Someone should testify! If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10) The fact that I had believed the words of Jesus and put them into practice made all the difference imaginable. My life took on purpose and depth as I experienced the Savior through faith. Many years of discovery followed. I experience powerful miracles as well as painful trials as a Christian. I remain convinced that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and is still alive today. This is my testimony. --Emory Rowland Each Morning I ask God to lead me to someone to whom I can witness. I expect Him to do so. As you read God's Word, ask Him to give you a message that day for someone who needs your witness. Will you be a witness? --Joe Johnson INTRODUCTION It is times to open the service for testimonies,If the Lord has been good to you this week or he has done something special for you,please stand and share that with the congregation at this time.Those are words I have heard many times growing up in Church.Little did I know or understand the seriousness of the testimony.It asks ... you to answer... life's greatest question! Who do you say Jesus is? The two paragraphs above are critical to the Christian Life. The former is an example of a testimony. The latter is an example of witnessing. These two activities are practiced and required by all Christians. If you do not witness and testify, you could be denying Jesus. He says ,'if you are ashamed of me on earth, I will be ashamed of you in the kingdom of the Father. ' "A time comes when silence is betrayal, "Martin L. King, Jr. TESTIMONY Your testimony is required for salvation. You must believe that he was raised from the dead and lives today. You must believe in your heart and confess with your mouth. Your testimony is sufficient for salvation. HE IS LORD OF LORDS, KING OF KINGS, AND PRINCE OF PEACE. BELIEVE IN YOUR HEAD OR HEART There is a difference between believing something cognitively and accepting that in your heart.You must believe and accept in your heart. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, in your heart and confess him with your mouth and you will be saved. The second commandment says,’ Love the Lord with all your heart and soul.’ Let me contrast this point; Satan believes in Jesus and knows all the scripture concerning Jesus better than we do. However, he tried to stop Jesus when he was in the wilderness and tempt Jesus to serve him. He did not want Jesus to start his ministry.Satan and his followers rebelled aganist Jesus in their hearts. King Herod believed the prophecy concerning the birth of Jesus who would become king of the Jews. He felt that this would be a threat to his kingdom so he had all the Hebrew boys killed that were two years old and under. So, Satan and his workers believe, but they are working to prevent Jesus’ plan of salvation for the world. ARE YOU WITNESSING Witnessing is simply sharing what God has done for you with others.Your goal is to get them to trust in Jesus and make him center of their lives.Testimony can be between you and Jesus and it can also be shared with others.It is when you assert your knowledge and relationship with Jesus.Witnessing is the foundation of ministry.It is reaching others.What is your witnessing ministry? WILL MY GOOD WORKS SAVE ME Some of you are asking yourselves this question.If I do good works in my community ,why wouldn't that be enough for salvation? Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify the Father(Matthew 5:16).Your works should glorify the Father which is good.Revelations says those believers written in the" Lamb's Book of Life"will be rewarded for their good works.Nevertheless,scripture says we are saved by faith along.Please allow me ...to illustrate the problem... with this approach.I know a famous person who sponsors a Christmas dinner for the poor each year.It seems like a good thing,however, this individual makes sure the TV Cameras are there so the community will be aware of this jester.The issue that Jesus will be concerned about is ...the motif.Is the dinner for the cameras to capture or is it done simply to help the poor .Jesus sees the heart. HE IS THE UNDISPUTED KING OF THE UNIVERSE... KING OF KINGS ,MIGHTY COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE... MESSIAH Arguments’ I would like to present three irrefutable arguments concerning Jesus as the undisputed king and savior of the universe. 1.Jesus made claims that no one in the past, present or future can make. If you disagree, please step forward and show me that entity. He claims to be God’s son. 2.I believe he can get us from earth to glory. He promised us eternal life. No one else can make that promise. " Who wouldn’t serve a God like that," Willie Darby. 3.Satan believes he is a living reality. When Jesus approached demon possessed individuals in scripture, they recognized him as†Thou Son of God.†Evidence’ I would to present three sources of evidence to support the above arguments. 1.He lived which is a fact . 2.He was crucified which is a fact . 3.He was raised form the grave and there were about 500 witnesses. HE IS THE CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING GOD WHO JESUS SAYS HE IS By looking at what He said,there can be found an extremely unique phrase that shows His deity; in other words, He spoke with authority. At least 10 times, He uses the phrase, "I am," to describe himself. In the Old Testament of the Bible in the book of Exodus 3:14, God says, "I AM THAT I AM." He said, "Thus shall they say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent them unto you." And, in John 8:58 Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." In other words, Jesus claimed equality with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This is evident in the baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19 where He said, "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Also, in the benediction of 2 Corinthian's 13:14, where the names of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all linked together. CONCLUSION When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his followers, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah, and still others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.†Then Jesus asked them, “And who do you say I am?†Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.†Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because no person taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am.†(Matthew 16:13-17, NCV) I BELIEVE SOME ONE HERE... MET HIM ...IN A STORM ONE NIGHT I believe some of you no who we are talking about today. Because when you thought you had gone the last mile of the way, I believe you went down on your knees and looked up at Heaven and said, ‘Father I stretch my hands toward The… no other help I know.’ The storms were raging in your life; your problems were complex, and your way dark. Jesus stepped in and said, Peace be still’ and there was a great calm in your life. HE IS THE ROSE OF SHARON…THE LIILY OF THE VALLEY..THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR….THE MIGHTY COUNSELOR…THE PRINCE OF PEACE I believe Jesus is a living reality today! I believe he lives today! If he is not real, who watched over my bedside while I slept last night? Who taught the birds to sing? He told the flowers to grow? Who placed the sun in the sky? Surely, someone greater than you and I! He is real today because I can feel him deep down in my soul. My God is real!Do you no he is real today?Can you feel him deep down in your soul... ? And he asked Simon Peter , "Who do you say the sun of man is? " You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,†KJV. Esco Yancey,Jr.,Ed.D. © 2007 GOSPEL TIMES MINISTRIES
