Testimony Vs. Discipleship

Acts 15:16-17(NKJV)

16 “ ‘After this I WILL RETURN and WILL REBUILD the TABERNACLE of David, which has fallen down; I WILL REBUILD its RUINS, And I WILL SET IT UP; 17 So that the REST of MANKIND may seek the LORD, Even all the GENTILES who are CALLED by My name,’ Says the LORD who does all these things.”

I. Living TESTIMONY

The real essence of testimony simply means declaring what Christ has done for you.

Those who conquered d’ GIANT have a lot of Great Testimonies.

GIANT= STRONG MAN

:

Oppression to FREEDOM;

Fear to LOVE;

Darkness to LIGHT

TESTIMONY = Declaration of DELIVERANCE from the STRONGHOLD.

= Declaration of VICTORY over SATAN. (VICTORY after a GREAT TRIAL)

=To Declaration of RESTORATION from the WILDERNESS.

1. The PURPOSE of Restoration.

VERSE 16: “I WILL REBUILD the TABERNACLE of David…”

Jesus Fulfilled this Prophecy,

Luke 1:32-33 (NLT)

“32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

It was all because of JESUS CHRIST!!!

a. To Restore the AUTHORITY of CHRIST

Ephesians 1:9-10(NLT)

“God’s secret PLAN has now been revealed to us; it is a PLAN CENTERED on CHRIST, DESIGNED long ago according to His good pleasure. And this is His PLAN: At the right time, He will bring everything together under the AUTHORITY of CHRIST—everything in Heaven and on earth.

b. To Restore Our POSITION in CHRIST

Ephesians 1:11(NLT)

“Because of CHRIST, we have RECEIVED an inheritance from God, for He chose us from the Beginning, and all things happen just as DECIDED long ago.”

“Before God laid the foundation of the earth, God had CHOSEN us to be His Adopted SONS & DAUGHTERS in CHRIST.”

2. The PROMISE of Restoration

a. For us to Live in the LIGHT/HOLINESS

Ephesians 5:8-9(NLT)

“For though your hearts were full of DARKNESS, now you are full of LIGHT from the Lord, and your BEHAVIOR should SHOW IT! For this LIGHT w/n you produces ONLY what is GOOD & RIGHT & TRUE.”

We are a representative of Jesus.

We as Christians are the Light of the WORLD.

A ROLE MODEL in every aspect of our lives. In our words and actions

b. For us Have a HEART of WORSHIP

Ezekiel 36:26-27(NLT)

“I WILL give you a NEW HEART, and I WILL put a NEW SPIRIT in you. I will take out your STONY, STUBBORN HEART and give you a TENDER, RESPONSIVE HEART.”

“God CREATED us in the likeness of His OWN IMAGE bec. He is looking for someone to WORSHIP Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.”

The TRUTH is the Word of God!!! UNDERSTAND THE SONGS

(CHRISTIANS DON’T TELL LIE. BUT they ALWAYS SING LIES.)

We sing like: "I SURRENDER." "I’M DESPERATE." "HERE I AM."

Do we? Are we?

c. For us to have a HEART of SERVICE/OBEDIENT HEART

Ezekiel 36:26-27(NLT)

“And I WILL put my Spirit in you so that you WILL FOLLOW ALL MY DECREES and be CAREFUL TO OBEY MY REGULATIONS.”

We are to keep ourselves pure from all evilness and from all unrighteousness.

We are to REFLECT the GLORY of God in our LIVES.

The UNFAILING/ENDURING LOVE of JESUS CHRIST whould reign in our HEARTS.

II. Process of Effective DISCIPLESHIP

A disciple is someone who follows and learns.

A disciple is being mentored by another.

A disciple of Jesus CHRIST is a follower and a learner, someone who both follows Jesus and continues learning about Him and from Him.

DISCIPLESHIP is to FOLLOW Christ. LEARN about Him and TEACH others.

VERSE 17; “So that the REST of MANKIND may seek the LORD.”

1. TURN AWAY from SINS and SEEK the LORD.

 Surrender the things that hold you back from giving God complete control of your life.

 We should no longer seek to fill our lives with earthly pleasures. Instead, we seek to serve God in all we do.

Full Surrender Prayer. What to do? Ask God to control your life. You must be willing to make a full surrender of your entire life to the Lord. Be open to the changes God wants to make in you.

God is looking for SOMEONE who can HUMBLES himself. One who has a "DEPENDENT Attitude!”. One who is WILLING to CRY like:

1. "My God, I AM USELESS and I am NOT DESERVING!"

2. "My God, you're ALL I NEED!"

3. "My God, WHAT do you WANT me to DO?"

4. "My God, WHERE do you WANT me TO GO?"

5. "My God, I can't do this on my OWN!"

6. "My God, I am NOTHING without you!"

7. "My God, help me, for I am WEAK!"

"God DESIRES to POUR OUT His BLESSINGS to YOU!"