Living Testimony

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.

Exodus 10:21-23, “ADONAI said to Moshe, "Reach out your hand toward the sky, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness so thick it can be felt!" 22 Moshe reached out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt for three days. 23 People couldn't see each other, and no one went anywhere for three days. But all the people of Isra'el had light in their homes.”

Note during the plagues in Egypt that some were experienced by Israel as well as the Egyptians and some were only experienced by the Egyptians. Scripture reveals that at the very least, the first three plagues were experienced by both the Israelites and Egyptians.

As believers we are trusted with difficulties, but unlike those who don’t believe, our trials serve as a living testimony of what G-d is doing in our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3, “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You make it clear that you are a letter from the Messiah placed in our care, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on human hearts.”

We are living letters or testimonies and there is purpose in our trials. One purpose is to minister comfort to others and draw others to Messiah through our afflictions.

2 Corinthians 1:3-6, “Praised be God, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, compassionate Father, God of all encouragement and comfort; 4 who encourages us in all our trials, so that we can encourage others in whatever trials they may be undergoing with the encouragement we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the Messiah's sufferings overflow into us, so through the Messiah our encouragement also overflows. 6 So if we undergo trials, it is for your encouragement and deliverance; and if we are encouraged, that should encourage you when you have to endure sufferings like those we are experiencing.”

What other purpose may our afflictions produce?

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.”

G-d uses us to a greater degree out of our brokenness. Paul suffered many afflictions and look how G-d used and is continuing to use his life!

2 Corinthians 11:23-27, “I've worked much harder, been imprisoned more often, suffered more beatings, been near death over and over. 24 Five times I received "forty lashes less one" from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 In my many travels I have been exposed to danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the desert, danger at sea, danger from false brothers. 27 I have toiled and endured hardship, often not had enough sleep, been hungry and thirsty, frequently gone without food, been cold and naked.”

However, through all these trials G-d delivered! G-d is always good. What does it mean for G-d to be good? It is not what we think. Divine good works to glorify Him ultimately and create in us a testimony for Him. Trials take us out of our self-orientation and give us a G-dly vantage point. We see things from a heavenly perspective rather than from an earthly perspective. We are being conformed to Messiah and being prepared for eternity (Romans 8:29).

Meditate on Psalm 73. The psalmist begins with an earthly perspective and laments about how easy the ungodly have it and how he, on the other hand, is plagued every morning. He is troubled and jealous of others without pain (in the Hebrew the word amal is used) until he goes into G-d’s Sanctuary and it is there his perspective changes and he perceives their destiny. And there is all the difference. Once his perspective changes into G-d’s perspective he understands that G-d will never leave him but hold him by his hand. He will guide him now and even more, will receive him with honor. He realizes that G-d is for him!

Psalm 73:25, “Whom do I have in heaven but you?” This phrase can also be translated, “Who is for me in the heavens?”

We know Who is for us in the heavens. It is our L-rd and Messiah! He is interceding for us; guiding us and literally holding our hand as we are being conformed and bringing Him glory. May He help us trust Him, yield to Him and be a Living Testimony for His Glory!

Further Reading: Exodus 10:21-23, Exodus 11:4-7, Jeremiah 46:27-28, 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, Hebrews 12:1-6, 11-13