Did you know that when you speak from your spirit man you
overcome? All of the testing you are going through is linked with the word of
your testimony that comes out of your mouth, and is produced at the end of your
testing. Your spirit man is like the Ark of the Covenant, where the testaments
were placed and secured for all mankind. When you endure the enemy’s
temptations and your own soulish carnal ways, your spirit man develops an
overcoming power.
First, let’s make sure we share the same definition of the
word testimony. All of them are
essentially the same thing: the story of a person’s spiritual journey.
Basically, testimony is defined
as someone’s personal spiritual narrative. And while our testimony includes
parts of our biography, that isn’t the heart of it. Let’s set aside the
definitions dealing with legal or courtroom testimony and focus on the
spiritual dimension.
Testimony is evidence in support of a fact or assertion,
proof, or a public declaration regarding a religious experience. To testify
means to express or declare a strong belief, to make a statement based on personal
knowledge in support of an asserted idea, to declare publicly or make known,
and to bear witness or provide evidence for.
The Word of God is full of people who testified to the
power, majesty and mercy of God.
Joseph testified to
his brothers when he said: “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But
as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to
bring it about, as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do
not be afraid” (Gen. 50:19-21).
Job told the Lord,
“I know that you can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be
withheld from You” (Job 42:2).
David said, “I
sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
Mary declared, “For
He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name” (Luke 1:49).
Stephen, moments
before he was stoned, said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:56)
Paul said to the
Philippians: “Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and
to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:12-13).
One thing all of these testimonies have in common is that
each one of the speakers directs our attention to the Lord. Our testimony, like
our worship, is meant to magnify the Lord—not our own ego. Only when Jesus is
exalted will our testimony bear the witness of the Holy Spirit.
There are times when your soul needs to hear what your spirit
has to say. In 1 Samuel 30:6, when David and his men found that Ziklag had been
burned and their wives and children had been captured, David “strengthened
himself in the Lord.” In fact, the ones who were with David wanted to stone
him. They obviously had not been fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, so David
had to strengthen himself. His soul really needed to hear what his spirit had
to say.
Have you ever had to encourage yourself? At times like that
you want to be sure that you have a well-nourished, strong, healthy spirit that
has been fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, because there may not be anyone
else around. If you had to encourage yourself, if your spirit had to encourage
your soul, how would you do?
Let me encourage you to nourish your spirit, worship, and
minister in the power of the Holy
Spirit. Exercise your spirit, resist the devil, run with endurance and walk in
the Spirit. And keep your spirit in fellowship with the Holy Spirit so that you
are becoming more like Jesus and are connected to others who are doing the
same.
The blood and the word of your testimony will overcome the
world, the flesh and the devil. You are
empowered to overcome, and you win in the end!
Adapted from Time to Defeat the Devil by Chuck D. Pierce, copyright 2011, published by
Charisma House. As the church undergoes another historical shift, Dr. Pierce
reminds you to stay connected to the Head and shows you how your defeats in a
former season can become victories and triumphs in the next. To order a copy,
click on this link.
PRAYER POWER FOR THE WEEK OF 9-12-2011
This week encourage
yourself in the Lord by declaring His Word and testifying of His goodness,
faithfulness and omnipotent power on your behalf. Speak the Word over your circumstances
and use it as you pray concerning every aspect of your life. Pray that
Christians would repent, and unite in purpose to fast and pray for revival, the
nation, and the spread of the gospel. Continue to pray for protection over our
nation and our allies, as well as our military and their families. Remember
Israel and ask for more laborers for the ripe harvest fields. Pray that
President Obama would continue to seek God for wisdom as he leads the nation in
these perilous times. 2 Chron. 7:14
To enrich your prayer
life and learn how to strategically pray with power by using appropriate
scriptures, we recommend the following sources by Apostle John Eckhardt: Prayers that Rout Demons, Prayers that Bring Healing, Prayers that Release Heaven on Earth and Prayers that Break
Curses. To order any or all of these click here.
Bill Wiese 
Paul McGuire 
