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  Jesus
is a mighty Captain of His hosts of heaven. What weapons does He give to
those who believe and work for Him?
What are the weapons of the Christian? The Word of God is the light that helps you see danger on the path. The armor of the Christian is the protection. But what do they use to pull down Satan's lies? Rev. 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Look at 2 Corinthians 10:4 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) As you meditate and think about many sections of the Bible, you can see these weapons. |
| With faith in God as their armor, and with His word as their weapon of warfare, they would be supplied with an inner power that would enable them to turn aside the attacks of the enemy. {AA 307.1} |
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| It gives God pleasure when we share stories of what He has done for us. It increases faith in others and ourselves as we see and remember what God has done. God makes a book of remembrance with your name in it when you do this. (Malachi 3:16,17) |
| Rev. 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. |
| People can argue with what you believe,
but they can't argue with what God has done for you. Your testimony is a
powerful weapon in defeating Satan's lies about God.
One of the disciples of Jesus named John gave his testimony. He told of how God loved others. People made up stories about him saying he was teaching bad things. His enemies lied about him and got permission to boil him in oil. Can you imagine how awful painful that would be? When they threw John into this big pot of oil, he praised God. He said that Jesus was harmed for doing nothing wrong. The very men who threw him into the oil are the ones who took him out. |
 At
school, a friend lost her contact during break time. I was very
timid about sharing. Perhaps she might laugh if I told her my experience
with answered prayer. I wanted to help her but none of us could find it in
the dirt. Finally I told her the story of what God did to find mine.
Immediately I lowered my head expecting all would laugh. No one laughed.
The next thing I heard her say was, "Then lets all pray". We all
did and as our eyes opened, the contact was seen in the dirt. It was fun
to share how God works and not be laughed at. I decided to be quicker to
share the next time. I read my Bible every day and prayed at my bedside
morning and evening. I now had a realization that God was my friend too. I
meant something to HIM. Something wonderful had happened to me. I loved
getting answers to prayer. I began keeping a book of my answers to prayer.
I have kept these answers in journals ever since. Suddenly I realized what
my parents had tried to tell me. Prayer is like talking to a friend. He
hears and responds. |
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My sharing of what God had done was extremely important for my growth in my friendship with God. I was a timid teenager but God wanted me to share. It had to be or I was not thankful.
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 Now
as I near the last part of my life past 50 years of age, my life is full
of God's answers to my prayers. I have three times as many stories to tell
some day that I cannot tell today. The ones I can share without
hurting people's feelings or their chances to be saved, have been written
to encourage and strengthen the faith of others. This is my testimony. I
am so happy for all the times God has not given up on me. He has been so
patient with my faults and guided me through all of my life. I love Him
more every day. I can hardly wait till He comes in the sky and I can walk
with Him on those golden streets. I really want to always be with Him and
go everywhere He does. My treasure in heaven will be people who have found
Jesus because of my sharing. I love having many friends. I will really
enjoy living forever with others who love Jesus too and love to sing His
praises and share their stories. As I near the last part of my life, Jesus
has impressed me to write up these stories to encourage others. (These are
under Prayer Answers, & Missions, on this web and under stories
and dreams on web site: illustratedbible.com) Each month more are added
because God never stops blessing.
