"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 this morning 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:"
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 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 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 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?
