The Power Of A Testimony | Acts 21-22
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- Опубликовано: 5 янв 2025
- The Apostle Paul displayed uncanny, heroic behaviors in Acts 21 and 22 as he begged to return to the hostile Jewish crowds in order to share his powerful testimony. His courageous acts demonstrate a changed heart - one that desires to lead people to Jesus and the Truth, with no fear of safety or well-being. Genuine faith in God can turn your testimony into kingdom building opportunities - where Jesus is always the hero!
www.gracecityrome.com
@pastorjohnlovell
You know it's a good message when you feel convicted by it. Great work John!
John, I was one of the 80%. I was baptized as a teenager, believed I was saved and then proceeded to live a life of sin for the next 20 odd years. I was a drunk, I chased women, I basically dabbled in a little bit of everything sinful. To this day I am ashamed of who I was. A little over a year ago God found me again. I wasn't listening at the time, but God finally found a way to speak to me that I would understand. I want nothing more now than to live the way He wants me to. Jesus gave his life so my past wouldn't keep me from God. He gave me the path to salvation. Today I can't seem to keep from talking about things I find in the Bible. The story of Job has a verse that God spoke to me with and it shattered me. I still can't fully explain why but every time I read this passage it still brings me to tears.
Job 12: 7-10
7
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9
Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10
In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Thanks for sharing brother ! God bless you
I pray God continues to keep you close to him. I pray your spirit be in tune with his. I pray that your peace would only be from fellowship with him in spirit and in truth. I pray that God would use you and your heart be filled with mercy and compassion for the lost. We love much, because we have been forgiven much. Know that you are not alone, Jesus is the savior of His people. We love him because he first loved us. Blessings to you brother.
In the love of Christ,
Daniel-
From the church of
Northern California
When you re-read Acts, you see that most often when the Apostles present a testimony, it's the gospel. They present the gospel message of Christ.
That's what's effective
Preached like a true Warrior Poet! Love your content brother and very glad to see God has blessed you with a church to lead. Thank you very much for putting your ministry on RUclips! Take care; God bless
Ive kept my story close to the vest, only immediate family, so here it is.
I grew up in a Christian home, my mom would say “good stock”, yet I wandered pretty far from the life I knew was right after high school in 98’.
In 2012 I was in dire straights, I was living the life of a wicked man, and gratefully, our God is a jealous one. Id lost access to that still small voice, which terrified me. I went on a walk in the woods behind my grandmas and I had a road to Damascus moment. An audible voice, a hand on my shoulder I could feel, a purpose explained, the Holy Spirit poured out, and a vision. The calling coincided with a prophecy before I was born to my dad, and his pastor. My assumptions of my name were wrong, God explained the “double blessing” wouldnt be that of success and wealth, but that of a leader of His people and a prophet. You know how everyone in the Bible hears Gods voice and laughs, or says “Who? Me?” Yah, I did that too. That experience should have changed my life, but I wasn’t ready.
Memorial Day 2020, my brothers father in law, who is a pastor, was telling us about a vision he’d had of a wall, the world on one side, Christianity on the other. The further he walked on the wall, it got narrower and narrower, until it was razor thin. That was an inflection point for me, the gears started turning. A few weeks of pondering it the Holy Spirit poured out and I wrote out several pages of what God had told me. I then spent 6 hours flipping through my bible attaching verses to what Id written out. It was like my own little gospel. Through that experience, 1 Corinthians 10 became my primary study material. I came to the conclusion that so many Christians, myself included, were compromising. Which were leading Christians to completely fall away and inadvertently becoming something else, without realizing it. 3 years later, November 23’ while listening to a Charles Spurgeon sermon (The Holy Spirits Intercession 4/11/1880) I was struck again. The Holy Spirit poured out on me, this time, I was fertile ground, I felt like I was born again, for real, it was surreal. Id heard the expression all my life, but it wasn’t until that moment I truly understood. Everyday since, I can see the changes in myself. Realizing that through Him, and His power, everything is possible. Through my power, I will always see the storm and the waves, He is always on the boat. True courage starts with that faith. No wonder Paul was content in all things, he had no fear.
When I happened upon Josh McPhersons “Figure it out Faster” message a few months ago, it was a confirmation that what the Holy Spirit had been impressing upon me, was His message to those who were listening. Between Josh and John, I shouldn’t be amazed anymore, but it happens on a continual basis, we’re always on the same page. There are no boundaries for our Heavenly Father, if we’re positioned to hear Him.
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.”
-CS Lewis
“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”
-John Bunyan
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved
John, as many others I was introduced to you as a gun-guy and that was what I used you for. Later, I found your advice and insight helpful. Now, I listen to you preach the word of God, and what a blessing it is. Thank you!
