DETRIMENTAL COMPETITION-VII—John 3:22-36
Christians & the Church indeed have ‘the market’ on truth. We are in competition with false doctrine. But the Church invites grave difficulties upon herself when they become competitors among themselves...i.e., When their competition becomes detrimental to God’s desire.
While empowered & triumphant in Christ, individual Christians within the church, & even the local Church, can become a breeding ground for a Competitive spirit, driven by turning privilege in Christ into entitlement & deserving. Such a Competitive spirit is unhealthy & Detrimental to the Christian faith.
A biblically doctrinal(truth) understanding is vital to your growth as a Christian! We must stand firm for the truth, & we must also be certain to avoid standing firm for that which is contrived of man!
*Verses :25 & 26 form the hinge/focus around which this passage flows.
John the Baptist pointed out the weakness/detriments/absurdities/incompatibilities of competitive ministry.
A competitive spirit can be detrimental to Christian ministry.
cf.—Php. 1:15-18—“Some indeed preach Christ even from envy & strife, & some also from good will: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; & in this I rejoice, yes, & will rejoice.”
“The last thing...Jonah wanted...was for [the city of ]Nineveh to repent at his preaching; but” his... “message[from God]...produced repentance in spite of his ill intentions.”—MNTC
Local churches can operate & function as if they are in competition with other churches in the area. Any true church’s ‘competitive edge’ is supplied by Christ Jesus Himself! Together, we must be defenders of the faith(1Pet. 3:14-16; Jude :3-5).
We are always best served, & the Good News is best served, & the Kingdom of God is best served, by those who preach Christ from good will, rather than from envy & strife.
Jesus said, in Mark 3:24, 25—“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”
When is a competitive spirit detrimental to Christian ministry?
9 detriments of a competitive spirit to Christian ministry.
(And these all center around ‘me,’ ‘my,’ & ‘mine’!)
We have already seen that,
A competitive spirit is detrimental to Christian ministry when...
1. Your LAND/AREA is Best(:22-23)
2. Your IMMERSION/Baptism is Best(:23-24)
3. Your PURITY is Best(:25-26)
4. Your PLAN is Best(:27-28)
5. Your FULFILLMENT is Best(:29-30)
6. Your ORIGIN is Best(:31)
Our concern at FBCC is that you leave the ‘land’ of YOUR’ for the ‘land of the LORD!’
7—A competitive spirit is detrimental to Christian ministry when...
Your TESTIMONY is Best(:32-34)
Explanation:(:32-34)
:32—“And what He has seen & heard, that He testifies; & no one receives His testimony.”
John the Baptist makes an observation which the apostle John set forth in 1:10-11—That Jesus(Christ/Messiah) has “seen & heard” directly as a result of being in heaven(3:13) & has “testified” of it. Jesus’ testimony “express[es] the clear & perfect knowledge Christ has of all truths & doctrines[which He has received in the perfect council of the Godhead]; he having all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge in him.”—John Gill Thus Jesus perfectly & faithfully declares the whole council of God.
Ironically, the result of Jesus’ personal testimony is that it is largely ignored in the world & even among those(Israel) whom He Himself forged as His witness(es)(3:13; Num. 14:11-21; Deut. 9:1-7; Eccl. 12:13-14; Ezek. 16:6-24; Acts 7:51-53). We know that not but a few of the disciples of John even bore fully with Jesus’ “testimony. ” Likewise even those of Jesus’ own followers did not all “receive” it(Jn. 1:10-11; Jn. 6:55-66). “How stupid & foolish are the greatest part of mankind, what enemies to themselves!”.....“The unbelief of sinners is the grief of saints.”—Matthew Henry
Jn. 1:10-11—“He was in the world, & the world was made through Him, & the world did not know Him. He came to His own, & His own did not receive Him.”
Jn. 6:55-66—“For My[Jesus] flesh is food indeed, & My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh & drinks My blood abides in Me, & I in him. As the living Father sent Me, & I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, & are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, & they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, & who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went back & walked with Him no more.”
BUT...1:12-13! There are those who accept & “receive” Jesus’/Christ’s/Messiah’s “testimony.”
Jn. 1:12-13—“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
“Seen”—oraw—Verb—1) To see with the eyes; 2) To see with the mind, to perceive, know; 3) To see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience; 4) To see, to look to—4a) To take heed, beware, 4b) To care for, pay heed to; 5) I was seen, showed myself, appeared. Oraw denotes perception in general(as resulting principally from vision), the prominence being in the mental element. Strong—properly--To stare at[compare optanomai], i.e. by implication--To discern clearly(physically or mentally); by extension--To attend to; by Hebraism--To experience; passively--To appear.
“Heard”[See :29]—akouw—Verb—1) To be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf; 2) To hear, 2b) To attend to, consider what is or has been said, 2c) To understand, perceive the sense of what is said; 3) To hear something—3a) To perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence, 3b) To get by hearing learn, 3c) A thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn, 3d) To give ear to a teaching or a teacher, 3e) To comprehend, to understand. Strong—a primary verb; To hear(in various senses).
“Testifies”—marturew—Verb—1) To be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. To affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration—1a) To give(not to keep back) testimony, 1b) To utter honorable testimony, give a good report, 1c) Conjure, implore. Strong—To be witness, i.e. Testify(literally or figuratively).
“No one”—oudeiv, feminine--oudemia & neuter--ouden—Pronoun—1) No one, nothing. Strong—Not even one(man, woman or thing), i.e. None, nobody, nothing.
From—oude—Not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even—&—eiv—(including the neuter [etc.] en hen); A primary numeral; one.
“Receives”[See :33]—lambanw—Verb—1) To take—1a) To take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it—1a1) To take up a thing to be carried, 1a2) To take upon one's self, 1b) To take in order to carry away—1b1) without the notion of violence, i.e To remove, take away, 1c) To take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to make one's own—1c1) To claim, procure, for one's self—1c1a) To associate with one's self as companion, attendant, 1c2) Of that which when taken is not let go, to seize, to lay hold of, apprehend, 1c3) To take by craft(our catch, used of hunters, fisherman, etc.), to circumvent one by fraud, 1c4) To take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. To appropriate to one's self, 1c5) Catch at, reach after, strive to obtain, 1c6) To take a thing due, to collect, gather (tribute), 1d) To take—1d1) To admit, receive, 1d2) To receive what is offered, 1d3) Not to refuse or reject, 1d4) To receive a person, give him access to one's self, 1d41) To regard any one's power, rank, external circumstances, & on that account to do some injustice or neglect something, 1e) To take, to choose, select, 1f) To take beginning, to prove anything, to make a trial of, to experience; 2) To receive(what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; To take(in very many applications, literally & figuratively [properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas decomai is rather subjective or passive--to have offered to one; while aireomai is more violent--to seize or remove]).
“Testimony”[See :33]—marturia—Noun Fem. Accusative Sing.—A testifying—1a) The office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events; 2) What one testifies, testimony, i.e. before a judge. Strong—Evidence given(judicially or genitive case).
:33—“He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.”
John references Himself & thereby, to any that have personally “received” Christ’s(Jesus’) “testimony,” as those who “certify”(“set his seal”)—regarding this Christ—that “God is true.” God is not unfaithful to Himself(2Tim. 2:13). Christ/Messiah/Jesus is witness to the intimate & ultimate plan of God involving man.
Rom. 3:3-4—“For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.””[Ps. 51:4]
“Received”[See :32]—lambanw—
“Testimony”[See :32]—marturia—Noun Fem. Accusative Sing.—
“Certified”—sfragizw—Verb—1) To set a seal upon, mark with a seal, to seal—1a) For security: from Satan, 1b) since things sealed up are concealed(as the contents of a letter)--To hide, keep in silence, keep secret, 1c) In order to mark a person or a thing—1c1) To set a mark upon by the impress of a seal or a stamp, 1c2) Angels are said to be sealed by God, 1d) In order to prove, confirm, or attest a thing—1d1) To confirm authenticate, place beyond doubt—1d1a) Of a written document, 1d1b) To prove one's testimony to a person that he is what he professes to be. Strong—To stamp(with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation(literally or figuratively); by implication--To keep secret, to attest. Used 27X.
From—frassw—To fence or inclose, i.e. specifically--To block up, figuratively--To silence.
“God”—yeov—Noun Masc.—
“True”—alhyhv—Adj.—1) True; 2) Loving the truth, speaking the truth, truthful. Strong—True(as not concealing).
From—A(as a negative particle)—&—lanyanw—1) To be hidden, to be hidden from one, secretly, unawares, without knowing. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially--Unwittingly.
:34—“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”
This Jesus/Christ/Messiah is the very One “whom God has sent” to mankind in order to save him(Jn. 1:29, 36; 3:17).
Jesus/Messiah/Christ therefore accurately & justifiably(:31-32) “speaks the words of God.”
And in speaking those words, Jesus is not short-cutting the Spirit of God(1:31-34) thru sinful human tainting of any measure. The Holy Spirit is not limited or limiting in Christ. He operates in Christ Jesus fully & completely. John is telling us that Jesus is Divine/God. It is God’s truth that Jesus brings to all. The Holy Spirit is unequivocally speaking thru Jesus!
All others before Him brought a necessary(truth), yet a limited(by human limitation), portion of God’s authoritative word by their “measure” of the Holy Spirit(specific word for specific occasion). But unlike any other before or after, in His very person Jesus brings to mankind “the brightness” of God’s glory, the “express image” of God’s person in fullness, being the very “image of the invisible God”!(Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:15-18; Jn. 14:7-9).
There is no limit to Jesus’ truth as He is One of the Trinitarian Godhead, being in perfect unity with the Father & Holy Spirit!
Heb. 1:1-3—“God, who at various times & in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory & the express image of His person, & upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”
Col. 1:15-18—“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven & that are on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him & for Him. And He is before all things, & in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
Jn. 14:7-9—“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; & from now on you know Him & have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, & it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, & yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
“Sent”[See :28]—apostellw—Verb—1) To order(one) to go to a place appointed; 2) To send away, dismiss—2a) to allow one to depart, that he may be in a state of liberty, 2b) To order one to depart, send off, 2c) To drive away. Apostellw includes a reference to equipment & suggests official or authoritative sending. Strong—Set apart, i.e. by implication--To send out(properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively.
From—apo—a primary particle; “Off,” i.e. Away(from something near), in various senses(of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative).—&—stellw—properly--To set fast ("stall"), i.e. figuratively--To repress reflexively--Abstain from associating with.
“Speaks”[See :31]—lalew—Verb—1) To utter a voice or emit a sound; 2) To speak—2a) To use the tongue or the faculty of speech, 2b) To utter articulate sounds; 3) To talk; 4) To utter, tell; 5) To use words in order to declare one's mind & disclose one's thoughts—5a) To speak. Strong—a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; To talk, i.e. Utter words.
“Words”[See :]—rhma—Noun Neuter—1) That which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word—1a) Any sound produced by the voice & having definite meaning, 1b) Speech, discourse—1b1) What one has said, 1c) A series of words joined together into a sentence(a declaration of one's mind made in words)—1c1) An utterance, 1c2) A saying of any sort as a message, a narrative—1c2a) Concerning some occurrence; 2) Subject matter of speech, thing spoken of—2a) So far forth as it is a matter of narration, 2b) So far as it is a matter of command, 2c) A matter of dispute, case at law. Strong—from rew[to utter, i.e. speak or say]; An utterance(individually, collectively or specifically); by implication--A matter or topic(especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative--Naught whatever.
“Give”[See :27, 35]—didwmi—Verb—1) To give; 2) To give something to someone—2a) Of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage—2a1) To bestow a gift, 2b) To grant, give to one asking, let have, 2c) To supply, furnish, necessary things, 2d) To give over, deliver—2d1) To reach out, extend, present, 2d2) Of a writing, 2d3) To give over to one's care, intrust, commit—2d3a) Something to be administered, 2d3b) To give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed, 2e) To give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward, 2f) To furnish, endue; 3) To give—3a) To cause, profuse, give forth from one's self—3a1) To give, hand out lots, 3b) To appoint to an office, 3c) To cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death & Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them, 3c) To give one to someone as his own—3c1) As an object of his saving care, 3c2) To give one to someone, to follow him as a leader & master, 3c3) To give one to someone to care for his interests, 3c4) To give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return; 4) To grant or permit one—4a) To commission. Didwmi denotes “to give” in general, opposite to lambanw “to take”; dwreomai specific, “to bestow, present”; didwmi might be used even of evils, but dwreomai could be used of such things only ironically. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb(which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); To give(used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection).
