The Testimonies of God

Text:               Genesis 18:17-19

Intro:

  • I believe to have one’s name mentioned in the Bible is extraordinary.
  • However, to have the God of the Bible actually provide a testimony in a person’s behalf is hardly imaginable.
  • When any of us stand in the presence of God
    • We realize as Isaiah did we are  “people of unclean lips”
    • We realize as the Apostle Paul did – “O wretched man that I am!”
    • We realize as the Apostle Peter did – “I am a sinful man”
  • The Bible declares –
    • “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”
    • “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
  • Despite this God testifies in His Word about some of His Saints.
  • We want to look at some of “The Testimonies of God.”

I.          Abraham – Genesis 18:19

  • Notice God’s testimony about Abraham
    • God says, “For I know him“
    • God had no doubt about the statement that He was about to make about Abraham.
  • “that he will command his children and his household after him“
    • God said that Abraham had his family and household in order.
    • He rules them well.
    • They were in complete submission to him because Abraham was in complete submission to God.
  • “they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment“
    • Abraham was obedient to God and set the example for his family.
    • He spent time in instructing his family on the things of the Lord.
    • See Deut. 6:4-9.
    • He made sure that his family had a time of devotion each.
    • He was not a hypocrite.
    • He practiced what he preached.
    • His walk matched his talk.
    • Therefore, Abraham’s family was obedient to God.
    • As Abraham was just and fair in his business dealings and so would his family.
  • In fact notice what the Word of God says about Abraham’s relationship with God.
    • See James 2:23
    • Can you imagine being called “The Friend of God”
    • I believe the reason that Abraham was called The Friend of God is because he was obedient to God.
  • We see his life of obedience begin when God told him in Genesis 12:1 – “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”
  • We see Abraham’s obedience in Genesis 12:4 – “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;”
  • Abraham was not perfect.
    • He was a sinner just like you and me.
    • However, overall his life reflected a life that was obedient to God.
  • Abraham had the testimony of OBEDIENCE to God

II.         Job – Job 1:8

  • Notice God’s testimony about Job –
  • “there is none like him in the earth”
    • Job was in a class all by himself.
  • “a perfect and an upright man”
    • God did not say Job was sinless.
    • Job was a perfect man
      • A man who was a mature saint.
      • A man who was consistently right with God.
      • A man who confessed his sins to God on a regular basis.
    • Job was an upright man.
      • A man who could be trusted in his business dealings.
      • A man who was honest and would never cheat anyone.
      • A man was known as being fair in his business dealings.
  • “one that feareth God”
    • Job had the testimony that he feared God.
    • That is why he was a perfect and upright man.
  • The Word of God has a lot to say about “the fear of the Lord”
    • “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom”
    • “the fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom”
    • “the fear of the Lord prolongeth days”
    • “the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death”
  • “escheweth evil”
    • Job had the testimony that he avoided evil.
    • The Word of God tells us “to depart from evil is understanding”
  • See James 5:10-11.
    • We see that Job had a testimony of being patient when it came to suffering.
    • The Word of God tells us in  Romans 5:3 – “…knowing that tribulation worketh patience”
    • Job certainly had his share and more of tribulation but through it all he was patient and trusted in God.
  • Job had the testimony that he FEARED GOD.
    • As a result he was an upright man and avoided evil.

III.        David – Acts 13:22

  • Notice God’s testimony about David
  • “a man after mine own heart”
    • A believe the key word is “heart”
  • See Isaiah 66:2
    • Notice the kind of man God takes notice of –
      • A man that has a poor and contrite spirit
      • A man that trembles at God’s Word.
      • David was such man.
  • See Psalm 51:17
    • Notice the kind of sacrifices that God will not despise
      • “broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart”
  • You see the reason David was a man after God’s own heart was because he saw sin as God saw sin.
    • Something wicked and vile.
    • Despite his sins of committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah murder.
    • David was still a man after God’s own heart because he acknowledged his sin and took full responsibility for it
    • He confessed his sin to God and was broken hearted because of his sin.
    • He asked God for his forgiveness and mercy
    • This evident from Psalm 51 which he wrote.
    • David had godly sorrow which worketh repentance to salvation.
      • David was sorrow for offending God.
      • Not for getting caught.
      • Being sorrow for getting caught is worldly sorrow which worketh death.
  • Notice also in Acts 13:22 what God has to say about David.
    • “which shall fulfil all my will”
    • God knew with out a doubt that David was totally submitted to will of God for his life.
    • God knew whatever He told David to do that he would do it.
  • David had the testimony of being a MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART.
    • A heart that would weep and hurt over sin that he had committed against God.
    • A man surrendered to the will of God.

IV.       Mary – Luke 1:30

  • Notice God’s testimony about Mary.
  • “for thou hast found favour with God”
    • Mary found kindness with God.
    • Mary found God’s support.
    • Why you might ask?
    • Of all the virgins in Israel why did Mary find favour with God?
  • Let’s look at some of the statements that Mary made.
    • See Luke 1:38 – “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”
    • Mary had a humble spirit.
    • She called herself a handmaid of the Lord.
    • A position of servitude and submission.
  • Most women if they were told that they were going to bring the Saviour of mankind into the world would have been pretty puffed up – Amen!
  • If they believed the angel Gabriel to begin with.
  • Mary was submitted to whatever the Lord had for her to do.
  • Notice something else about Mary.
    • She recognized her lost condition.
    • See Luke 1:46-47
      • Her soul magnified the Lord not herself.
      • She her spirit rejoiced in God her Saviour.
  • Mary had the testimony of being HUMBLE.
  • Mary had the testimony that she would serve the Lord in any way He saw fit.

Conclusion:

  • I believe that each one of these testimonies of God should reflect the life of the believer.
  • I believe each one of us should have the Testimony:
    • Of being obedient to God as Abraham was.
    • Of fearing God as Job did to keep us upright and to avoid evil.
    • Of having a broken and contrite heart over our sin as David did.
    • Of having a heart of humility, totally surrendered to will of God as Mary did.
  • How about you my dear friend – What is God’s Testimony regarding you?