Hello friends. I hope and pray that you are doing well. This week I was thinking about the power of a testimony. In the last 15 years I’ve listened and read so many testimonies! Their stories helped me to navigate through difficult situations and relationships. Bible studies helped tremendously too but there’s something about testimonies that show you how to recognize and defeat the enemy (aka demons) orchestrating behind it all. That’s why it is so important to be in a church community as long as we live life on earth, and pray for others and to receive prayers for ourselves. Spiritual battles need prayers and good strategies too.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. – Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God. -Proverbs 9:10 (MSG)
It was the ‘fear of the Lord’ that might’ve kept me from running away but now I see that I was blind, ignorant and very deceived by the enemy’s hellish lies about God. As I’ve studied the Bible extensively and heard/read countless testimonies in last 15 years, I began to understand the true nature of God, my Heavenly Father. As understanding came, I became very, very dependent upon my Father who does not change and has good intentions towards me. He is the only one in the whole universe that does not change. So if you want stability and a solid foundation while living life, then build your house on Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one who can reveal the Father to you. Please read through these two good articles for Bible references supporting my experiences and thoughts (aka my testimony).
https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-gods-immutability/
https://in.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-jesus-reveals-the-fathers-love/
When God got my attention fifteen years ago at a local Target store, I was undone. I wasn’t looking for Him or needing anything from Him, but at the right time, He came back for me. Why did God wait until 2011? That’s the year when I got my first smart phone.
I also discovered a local Christian radio station soon after. I heard this song that spoke to me directly. I was undone and decided to let God take the control and lead me again. Songs and lyrics are very powerful, don’t you think? I think they can close the gap between the mind and the will.
This week I heard two incredible testimonies. A good friend of mine shared it with me. The woman sharing her testimony is her sister. They come from a devout Muslim family. She also shared a testimony of her husband’s divine and supernatural healing of a blood disease that he was born with which the medical doctors told him was incurable. Please hear her story to the end because she will share the power of God’s word that completely changed everything for her husband when he was in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
The other man on the stage is a recovered alcoholic. He went through 22 different rehab programs in nearly 30 years before being supernaturally delivered by the power of Jesus Christ when he cried out for help. Wow. If you know someone who is struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction and wants freedom, please share his testimony with them.
He’s been alcohol free for five years now. See what he’s been up to since being delivered supernaturally.
Yesterday I finally finished Ruth Bell Graham’s biography. I read it very slowly because I was learning so, so much from her life stories. The young people in a local college where she ministered at were all drawn to her. I learned a lot as I was reading the stories. Perhaps that’s where I’m headed next in my ministry work…
Reading autobiographies and biographies of Christians who have served and passed away in the Lord Jesus Christ are powerful way to build your arsenal of testimonies.
https://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Portrait-story-Bell-Graham/dp/0385489005
I generally like to read from those who passed away because some Christians turn twisted along the way and yet they still lead, minister, write books and preach sermons. Eventually they are exposed but they cause tremendous damage to people who trusted them. Remember that Jesus’s disciples were clueless about Satan entering Judas’ mind, heart and his actions.
(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026&version=NIV )
I’m always impressed and learn so much from Pastor Tim Keller’s sermons. He is an excellent teacher of systematic theology. If you are wondering what is “systematic theology” then please read this advertisement for parents to teach children about this topic.
https://try.valorrea.com/cmiar4dk602bub7ufs4hir9hz/
In essence that’s what I’ve been learning for the past 15 years using my smart phone to look up things when I have questions about the Bible, its teachings, historical evidence, etc. I don’t know how this Bible study is like but I do know their report on the statistics of children who fall away is accurate.
(By the way, there’s not enough time to teach these things properly on weekday and weekend services at church so it’s really up to you as a parent to teach them to your children. Some friends that I know have send their children to a one year program before college to learn these things properly. Their children have not fallen away in college. And they are very nice looking, intelligent young professional adults now.)
If you want to learn from Pastor Tim Keller, all his sermons are available on his podcast. He passed away couple of years and without any scandals. Praise God! I just heard an excellent one about love. ❤️ It was delivered on April 1996. (I like to do a memory recall of my life whenever I look up the date of his sermons. I was doing my master’s research, and probably studying for upcoming finals too.)
If anyone has trouble sleeping, please turn on Tim Keller’s sermons. He has a professor-like voice and it puts me to sleep. 😴 I listen to it again when I’m awake and doing chores. There’s no harm to trying what works for me. It’s free and simple to try. Sleeping is very important for good mental health, body function and stability. It’s no wonder the enemy attacks our sleep so much.
Gary Wilkerson who is the leader of World Challenge, formerly Teen Challenge wrote a very good devotional about the comfort of God. It’ll give you both encouragement and godly wisdom.
https://www.worldchallenge.org/newsletter/2026/strange-comfort?ref=devos
In case anyone wants to hear this sermon that Gary Wilkerson referenced in the article – he said it’s one of his favorite sermon from his father, David Wilkerson. It was delivered on November 2009. I remember that in 2009, we were in the middle of a Great Recession in the USA.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/great-recession.asp
I know that many are very concerned about today’s job market and financial conditions. I pray that this old sermon by David Wilkerson can help alleviate your fears and anxiety, and give you encouragement and guidance on what to do as a child of God.
CBN news article reports on the University of Maryland’s medical study on the power of in-person prayer for healing and recovery.
It’s so edifying to see that medical research supports what I have been doing when sick. It encourages me to keep studying the Bible and obey! Bible is the word of God and so, it is very powerful and supernatural.
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:14-16 (NIV)
(By the way, if you are the only one in your family who believes Jesus Christ and learns the Bible, then you can be the conduit for your family member’s healing in body, soul and mind. You will often find me receiving prayers on Sundays after service. Because I lead two prayer groups, I have many prayer friends as well. When my faith is weak and tattered, they carry me through tough times. I pray that you have these close friends too. If not, please seek them out and develop these friendships in your church community. Don’t give up based on a few bad experiences.)
I don’t know who this is for but it’s for someone. When I was asked to lead a parent organization at my children’s school, I didn’t want to do it. Around this time I was unlearning so many things and learning to control my hot temper and outbursts. I thought for sure God would say “it’s not a good idea”, but when I prayed about it, I strongly sensed that God wanted me to do it. So I finally said yes. Where God guides, He provides. Out of nowhere, my husband bought this book called “Move Your Bus”. After I read it I had my clear instructions on how to lead. It’s an easy read too. I believe I was a good leader because of God’s grace and guidance. We had many great events and fundraising successes during my time leading.
https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-Bus-Extraordinary-Accelerating/dp/1501105035
Carey Nieuwhof on his part 2 about his burnout talked a lot about his work style and leadership now. It reminded me a lot about the book “Move Your Bus”.
I’ll end my newsletter here. May these resources help you practically and guide you through life’s challenges until your victory is achieved! With much prayer and in the love of Jesus Christ 🙏❤️
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. – Revelation 12:11 (KJV)
Journal of Faith 