"What is God looking for?"

Day 2: A History with Him

Introduction:

There are few things more powerful than personal testimony. It's one of our weapons against the enemies of God and the accuser of our souls (the devil). In fact, the Bible puts it like this: And they [Christians] overcame him [the enemy] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11).

Testimony is simply a history with God. It is your account of what God has done in your life, and how He has shown up in a mighty way. It is the proof of God working in your life. The Bible says that this has immense power to overcome, or resist, the works of the devil. This means that having a history with God is critical, not only for when opposition comes, but when it is time to step out in faith and do good works for Him.

Verses:

1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭34-37 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

Hebrews 11:39a "And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith..."

A History with God:

A history with God is a proven relationship cultivated by spending time with Him. I've been filled with the Holy Spirit and really walking with God for 10 years now. In that time I have proven God's faithfulness in my life through relationship and fellowship with Him. When David faced Goliath, a foe that all of Israel was scared of, he knew that God would be with him. He had faced a lion and a bear when he was away from the crowds and support, and the Lord delivered him. David was confident, that even when facing a giant, that God was still good and still in control. David had spent time proving God in private, and when his public moment came, he knew that God was with him, and stepped out in faith.

Private battles will prepare you for public encounters.

Stepping Out in Faith:

Proving God through a relationship allows you to step out in faith when everything around you says not to do it. Why? When you hear God saying "yes" and the whole world seemingly says "no," you will be inclined to believe who you trust the most. Building a relationship with God builds trust and trust builds faith.

It's important to remember though, that faith can be risky, sometimes we may not know the outcome, we just have to trust God. We can choose to step out in faith even if we haven't seen God do what we're asking (David may never have heard of a giant being slayed but knew that God was with him, and that was enough for him). It's in the knowing the goodness and love of God that we are confident He is faithful and works all things for the good of those who love Him.

Activation:

Read through Hebrews 11* and notice how men and women of God had faith in Him, and He showed up on their behalf (*keep in mind the "promise" Paul is speaking of is Jesus, the Messiah, and the Kingdom of God... the people in the Old Testament didn't know Jesus. When Paul says "made perfect" he is referring to their actions and beliefs being completed through Jesus and what He has done for us and through us, as Christians, living after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus - we are walking in life and life more abundantly - see John 10:10).

Spend more time with God than you did last week. Ask the Holy Spirit to build a relationship with you, so that whenever you face tough times, or when you have an opportunity to see good happen, you will trust God enough to step out and do His Will.

Pray this with me:

Lord, thank you for all You've done for me, I never want to take it for granted. Holy Spirit, would you help me to step out in faith and minister to those around me. Use my testimony, and everything You've brought me through, to bring You glory, and bring others to Your heart. In Jesus' name, amen!