A Good Testimony
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 55 viewsNotes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Text - Hebrews 11.1-2
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Title - Your Faith Is Your Testimony
Intro Questions
Intro Questions
How is the testimony of your life?
Do you have a testimony?
Do you know the importance of your testimony?
Intro info
Intro info
Testimony defined
From Oxford Dictionary
evidence or proof
a formal statement, especially one given in a court of law
From Bible Dictionary
from Grk. MARTYRIA, a witness
The claims that a witness makes in court and the evidence that might be cited in support of those claims
Lexham Theological Wordbook μαρτυρία
Someone who gives testimony about something, or the content of the testimony.
Your testimony speaks about you - who you are and what you are, for better or for worse.
Therefore our testimony must be “good”.
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
Importance of a good testimony
Importance of a good testimony
Our testimony must be “good”
Our testimony must be “good”
Notice how Heb 11.2 is translated
Heb 11.2 HCSB - won approval
2 For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.
Heb 11.2 NLT - earned a good reputation
2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
Heb 11.2 NASB - gained approval
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
Heb 11.2 ESV - received commendation
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Your testimony is your approval, your reputation, and commendation
A good testimony is important in real life
A good testimony is important in real life
it can help promote you in your job
1 Timothy 3.7 - a bishop/elder’s testimony
Daniel was promoted many times in Babylon
it can save you from trouble or problems
Ruth was praised by men and women for her love for Naomi
it can help you convince people, or win souls
2 Thessalonians 1.10 - our testimony was believed
Most importantly, it is your testimony before God!
see - Heb 11.2 HCSB
Characteristics of a good testimony
Characteristics of a good testimony
Hebrews 11 shows us 3 important characteristics of a good testimony.
it is faith - your faith is your good testimony
it is faith in action - the elders acted their faith out
it pleases God - Hebrews 11.6
First, it must be faith
First, it must be faith
Hebrews 11.1-2
the faith of the elders gave them a good testimony
they believed in things they had not syet seen
they put their hope in the words of God, even if it seemed impossible to man
Second, it must be faith in action
Second, it must be faith in action
Note - their actions expressed their hope in the promise of God
Abel’s sacrifice - Heb 11.4
Enoch’s walk - Heb 11.5
Noah’s preparations - Heb 11.7
Abraham’s obedience - Heb 11.8
Abraham’s offering of Isaac - Heb 11.17-19
Moses’ choice - Hebrews 11.23-27
the rest of the “elders” - Hebrews 11.39
Third, it must please God first
Third, it must please God first
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
To please men, you don’t need faith. Just give them what they want.
But to please, faith is all you need.
Your faith is your good testimony before God.
before you can have a good testimony before God, have it before God first.
22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Why please God with a “good testimony”?
Why please God with a “good testimony”?
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
True faith does not just “believe IN God”, but BELIEVES GOD”.
to believe in God - to believe that there is a God
to believe God - is to acknowledge God in one’s life through obedience and trust
God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
true faith will cause a man to seek God “diligently”
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
We will stand before God and give account of all our actions
Galatians 6.8-10
Conclusion
Conclusion
Our testimony before God is what matters most.
After all, He is the One who is in control of everything. When God is pleased, He can do things beyond our imagining.