The Ultimate Pattern | What is the Testimony of Jesus?
What an incredible journey we’ve been on together! This past Sunday, Pastor Larry Elliott delivered the seventh and final message in our powerful series, “The Pattern.” In the Bible, the number seven often symbolises perfection and completion, and this final sermon was the perfect culmination, bringing everything together under one profound calling: to carry the testimony of Jesus.
As a church family, God has been preparing us for a new thing since 2018, and this series has been a foundational part of stepping into the fullness of His plan. We’ve explored His divine blueprint in The Pattern: God’s Plan and learned how to walk in God’s Promises. Now, we anchor it all in the very purpose of our salvation.
So, what are you carrying in your heart today? As we unpacked this past Sunday, the ultimate goal is to be able to say, “I have the testimony of Jesus!”
Your Life as Prophecy
The book of Revelation gives us a stunning insight into this calling. When the apostle John falls to worship an angel, the angel quickly stops him with a crucial declaration:
“And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”” (Revelation 19:10 NKJV)
Did you catch that? The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. What does this mean for us on the South Coast and beyond? It means your life story, your daily walk, and your personal experiences are meant to be a living, breathing revelation of Jesus Christ.
Prophecy isn’t just about foretelling the future; it’s about bringing God’s will to light in our present reality. When your life reflects Jesus, you are prophesying His goodness, His power, and His love to a world lost in darkness and chaos. Your life becomes a prophetic declaration that Jesus is Lord!
Maturing into Abundance
To truly walk in this reality, we need to grow up. The Bible tells us that milk is for babies, but solid food is for the mature.
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14 NKJV)
Maturity allows us to understand that while all of God’s promises are good, not all of them are for you right now. Pastor Larry helped us understand the difference between what is “absolutely good” (things that are inherently good, like God’s promises) and what is “relatively good” (what is beneficial for you in your current situation).
God Sees The Whole Picture
God, in His sovereignty, sees the whole picture. He knows that giving you something “good” at the wrong time could lead to distraction or even destruction. This is not rejection; it is profound protection.
We must trust Him, knowing that obedience is our part, and the outcome is His. As Isaiah reminds us, our obedience opens the door to His blessing:
“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:19-20 NKJV)
5 Core Principles to Unlock God’s Abundance
Godly abundance isn’t something our carnal minds can figure out; it is revealed by the Holy Spirit. To help us grasp this, Pastor Larry laid out five core principles that link God’s abundance to His promises.
- God’s Provision is in His Promises: When you face a need, don’t just look for a solution; find the promise in God’s Word that speaks to your situation. As Pastor Larry said, “The provision of God is in the promise of God.”
- The Promises of God are Your Inheritance: If you belong to Christ, you are an heir to every promise. You can declare with confidence, “Every promise in the Bible, in Christ, is mine!”
- All God’s Promises are Available in Christ: It’s one thing to know God can do it, but another to know He will do it for you. The answer is yes! “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NIV). The Holy Spirit in your heart is the “deposit, guaranteeing what is to come”.
- Promises Express God’s Will: God doesn’t make promises He doesn’t intend to keep. Unlike people who might let us down, God’s Word is His will. And it is His “good pleasure” to give you the kingdom!
- Fulfillment Depends on Meeting God’s Conditions: Every promise has a condition we are to walk in by faith. Pastor Larry clarified, “Jesus already met all the conditions… all you need to do is by faith walk in them.”
3 Practical Steps for Your Life
So, how do we practically walk this out? Here are the three steps Pastor Larry gave us.
- Let the Holy Spirit Guide You: The Holy Spirit is the administrator of your inheritance. His role is to guide you into all truth and lead you to the specific promises you need for your life.
- Study and Fulfill the Conditions: This is our part. As Pastor Larry put it, “You’ve got to do the output, God will do the outcome.” We must be diligent to study the Word to see the conditions—like walking in love and forgiveness—so we can fulfill them by faith.
- Maintain an Attitude of Faith and Act Appropriately: Once you have the promise, you must hold on to it with an attitude of faith and patience. As Hebrews 10 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise”. We are not those who draw back, but those who keep believing!
A Moment of Decision
The power of this message was evident as Pastor Larry gave a call for salvation and rededication. It was a beautiful moment to witness hearts turning to the Lord, with one gentleman standing to his feet to rededicate his life to Christ.
It’s a reminder that hearing the Word is not enough; we must respond.
God is at work at Rhema South Coast Family Church, and every single choice to follow Him is honoured and celebrated.
From The Pattern to The Blood
As we close this chapter on “The Pattern,” we are filled with anticipation for what God has next. We are thrilled to announce that next Sunday, Pastor Mandy will be starting a brand-new series, “The Blood Applied.” She will take us on a journey to discover the power released at the seven places where Jesus shed His precious blood for us.
The Blood of Jesus is not just a historical fact; it is a current, living power. It is the eternal ink that signs our pardon, the divine currency that purchased our freedom, and the ultimate weapon that defeated our enemy.
It speaks a better word over our lives—a word of redemption, healing, and victory. Get ready to experience its power in a fresh way!
Let’s close by speaking the blessing Pastor Larry declared over us.
Father, we declare a blessing over every single person reading this. We pray that this week, You would bless them and prosper them. Make Your face shine upon them and be good to them. We thank You today, that because of the blood of Jesus, we can declare and believe that everything we put our hands to will prosper, and every place our feet tread, we will possess, in Jesus’ mighty name! Amen!
To re-watch this powerful message, you can find the full sermon here: Sermon on YouTube.
