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THE TESTIMONY MATTERS TO GOD!
Reading Philippians Ch.1v27-30.
Preached by Ken Humphries Cookstown Baptist Church N.I.
Introduction:
The Testimony matters to God, it should therefore, matter to us!
Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. Will Rogers.
A group of prospectors set out from Bannock, Montana (then capital of the state), in search of gold. They went through many hardships and several of their little company died en route. Finally they were overtaken by the Indians who took their good horses, leaving them with only a few limping old ponies. Then they threatened them, telling them to get back to Bannock and stay there, for if they overtook them again, they would murder the lot of them. Defeated, discouraged, and downhearted, the prospectors sought to make their way back to the capital city. On one occasion as they tethered out the limping ponies on a creekside, one of the men casually picked up a little stone from the creek bed. He called to his buddy for a hammer and upon cracking the rock, he said, "It looks as though there may be gold here." The two of them panned gold the rest of the afternoon and managed to realise twelve dollars' worth. The entire little company panned gold the next day in the same creek and realised fifty dollars, a great sum in those days. They said to one another: "We have struck it!" They made their way back to Bannock and vowed not to breathe a word concerning this gold strike. They secretively set about re-equipping themselves with supplies for another prospecting trip. But when they got ready to go back, three hundred men followed them. Who had told on them? No one! Their beaming faces betrayed the secret!
If we have been enamoured with Him, whom having not seen we love, we should be unable to conceal the treasure: Our beaming faces should betray the secret! L. E. Maxwell.
This from Dr. Vance Havner! " If I see a something that waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, and keeps company with ducks, I assume it is a duck!
When people look at my life do they get the idea that I am a Christian?
You might say, well, Pastor, who cares! I mean in this age in which we live, who cares? Ah, that's just the point, God cares. You see, the testimony we carry matters to God!
Phil 1v27.
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel".
Listen to that text from the Kenneth Wuest translation.
"Only [since my only reason for remaining on earth is for your pioneer advance in the Christian life], see to it that you recognise your responsibility as citizens [of heaven] and put yourselves to the absolute necessity of performing the duties developing upon you in that position, doing this in a manner which weighs as much as the good news concerning the Christ, in order that, whether having come and having seen you, or whether being absent, I am hearing the things concerning you, namely, that you are standing firm in one spirit, holding your ground, with one soul contending as a team of athletes do, in perfect co-operation with one another for the faith[the Christian system of belief], namely, the good news".
It's interesting, that word "conversation" in v27 of the A.V. comes from an old Elizabethan word which actually means "conduct"
"Only let your "conversation" be as it becometh the gospel of Christ."
There is without doubt a call for spiritual deportment here, our conduct, our testimony, matters to God. So through the Spirit and the apostle we are
reminded of the fact that our testimony should be a credit to the gospel. Why?
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 4v9a.
"For we are made a spectacle unto the world," that is the world over which Satan presides, he is the prince of the power of the air and this world is his play ground. So all hell watches the testimony of the saints of God. The reason being of course, to destroy the testimony of God's people. Satan knows full well he cannot ever take away the salvation of the saints, but he can make an awful mess of that testimony, given half an opening.
So much so-called "testimony" today is really autobiography and even sometimes thinly disguised self-advertisement, that we need to regain a proper biblical perspective. All true testimony is testimony to Jesus Christ, as he stands on trial before the world. John Stott in Authentic Christianity.
I say that beloved because we should never forget that all hell is out to make our testimony useless. We need ever to be vigilant, we can live the best testimony this world has ever seen and in the last inning of life mess up.
Sir Anthony Eden was one of the greatest statesmen Great Britain ever had yet he brought a sudden end to his political career over a grave error of judgement over the Suez Canal Crises. He is often written up in periodicals, magazines, and in many other articles but it would appear no matter how much good is said about him they always end with, yes, but there was Suez!
"And to angels"
In Philippians 3v20 we read. "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ"
Our Conversation, our conduct, our testimony is in heaven. In other words, we are in this world but not of this world. We are like pilgrims just passing through. To quote Dr. Vance Havner again.
"We are not citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven simply making our way through this waste-howling wilderness of a world!"
