I Have A Testimony

I HAVE A TESTIMONY

I'm not sure what is happening, but over the last couple of weeks I've been preaching sermons that have focused on my childhood memories. And, this morning is no exception. As a little girl, every time I went to church I sat through those segments called TESTIMONY TIME. Every Sunday morning, just before worship service started, or at Wednesday night bible study or any time there was a church meeting, the older members of the congregation would stand to their feet and give about a 5-10 minute narrative about what God had done for them during the week or they would sit in their pews and begin singing a song. I hated these moments because they sounded more like a time for people to share their "personal" trials and triumphs with the rest of the congregation. Because I didn't understand the meaning of these times, they seemed useless to me. Sometimes TESTIMONY TIME sounded more like a bragging sessionsÐ'--people standing up sharing they were blessed with new cars and houses or how they paid their child's tuition. During testimony time, inherently someone would start crying because they were "FULL," as the saying goesÐ'--being so grateful and overwhelmed by the blessings of the Lord.

For me, the most embarrassing of these times was when my mother would stand to share with the congregation her testimony. My brothers and I would slide down in the pew and hide our faces because we knew after church we would be teased by the other children. For those of you who have been witness to testimony time, you know what I'm talking about. Testimony Time went something like this: A person standing and beginning with: "I just want to thank the Lord for waking me up this morning; I want to thank him for life, health and strength; I thank the Lord for his traveling mercies; and all of you who know the word of prayer, pray my strength in the Lord. Or, someone might start singing, "Yes, God is Real" or "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior." As a child, I didn't understand why it was important to give witness to the goodness of God.

In our OLD TESTAMENT narrative Isaiah is at the end of his prophecy. He has described the changes the Messiah would bring to God's people in the prior chapters. Isaiah has expressed the effect his preaching would have on those who were faithful to God. He introduces the final section of his prophecy by sharing this testimony: "I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the LORD has done for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his steadfast love." Isaiah is not only remembering the deeds of the LORD for himself, but he is giving witness to what the LORD has done for a people. The Lord brought them out of bondage; he gave them a land flowing with milk and honey; he defeated their enemies; and he blessed their crops. For the LORD said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely;" and he became their savior in all their distress." The Lord