In my country, Christianity has reached its peak of lukewarm, and is so separated from the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus, that it has almost become a mockery.
I have not yet been able to find any community that supports speaks about God and the Bible like this. I’m grateful that you do this, and that I get to listen in although your church is more than 7000 km away from me.
I’m considering starting a Bible study group for men and young fathers, focusing on true and strong Christianity, and also meet with physical fitness on the agenda. To grow physically and spiritually.
If any reads along, I would love for you to pray with and for me, to be bold as a lion, and find the curage and wisdom to actually see that through.
If any of you have good advice for something like that, I would love to hear that as well.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first and the first last for many be called,but few chosen.
Holy smokes John! Had me questioning my own testimony the whole dang time! That right there is some solid preaching, thank you for sharing brother.
Good message, may Gods Grace and Blessings be upon you as to teach Gods word. I’d like to comment on one of your points . Growing up in church we had many evangelists coming and preaching at our church. Many were sincere God fearing and serving men. But some as you said made their past life in sin glamorous and attractive. It’s affect on me and several others in my Sunday school class, was to imitate their experiences. As pre teens we were very impressionable and learned the wrong message . It had disastrous consequences for us . But by the grace of God he protected us and kept us safe but we still suffered the consequences of our actions. Your point is valid and needs to be said . God Bless .
Greetings friends! I hope God sends you all love wisdom and protection against deception! Let's choose the light!
Yep, John!
(Rev.21:8)”…the COWARDLY & the FEARFUL…” … …
Hey John good message! A testimony should be none other than what God has done in a persons life starting with them accepting by faith Christ as their Savior, and key back into right standing with the Father. But what we miss sometimes is that most people who were saved as a child were sadly not discipled and shown to have a walk with God. Yes we are a new creation in Christ Jesus but we still have our flesh. Paul lays this out in Galatians 5. The fruit of a Christian is produced by the Spirit when walking or abiding in the Spirit but our flesh can still have control and will always have control when a Christian is not discipled (part of the great commission) and taught to have a walk with God.
I have been that person who people thought might not be truly saved. But i knew I was saved I just hadn’t been taught that all the good and older men around me weren’t just trying to live good for Jesus they were living with Jesus walking with Him daily and allowing the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit I was seeing and not able to produce on my own.
So the issue with some people could be salvation but the second and just as important part of the great commission is discipleship.
Good set, brother John! Blessing be upon you, in Jesus' name
In 2017 I was called. It was truly supernatural, and I can't really describe the details. I was riding home from work, He filled my heart and told me to come to Him. This is the truly first time I've heard someone have as dramatic of a transformation as I've had. Bless you Pastor Lovell
@pastorjohnlovell I have been subscribed to your WPS channel for a few years. I'm so happy I found this channel too. I knew you were a good Christian man, veteran, and patriot. Getting to hear you preach is a real blessing. Thank you for this and for being you. Keep up the outstanding work! I truly appreciate you.
Very good, easy to follow and understand. Thanks much
As Christians we should be the most courageous and bold people on the planet! We have nothing to fear! It is so sad to see the churches around the U.S. being so afraid to speak the truth or to stand up to the evil in our world. We see an excellent example of the courage we should show in Paul. Great job of speaking that truth John and keep it going! As a fellow serviceman I know how courage can lift those around us to push to heights they couldn't fathom otherwise. I pray God raises those courageous few around us to lead this country back to Him!
Thank you. Lead the way.
Keep it up. I'm needing this
If you love me you'll keep my commandments.
🙏🙏❤❤
Amen!
Great sermon, John. Great job in discounting the haters you alluded to early on in the sermon-there are many and we can all learn from that. Love and support from TX
✝️✝️✝️
AMEN!!!!!!
Without repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus, and being filled with the Holy Ghost we cannot receive mercy and enter the kingdom of heaven.
You do not have to be baptized in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, people that repent and believe that have faith in Jesus Christ as their savior that do not have time or die before they are baptized, does not mean they go to hell, stop putting out false information, yes you should get baptized if you have the opportunity but you do have to be baptized in order to go to heaven
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is lord” and believe in your heart that god raised him from the dead you will be saved.
@@virginiaoutdoors4488 Jesus said you must be believe AND be baptized to be saved (Mar 16:16). Paul said if we’re not buried with Him in baptism we won’t rise with Him (Rom 6:4-5). Paul said it’s New Testament circumcision (Col 2:11-12). He got baptized himself when Ananias told him it would wash away his sins (Act 22:16). Peter said it’s for remission of sins and saves us (Act 2:38; 1 Pet 3:20-21). Peter COMMANDED the house of Cornelius to be baptized (Act 10:48). God placed water in a desert for the Ethiopian (Act 8:36).
@@virginiaoutdoors4488 (Rom 10:16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
If you haven’t OBEYED the gospel then you don’t believe according to the Bible. Peter didn’t tell them to believe on the Lord during the first New Testament church service. He told them how to obey the gospel (Act 2:37-38).
@@JivTurky1986 you’re missing the point bud, you do not have to be baptized in order to go to heaven, end of conversation
So glad I found this.
Thank thank thank you. 🙏
Thank you for your hard work👏
Greetings from Long county
Thank you for the inspiration brother. I was given gift of written language and it has been on my heart for some time to write for the Lord. Not sure how or what capacity but I guess I have no excuse!
Hopefully one day I can come to Georgia and hear you in person.
Love it.. wish I lived there
39:16
💯🔥
Are you a capital "A" apostle? Then do not expect to have a capital "T" testimony! Romans 12:3 tells us this. Your testimony may not be as dramatic as Paul's, or even John's, and that's okay -- share it anyway. Sometimes a light touch is sufficient; a wrecking ball is not always needed (but God can use either)!
Thanks for posting these videos John. Greetings from Missouri!
Vero
Hey John. I just had a question. I'm a 16 year old guy, I got baptized back in January and I know that I was living a life of sin. I grew up going to church but I was never told about Jesus, I didn't learn about Jesus till I was 16. I wanted to get baptized in obedience to God. It felt like a very slow uphill climb with me not really knowing Jesus, I trusted God and I was getting to know him but I knew nothing about Jesus. After getting baptized I started undergoing insane amounts of spiritual warfare, and it was always the same thing, doubting weather or not I had been saved. I think my question is looking at my story as I went from knowing God to then putting my trust in Jesus, is that a real faith, or have I been led astray?
brother, you genuinely need to be in a bible study group to know the Bible better.
a) there's an entire book of the Bible written to a church that had questions of Assurance.
1st John
b) if you have a Bible to read, and you understand that God "regenerates" a man's heart, and that involves having new desires, then what are those? Aside from resisting sin, we're promised that a Christian desires to read the Bible, join a church, etc.
So the 1st question I'd pose: Do you have a desire to join a church? Are you part of a church?
All I want to do is reach out to a pastor wants to weak to get clutcher to god
Pastor John are you on iTunes? I’d love to listen to your sermons while I’m working.
Anyone know what translation he is using?
I have tried reaching out to printers and nobody will help.I feel like I can trust you
Apostle James instructed Paul to pay for 4 of their guys' nazarite vow ( that means they shave their heads and do animal sacrifices in the temple) to prove he that he wasnt teaching against the law of moses. This is in Acts 21 from verse 17. All of the apostles and Paul still kept the law of moses EVEN AFTER the Messiah ascended to heaven.😁
Not the first time Paul made a mistake.
@warrenbuyer So you are saying apostle James who discipled directly under Jesus gave Paul bad instruction?
@@thatperson1818 Apostles = fallible, human men. (consider Peter, in Galatians 2)
If Romans 3:20 is correct (and the entire book of Galatians) and "no one" is justified through keeping the law, then 1 of 2 things is going on. It helps to know the Bible well.
Maybe Paul wanted to maintain credibility with the jews, for ministry (1 Corinthians 9:22). And maybe it was an error
@@warrenbuyer In Roman 2:13 Paul says " Its not those who hear the law who are declared righteous but those who OBEY the law who declared righteous"
Paul also says in Romans 3:31: "Do we make void the law through faith? God FORBID, instead we ESTABLISH the law."
2 Peter 3:15 -17 warns us that some things that Paul wrote are difficult to understand which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. Take care that you are not carried away with the error of LAWLESS people and lose your own stability.
Why would it take the almighty God, who knows the end from the beginning, thousands of years to figure out that the law(which He said was for our own good and not difficult and for all generations) was a mistake?
I think we all agree that God does not change.
Jesus himself said he did not come to abolish the law, not one jot or tittle will be removed until heaven and earth pass away. Heaven and earth have not passed away yet.
King David delighted in God's law. And I do too😁
In Romans 2:13 Paul says: "Its not those hear the law that are declared righteous but those OBEY the law who are declared righteous."
Romans 3:31: Do we make void the law through faith? God FORBID, instead we establish the law."
Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law, not one jot or tittle will be removed until heaven and earth pass away. Heaven and earth only passes away in revelation.
King David speaks very highly of the law in Psalm 119.
Why would the almighty God who knows the end from the beginning, take thousands of years to realize He made a mistake by giving the law? The law which He said is perfect, not difficult and to be kept by all generations. I think we all agree that He doesnt make mistakes and He doesnt change.😁
John Lovell! I need a response from you about whether you were trying to send me a free gift?!