The life we live while alive and dwell on planet earth in this amazing year of 2000 should be that of a citizen of heaven.
"In the sweet valley between Chamouni and the Valais, at every turn of the pleasant pathway, where the scent of thyme lies richest upon its rocks, we shall see a little cross and shrine set under one of them, and go up to it, hoping to receive some happy thought of the Redeemer, by whom all these lovely things were made, and still consist. But when we come near, behold, beneath the cross a rude picture of souls tormented in red tongues of hell fire, and pierced by demons." Ruskin.
Too often the house of him who professes to be a Christian turns out to be the same. The beauty at a distance changes into hideous deformity when near. Oh, to be found, when closest watched, better than observers would at first sight have conceived us to be! Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
"And to men."
In our reading in Phil 1v27 Paul says.
"let your testimony be as becometh the gospel of Christ"
Who is the gospel to be preached to? Why to a world of sinners lost and ruined by the fall. To mankind of course! And as one who has the responsibility of proclaiming, practising and presenting the gospel, then I must live a life worthy of the gospel. In other words my testimony must be real!
"That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel".
Disposition means a specified temperament! That is, there is to be the kind of temperament that displays the "faith of the gospel". How do we accomplish that? Well, simple, it's in our text, by standing fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together!
Please take note: Each of these characteristics is a characteristic of the Lord Jesus. This shows that the Spirit's great work is not to draw attention to Himself but to magnify Christ. (I draw this from Dr. John Phillips)
If we take time to think through this excellent list that Dr. Phillips has laid out for us it will soon become evident that Christianity is not simply a game to be played out before spectators, (it is that) but Christianity is a goal to be achieved for the Glory of God.
There is to be a spiritual disposition, an evident temperament that determines to preserve unity and faith.
This "standing fast" was to be done with the same intensity of effort that is true of athletic contests. The term Paul uses here I believe makes that clear. "Striving together" is an athletic term. He is saying to the church, with such a spirit of energy and enthusiasm, maintain a united front and a united faith.
That's what will give the gospel credibility! You see beloved, it's our lives that give credibility or otherwise to the gospel of Christ to a world in darkness.
One day as a woman was crossing a street at a London station; an old man stopped her. He said to her, "Excuse me, ma'am, but I want to thank you." She looked up and exclaimed, "Thank me?" He replied, "Yes ma'am, I used to be a ticket collector, and whenever you went by you always gave me a cheerful smile and a good morning. I knew that smile must come from inside somewhere. Then one morning I saw a little Bible in your hand. So I bought one, too, and I found Jesus.
James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited.
You say, pastor, that sounds costly, yes it will be because that's the name of the game. Listen to this from C.H. Spurgeon.
"Doth that man love his Lord who would be willing to see Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, while for himself he craves a chaplet of laurel? Shall Jesus ascend to his throne by the cross, and do we expect to be carried there on the shoulders of applauding crowds? Be not so vain in your imagination. Count you the cost, and if you are not willing to bear Christ's cross, go away to your farm and to your merchandise, and make the most of them; only let me whisper this in your ear, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" End quote.
A church member asked her pastor, "We have some neighbours who believe a false gospel. What literature would you recommend that I give them?" The pastor opened his Bible to 2 Corinthians 3v2; "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." He said, "The best literature in the world for them to read is your life." End quote. Unknown!
"And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God."
Kenneth Wuest's translation reads!
"And do not be terrified in even one thing by those who are entrenched in their opposition against you, which failure on your part to be frightened is an indication of such a nature as to present clear evidence to them of [their] utter destruction."
Don’t be scared out of your determination to live out your heavenly citizenship by anything your enemies might try to do to you, Paul was saying. "Their opposition to you is their own condemnation. Your calm collective courage in the face of such danger and opposition is a sure token to those who oppose you of their own judgement awaiting them."
And listen dear folks, that applies to those who are in their lifestyle, ungodly. We of course expect opposition from them. But this applies also to those who claim to be of the same persuasion as yourself but continually persecute you. You see, the call here is for Spiritual Deliverance to be shown and seen and if you are on the giving end of persecution to other saints, it's a clear sign there is something radically wrong with your profession of faith in Christ. Opposition for the Christian is to be faced not forced on others!
