The Testimony of Believers

It seems that most people are simply not at ease with speaking about their Faith in public settings where they are others whom they do not know or are not sure if they share a like minded faith in God.

How do you deal with sharing your Faith with others?

Read John 4:7-53 in several translation and think about the conversation that Jesus and the woman were having. Check out the communication between Jesus and his disciples. What are some power points that zing out at you and make you think about how you share or do not share your Faith. Share your thoughts with us.

Conviction or Condemnation
Choose this Day whom you will serve.


Romans 8:1 (KJV) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." ( Key Phrase: after the Spirit )

John 16:8 (Amplified Bible) "And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment:" ( Key Phrase convict and convince. )

Conviction adhered to brings life to an individual who responds to that nudge before it becomes condemnation which is developed by the mind of a person who is wrestling with the work of the Spirit of God. The question that comes to the forefront is: Am I willing to receive conviction and let it works its full potential? Or will I wander around in condemnation and try to figure out a way to justify my actions? It is interesting that Satan may get involved right in the middle of the Spirit's work of conviction. If there is something in your life that is pulling you away from the Father's presence and you sense this(conviction), but you begin to mull it around to see if you can justify your actions and those actions begin to well up with condemnation then you can be assured that a battle for your soul has begun. Satan would love to create condemnation in your mind and heart. So strange, he wishes to cause you to feel condemn for sinful behavior. But, the problem is that you simple draw away from God out of fear being punished or worse you determine that some things are okay, because you have liberty and it is only Satan that is making you feel condemn.

The fact is that conviction can be turned into condemnation if you choose to ignore the prodding's of the Holy Spirit.

I John 2:16 (KJV) "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

This is a key passage to consider in such battles of conviction and condemnation. Whatever you are involved in will fall under one of those categories of: The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life.

The first two are fairly easy to discern. It is the third that really creates the darkness of condemnation. It is in the pride of life that one begins to desire to control what is wrong or right. Do I not have the right to choose what I do? God has given me a mind to figure this out. Surely, I can make a judgement on whether or not these actions I do affect me or will effect those around me.

There is a simple solution. Follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit and see what happens. Follow the condemnation and ignore the Holy Spirit and see what happens.
Following the Spirit brings life. Following condemnation brings death. You decide !

Scars of Commitment.

Isaiah 49:16a (Amplified Bible) "Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands."

The idea of "Scars of Commitment" is not an easy thought to ponder. What in my life would be considered scar worthy? Are there events in my life that would be monumental enough to consider being in the category of sacrificial? Isaiah was telling Zion that He was aware of their needs and He would write on His hands ( palms ), basically their names or perhaps his promises. Isaiah even said that God would lift His hands to the nations so they could all see His care for Zion ( Israel ).

John 12:33 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die."

Our Lord and Savior did the same thing but with piercing of His palms. Using the phrase, lightly, "Scars of Commitment" take on a whole new meaning. If we as His children where to think of our "Scars of Commitments", what would they be?

Here is Paul the Apostle's "Scars of Commitment":2 Corinthians 11:24-26
"From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren."

I personally cannot think of such "Scars of Commitment" in my life of this nature. But, I am reminded that they can come and should come.
II Timothy 3:12 (Amplified Bible) "Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]."

When those moments come into our lives, may they show that we endured for His name sake and the battle scars are simply tattoos of those "Scars of Commitment".