The Testimonies Of God

"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.