The Testimony of Jesus Christ – Is this your Testimony?

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In this study we will examine whether or not we “have the testimony of Jesus”.

bride of Christ

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The testimony of Jesus Christ was ” I do always those things that please him.”(John 8:29). As the children of our heavenly father, we have been given as a free gift “the mind of Christ”(1 Cor 2:16), “the faith of Jesus”(Revelation 14:12) and the very “testimony of Jesus Christ”(Revelation 12:17) that we may by his grace testify “I do always those things that please him”(John 8:29).

In the following we will examine seven snares that Satan has setup for us that might very well be our testimony right now. A testimony that does not always trust Father’s word.

Let’s briefly look at what we’ve said and what we imply when we say it, and then below we will look into the precious promises of God’s word so that we can truly have the victory over Satan and claim by faith that the testimony of Jesus is truly our testimony.

WHAT WE”VE SAID(Our Testimony)…. AND WHAT WE IMPLY BY IT…

  1. “I can’t”…… Actually means “I won’t
  2. “I try”….Actually means “I depend on myself”
  3. “What if?”…. Actually means “Gods could fail me”
  4. “Yes but”… Denies the promises of God…..
  5. “I’m only Human”….. actually we are denying the power of God…
  6. “That’s just the way I am”.. Actually means “we are not of God.”
  7. “I forgot”…. This is a carnal excuse..

 

#1 “I can’t”…… Actually means “I won’t

Did Paul say I can’t? What does scripture tell us

Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Is that the testimony we have? It is written “I can do all things through Christ” or “I can’t”?

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Ask and it is done. That’s the word of God. The word’s “I can’t” are not the “testimony of Jesus Christ”(Revelation 12:17) Let us trust God, not self. His word is true.

#2 “I try”….Actually means “I depend on myself”

Eph 2:8, 9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

According to scripture “I try” is not something that God asks us to say. God has promised to do it through us. God’s biddings are enablings. In other words the word does what it says it will do.

You may say “I try” But Jesus said:

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing

We cannot do nothing of our own self. It is “not of yourselves”(Eph 2:8)This is impossible. We must put full trust in God and his word which is truth[John 17:17] that it is “the gift of God”(Eph 2:8). It is written “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works”(Eph 2:10).

Some will say “I keep working at it” as if this is something that we will do of ourselves. The sad fact for that person is that of ourselves it is impossible, “but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:10). We cannot earn salvation by our own works.

Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Paul never said “I try” rather he “did” the will of the father. Never of his own works all Glory is to the father. The father’s spirit was in Paul and Paul worked the works of God. The apostle had the attitude that the father worked in him “mightily, powerfully, according to his working. What we need to learn is to stop “trying” and rest in him all ye that labor. He will do his will in you.

Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Righteousness comes by faith in God’s word to do what it says it will do. We do not have to testify “I can’t” or “I try” but rather say “I can do all things through Christ”(Phi 4:13) for he worketh in me “to do of his good pleasure”(Phi 2:13) and I accept it by Faith.

#3 “What if?”…. Actually means “Gods could fail me”

God is “yea” and “Amen”. By saying this we are saying “What if God doesn’t keep his promises?”This is really complaining against God himself. Many will not make it to the promised land because of a lack of trust in our Father’s word.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jesus said “I am the way”.

Jud 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The only “What if” is “What if I don’t trust my Father’s word?” Then he will not be able to keep you from falling.Satan and Jesus

The testimony of Jesus was ” It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:4). Paul said “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”(Romans 10:17). He also said “that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ”(Galatians 2:16). Jesus didn’t say “What if?”.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Glory and power belongs to God. How could we possibly say “what if?” In actuality we are saying “If ““I”” do this or ““I”” do something” as if overcoming sin was of our own power trusting self. Rather we need to say with Christ “I do nothing of myself;”(John 8:28) or like Paul “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”(Galatians 2:20)

When we say “What if I sin”? We refuse the power of God. Those who are “Of God” are a reflection of the Messiah himself. We partake of his divinity.(2 Peter 1:3, 4) We partake of his faith.(Galatians 2:20, Revelation 14:12). Jesus Christ did not fail because he was held up by his Fathers right hand and by faith in his Father’s word he overcame sin.

