T.J.I.F.A.

Thank Jesus It's Friday Again!  
October 18, 2002  
PASS IT ON...& ON... & ON... & ON...

SUBJECT: THE WORD OF YOUR TESTIMONY.

GOD HAS PROMISED US THAT WE OVER COME BY THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY.  SINCE THAT IS TRUE, OUR PRIME OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO OVER-HAUL OR REPAIR OUR SPOKEN WORDS, AT ANY COST.  IT IS HARD TO THINK THAT WE ARE IN THE POSITION THAT WE FIND OURSELVES BECAUSE OF OUR OWN WORDS.  BUT IT IS SO!   

OUR TESTIMONIES GIVE AWAY OUR DEEPEST CONCERNS.  THE CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH HAVE TAKEN A JUMP FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY.  IS THAT JUMP GOOD?    I'LL LET YOU AND YOUR HEART BE THE JUDGE.

NOTEWORTHY:  
A FEW GOOD TIPS ON YOUR HEALTH.
IN  THE MIRROR;
BIG FAT FROG AND HIS CLASSMATES ARE BACK.  I HAVE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE WHERE- ABOUTS OF OUR LITTLE FRIENDS.  

PLEASE  ENJOY, TJIFA  

LOOKING  FORWARD
SEE YA NEXT TIME

TER

THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY

Revelation 12:11

Going to a Testimony Service,  when I was young, was always a privilege.  I listened intently to the Elders and Missionary Board Members as they would testify about how good GOD was and how they needed prayer for other situations.  At these meetings they would always serve Communion - The Blood and The Body of Jesus Christ.  

To me, as a child, this was a most Sacred ceremony.  People cried and shook hands.  They seemed to have a real compassion toward one another,   and this meeting brought it out.  This meeting also allowed the participants to proclaim their allegiance to Jesus Christ, unashamed.  Testimonies confirm,  BELIEF.  

When Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"    His Disciples told Jesus what others had said about Him.  They didn't dig into their own beliefs, they simply mimicked what they had heard others say.  Then Jesus asked them "Who do you say that I Am?"   Peter, however, witnessed or testified,  "Thou  art the Christ, The Son of the living GOD."  Jesus confirmed Peter by establishing ‘His' Church on Peter's answer.  

John the Baptist had an established ministry baptizing ‘New Converts'.  His testimony before he met Jesus was "I am not worthy to untie His shoes."  His testimony after he met Jesus was, "I should be baptized by you;" Because John recognized  Deity in Jesus.   John's call was so important to him that he sent a messenger to Jesus from the prison to make sure that he had accomplished his mission before his death.  John told  his messenger to ask Jesus, ‘ if He was the Christ?'  Jesus sent him this message: "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."[Matt. 11:5]  

The testimony from Jesus to John was, (In my own words,) ‘John, you did a great job.  I have the baton.  I'm going to finish the race'.....   And after John heard these WORDS he was satisfied that  he had done what he was called to do.  His death was not in vain.  It was a promotion!  

There was a woman in the Bible by the name of Mary who when she knew where Jesus was, brought an alabaster box of ointment and stood at His feet behind him weeping and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.  To  this  act of love in her testimony, Jesus replied that we would hear of her sacrifice everywhere the Gospel was preached.  (Even in TJIFA in 2002 - What a Testimony!)

The mother of "The Sons of Thunder", asked that her sons sit on either side of Jesus when He came into His Kingdom.   Jesus told her that she didn't know what she was asking for and it wasn't His place to appoint that request.    (Her testimony had to do with power,  prestige and provision. Usually this type of request, even though on the surface it seems like an over ambitious mother, has extraordinary benefits to the Petitioner.  

Judas   testimony was worth thirty pieces of silver; a kiss;  and a potters' field.  

The sisters of Lazarus both testified to Jesus that He was too late.  They cried, "If you had been here my brother would not have died."  After the raising of Lazarus, they knew that He was an ‘on time God.'

Pilot's wife warned him to have nothing to do with this innocent man and Pilot washed his hands to show that he did not want the blood of Jesus on him, but he allowed the crucifixion.


The crowd cried and testified that He should be crucified.  

The Soldiers who scourged Him, spat in His face, buffeted him and placed a crown of thorns on His head, a robe on His bloody back,  mocking   Him and bowing down in prideful,   arrogant,   jeering and disdain; their actions spoke louder than any recorded words.   They falsely accused Him of being "King of the Jews."  Or did they?  There's coming a day when EVERY knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that truly Jesus  is LORD of lords and KING of kings.  

The Centurion  who nailed Him to the cross afterwards confessed and testified that , "Truly this was the Son of GOD."  After driving rusty nails into His hands and feet, then spearing His side, after hearing His testimony from the cross, they made this revealing testimony, holding His seamless white robe which they had gambled and won.  

The Word of GOD states, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh."  What does that tell you about the testimonies that  have been  recorded?  

