A Testimony

Cut & paste this link so you can listen to this beautiful song: I am Redeemed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p31gY0t4pA

Have you considered your testimony? 

A testimony is a witness borne on behalf of your faith.

Listen to the testimony of Micaiah and Caleb.

2 Chronicles 18:1-7

Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead. So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?”

And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.” Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.”

But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of Him?”  So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”

What a powerful witness for Micaiah by King Ahab. As you will remember, King Ahab began his reign as a good king, one who knew God and obeyed. To his hurt, he married a foreign woman named Jezebel who did not know God and followed after Baal and worshipped other gods. Because God’s Word is perfect and true, and it tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” that eventually Ahab turned from serving the One True Living God and began to do what was right in his own eyes. Ahab turned away from God and lost his way.

The prophet Micaiah already knew Ahab’s heart and that Ahab would not heed to God’s Word. Nevertheless, Micaiah stood up for the truth. He was bold, he didn’t back down and he stood by himself against 450 of the false prophets who had a lying spirit. Wow, that is true grit.

Let’s look at Caleb’s Testimony

Before the Israelites were punished for their unbelief and sent into the wilderness for 40 years, God had given them the opportunity to taste and see His goodness in the land of milk and honey. Moses sent out 12 spies into Caanan, the promise land to investigate the land and the people and return with a report of what they saw.  As you know, the 12 spies returned with giant grapes and fruits.

As the spies reported what they saw, they forgot about God’s promise to give them this land that flows with milk and honey. They reported that its people were giants and they grew fearful. Only 2 spies gave a good report and a reminder that God was with them. This land will be given over to them. Take a guess who the two spies were?  

Caleb and Joshua. 

Let’s read about Caleb.

Numbers 14:6-10 and verse 24

But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”

And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. 

As Moses was interceding on behalf of the unbelieving Israelites and speaking to God about forgiving their unbelief, let’s look at what God’s says about Caleb at verse 24

“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully,

I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”

God himself, was a witness to Caleb’s faithfulness and zeal. What a powerful testimony! And it was all because Caleb believed God.

The 10 spies were afraid and that fear spread like wild fire throughout the camp. But Joshua and Caleb were ready to go out and conquer. They witnessed God’s mighty power in Egypt with the 10 plagues and Pharaoh’s change of heart and they witnessed the miracle at the Red Sea.

Caleb and Joshua stood with God when everyone else were afraid, ready to quit and ready to return to Egypt and be slaves again for Pharaoh.

Let’s Pray

Father,

We need your Holy Spirit to move in our hearts. Fill us with your power and boldness so that we too will stand up for You against the lies, deceit, the cares of this world and all persecution that is coming against Your Truth and Your people. 

May you raise up a new generation of youths that have a different spirit within them, like Caleb, and a heart to follow you like Macaiah.. Lord, we cry out for more Macaiah’s and Caleb’s. 

May the Holy Spirit move within the hearts of leaders in government and fill them with wisdom from above. Anoint Your pastors and fill them with the Holy Spirit so they may be godly examples to Your sheep and fill the church with those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Amen