The Living Testimony

Text:

Psalms 66:16:

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

 

Matthew 28:19-20:

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Theme:

The Living Testimony

 

Introduction:

• The Book of Psalms is the 19^th book of the Old Testament and 2^nd of the books of poetry. It is distinguished as the longest book of the bible with 150 chapters and also contains the longest chapter of the bible, the 119^th division of Psalms.  Psalms is also organized in 5 divisions.
  • The author is David, the God-Appointed King and originator of the Davidic line of Kingship and rule in Israel.
  • Psalms is a book of praise and song consisting of verses that were rhythmically relayed in song as in poetry.
  • Psalms can be divided into 6 classes based on their content:
    • Hymns of praise to Jehovah
    • Temple hymns
    • Religious and moral songs of a general character
    • Elegiac psalms, that is, lamentations, psalms of complaint, generally united with prayer for help
    • Messianic psalms
    • Historical psalms
• The second text comes from the Gospel According to St. Matthew.
  • The Gospel according to St. Matthew, is the first book of the New Testament and of the Gospels of Jesus, the Christ, and the 40^th book of the Holy Bible as a whole.
  • Matthew, the disciple of Christ, wrote in more detail of the life of Christ and His ministry than any other Gospel writer even though the book was written over 5-10 years later than the rest of the Gospels.
• These two texts address two key statements in the context of ministry, the spreading of the Good News to mankind:
  • Matthew à What God tells the servant
  • Psalms à What the servant tells the people
• • Through these two lines of communication, God speaks to His people calling them to life eternal.
    • 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
• Our text in Psalms 66 explicates the role the servant as The Living Testimony

 

Body:

• The Servant of God is The Living Testimony for God to mankind!
  • Living (3 types)
    • Creation à 1 Corinthians 15:45, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
    • Salvation à John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
    • Submission à Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
  • Testimony (How is the servant the testimony?)

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

• “Come and hear”
  • The servant is inviting of others
• “all ye that fear God”
  • The servant understands who the audience is
• “I will declare”
  • The servant is available
    • AVAILABLE – It is AVAILABILITY and not CAPABILITY that God looks for.
  • The servant is willing
    • WILLING – It is the servant’s choice to serve God.
      • 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
• “what he hath done for my soul”
  • The servant has a story to tell
    • 1 Chronicles 16:8-9, “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.”
    • Isaiah 43:10, “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
  • The servant has been SAVED!
    • Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
• • The Servant of God is The Living Testimony for God to mankind!
• Three ways that the believer can serve as The Living Testimony
  • Baptism – New Convert
    • Baptism, an act of obedience, is the individual’s outward show to mankind of an inward change
    • First act of The Living Testimony
    • Testimony is the Motivation
      • Remember where God has brought you
  • Christian Mission – Called Believer
    • Tell of God à Be a Witness
    • Give God à Be an Example
      • Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
    • Testimony is the Qualifier
      • Matthew 7:20, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
  • The Preached Word – “God-Called Preacher” or Chosen Servant
    • The “Trial” or First Sermon is just like Baptism but into the Gospel ministry (“God-Called” or Chosen) and not just general Christian service.
      • That is what the preacher first proclaims to the congregation à “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”
    • The preacher must walk upright before people.
      • 1 Timothy 3:7, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
    • Testimony is the Power
      • 2 Timothy 1:8, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”

 

Conclusion:

• We are to be a Living Testimony of God’s SAVING and COMMISSIONING us to Himself through His Service
  • We are all called to GO and TELL!
    • Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”
    • Matthew 22:14, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
  • God will take care of His servants!
    • To OTHERS He says
      • 1Chronicles 16:22 & Psalms 105:15, “…Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”
    • To the SERVANT He says
      • Matthew 28:20, “ lo, I am with you always…”
  • So we have no excuse!
    • Go and tell how God saved your soul
    • Go and tell how God put you on the path of righteousness
    • Go and tell how God gave you a new life
    • Go and tell how God gave you a new walk
    • Go and tell how God gave you a new talk
    • Go and tell how God changed your mind
    • Go and tell how God changed your heart
    • I thank God that I am a Living Testimony
      • I am not dead
      • I am not lost

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;

But the master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me now safe am I.

Love lifted me. 

Love lifted me.

When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me!!

 

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