Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 31 May 2015 - "The Power of Testimony" Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-22

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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 31 May 2015 - "The Power of Testimony" Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be one in mind and feeling; love as brothers; and be compassionate and humble-minded, 9 not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult, but, on the contrary, with blessing. For it is to this that you have been called, so that you may receive a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever wants to love life and see good days

must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,

11 turn from evil and do good,

seek peace and chase after it.

12 For Adonai keeps his eyes on the righteous,

and his ears are open to their prayers;

but the face of Adonai is against

those who do evil things.”[a]

13 For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don’t fear what they fear or be disturbed, 15 but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts;[b] while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you — yet with humility and fear, 16 keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame. 17 For if God has in fact willed that you should suffer, it is better that you suffer for doing what is good than for doing what is evil.

18 For the Messiah himself died for sins, once and for all, a righteous person on behalf of unrighteous people, so that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but brought to life by the Spirit; 19 and in this form he went and made a proclamation to the imprisoned spirits, 20 to those who were disobedient long ago, in the days of Noach, when God waited patiently during the building of the ark, in which a few people — to be specific, eight — were delivered by means of water. 21 This also prefigures what delivers us now, the water of immersion, which is not the removal of dirt from the body, but one’s pledge to keep a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah. 22 He has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God,[c] with angels, authorities and powers subject to him.[Footnotes:

1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:13-17(12-16)

1 Peter 3:15 Isaiah 8:12-13

1 Peter 3:22 Psalm 110:1]

"The Power of Testimony" by Author: Kimberly Davidson
Most of us wish we could edit out the not-so-nice chapters of our lives. Yet our stories are a picture of God working in all things for our good. When a person is going through a painful situation we have an opportunity to express our faith and hope.
Every Christian should be able to give a coherent defense of the hope they have in Christ, especially in hopeless situations. This is called a testimony. We begin by simply telling what our lives were like before Christ. Then we describe our born-again spiritual experience using illustrations which hopefully cause the listener to desire this same relationship. We describe how our lives in Christ are different now. Incorporating Scripture can make our story more powerful. Finally, we speak of the reality of the resurrection of Christ, declaring God’s plan and power. Then with gentleness and respect, ask if we can share the prayer of salvation.
Add prayer and practice. God will use you at the right time and in the right place for His glory.
Hymn for Today: "I've Got A Testimony" by Reverend Clay Evans

SOLOIST:

As I look back over my life

And I think things over I can truly say that I’ve been blessed

I’ve got a testimony

As I look back over my life

And I think things over I can truly say He brought me all the way

I’ve got a testimony

CHOIR:

As I look back over my life

And I think things over I can truly say that I’ve been blessed

I’ve got a testimony

(REPEAT)

SOLOIST:

Sometimes I couldn’t see my way through

But the Lord He brought me out

Right now I’m free

I’ve got the victory

I’ve got a testimony

(REPEAT)

CHOIR:

As I look back over my life

And I think things over I can truly say that I’ve been blessed

I’ve got a testimony

(REPEAT)

I have a testimony (2x)

I have a testimony (2x) [up]

(repeat this section as desired)

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