Worship

“Praise Him Forever” by Jervis Campbell

Scripture

“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.” -John 5:19-20 (ESV)

“If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that his testimony about me is true… I have a testimony greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me.” -John 5:31-32, 36-37a (ESV)

The Foundation of Our Identity

The testimony of the Father before all of Heaven gave Jesus His identity, calling, and the roadmap for ministry all the way to the cross. He was anchored in the love of His Father and compelled with a love for the world through which marvelous works followed and flowed.

One of my daughters came to me a week ago and asked the question, “What is the purpose of life?” Disillusioned and confused, she needed to know God had a hand in this season and a future He had purposed. Recently, I have had the thought drop in my mind, “Is this all really worth it?” Is sacrifice worth it? Is living a life poured out for the sake of the gospel really worth it? All of these questions are normal, but they aren’t our testimony. We carry a testimony far greater than momentary doubt or struggle; it’s the testimony of the Father over our very lives that compels and propels us!

Learning from Christ’s Example

As Jesus was facing the headstrong, heartless religion of the Jews, He was up against their accusations, their desire to kill him, and their mockery. But Jesus stood in the face of it, clearly anchored in what His Father testified about Him. He was not moved by public opinion or endless criticisms. Nor did he rest on His own testimony, trying to convince his accusers of who He was. He stood, solidly, on the testimony of His Father who called Him and sent Him and moved Him out in wondrous works to a wide-eyed desperate world.

Jesus knew what the Father said about Him: “‘This is my Son, whom I love … (Matthew 3:17).’” He held onto the testimony of God for His life, His purpose, and His defense. It was weighty; it was eternal. The testimony of the Father had the final word for Jesus and for you.

So, I ask you, what does the Lord testify about you before all of Heaven? Have you asked Him? As His called and sent one, do you know in your deepest most innermost being that you are his son/daughter that He loves and is well pleased with? The testimony of the Lord before all of Heaven about you is your final word of victory, identity, and purpose.

Living Out Our Testimony

Day and night, the accuser of God’s people testifies before the throne of God all your shortcomings, weaknesses, and sin. Throwing insults and longing for injury, he tries to make a case against you. And yet Jesus intercedes, advocates, mediates, and defends. The testimony of the blood of Jesus over you is your greatest defense in this courtroom. He testifies of your forgiveness, righteousness, and holiness. But what does He defend as it pertains to your obedience, surrender, and this race you are running? Can this verse be said of us before all of Heaven, that we are the ones “‘testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:24)’”? Just like Jesus, are these the words spoken of us: “‘For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me (John 5:36b).’”

Again and again, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us … (Hebrews 12:1).” This is how we run and how we finish well so that we can testify all of our days to the very grace of God.

His testimony about us becomes our testimony to a desperate world. It’s upon this basis of truth and grace that we therefore go, in the power of the Spirit, with wonder upon wonder.

Our Commission and Purpose

Our very works testify to the fact that we are in Christ. Those works the Father gave Jesus testified that He was sent. There was a purpose to His life that He had to fulfill. So it is with us. Our lives, our works, will either testify to the life of Christ in us or they will give another testimony. Jesus had the testimony of John. He even had the miracles themselves that testified. But what mattered the most to Jesus was what the Father said and what He showed Him to do. He moved and ministered from this place of identity. Everything about Him was the outward expression of this internal reality. His submission to ministry and even His death was out of the resounding love of the Father for this Word made flesh. In the Father, He lived and moved and had His being. So it is the same with us. We are in Christ, and He is in us. So how we live becomes the resounding testimony of what He says and what we therefore believe.

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” -James 2:18-19

If we believe the King is coming, if we believe Christ is worthy of our life’s worship and affections, our lives will testify of this truth. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, the word “testify” from John 5 means “to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration.” We bear witness to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, the freedom from bondage and sin, and the true weight of our identity as royalty. We are the sent ones. We are the ones commissioned in this generation, by the Spirit, to make known the mystery of the gospel to those who are perishing. We are ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation. We bear the very image and glory of God. Nothing in your identity, calling, and assignments are by chance. They are orchestrated and formulated so that you can testify with your life, your words, and your works of the power and grace of God.

Let your love for Jesus so testify to the world!

If faith without works is dead, then it’s time to put our faith into action and let Jesus flame our hearts with wild love for Him. Let’s allow Him to have the first place, and deep within that space we allow Him to cut off the things that don’t belong. And with what He supplies, we go and we testify. By His grace, we live for Him and nothing else. All of our purpose and all of our affections are found in Him only. Because we have tasted and seen, we can therefore testify to this love that we can’t keep to ourselves. The world must know of this love found in Jesus!

Let me close with this thought-provoking excerpt:

“Are you a bride of the Lamb? His bride carries a wonderful secret in her heart. She has a blessed hope. She lives in expectation of the fulfillment of her deepest longings. She knows that eternal joy and happiness will be hers. This is why the bride needs little else in this life. The test of whether I am a true bride of Jesus is this: How important to me is the love of others? To what extent do I look to my career for satisfaction? Do I covet prestige and status? Do health, talents and popularity mean more to me than Jesus? The true bride of Jesus is focused on Him in her innermost being, rather than on the things of this world. Her Bridegroom is her life, the joy of her heart. Supremely happy in His love, she is enthralled by her heavenly Bridegroom, spending herself for Him, eagerly awaiting His coming and carrying her heart this one name: Jesus.” -Basilea Schlink, My All for Him.

“‘However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.’” -Acts 20:24

A Few Key Notes

• See God’s power unleashed in your life. Save the date for a six-week study through the Robby Dawkins book “Do What Jesus Did” beginning September 5. Registration details are coming soon!
• Join me as we spread the gospel in Latin America, November 9-17. Learn more about this short-term mission team and apply today!
• Spend a day with your Bridegroom at the Dallas Prayer Retreat on September 9. Learn to hear the voice of the Lord and spend time at the feet of Jesus together with other women. Learn more and register here.
• Join Arise for a night of worship and prayer followed by 72 hours of prayer at Knee-Deep in the Garden. Join us on September 17 as we praise the Lord for what He has done and will do. Then, sign up for a 30-minute slot to intercede for the nations. Register here.