LFM – 2016 March 20: There is no testimony without a test?

LFM – 20 March 2016

 

Burning bush story of Moses really blessed me this week

• God can use the despised things of this world – mere thorn bush
• The fire is in the bush — the power of God works through us
• Peter had a boat and Jesus used it as a makeshift pulpit to preach –> Luke 5
• Jesus then took care of Peter’s business –> a large catch of fish afterwards
• Hear and accept the call of God –> Orientation, training and guidance –> Blessings
• Taking care of God’s business, God takes care of our business

 

Tied in very well with last Sunday’s preaching on David & Goliath

• David was a last born, more or less despised and given the lowly duty of tending sheep
• David was anointed king way before this battle –> 1 Samuel 16
  • He was still a shepherd boy tending his father’s livestock
  • He diligently did his duty
  • Fighting bears and lions while diligently doing (despised )duty unknowingly prepared him for battle with Goliath
  • David’s wilderness experience in diligently tending sheep was David’s training ground for what he was called to do
•  We like David should also not despise some situations we are in because it could be God’s training ground for us –> Our Street called straight like Saul
• Ecclesiastes 3 –> There is a time and season for the things of God
• But David knew God and acknowledged that he overcomes his enemies not by power, not by might but by the Spirit of God –> Zachariah 4:6

 

• He had a personal testimony that the Lord who rescued him from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue him from Goliath.
• Focusing on the problem or on the Lord – what we focus on manifests in our lives
• We overcome the enemy by the Blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony
• Just as my personal testimony last week helps me at times when I need to confront a difficult situation — I remember that the Lord has rescued me before, He can do it again
• He is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow—Hebrews 13:8

 

• Just as a Maasai is trained to deal with a problem of lions head on,
• David also knew how to deal with the problems of life head on –
  • Trained & oriented in the things of God and in Gods ways
• We also after our training and orientation in the ways of God should be able to deal with the problems of life head on

 

• We are on training ground here at Lord Favour / A street called Straight
• While diligently doing our duties of work and ministry , we are being prepared for what God has called us to do
• Personally, I never used to like standing in front of people, and never thought of myself as a teacher!

 

At Lord Favour are blessed to have a pastor with a prophetic ministry

• Revelation 19:10 (AMP)

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy.

• Prophecy from the Lord is Jesus testifying in our lives
• Last week we heard how God was revealing his heart for each of us
  • Jesus was testifying in our lives — guiding, rebuking , encouraging, straightening

 

 

This week

 

• Be strong and take courage move forward in the things of God,
  • Overcoming fear, doubt and unbelief
• If God is for me, who can stand against me –> Romans 8:31
• Given an assignment that requires a sacrifice –> Jeremiah 1
  • Complying –> Almond tree / Blessing
  • Non compliance –> Boiling pot / hardship

 

• James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

• (AMP)

2 Consider it nothing but joy, my[b]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

 

• Trials and temptations are part of life and will come our way
  • A child born starts life crying , not laughing
  • Life is all about problem solving
• Trials –> from God –> To help us believe and trust God.
  • I have come to give life , and life more abundantly –> John 10:10
• Temptations –> from the devil –> To make us sin and not believe God
  • The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy –> John 10:10

 

Any test in life is an opportunity to produce a testimony

• Moses & Jethro
  • Moses assignment to lead the people out of Egypt was a testimony to his father in law – a priest of Midian – that declared that there is indeed no other God
• David & Goliath
  • David taking up and accomplishing the assignment against Goliath in the name of the Lord

• Brought honour and glory to the God of Israel
• Moved him into the next level of spiritual maturity

 

• A test shows us the reality of what we know or do not know
  • Passing school exams takes us to the next class
  • Trials & temptations test our spiritual maturity
  • We can move to the next level from spiritual milk to spiritual meat
• It proves to us our relationship with God
  • Will we grumble and abandon God’s way and revert to –> Ujuaji / Kijipanga
  • Will we be faithful and trust like Job à Though He slay me, I shall trust
• Trials are not trouble but opportunity for us to grow in spiritual maturity
  • Romans 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

 

 

 

Therefore, from my experience these past few weeks:

• God may give us an assignment to bless others, but we also get blessed
• We should not worry when we are on a mission from God
• God will provide all we need to overcome the situation
  • His grace is sufficient –> 2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

• We will win souls when we stand firm in God’s ways
  • My wife’s testimony to her friends
  • My own testimony to family and friends

 

 

Conclusion

• Test is an opportunity to produce a testimony
• Kuna Kugharamia –>  a spiritual price to pay for spiritual things — sacrifice
• 1 Corinthians 6:20 –> For you were bought at a price;
• Salvation may be free, but we have to

• pay a price (sacrifice) to grow in Christ

• Growth requires trials and test that prove we are ready for the next level: Moving from

• MILK –> MEAT
• CHILDREN –> SONSHIP
• WELL level –> River Level

• Growth defines our SPIRITUAL MATURITY

• Abraham –> Sacrifice your son
• Moses –> Take God’s people out of Egypt
• Jesus –> Wilderness Prayer & fasting –> Devils temptation before starting ministry

 

• But for the things of God, there is always a blessing at the end of obedience
  • Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

 

• Philippians 2:12-13

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

• We have to work hard ( effort required )for the results of our salvation to be seen
• With fear and trembling –> What God says we do
• Cultivate the things of God in us to spiritual maturity –> Works of Faith
• God gives the strength and will guide us as we pursue his purposes in our lives
• God blesses us for accomplishing what He enables us to do