Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
The main point of this sermon is to encourage believers to hold fast to their testimonies, trust in Jesus in all situations, and allow God to guide their steps according to His divine plan.
Good morning, church family. It’s a blessing to be standing here today sharing the Word of God with you. Today we're going to dive into Revelation 12, where we’ll explore the importance of holding fast to our testimony, leaning on Jesus in all life’s situations, and allowing God to transform us and guide our steps according to His plan.
Remember the words of renowned Christian author, A.W. Tozer, who once said, "God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible - what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves." What a powerful reminder that we can accomplish so much more when we step out of our comfort zones and surrender our plans to God.
Let's read the scripture together from Revelation 12. "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads... When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child... But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus."
Now, before we delve deeper, let's bow our heads in prayer.
Dear Lord, we thank You for gathering us here today. We ask that You open our hearts and minds as we explore Your Word. Guide us to hold fast to our testimonies, trust in Your Son Jesus, and allow You to change us and lead us according to Your divine plan. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Our testimonies are unique, personal narratives of our encounters with God. They are our stories of faith, hope, and redemption. They are the tales of how we were lost and then found, of how we were blind but now see. They are the chronicles of our journey from darkness into light, from death into life. They are the accounts of God's grace, mercy, and love in our lives.
But why is it so important to hold fast to our testimonies? Firstly, our testimonies are a powerful tool for evangelism. In a world that's increasingly skeptical of absolute truths, personal experiences can often speak louder than theoretical arguments. When we share our testimonies, we're not just presenting a set of beliefs; we're sharing a lived experience of God's transformative power. We're showing others that God is not just an abstract concept, but a personal, relational being who changes lives.
Secondly, our testimonies serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness. In times of doubt or struggle, we can look back on our testimonies and be reminded of God's goodness and mercy. We can recall how He has guided us, provided for us, and carried us through difficult times. Our testimonies can strengthen our faith and give us hope for the future.
Thirdly, holding fast to our testimonies helps us to stay grounded in our faith. In a world that's constantly changing, our testimonies are a constant reminder of the unchanging nature of God. They remind us of who we are in Christ and anchor us in our identity as children of God. They help us to resist the pressures of the world to conform and compromise, and instead, to stand firm in our faith.
However, holding fast to our testimonies is not always easy. It requires courage, perseverance, and faith. It requires us to be vulnerable and to risk rejection. It requires us to be honest about our struggles and failures, as well as our victories. It requires us to continually surrender our lives to God and to trust in His plan for us.
But the rewards are worth the effort. When we hold fast to our testimonies, we not only strengthen our own faith, but we also have the opportunity to impact the lives of others. We have the chance to be a beacon of hope in a world that's desperately in need of it. We have the privilege of pointing others to the One who can give them hope, peace, and eternal life.
Pastor, would you be willing to share a personal story about a time when holding fast to your testimony made a significant difference in your life or someone else's? Your experiences could provide a powerful illustration of this concept and help us to better understand and apply it in our own lives.
Trusting in Jesus is not just a one-time event, but rather a continuous journey that we embark on every day ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO