by: Keith Phemister
Acts 15:1-4 says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.”
Shortly after being saved, I went to the Wednesday Night Bible Study and Prayer Meeting at our church in Simi Valley, California. It was all new to me, but the first thing someone said to me after being saved was, “Now, make sure you go to all the services at the church. They are all important and needful for you to grow as a Christian.” I didn’t know much, so I listened to those who I thought wanted the best for my life, and those were the Christians God had placed in my life.
There I was on the first Wednesday service, and the pastor asked for testimonies. “Testimony Time – who would like to be first?” I heard numbers of people stand up and give testimony of what God had done or was doing in their lives. I wanted to give testimony of being saved, but I was just not the extrovert some think I am. So, I sat – and listened. Though I do not remember the content of their testimony, I have often been amazed at some of the testimonies given by those of us who have been touched by God’s amazing grace.
One of my favorite stories of history centers around the Titanic. Now, for most people, I think the story grabs our attention because of the sheer horror of being on a sinking ship and being confronted with death. I, however, am intrigued, because of a certain preacher who was onboard the Titanic that fateful night of April 15, 1912. His name was John Harper, a Baptist preacher, who was accompanied with his daughter and sister Jessie Leitch. Harper was a widower, said to have been traveling to Chicago ultimately, to take the pastorate of the famed Moody Church. His loving wife had died giving birth to his six-year-old daughter who was onboard with him.
It was Mr. Harper who was seen busily going about shouting to all he could gain attention, “All the women, children and unsaved – to the boats!” Once the preacher found himself in the chilling waters after making sure his sister and daughter found their way to the lifeboats, you could hear him hurriedly exclaiming, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
One such hearer, clinging to some debris from the ship, rejected the preacher’s message; however, Harper would not be denied. A few minutes later, here he was again, right at his side, issuing the same warning. He would take off his life jacket and throw it to another, exclaiming, “You need this more than I do!”
Four years later, in a meeting in Ontario, Canada, a meeting was held for survivors of the Titanic. A man testified that he was clinging to ship debris when a man swam to him and asked him to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” “I refused,” he said. “He came by the second time and said the same thing, and this time, I accepted. Just as soon as I did, the man slipped away beneath the chilly waters to his death. I was one of the few rescued by a returning lifeboat. I am the last convert of John Harper.”
What a testimony from the man of what God did for him, but even a greater testimony of what God did with John Harper. I love to hear testimonies from God’s people of what God does for them, but the greatest testimony for me is – what God did with them!
Certain men came from Judea and began teaching false doctrine to the brethren saying they must be circumcised to be saved. Paul and Barnabus disputed with them, and it was determined that they should go to Jerusalem about this question. When they arrived in the city, they gave testimony, the Bible says of “things that God had done with them.”
In all my years, folks basically give testimonies about the Lord in regards to three separate thoughts:
- What God has done to them
- What God has done for them
- What God has done with them
First of all, everywhere you go, you meet people who talk of what God has done to them. Many times, it will be perhaps at the door of a residence, talking to someone about the Lord, only to learn of their bitterness towards God. “I’ll tell you what,” they say, “I will never set foot in another church again in my life. My boyfriend is in a hospital right now, fighting for his life. He never hurt anyone. We were going to get married. Now, I don’t even know if he is going to live another month.”
I have found that people generally get bitter towards God for two reasons:
- God did not prevent something negative or bad from happening (such as the previous real life illustration)
- God did not give them something they really wanted
I recently developed a formula. Here it is: Disappointment with God leads to Resentment towards God that ultimately leads to Running from God.
Jonah did that! How many people have asked the question, “How come bad things happen to good people?” Well, the truth of the matter is that there really is nothing good about people from God’s perspective. The Bible declares, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” The real question to be asked is this: “How come good things happen to bad people?”
God put a marvelous garden and paradise as a playground for Adam and Eve, and they chose to disobey God – now death has indeed passed upon all men, for all have sinned. Thank you, Lord, for your marvelous grace to undeserving sinners! Amen?
Secondly, you hear of people giving testimony of what God has done for them. When we see the blessings in a fresh way, we stand up and give testimony. I surely am amazed at how many people never praise Him. At this writing, my mother has suffered a stroke and has lost her speech. I thank the Lord for the many years of conversation with a mom who cares for her son. I praise Him for what He is doing in her life. I stand with David here when he says, “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”
Thirdly, and most importantly, you hear some of God’s people who give testimony of what God has done with them. Oh, how I love to hear the testimonies from the lips of dear servants of God as they exclaim God’s goodness in choosing to use them in a marvelous way. Don’t you? Isn’t there something that speaks to the cold, embittered and hardened heart about serving the King of kings, and Creator of all the Earth and Universe?
Remember Ananias – oh, how he could not understand the Lord desiring to use Saul. “Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me…” But, how the Lord did use him greatly! There never has been another Paul. Great men, yes! Paul was one of a kind. How he could give testimony of the great things God did with him.
I can’t wait to get to Heaven. I mean, Heaven is a place where we will clearly see as we should. I actually can’t wait to see the converts which the liberal crowd declares were never saved because of “Easy-Believism.” Let them carry on in their false doctrine. Let them continue on seeing few converts while those of us who just believe the Bible continue our door-knocking, confrontational soul-winning, and bold preaching.
I’ve got a feeling that John Harper was rejoicing as the angels rejoiced at the conversion of that Titanic survivor – John Harper’s last convert. Let’s hear more testimonies in our churches of what God has done with us – yes, great things he hath done!
Keith Phemister
Pastor
Lighthouse Baptist Church
Hudson, NH