Tag: overcoming faith
The power of your testimony
Scripture reading for November 13th: Acts 21-23
Have you had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ? Sharing your testimony is a powerful thing. It does something in you and then does something to overcome the enemy of our souls in others who hear. Many people have been won to the Lord through the power of a testimony! We overcome by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony!
Paul had gone to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost and had taken Trophimus with him. He went through the temple purification rites for seven days and went to the temple to verify the dates and times and appropriate offerings had been made. Some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul and Trophimus and began to stir up a riot. They aroused the city and men came running from everywhere, seized Paul, drug him out of the temple and began to beat him, intending to kill him!
The Roman guards heard the commotion and stopped the beating, putting Paul in chains. The commotion of the crowd was so great that they had to literally carry Paul back to the barracks. The crowd was shouting, “Away with him!” (Acts 21:33-36) Paul asked the commander of the guard for permission to speak to the crowd and he was allowed to speak.
Paul simply shared his testimony. These were quite likely some of the same Jews who had earlier demanded the death of Jesus Christ. In sharing his testimony, Paul told this hostile crowd about his own anger against Christ and His followers. (Acts 22:3-5) He told them about his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road and how he was struck blind. Jesus spoke to him, confronting his sin. He told them of his healing and his call by the Lord to go to the Gentiles. At this point, the crowd turned on him again and demanded his death!
Our testimony helps others to relate to us and us to them. It offers us a way to share a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The results are always up to the Holy Spirit and may not appear positive at first! Share your testimony with someone today as the Holy Spirit directs! Your personal testimony has power to help others relate to you and understand how they can relate with Jesus too.
Overcoming Faith!
Scripture reading for December 28th: Revelation 10-13
The picture we get from reading Revelation is one of increasing warfare and violence against those who follow Christ in the last days. John was given visions of beasts, scrolls, angels with measuring rods and trumpets and two witnesses clothed in sackcloth prophesying and bringing judgment on the earth. Faith alone will bring victory and reward.
“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15) This last trumpeting angel announced the victory of Jesus Christ and His rule over the kingdoms of this world. After the victory announcement, twenty-four elders fell on their faces and worshiped. These elders acknowledged the nations who were angry at Christ’s rule and the time of wrath that had come. This time would bring judgment for the dead and destruction of those who destroyed on earth. It would also bring reward for the faithful prophets and saints who had kept the faith and stayed true to God. (Revelation 11:16-18)
John saw another great sign in heaven. This was a pregnant woman, crowned with twelve stars who was about to give birth. Another sign appeared, this being an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 12:1-9) The dragon was waiting to devour the child at birth. The Child that was born was a Son, who would rule all the nations with an iron scepter. This Child was caught up to heaven to God’s throne. This story is the record of Jesus Christ and His miraculous birth and resurrection in abbreviated form. There was war in heaven and Michael the archangel fought against the dragon and his fallen angels. Satan is identified as that ancient serpent who led the whole world astray and was hurled down to earth.
John hears a voice tell of the salvation and authority of Christ and the battle with the devil and accuser of the brothers. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Check your life and heart today for overcoming faith! The time of reward for overcoming faith is at hand as well as judgment for the wicked!