My telling of these many stories is heaven's chosen way of bringing people to love and obey God. In seeing what God can do for others, many are encouraged to ask Him for things too. I hope you share what God has done for you. Everyone is different. We all have different experiences to tell. Even the sad things must be told so all can see how God comforted you. This is heaven's powerful weapon. |
| "As those who have spent their lives in the service
of Christ draw near to the close of their earthly ministry, they will be
impressed by the Holy Spirit to recount the experiences they have had in
connection with the work of God. The
record of His wonderful dealings with His people, of His great goodness in
delivering them from trial, should be repeated to those newly come to the
faith. God desires the old and tried laborers to stand in their
place, doing their part to save men and women from being swept downward by
the mighty current of evil, He desires them to keep the armor on till He
bids them lay it down." {AA
574.1} Acts of Apostles by Ellen White
I had so much fun writing up all my true stories. It made my faith increase as I read through all my journals and saw how My Jesus has led all through my life. I love Him more now that I have done this review 6 times. (Each time the web site crashes and has to be redone) We have nothing to fear for the future except we forget what He has done for us in the past. 3SM 162 |
| Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven's chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked with our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christlike life, have an irresistible power, that works for the salvation of souls.--The Ministry of Healing, p. 100. {ChS 213.1} |
| Your testimony in its genuineness and reality He will make powerful in the power of the life to come. The word of the Lord will be in your mouth as truth and righteousness. {COL 148.4} |
| He is honored when we love Him and bear testimony to the genuineness of our love by keeping His commandments. He is honored when we set apart the seventh day as sacred and holy. To those who do this, the Sabbath is a sign, . . . God declares, "that I am the Lord that sanctify them" (Eze. 20:12). Sanctification means habitual communion with God. There is nothing so great and powerful as God's love for those who are His children. {HP 129.5} |
Sources:
Acts of the Apostles: John was accordingly summoned to Rome to be tried for his faith. Here before the authorities the apostle's doctrines were misstated. False witnesses accused him of teaching seditious heresies. By these accusations his enemies hoped to bring about the disciple's death. {AA 569.3}
John answered for himself in a clear and convincing manner, and with such simplicity and candor that his words had a powerful effect. His hearers were astonished at his wisdom and eloquence. But the more convincing his testimony, the deeper was the hatred of his
opposers. The emperor Domitian was filled with rage. He could neither dispute the reasoning of Christ's faithful advocate, nor match the power that attended his utterance of truth; yet he determined that he would silence his voice. {AA 569.4}
John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil; but the Lord preserved the life of His faithful servant, even as He preserved the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. As the words were spoken, Thus perish all who believe in that deceiver, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, John declared, My Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and his angels could devise to humiliate and torture Him. He gave His life to save the world. I am honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake. I am a weak, sinful man. Christ was holy, harmless, undefiled. He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. {AA 570.1}
These words had their influence, and John was removed from the caldron by the very men who had cast him in. {AA 570.2}
Power of testimony because of connection with Jesus.
Your testimony in its genuineness and reality He will make powerful in the power of the life to come. The word of the Lord will be in your mouth as truth and righteousness. {COL 148.4}
Personal effort for others should be preceded by much secret prayer; for it requires great wisdom to understand the science of saving souls. Before communicating with men, commune with Christ. At the throne of heavenly grace obtain a preparation for ministering to the people. {COL 149.1}
Let your heart break for the longing it has for God, for the living God. The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature. All that Christ received from God we too may have. Then ask and receive. With the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, claim for yourself all that God has promised. {COL 149.2}
Let the glorious conceptions of God possess your mind. Let your life be knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus. He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness is willing to shine in your heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will take the things of God and show them unto you, conveying them as a living power into the obedient heart. Christ will lead you to the threshold of the Infinite. You may behold the glory beyond the veil, and reveal to men the sufficiency of Him who ever liveth to make intercession for us. {COL 149.3}
Let nothing stop your testimony where God has called you
"And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." [LUKE 9:59-62.] {GW92 248.1}
No earthly ties, no earthly considerations, should weigh one moment in the scale against duty to the cause and work of God. Jesus severed his connection from everything to save a lost world; and he requires of us a full and entire consecration. There are sacrifices to be made for the interests of God's cause. The sacrifice of feeling is the most keen that is required of us; yet, after all, it is a small sacrifice. You have plenty of friends, and if the feelings are only sanctified, you need not feel that you are making a very great sacrifice. [FROM A PERSONAL TESTIMONY.] You do not leave your wife among heathen. You are not called to tread the burning African desert, or to face prisons, and encounter trial at every step. Be careful how you appeal to your sympathies, and let human feelings and personal considerations mingle with your efforts and labors for the cause of God. He demands unselfish and willing service. You can render this, and yet do all your duties to your family; but hold this as a secondary matter.--Vol. 3, p. 500.
"Filled with gratitude, we communicate to others the blessings that have been freely given us. Thus receiving and imparting,
we grow in grace; and a rich current of praise and gratitude constantly flows from our lips; the sweet spirit of Jesus kindles thanksgiving in our hearts, and our souls are uplifted with a sense of security. The unfailing, inexhaustible righteousness of Christ becomes our righteousness by faith. {ML 171.4}