November 19th, 2000, Sunday Evening
"Testimonies of Thanks"
The Sermon given by the congregation
OPENING: Psalm 100, KJV
- Psalm 105:1: Tonight, there was no message by the pastor but rather
public testimonies given by volunteer church members of how good the LORD has been to them.
Testimony is one of the most powerful tools in your soulwinning arsenal. It's the
true-life example that makes the personal connection between you and the lost soul.
- Brother E.T. Faulkner - Testimony of salvation:
Brother Earl Faulkner grew up in New York City. He wasn't raised in a Christian home.
He went in and out of churches until he joined the military at 18. Serving overseas in
Germany in 1985, he was invited to a church there. Brother Faulkner had never gone to
church except during Easter and Christmas (not X-mas) but decided to take up the offer
to attend. He enjoyed the church service more than any he had been to because instead
of the preacher reading one passage of scripture, closing his book, and preaching the
rest of the service, this pastor and all church members opened their bible and kept them
open for referencing throughout the service. Then at the end, the preacher offered a
"time of invitation" where lost people/families were invited to come to the front.
Brother Faulkner raised his hand and walked down the chapel aisle where the pastor shook
his hand and turned him around for the whole congregation to see. Brother Faulkner
was all embarrassed. Then the following Monday night, Brother Faulkner had a knock on
his door where the German men that came to see him told him he didn't need to wait until
the next church service to be saved.
On Monday, 21 October 1985, Brother E.T. Faulkner was saved in a little village in Germany.
- Brother Stevenson - Testimony of how GOD answers prayer:
Spoke to a man previously involved in a major accident in his job in the Air Force--Airman
D. Haiduk. Airman Haiduk suffered near-fatal injuries when he was injured by a tire rim
that separated from extreme pressure and made contact with his face--permanently disfiguring
his skull. The El Paso hospital doctors thought he wouldn't make it but GOD saw fit to
let him live to that he might be saved.
At the time this accident occurred, Bro Stevenson was doing system administration work
on his computer. When he heard, he asked GOD to find him with Airman Haiduk to help him
find eternal salvation. The LORD granted Bro Stevenson's prayer by allowing him to spend
time with Derek in the hospital. All we can do now is wait for the LORD to work Derek's
heart and hope he will decide to be saved.
- Brother Chris Nelson - Testimony of thanks:
Brother Nelson is very appreciative of all the families who donated food to his wife
who is with child. It reminded him of what he learned in Sunday School that we
"serve GOD and serve others" at the same time.
- Brother Emmet Hernandez - Testimony of thanks:
Running his usual 20 miles in the morning, Bro Hernandez stopped by the church and saw
Brother Dave Evans and Brother Neil Stone working on the heating system. Deciding to
help out in a team effort, Brother Hernandez was humbled when he considered how much
money it would cost to have it repaired by a professional. The pastor says to give
thanks for all the talents and gifts that are combined to serve this ministry to get the
work done because each individual in this world GOD gave a specific talent/gift.
Some are being put to good use, some talents synergize team effort when combined ...
but most talents go undiscovered and/or unused!
- Sister Sonya Nelson - Testimony of thanks:
She is thankful for being saved by missionaries
in Germany. GOD just put her in the right place at the right time. She was attending
a church service where the preacher was different from the preacher of other churches.
Sister Sonya concludes that sometimes, you just have to put all questions and doubts
aside and simply submit that Jesus Christ died for you and I.
- Sister Velez - Testimony of salvation and thanks:
With her family saved in February, 1980, the LORD
has worked in all areas of Sister Velez' life just as the LORD worked Paul (formerly Saul)
when He saved him and sent him on a three year study of the gospel in Arabia
(Galatians 1:17-18). The family's son Marcus left to serve in the Air Force
and upon his separation became ill to near-death. The LORD knew Sis Velez' need provided
the money to allow Sis Velez to fly out to see her son ... and the LORD spared her son's
life. Now Marcus wants to be a firefighter and is beyond the first two phases of training.
Last week, Sis Velez was in more pain than she had been before the day of the pastor's wife's
birthday party. So the Velez family prayer for their mother and that night, she slept without
pain the entire night. Sis Velez thanks the LORD for being faithful when she was not.
Sometimes we want more than what we need to survive
(i.e., we want food and security today that will last us a year) just like the Children
of Israel. GOD fed them manna from heaven and told them not to store it overnight as it
will mold. However, people hoarded anyway the result was disobedience and spoilage.
The lesson here is that the LORD supplies your need of today as opposed to
needs of the future--be happy with the manna of today.
CLOSER
- Psalm 78:19: As the unbelieving Children of Israel asked, "Can GOD furnish
a table in the wilderness?" Think of the miracles in your life as opposed to the people
in the Old Testament.
- Psalm 78:7-22: The people of the Old Testament saw tremendous
miracles--the Red Sea part, manna fall from heaven, water come from a rock, yet in
Psalm 78:19, the people still questioned GOD's power.
- ...Remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving--not "Turkey Day."