Let us praise him for his promises and not say “What If?” trusting that he will do in us “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”(Ephesians 3:20)

#4 “Yes but”… Denies the promises of God…..

There is no such thing as “yes but” as we’ve already read God “will with the temptation make a way of escape”(1 Corinthians 10:13)

1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

These snares of Satan are designed to convince people God is not faithful. But the word implies over and over again that he is faithful. He is a father who pities his children enough that he will hold them up. We have a God who loves us so much that rather then destroying his children and giving them what they deserve for sin, rather than destroying them, he would have rather took that destruction himself in order to save us.

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

How can we not trust a God like that? God is faithful. What was the testimony of Jesus when tempted? Did Jesus ever say “Yes but…?”

Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

How was this man victorious in every battle with the enemy? Jesus was in our sinful flesh and could have as easily rebelled as each of us have done. He never desired to turn away. He never said “Yes but”. He said “I trust my father, my fathers words are true.” He knew his Father’s love.

We need to stop saying “I know more than God, and trust our fathers words as true” rather than saying “yes but”, “What if”, “I try”, or “I can’t”.

#5 “I’m only Human”….. actually we are denying the power of God…

The bible says Father has given us his own power to overcome all ungodliness in the flesh.

2Pe 1:3, 4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

By the promises of God we become partakers of the divine nature. Invincible, born again power given by God.

Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

He does give to his children whatever they want according to his good will, does he fail us? Never. Why would we want to fail him? The bible say’s Jesus was “only human” as it pertains to his sinful flesh but he never once sinned. He has given us this same power.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

We have been given the mind of Christ, the faith of Jesus, the testimony of Jesus, and thus it is that Christ is dwelling in our flesh and it is written “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”(1 John 4:4) and since Christ is dwelling in our sinful flesh and doing his will through us mightily above all that we ask or think we no longer can testify “I am only human”.

The testimony of Jesus was never “I’m only human”.

#6 “That’s just the way I am”.. Actually means “we are not of God.”

Joh 8:23, 29 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world…And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Are we partakers? Or are we from this world? Is it him in us? Or do we still rule? Are we here on a mission from our father? Do we have the mind of Christ? Are we a Christian? Can you be the light of the world saying “Thats just the way I am”?

We have the testimony of Jesus Christ, we know our father. He holds our hand. we are not left alone. Let us not say “That’s just the way I am” exalting ourselves.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Is that our testimony or are we testifying that “Some things are become new, Some things are passed away.” What saith the word of God? Who do you believe?

#7 “I forgot”…. This is a carnal excuse..

We can forget when we have not put the Father first in our lives, but our testimony is:

Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

He is always at my right hand.

Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psa 119:83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

Psa 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

Psa 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

Father has said to us:

Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

And if we put God always before us continually we will not forget.

Heb 13:15, 16 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Those who are of God never forget to praise Him.

(Hos 4:6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Carnal excuses. Denying the power of God. There is a warning there, they seem like harsh words. But they are merely words of Love, precious promises that if we set Father before us, we will not forget his statutes and precepts. Why would we ever want to disobey with the love in which he had for us willing to give up his only begotten Son. And the love of his Son who was willing to give up a pre-existence equal with his father, worshipped and adored by heavenly angels to become made like unto fallen man and suffer a horrific death on the cross to save a rebellious race of people.

Psa 17:3-5 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Psa 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

That is the attitude of David, that was the attitude of Jesus Christ, and it is the attitude of those who have accepted by faith the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus

The remnant of God will not violate the commandments of God, nor will they speak the words of Satan, they hold his hand, trusting him to keep them in his narrow path. The way they succeed is they have the faith, mind and attitude of Jesus himself.

Eph 2:9, 10 Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

There are no “Buts” in the way of Jesus. There is no falling when we are in Christ. The word of our father is “Yea” and “AMEN”. Come partake of his divine nature. Become more than conquerers through Christ Jesus. Never again to say “I cant”, “I try”, “What if”, “yes but”, “I’m only human”, “that’s just the way I am” or “I forgot”.

See Also:

Truly Born Again

Victory Over Sin

Be Ye Perfect (Video)

No Longer Under the Schoolmaster

More Studies on Faith and Law

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