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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Friday,
January 12, 2024
Old-order Mennonite Funeral, Lancaster County, PA
(click on photo for a large expansive view)
"The
Power Of Your
Testimony"
Message
summary: Whatever
your story is,
remember it’s
not really
about how
“interesting”
or “boring”
your life is,
since you only
have a
secondary
role. The
primary
message is
filled with
the Spirit’s
power because
of your
obedience in
witnessing, "Because
it is the
power of God
for the
salvation of
everyone who
believes".
People are
waiting to
hear your
story.
“Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself” (John 9:21).
Sonny
Oliver is a
friend of ours
from our years
at Bible
College who is
now with the
Lord. He has a
remarkable
testimony of
God's
transforming
and sustaining
grace.
He was born in
South Carolina
to
sharecroppers.
When he was
seven he moved
to Chicago
where his
parents hoped
to find better
economic
opportunity.
He served in
Vietnam in the
mid sixties
and while in
the service
became
addicted to
drugs. After
returning to
Chicago he
went into a
downward
spiral and for
four years he
was a heroin
addict, in and
out of jail
and various
treatment
centers. A
therapist
diagnosed him
a hopeless
sociopath and
he was also a
homeless
sociopath.
Things only
got worse and
he believed he
would die a
heroin addict.
A follower of Jesus reached out to him in June 1970 and a remarkable thing happened; Sonny had a life transforming encounter with Jesus Christ and was gloriously saved. He received his earliest grounding in Teen Challenge and then went to Springfield, Missouri to attend Bible College with a call to ministry. He was overwhelmed but received encouragement from godly professors who mentored him. He graduated and had a long-term, fruitful ministry impacting thousands for Jesus Christ.
A follower of Jesus reached out to him in June 1970 and a remarkable thing happened; Sonny had a life transforming encounter with Jesus Christ and was gloriously saved. He received his earliest grounding in Teen Challenge and then went to Springfield, Missouri to attend Bible College with a call to ministry. He was overwhelmed but received encouragement from godly professors who mentored him. He graduated and had a long-term, fruitful ministry impacting thousands for Jesus Christ.
Each of us has a testimony if we have indeed accepted Christ as our Savior. Some of you were raised in a godly home and accepted Christ at a very early age and have remained steadfast. That's a great testimony! Others, like Sonny Oliver, conformed to the patterns of this world and had a mighty deliverance. Some testimonies will focus on the preserving work of grace, while others focus on the delivering work of grace.
Years ago we
offered a
basic
discipleship
program in the
church we
served called
“2:7”.
Developed by a
Christian
ministry known
as the
Navigators,
the name “2:7”
is based on a
great verse
from
Colossians
2:7; "Having
been firmly
rooted and now
being built up
in Him and
established in
your faith,
just as you
were
instructed,
and
overflowing
with
gratitude".
One of the vital elements in this discipleship approach is to have each participant write out his or her own personal testimony. Very specific instructions are to be followed regarding the format and content of the testimony. After the testimony is written it is then to be memorized.
One of the vital elements in this discipleship approach is to have each participant write out his or her own personal testimony. Very specific instructions are to be followed regarding the format and content of the testimony. After the testimony is written it is then to be memorized.
Essentially
it includes a
very brief
description of
one’s life
before Christ,
the point of
actual
conversion,
and the
changes that
result from
the
conversion.
The assignment
includes a
full-length
four minute
testimony and
an abbreviated
1 minute
testimony. The
emphasis is to
keep the
message
focused and to
the
point!
It is an
excellent
discipline for
each believer
to write out
his or her
testimony.
I have always enjoyed hearing and reading personal testimonies or reading interesting autobiographies. Our stories vary greatly due to our vastly different backgrounds and in the unpredictable way God’s providential plan unfolds in our lives.
I have always enjoyed hearing and reading personal testimonies or reading interesting autobiographies. Our stories vary greatly due to our vastly different backgrounds and in the unpredictable way God’s providential plan unfolds in our lives.
But
the common
thread weaved
into every
believer’s
redemption
story has the
saving element
of the Gospel,
“because it
is the power
of God for the
salvation of
everyone who
believes”
(Romans 1:16).
Testimonies,
no matter how
dramatic or
miraculous the
details,
cannot save
the hearer, only
the Gospel
message of
salvation that
is also
presented in
our stories.