“Spirit”—pneuma—Noun Neuter—1) The third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father & the Son; 2) The spirit, i.e. The vital principal by which the body is animated—2a) The rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides, 2b) The soul; 3) A spirit, i.e. A simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, & possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, & acting—3a) A life giving spirit, 3b) A human soul that has left the body, 3c) A spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. An angel—3c1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men, 3c2) The spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels & equal to God, the divine nature of Christ; 4) The disposition or influence which fills & governs the soul of any one—4a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.; 5) A movement of air(a gentle blast). Strong—A current of air, i.e. Breath(blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively--A spirit, i.e. (human)--The rational soul, by implication--Vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman)--An angel, demon, or (divine)--God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. RWP—‘“The Spirit” is the use of pneuma as metaphor.”
Pneuma corresponds to Hebrew—xwr. A)quch—Breath, i.e. by implication--Spirit, abstractly or concretely--The animal sentient principle only, which is distinguished from, B) pneuma—The rational & immortal soul, & C)zwh—Mere vitality, even of plants. These terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew...A)vpn, B)xwr & C)yx.
“Measure”—metron—Noun Neuter—1) Measure, an instrument for measuring—1a) A vessel for receiving & determining the quantity of things, whether dry or liquid, 1b) A graduated staff for measuring, a measuring rod, 1c) proverbially--The rule or standard of judgment; 2) Determined extent, portion measured off, measure or limit—2a) The required measure, the due, fit, measure. Strong—an apparently primary word; A measure("metre"), literally or figuratively; by implication--A limited portion(degree). Used 13X.
Argumentation:
Jn. 1:18—“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
Jn. 8:26-29—“I have many things to say & to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; & I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, & that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
Jn. 15:26, 27—“But when the Helper comes, whom I[Jesus] shall send to you[disciples] from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”
Eph. 4:7-16—“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, & some pastors & teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith & of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to & fro & carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--from whom the whole body, joined & knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Acts 18:1-5—“After these things Paul departed from Athens & went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); & he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them & worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, & persuaded both Jews & Greeks. When Silas & Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, & testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.”
2Cor. 1:12—“For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity & godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, & more abundantly toward you.”
1Tim. 6:6-16—“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, & it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food & clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation & a snare, & into many foolish & harmful lusts which drown men in destruction & perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, & pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things & pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called & have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, & before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed & only Potentate, the King of kings & Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor & everlasting power. Amen.”
As Jesus confessed with both His mouth & His actions, so did Timothy!
Acts 20:17-24—“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus & called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears & trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, & taught you publicly & from house to house, testifying to Jews, & also to Greeks, repentance toward God & faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains & tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, & the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Matt. 8:1-4—“When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came & worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand & touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, & offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
It is a “testimony” to God’s power to save in Christ Jesus.
*1Jn. 4:7-21—“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; & everyone who loves is born of God & knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us & sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, & His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, & He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen & testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, & he in God. And we have known & believed the love that God has for us. God is love, & he who abides in love abides in God, & God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” & hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
*1Cor. 1:4-9—“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance & all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
*Gal. 1:11-16a—“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure & tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb & called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh & blood,”
*1Jn. 5:10-12—“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, & this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Illustration:
DO NOT fall for the demonic lie that your testimony is not as good as so-&-so’s testimony?—OR—the demonic lie that your testimony is better than so-&-so’s testimony? OR...That it has to be one of radical salvation as an adult OR...That you must be able to declare your ‘salvation story’ on a stage in front of a crowd & mesmerize them!/A Christian Testimony is a Testimony to God’s Son as Divine, Savior & Lord!/Your Christian testimony is of great worth to everyone/All are in need of knowing that they are lost, undeserving sinners in God’s eyes--who attain heaven there & purpose here--by God’s grace alone thru Christ Jesus!/TESTIMONY is Best
*Your TESTIMONY is yours...YES! But it is a testimony to how GOD performs His work thru you!
What does your TESTIMONY declare?...
...Who does it glorify?--Your ability or God’s ability?
Application:
?In YOUR mind, Is YOUR TESTIMONY Best?
?Is YOUR spirit Detrimental to OR Conducive to Christian Ministry?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
A competitive spirit is detrimental to Christian ministry when...
7. Your TESTIMONY is Best(:32-34)
1. Your LAND/AREA is Best(:22-23)
2. Your IMMERSION/Baptism is Best(:23-24)
3. Your PURITY is Best(:25-26)
4. Your PLAN is Best(:27-28)
5. Your FULFILLMENT is Best(:29-30)
6. Your ORIGIN is Best(:31)
Pt. 7 only! presented 11/12/2017pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
