The Lord has been convicting me of much recently. When we desire to be conformed to His image, He tends to do that. We have to be willing to see where growth is needed and persevere into the new, uncharted territories all while proclaiming the truth of the gospel. And I am not only talking outwardly in missions, but also inwardly! We need to preach to our inner Jerusalem first.
Two things that I have been convicted of:
I have stories to tell.
I have seen the Kingdom of God with my very own eyes and there are so many stories that I have never told or written down. A phrase that I have fallen in love with recently is “All fruit is family fruit.” I LOVE hearing stories of how God is moving in other peoples’ lives. It encourages me and builds my faith. The fruit of their testimony gives me spiritual nutrients! I need to share my stories, for the encouragement of the Body and as a proclamation to the forces of darkness that my God reigns supremely.
Psalm 66:16
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
Psalm 71:15-18
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
Matthew 10:32
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
Luke 8:39
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Revelation 12:11
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
The second thing that I’ve been convicted of is this:
I have wisdom and knowledge to impart.
This one is harder for me because I battle pride. On some days, it puffs me up. “I hope people see how much I know and how much I understand. I could do that teaching better.” On other days, it tears me down. “I think I know the solution, but I don’t want to step out. That’s controversial. Philip, you’re immature and nobody will listen. You aren’t as gifted as people say.” In both cases my eyes are fixated on myself and how other people perceive me.
True humility is this: “Father, you have blessed me with eyes that have seen and ears that have heard. Because I opened my heart to your voice, you have gifted me with understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. You have revealed to me your heart wrapped in love. Whatever it takes, I will be used by you so that others may partake in this love.” True humility is fixating on the Father and saying, “I’m looking at you. I’m willing.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Acts 5:27-29
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
1 Timothy 4:13
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Thus, with this conviction, I will try my best to start sharing. My goal in ministry is not to simply serve those who are in front of me, but to feed whoever is hungry if it is within my ability to do so. And, I want you to be able to follow along! From now on, look forward to Testimony Tuesdays and more blogs on scripture, key biblical themes, church history, and walking in fullness of the Kingdom. See ya later!