In the daily text the jealous religious leaders were questioning the parents of the blind man regarding their son’s healing. They surely were capable of answering some of the questions but were afraid to answer for fear of being put out of the synagogue. We’ve all faced nerve-racking circumstances when we’ve been questioned and are fearful of the consequences if our answers are unfavorably received.
But what these parents did is instructive; even if fear was their driving motivation. They told the religious leaders to directly ask their son, "Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself". So the religious leaders called him in again and he unashamedly gave a brief testimony of the change in his life that Christ brought about, summing it up with “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25).
Over the years I’ve heard Christians say, "Oh, I don’t have an interesting testimony. I was saved at an early age". Sometimes the dramatic details describing one’s life enslaved to sin before conversion accompanies their deliverance story causing some to think only those entrenched in the depths of sin constitute a valid testimony of deliverance. But everyone has a story!
So many who were saved early-on have a wonderful story of endurance in times of trial and temptation, and those who came to Christ later in life have equally compelling stories.
Whatever your story is, remember it’s not really about how “interesting” or “boring” your life is, since you only have a secondary role. The primary message is filled with the Spirit’s power because of your obedience in witnessing, "Because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes". People are waiting to hear your story.
In the daily text the jealous religious leaders were questioning the parents of the blind man regarding their son’s healing. They surely were capable of answering some of the questions but were afraid to answer for fear of being put out of the synagogue. We’ve all faced nerve-racking circumstances when we’ve been questioned and are fearful of the consequences if our answers are unfavorably received.
But what these parents did is instructive; even if fear was their driving motivation. They told the religious leaders to directly ask their son, "Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself". So the religious leaders called him in again and he unashamedly gave a brief testimony of the change in his life that Christ brought about, summing it up with “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25).
Over the years I’ve heard Christians say, "Oh, I don’t have an interesting testimony. I was saved at an early age". Sometimes the dramatic details describing one’s life enslaved to sin before conversion accompanies their deliverance story causing some to think only those entrenched in the depths of sin constitute a valid testimony of deliverance. But everyone has a story!
So many who were saved early-on have a wonderful story of endurance in times of trial and temptation, and those who came to Christ later in life have equally compelling stories.
Whatever your story is, remember it’s not really about how “interesting” or “boring” your life is, since you only have a secondary role. The primary message is filled with the Spirit’s power because of your obedience in witnessing, "Because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes". People are waiting to hear your story.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father,
Your salvation
from sin, is
offered to all
who humble
themselves,
surrender
their lives,
repent of
their sins,
and follow
Your leading
according to
Scripture. We
know that it
cannot be
inherited or
earned, but is
a free gift to
all who will
receive it.
Thank You for
the tremendous
difference it
makes in our
lives. Our
effective
witness to
others is not
based upon our
personality,
gifting, or
even our
meaningful
experience,
but upon Your
Holy Spirit
power that is
extended to
all who
believe. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"I
Got Saved"
Watch
on YouTube
Selah
Note
regarding our
home addition
project:
This morning
two plumbers
are here to
finish their
part of the
project. We
have a
father/son
team from JK
Mechanical,
Blaine and his
son Gavin.
Blaine is a
seasoned
plumber
following a
long line of
plumbers in
his family.
Gavin is
finishing his
training as a
plumber at CTC
(Vo-Tech).
My
dad was a
plumber, along
with having
capability in
other trades
which I think
was more
common years
ago. He also
did heating
and air
conditioning
(now called
HVAC) and
later was a
pipe-fitter.
I
have always
enjoyed my
association
with plumbers
finding them
to be friendly
and
unpretentious.
They are at
the forefront
of public
health and
without them
life would
change real
quickly! Many
also have a
sense of
humor. Don is
a plumber
friend in the
Lehigh Valley.
He's still
working but
beyond
retirement
age. He had
bypass surgery
and asked the
surgeon to
just use Pex,
a newer piping
many plumbers
like!
Later in the
day Ed, our
General
Contractor,
will be over
for some final
work such as
installing the
door hardware
and walking
through a
checklist. I
still need to
purchase some
interconnected
smoke and CO
alarms
required by
the building
inspector
prior to the
final
inspection
which we
anticipate
being next
week. After
this we can
move in!
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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Weber
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Joy, PA 17552
To
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(This will
open to a page
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offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
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chaplaincy
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Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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