I'm all grown up, now, and I get an opportunity to listen to many, many testimonies.  They have taken a turn.  Here's what is being said: "I prayed and God gave me a car."; " I prayed and God gave me a house."; "I tried tithing, and God gave ME more money."; "I did a good deed for someone else and a good deed was given back to ME."    .
   A good name for these  Testimonies is: "Tit for Tat - Testimonies."  

When you listen to the Older Christian, you might hear: "GOD is good!"; GOD can do anything BUT fail!"   "Wait on the LORD, He will renew your strength!"  "I've tried Him and He's enough!"  

The Word of GOD states that" they  overcame by the Blood of the Lamb, and  the WORD of their Testimony."   If, your testimony is corrupted by material gain and looking forward to wealth here on this earth, you will have a hard time OVER COMING your adversary, The Devil.  

When we look at the testimonies in the Bible, we see that they are infused with the nature of GOD, CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT. [ Proverbs 16:24 tells us that "Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."]       The Spirit of The LORD inhabits the Praise His people.

Your testimony exalts that which is paramount in your heart and thoughts.  If   the Word   of GOD is hidden in your heart, then the mouth will speak that which is most evident and predominant .  That which takes up most of our thinking time, that which we act on readily, that which we are known for.  

Testimony gives verbal witness and ascent to the subject.    There are Christians being  martyred every day for the sake of the Gospel and their testimony of Jesus Christ.   

What is your testimony?  Would you easily be spotted as a Christian by your words?  Could your testimony about Jesus Christ cause you to be martyred?  Does the Devil have nothing to worry about when you come in?  Does he feel comfortable around you because your words don't hurt?  (The Word of GOD is sharper than any two edged sword)

Tone up the Word of your testimony and you will see ‘over coming victory.'

Looking Forward
See Ya Next Time

TER


noteworthy:


Forty seven per cent of the girls surveyed in fourth grade have acknowledged going on some type of weight loss diet in their lives.  (Focus on the Family (10-14-02)
An over the counter nutrient - COQ10 -has been shown to improve some of the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. This supplement is an antioxidant (ABC News

Five hundred and five Americans declared bankruptcy last year.  Rod Parsley TBN Network

In The Mirror


Who's In Charge?  

The classroom was silent as the students took their assignment and readied themselves to take a test.  There came a knock at the classroom door.  It was the Principal, requesting the audience of their teacher.  

The teacher assigned a classroom monitor to oversee them until her return.  The monitor that she chose was Frederick Frog.  She told the other students to continue to study in this small time frame and that she would return.  

Frederick proudly gathered his books and took the highest seat in the classroom - The Teacher's Desk!  When she closed the door, they could hear her footsteps hurriedly rush down the corridor.  Each student  looked around, quietly.  Then Frederick Frog broke the silence, "I'm IN CHARGE! Everybody keep your head in those books.  That's why you're so stupid.  You don't study like me."  He then grabbed the yard stick  and began to walk around the classroom in a defiant manner, looking for unruly classmates.  In less than thirty seconds and all at once the classroom broke its silence and a roar of misbehavior ensued.  Pencils breaking in pencil fights; boys pulling girls' hair; spit balls flying aimed at Frederick; eraser dust being blown into people's faces; radio's, which came from nowhere blasting loudly through ear phones.  Frederick was suddenly horrified!  He ran up and down the aisles, screaming, "I'm IN CHARGE!  I'm IN CHARGE!  Keep it down.  Be quiet!  I'm IN CHARGE!"  

He ran back to Big Fat Frog's desk..."Look what you did! What should I do? "     Big Fat Frog, still laughing at another student's antics, looked up into Frederick's terrified features, "You shouldn't have told them that you were in charge."  

Frederick went back to the teacher's desk and started screaming over the noise in the room.  He picked up a piece of chalk and nervously began writing names on the board.  The classroom silenced, for a moment then back to their noise.  Frederick thought that he had control now, so he squeaked his chalk on the board with more names and spit balls being hurled at him all the while.  

 The noise subsided.  Frederick was in charge!

He jumped up on the desk and at the top of his voice he screamed, "I AM IN  CHARGE!"  

The teacher said "Thank you Frederick, I'll take the chalk and the yard stick, and you may return to the ledge.  Take your seat."  

An embarrassed and defeated Frederick gathered up his books and went back to his desk.  He looked angrily at Big Fat Frog.  Big Fat Frog whispered, "You shouldn't have told them that you were in charge.  When the teacher came in she didn't have to tell them.  They knew.!"  " You see, you were tripped  by the words of your own mouth, just like in the Bible."  "Shut up, Fat Frog...Shut up!"  Yelled Frederick.  The teacher gave Frederick a warning look.    Big Fat Frog, with his most angelic smile resumed his class work;  But not before he flashed a card to Frederick asking, "WHO'S IN CHARGE NOW???"        

TER