By the way, how should we face the enemy is a good question to be asking just now. How should we face opposition?
Well, listen to what J.I. Packer says in his book, 'Knowing God.'
"This is the ultimate reason, from our standpoint, why God fills our lives with troubles and perplexities of one sort or another - it is to ensure that we shall learn to hold Him fast. The reason why the Bible spends so much of its time reiterating that God is a strong rock, a firm defence, and a sure refuge and help for the weak, is that God spends so much of his time bringing home to us that we are weak, both mentally and morally, and dare not trust ourselves to find, or follow, the right road….God wants us to feel that our way through life is rough and perplexing, so that we may learn to lean on Him. Therefore He takes steps to drive us out of self-confidence to trust in Himself." End quote.
Learning to lean, learning to lean,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus,
Finding more power than ever I'd dreamed,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus.
The Apostle Paul knew how to fight the enemy.
It has been a fight against Satan; against the principles and powers, the world- rulers of this darkness in the heavenlies; against Jewish and pagan vice and violence; against Judaism among the Galatians; against fanaticism among the Thessalonians; against contention, fornication, and litigation among the Corinthians; against incipient Gnosticism among the Ephesians and Colossians; against fighting's without and fears within; and last but not least, against the law of sin and death operating within his own heart."
How should we face the enemy just now? With the deepest confidence in our great God who is able to deliver! Our God is able to deliver!
And face the enemy we must. But if put in place the armour our God has given us, without doubt, we will know the blessing opposition brings, ah, but we will also know the greater blessing deliverance brings.
"But to you of salvation, and that of God. Unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me."
To the enemies of the gospel, the bravery of believers was a witness to the coming perdition of the persecutors. To the faithful, the bravery of believers was a witness to the genuine and victorious salvation of the persecuted.
Down through the years the bravery of the persecuted and their spirit of love and forgiveness turned the blood of the martyrs into the seed of the church.
It had been noted, non-believers had been known to die bravely, hurling defiance and vindictiveness into the faces of their executioners. The bravery of the Christians was different. They were known to die with a hymn on their lips, forgiveness in their hearts, and the very light of heaven shinning in the countenance.
As he was writing, I am sure Paul could still remember the face of Stephen at his stoning. A picture, that would live with him the rest of his life. This was a testimony indeed to what God had done in the life of one of his own, a testimony also to the unbelieving who stood and watched.
But why does God allow persecution to arise? Why is God silent while his people are being tormented? Why do the righteous suffer? Why do the wicked triumph? Well, Paul's answer to all these questions is Christ!
God was silent while Christ shed tears in Gethsemane and while He endured torment on the cross. Out of the darkness came Emmanual's orphan cry, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt.27v46. yet out of Christ's agony came a salvation that was for the greater good of mankind.
Even as Christ suffers watching our suffering, this price is his price. He's willing to pay to have us desire to be close to him. Willingly he loses us until we find him! Marguerite Reiss.
You see, Paul looked at suffering as a privilege and an opportunity for the cause of Christ. He discounted privation, pain, prison and all manners of persecutions as anything other than an opportunity for the cause of Christ. He followed that opportunity with every fibre of his being. Why? Because his own testimony, mattered to him, because it mattered to God.
In v 29 Paul says, " For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ."
In other words, it is given like a gift from God to be a testimony to Jesus Christ through every situation and circumstance of life! To Paul, that possibility was a prospect and an opportunity to be followed to the end.
Maybe the Apostle had in mind the last beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount:
Matt 5:10-12
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
God is a Master Artist and there are aspects of your life and character-good and quality things he wants others to notice. So without using blatant tricks or obvious gimmicks, God brings the cool, dark contrast of suffering into your life. That contrast, laid up against the golden character of Christ within you, will draw attention . . . to Him. Light against darkness. Beauty against affliction. Joy against sorrow. A sweet, patient spirit against pain and disappointment, major contrasts that have a way of attracting notice. You are the canvas on which He paints glorious truths, sharing beauty, and inspiring others. So that people might see him.
Joni Eareckson Tada.
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