Odds are he did not...likely a scam
Scam
People that repent and have faith in Jesus Christ as their savior will go to heaven, you do not have to be baptized in order to go to heaven, yes if you have the opportunity you should be baptized, people that don’t have time that are on their death bed or don’t have the opportunity in general that have faith in Jesus Christ as their savior will be saved, stop spreading false information and stop being so judgmental
God instructs the Christian to be baptized. So it's simply a point of obedience
Yes, God is the judge
Love you brother & think you have some great preaching but you missed the mark here. Not everyone has that, “transformative experience “ God softens our hearts slowly, may be hard for you to comprehend but it happens & it’s real. But the evil one claws at us consistently as we go through the sanctification process , we don’t all have that Damascus moment & to discount that & say we aren’t saved because we haven’t had that moment is discouraging at best. The evil one continues to nag at us & say we are not worthy, your sermon only reinforces that. My journey has not been dramatic but I’ve witnessed the work our savior has done in my life & my family. I am not where I once was but I will know where I will be. Please know God works on us all differently & according to his purpose. Defining who & who isn’t saved is an overreach.
I enjoyed this one. I usually agree with 95%+ of the things you say, occasionally find things i don't , but i haven't gone postal. One thing i disagree with you on is that i don't think people are naturally evil or sinful at all. It is a lack of spiritual maturity. This lack of spiritual maturity means that when you are here, (living/in a body/on earth), you are too weak to overcome: 1. The base nature (natural) instincts that were required to evolve a body complex enough to handle a soul, and 2. You are more easily influenced by evil spiritual forces that are preying on you. However, one of the main reasons you are here in the first place is to grow that spiritual maturity to make you more resistant or immune to nature and/or evil.
Copy all and thanks for tuning in.
The point of your disagreement though is less with me and more with the Word of God itself, as Jesus says, “none are good but God alone” -Mark 10.
Consider also: Romans 3:23; Jer 17:9; Gen 6:5; John 3:19; Romans 7:18; Isaiah 64:6
Lots more, but suffice it to say, your
@@WarriorPoetSociety Great verses. I think you misunderstand me. Let me rephrase - the Soul, when created by God, is not inherently evil. A weak soul placed into a human body then becomes sinful. These accounts come from souls already established in a body and have had time here to become the way they are. We are God's children and he loves us as so and wants us to grow, so we are thrown into here. Once your soul "promotes" to Heaven (via God) there is no longer sin or evil in that place. Jesus was a human, but with God's soul, so strong enough to resist and defeat all Evil.
@@Cygnus__X1All of humanity inherits Adams sinfull nature. In other words we are born sinful, ie everything about us is sinful and that all of humanity desperately needs Gods salvation.
@@adriandeklerk887 Adam and Eve were not created evil or sinful, they were deceived because of their weak spirits in comparison to God and could not resist temptation. Remember they had no concept of good vs evil before then. But yes, now everyone descended from them needs salvation. This still does not imply SOULS are sinful upon creation. I share the idea of John where you ARE a soul and you inhabit a body you are supposed to control. And it is uncontrollable except for someone for a spirit like Jesus/God.
You dont have toddlers if you don't believe that people are born sinful. 😅
I don't think this guy knows what he is talking about
😂 are you serious right now? It's all Biblical
@@runnereh Well it is an absurd book LOL
@dr.mordecaicassiusmarcellu1639 Every Knee will bow & you will see one day sir
@@runnereh Who told you that?
@@JohnLovell-q9p Philippians 2:10-11
Christianity and veganism have a lot of parallels.
@@JeremyMetcalf-w2j Do they? (Gen 9:3) Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
I hate commandment breaking preachers and teachers, I hate them with all my being. How about you John are you saved? Do you adhere to the LORD's commandments remembering to keep his sabbath holy? Or do you dress up on Sunday morning witnessing against you own soul in doing so. About xmas, do you bring the thing God has deemed as an idol through the prophet Jeremiah in your house decking it with silver and gold as the nations do also cursing your own soul, we are told don't be like them. Christ said "if you seek life keep the commandments. Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who keep his commandments that they may have the right to tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
@@Triston-bx9kh You flatter yourself thinking you are my neighbor, I don't know you, you are a denier of God's rules of life he spoke from Mt Sinai. You corrupt God's laws by saying there is only two without mentioning all the law hangs from those two. It is impossible to love God without recognizing him as the God of Israel, it is impossible to love God kneeling in front of a statue of Mary asking for guidance, it is possible to love God by polluting his sabbath, it is impossible to love God by using his name in vain which ones does by breaking these.
@@Triston-bx9kh Romans 13:4 For he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if you do that which is evil be afraid, for he bears not the sword in vain, for he is a minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.