The Power Of Your Testimony

Beloved,

Here we are at the middle of another week. I hope and pray that it is going well for you. I had a blessed start to the week with a feast of a meal and a productive meeting with our dearly loved and respected seniors and elders in the Senior Ministry. I thank God for all within our church family, from the youngest to the oldest. So many are finding ways to be engaged and involved for the cau

se of Christ.

Do you know that your engagement and involvement in service and ministry is a key part of how the body of Christ grows?

In general health, exercise is important with a key emphasis on movement. Many of us have heard the phrase, "If you don't use it, you will lose it."

I have found that to be so true in my healing and recovery from two knee surgeries over the last two years. It is easy to sit down and not feel any discomfort or pain; BUT, when I do get up after having done so, the pain comes back and, many times, it is worse than before I chose to take some time off.

Now, when I exercise regularly, I find that I still feel some pain and discomfort but it is much less than when I do not. And, on some days, God blesses me with such grace that I do not feel any pain at all.

I share this story with you as a part of my testimony that you may get something out of my life journey with God, my life story with God, that will encourage you in your life journey, your life story.

You see, our testimony has great power. It reveals how your life has changed and it can inspire change in the lives of others.

At the beginning of the life of the church, it was testimonies that mobilized life transforming change that continues to this day.

Acts 4:33 reveals, "With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."

Grace, the unmerited favor of God, came upon the apostles, the hearers of their testimony, and the believers in their testimony because the apostles, with great power, Holy Ghost power, gave their testimony.

Souls were saved and lives were changed because the apostles gave their testimony.

I firmly believe that the soul saving, life changing power of our testimony still exists today.

How do I know? No one ever gave their lives to Jesus Christ without someone telling them about Jesus Christ. Somebody had to testify.

Look at yourself and your own life. Somebody had to tell you the Gospel story and give you the choice to believe it or not.

Beloved, if somebody had to do that for you, then what is your responsibility?

Is it not to do the same?

You have soul saving, life changing power in your testimony; but, "If you don't use it, you will lose it."

Now, I do not mean that you will lose your faith or your salvation; but, you have such a bigger and richer opportunity. You can participate in helping someone else to find their faith in God through Jesus Christ as guided by the Holy Spirit and receive salvation unto eternal life. You have yours. What about somebody else? Inside of you is a powerful testimony.

Who me? Yes, you. Never lose confidence in the power of your testimony. It is full of the grace of God for all who hear it.

Beloved, we do not have HOPE Wednesday this Wednesday but I have prepared the schedule and topics for the Summer Mini Lessons. An announcement and handouts will be available on Sunday. I am excited for you and myself as we intersperse some time coming together to break up our summer time away from our normal routine. I love you too much to stay away from you too long in our treasured teaching moments.

I want to issue a bit of a challenge to you and request of you. This Sunday is Father's Day. First, and foremost, I ask you to come to be with us on this Sunday. And, I ask you to invite your father to come with you. And, if your father is not living, I ask you to invite some other man with you who has been like a father to you. And, I ask you to invite some man who you know has been a father to others. And, I ask you to invite some man who needs to hear a good message about fathers, Godly fathers. And, I ask you to invite some woman to come who may benefit from our coming together on this Sunday as well. As we know, some of our women have had to play the role of father and mother in their family. So, we want to celebrate them too on this day.

I believe that God has a word for us on this Sunday that may open some eyes, minds, hearts, and spirits.

Now, I have put forth the challenge and request. As with your testimony, it is up to you to decide what you are going to do with it. You have the power.

I pray you will meet the challenge and honor the request. Remember, all you were asked to do was to invite. It is up to them to decide.

And, remember, God loves you and I love you too.

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain