Sermon Series: The Essential Expectations: Part One 

Supporting My Church with a True Testimony 

1 Kings 22 

PSBC 5/20/01 AM

In a nutshell: We must support this church with a true testimony. Truth isn't easy to follow, but it is necessary in order for our church to be recognized from the other alternatives. A truthful testimony includes faithful attendance and participation, living a godly life, and giving regularly.

I. Introduction

A. Drowning in Information

We are drowning in information, today. In the last 30 years we've produced more information than was produced in the previous 5000 years, before that. Every year 50,000 books and 10,000 magazines are published in the United States, alone. If you were to read just one edition of the L. A. Times from beginning to end, you would receive more information than the average person would have received, in a year, during the 16th century. Estimates say that information today, is increasing at a rate, of doubling every five years.

But here's the problem. All that information is not equal. And people run into big trouble when they treat all the information they receive with equal importance. The only compass we can use to guide is through all this information is a thing called, Truth.

Just think about it. Every week, from Sunday to Sunday, you are bombarded with information from politicians, from philosophers, from newspaper articles, from TV news programs, from sitcoms and dramas, from TV and radio preachers, from books, from Bible study leaders, from the pages you view on the Internet, from pastors at this church, and from the contacts you have with individuals who are friends, acquaintances or people who just happened to cross your path.

We need truth to guide us as we process all the information that comes before us, to know what is worthy to receive and what is unworthy to receive.

B. Testimony

Saying all that, I now want to shift gears to another topic-the idea of testimony. The insightful English theologian, John Stott, wrote the words that are on the front of your WIG's this morning…

So much so-called "testimony" today is really autobiography and even sometimes thinly disguised self-advertisement. 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. Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 9.).

Something that everyone of us must always keep in mind is that we are a walking advertisement for Jesus Christ. There is only one reason why we have been left here on earth, after we have entered into God's family. It is so we can each hold Him up in our unique circles of influence and testify about what He's done in our life. Jesus goes on trial before the world, every day, as the people you know decide whether or not trusting Christ and following Him is worth it. And if your testimony is not true, it won't be effective.

C. Putting the two together

Well, I want to borrow a phrase from John Stott, as we wrap up this series of sermons that I'm calling The Essential Expectations-Part One. I am convinced that the topics addressed in these four messages are the essential things each person in this church must expect of every other person, if we are going to effectively "share God's Truth and be God's Light" in the Coachella Valley. To review…

The first essential is that we will protect the unity of our church. The second essential is that we will share the responsibility of our church. The third essential is that we will share the ministry of our church. And finally, this morning, we will look at the fourth essential, using John Stott's phrase…We will support our church with a true testimony.

You see, friends, when we are able to sort through all the information that's said about the church, today-what people think it should be, what people believe it should look like, and what people say it should do-and come to know what God wants concerning His church…, and do those things… then we will move ahead with God's power and God's authority into our mission field of the Coachella Valley.

II. A True Testimony

Let me begin this morning, by showing you an example of a true testimony. It comes from the Old Testament book of 1 Kings, chapter 22. Please turn there so you can follow along as I read the story…

Read 1 Kings 22:1-8; 13-14…

A. Explanation of the Passage

What I've just read is an account of a person with true testimony. His name was Micaiah. He was a prophet who lived during the reigns of King Jehoshaphat, of the southern Kingdom of Judah, and King Ahab, the ruler of the northern nation of Israel. Jehoshaphat was a follower of God. Ahab had abandoned his religious roots, and was following an idol, called Baal.

The beginning of this chapter tells us that the two kings decided to get together to go to war against a common enemy. After the two of them made that decision, they decided to check with God, hoping He'd rubber stamp what they had already decided to do, without Him.

So, Ahab brought in 400 "so called prophets" who had a reputation of agreeing with him in all things. Of course, they said, "Go, you're going to win the battle." But Jehoshaphat was discerning enough to know that the 400 "so called prophets" really weren't prophets of God, like he was used to in Judah. So, he asked Ahab if there was a "God-fearing prophet" that they could consult. Ahab said, "Yes, but I don't like him, because he never tells me what I want to hear." But Ahab sent a messenger after him, anyway.

When the messenger arrived at Micaiah's house, he took him aside and gave him the advice that all 400 of the "other" prophets had already given the green light to the battle, and if he knew what was good for him, he would give the green light as well.

Well, when Micaiah arrived at court, he first of all mocked the king and gave a pleasant report about the battle. But then he told the truth, and prophesied that the battle would be a disaster, and Ahab would be harmed if he went through with the plan. For that, Micaiah was punched in the face, thrown into prison, and given only bread and water to live on.

So, the battle ensued, and Jehoshaphat barely escaped with his life, but Ahab was killed and the armies of Israel and Judah lost.

I share that story with you because, it teaches us five very important things about a true testimony, from Micaiah's example. These are the same five things that will happen to each of us in one way or another, if we are willing to support our church with a true testimony.

B. Five Lessons

1. Truth can divide

The first lesson we learn from Micaiah is that truth can divide. Micaiah and Jehoshaphat were both committed to following God. But Jehoshaphat had made a decision without consulting God, and therefore had disobeyed God. Micaiah called him on it, and Jehoshaphat had refused that council and a rift occurred between the men. So much so, that Jehoshaphat had no qualms about letting Micaiah be thrown into prison for his prophesy.

Folks, as much as we love unity, and must commit to it as Christians, because it is a core strategy that God has decided to use to reach the world with His love, we must also understand that light and darkness can't exist together.

Illustration: At our next Elder board meeting we are going to have to take up a very sad issue. One of our church members has been involved in willful and on going sin that is bringing reproach on the name of Jesus Christ. He has completely soiled his testimony by his wickedness. He has refused help and direction from the pastors. And he is showing no signs of repenting. This saddens me. But according to Biblical guidelines he has to be removed from the church, with the hopes that he will wake up and realize the seriousness of his sin and the negative way he is affecting the cause of Christ in this valley. After the elders meet and decide what to do, constitutionally, we will call a meeting of the members of this church to publicly remove him from membership.

That's what a truthful testimony does. It will divide us, sometimes.

2. Truth can hurt before it heals.

A second lesson we can learn from Micaiah's example is that truth can hurt before it heals.

The 400 false prophets prophesied a lie, to appease King Ahab. They said what they thought he wanted to hear. But Micaiah brought a message that hurt Ahab and Jehoshaphat's pride. They didn't like it. They got angry. It blocked their goals. But in the end, it would have saved Ahab's life, and saved Jehoshaphat from humiliation. So, we have to understand, sometimes a true testimony will hurt, before it heals.

3. Truth produce hatred

A third lesson we should learn from Micaiah's story is that truth can produce hatred. Now, that doesn't seem fair, does it? A person tells the truth, and then he's thrown into prison. That's just not fair. But you know, few things in life are.

Joke: A farmer told his friend how much he loved the Lord. So his friend asked him, "Well, John, if you had twenty horses, would you give God two?" "Why, of course, I would," answered the farmer. "Well, if you had ten cows, would you give God one?" "Surely!" replied farmer John. "Well, John, if you had ten pigs, would you give God one?" "Hold On!" cried John. "That isn't fair; you know I have ten pigs."

Well, friends, when we exhibit a true testimony the things that happen to us will sometimes seem unfair. Count on a true testimony conjuring up hatred, from time to time.

4. Truth can leave a person standing alone

A fourth lesson we can learn from Micaiah's story is that truth can leave a person standing alone. Micaiah was outnumbered 400 to 1. Friends, just because a majority of people agree, doesn't make something right. Example: My mind goes to Noah and his family. Here was one godly family against the whole rest of the world. They were a distinct minority who followed God, but that family eventually became the majority.

5. Truth can appear to fail before it succeeds

A final lesson we can learn about a true testimony is that sometimes it will appear to fail before it succeeds. If you read the rest of this chapter, you'll find that Ahab was a coward and talked Jehoshaphat into dressing in kingly attire, while Ahab hid himself in a disguise.

Now, a favorite war tactic of that era was to capture or kill the king of the opposing army. The thinking was that if you cut off the head, the body would die. Without a king, the army would be more easily defeated. So, chapter 22 tells us that the Arameans went after Jehoshaphat, while Ahab tried to look like just one of the guys.

But God had His way, and a stray arrow, shot by one of the Arameans, found its way into the gap in the armor that Ahab was wearing, and the wound proved to be fatal.

So, Micaiah was proved right in the end. That's because a true testimony always stands the test of time.

President Woodrow Wilson once said, "I would rather temporarily fail with a cause that will ultimately succeed, than to temporarily succeed with a cause that will ultimately fail."

So, friends, understand this… a true testimony isn't a walk in the park. But if Jesus is on trial everyday day with the people you know, then the only way your testimony will hold up is if it is a true testimony.

III. The Three Parts of our True Testimony

Those are the lessons we can learn about a true testimony. But what does a true testimony look like? Well, we are told this important fact by Jesus, in Scripture…

John 17:17 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

God's Word, the Bible, is called "the truth" by Jesus, Himself. The Bible is the only place we can go to find out what a true testimony looks like. So, what does the Bible say our testimony should look like?

Well, as I've studied the Scriptures, I see the Bible saying that there are at least three things that comprise a true testimony of any church member. Here they are…

A. Attending and participating faithfully

The first is attending and participating faithfully.

Hebrews 10:25 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Not one of us can deny the fact that the Day… the day when Jesus comes back for His church…, is getting closer than it has ever been before. And what does scripture say concerning that? It says that we need to meet together, and encourage each other. It also says, don't follow the habits of some Christians who don't think this is necessary. They are wrong! You should get together and encourage each other. Because as the world moves farther and farther away from an understanding of God, you and I are going to need each other to build up each other's faith.

Kent Hughes, the senior pastor at College Church in Wheaton, IL wrote this in a magazine article…

Church attendance is infected with a malaise of conditional loyalty which has produced an army of ecclesiastical hitchhikers. The hitchhiker's thumb says, "You buy the car, pay for repairs and upkeep and insurance, fill the car with gas--and I'll ride with you. But if you have an accident, you are on your own! And I'll probably sue."

So it is with the credo of so many of today's church attenders: "You go to the meetings and serve on the boards and committees, you grapple with the issues and do the work of the church and pay the bills--and I'll come along for the ride. But if things do not suit me, I'll complain and probably bail out--my thumb is always out for a better ride." (R. Kent Hughes in Disciplines of a Godly Man. Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 6).

Friend, I say this in all sincerity and humility, …if you are a Christian, and your loyalty to our church is conditional, and your attendance is sporadic, please find someplace else to worship. Because you don't belong here. Life is too short and our mission is too important for us to carry people who only want to be sporadic spectators!

But if you're serious about Sharing God's Truth and Being God's Light, then get on board, be regular in your attendance and do something to encourage this body of believers.

B. Living a godly life

The second way we support our church with a true testimony is by living a godly life.

Philippians 1:27a 27a … you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven. (NLT)

One author said it this way, "It is right to be contented with what we have, but never with what we are." (James Mackintosh. Leadership, Vol. 11, no. 3.)

Friends, every inconsistency between what you say you believe, and what you do… will be exploited by the Devil. He wants to undermine your testimony and the message our church teaches about Jesus Christ, in the life of at least one person in this Valley, who is headed toward hell.

Be wise here. Pre-Christians are constantly watching Christians and comparing us to themselves. You see, the claims of Jesus are exclusive. And people are looking for ways to justify their rebellion and their rejection of that exclusiveness. And our lives either show that Jesus has something better to offer them, or that Jesus will make absolutely no difference to them.

A godly life doesn't earn you heaven, but it will earn the right for you to be heard by someone who is in your unique circle of influence. So, we all need to commit to living godly lives.

C. Giving Regularly

The third way we support our church with a true testimony is giving regularly to our church.

1 Corinthians 16:2 2 On every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. (NLT)

I'd like to read a letter that someone once wrote to God…

Dear God, You have been pushing my conscience pretty hard lately on the matter of being a responsible church member, and I think it's time for me to say something back to You.

You remember a couple of Sundays ago--the Sunday the associate pastor hit pretty hard on this matter of Christian stewardship and tithing--money, money, money! Every other word, money. I didn't appreciate that, God, to be quite frank! He surely has the right title--associate pastor--because You surely can tell he has been associated with the regular pastor, who is always harping on money. The Scriptures they quote do not impress me much, because I know You couldn't really have meant those things, could You, God?

What do those preachers think I am, a banker? Didn't I give $12.50 to the Salvation Army last Christmas, and $15.00 to the Desert AIDS project; and when I make it to church, I always put at least five dollars in the offering plate! What more can You ask of a person? I just don't have that kind of money. Ten percent indeed! Besides, I've already paid more than $1600.00 this year for Christian cruise. I also bought a new set of golf clubs and , and I must save money for a new car and a new computer. I tell You, God, if those folk at the church want to spend money on church buildings, youth programs, etc., let them do it, not me!

Well, there You have it, God. And if You don't mind, lay off my conscience from now on about money! I'll get in touch with You whenever I need You for something.

Yours forever, Luke Warm

Luke Warms don't do much for the testimony of our church.

Listen friends, -your individual financial contributions tell God what you feel about the vision He's given this church. -Your individual financial contributions tell God what He can do with the people who come through our doors and participate in the programs of our church. -And your individual financial contributions tell God what is most important to you.

So, what are your individual financial contributions saying to God?

IV. Conclusion

Well, there you have it. The fourth essential expectation we must have of each other is.... We will support our church with a true testimony by… …Attending and participating faithfully …Living a godly life, and …Giving regularly.

Now, here's your question. Are you willing?

Amen