Him in garments with beautiful fragrances. Music is playing and He is glad.
Forget your people and your father’s house! The King will desire our beauty. Because He is our Lord, we bow down to Him. We will be glorious within and clothed in stunning beauty. We will be brought to Him. We will be led to the King with gladness and rejoicing! We will enter into the King’s palace! We will declare His name and give thanks and praise to Him forever.
Proclaiming the real Jesus and the true gospel, defending and contending, discerning false gospels; if you desire to be faithful with “Grace and Truth”, you will be encouraged by this interview.
Audio: The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: An Interview with Phil Johnson and John MacArthur
Lately I’ve been thinking about the friends and relatives I have who, over the course of fifteen to twenty five years,
have probably heard the gospel a dozen times. Some have heard what seems like a hundred times and they still have yet to submit to God and obey (believe) the gospel, and trust in Christ. They are still spiritually dead.
And I’ve been thinking of all those who have yet to hear the good news. They have not heard at all! These may not be in close proximity to us; we may have to go “out there” to reach them with the gospel. Jesus has sent us out to go tell them. Let us remember the call to follow Jesus as our first priority, and go work among those who have not heard.
And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you,
go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:59-60
These are lyrics from Salvation Plan, from Hazakim’s “Theophanies”. The first half is by Hazakim. This is the second half, written by Stephen the Levite. Here is the link to listen to the song. Here’s a performance video. The teaching at the beginning and end of the song is Dr. Michael Brown.
———————————————————————————————
The Day of Atonement is here! We’re at the top of Golgotha watchin’ the slaughter
as God the Father is offered a spotless Lamb on a cross bruh
The Eternal Word tabernaclin’ wit’ us
stricken, smitten and afflicted for all the sin we commited
Before the beginning, the Lord decreed the ordinance
that these horrible sins would be borne by Him who’s born innocent
so a picture is painted for us in scripture
through rituals we get visual hints of what He was sent for
Consider Him in His intercession for sinners
it’s more than similar, it is an intentional fulfillment of
the High Priest the Mediator between the
Deity and the dirty who need and plead to be cleaned up
so baptism is happenin’ at the Laver
a symbolism of cleansin’ and being buried and raised up
This is identification with the Savior
and after justification we enter the Holy Place bruh
Now behold the glow of the golden Menorah
it’s the Messiah, the Light of the world in all He is Lord of
Peep the table and see the body that’s broken
the blood of the New Covenant it’s the wine and the shewbread
The prayers of the saints are offered up with the incense
since the veil has been ripped, through His body we have an “En:trance”
call it the mercy seat we call it the Throne of Grace
the presence of the King of Kings in the Most Holy Place
Pastor Yousef witnessed to these young men from Saudi Arabia who are here for college.
Emir witnessing to more international college students!
These young men are from three different North African countries. They have also come here for college. The young man on the left was very interested in hearing what Yousef had to say.
This sister spent hours reading the Bible aloud to others and sharing the Gospel with many people. Here she is with this very curious young woman, who had questions (and wanted to debate) but ended up mostly just listening.
Meanwhile, while our sister was reading the Bible aloud and preaching the gospel to the young woman conversationally, these men were trying not to look like they were listening intently.
Eventually, she drew them in as they and several others listened to her share Truth from the Bible about our Savior. After this, these people went and stood around pastor Yousef while he talked about the Lord to them, and our sister went on to speak to others.
Thursday I dropped my boy off at soccer practice. Now I had a whole hour available! I was in San Mateo’s most interesting neighborhood, North Central. In this neighborhood, people hang out on their porches, in front yards and open garages. People stand around on street corners and actually use the sidewalk. Walking past an open garage, I noticed a guy sitting in the studio he had made out of a garage, complete with couches, rugs, hard rock posters, beer bottles and television. As I walked by he greeted me from his couch, beer in hand. He left his beer, came out to the sidewalk and God turned our conversation to the spiritual. Once again God amazed me as I witnessed the humble attitude of a person prepared by Him. The man told me he basically gave up all hope of trying to be right with God since he failed at being a “good Catholic”. We talked about sin, righteousness and judgment; the Atonement of Christ, and the manmade ‘righteousness of religion’ vs. the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus for all those who believe. This rough looking humble man softened even more in response to hearing such good news.