The Importance of testimony from Volume Two

Preview from Victory Through Surrender Volume Two
02.06.2021
A Mighty Infilling by A. W. Tozer
03.06.2021

The Importance of testimony from Volume Two

I listened to a pastor preach once about the importance of testimonies and how testimony creates culture, not our personal salvation testimony, but the testimonies we give about what we have seen God do in our lives. At the same time, I was reading through the book of Malachi, and I came across this verse: “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name” (Malachi 3:16). I was impressed by something I saw here. The phrase “the fear of the Lord” often is synonymous with obedience. So, the verse says, ‘When the obedient ones spoke to one another, God heard them.’ They were testifying to one another, not talking to God. That is a testimony. The result was a book of remembrance which also was “for” them, not for God. So, the testimonies of obedient ones create a memory that benefits those who continue to obey and focus on who God is (“His Name.”) You can build a culture of obedience and faithfulness through testimony. Tim Tremaine Books

Everyone knows the Great Commission, but the second part of that equation comes in Acts 1:8 when the Lord says before He ascends, “…you shall be witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1:8). I wonder if we have not shortcut the meaning of “witness” in this verse? We have historically referred to this verse as meaning we will be witnesses in terms of giving a witness to the lost. Perhaps there is also the sense in which we will be witnesses to what God will do in all the regions of the world so that we can bring a word of testimony to the Church that will promote obedience?

The writer of Hebrews connected living by faith (which equates to obedience) with obtaining a good testimony. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony” (Heb 11:1-2; also Heb 11:39). While it can be translated, ‘they received a good report,’ could it be that it was a good report or testimony about what God had done? David demonstrated this in Psalm 106. The first few verses and the last few are directed to God, but the large middle section is directed toward the people. He was recounting the memory of God’s mighty deeds.  So, living by faith should result in a testimony of the power of God that promotes obedience in the faithful.  Testimonies are important.

I am writing this in the middle of the Coronavirus Crisis of 2020.  I am reminded of Jesus’ prophecy in Luke 21:11-13: “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences…  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.” Faithful obedience in the face of things like pestilence can create opportunities for us to gain a testimony of God’s mighty deeds that not only can be a witness to salvation for the lost but a powerful benefit that promotes further obedience in the Church. Testimonies are important. Christian Life

In Revelation, John gives us the key to spiritual victory over satan. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Rev 12:11). The blood was shed and remains available. When we add not just the fact that we are saved, but that we have witnessed God’s mighty deeds and that we will be faithfully obedient, even unto death, we can overcome in any situation. Testimony is important. If we live lives of faithful obedience, we can expect to witness God’s mighty deeds in our lives.  Share your testimonies if you have them.  If you don’t have them, find out why.

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