“And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts.”
2 Peter 1:19 AMP
My Finger: Testimony is Prophecy
A beloved friend made a comment on my last post and referenced this verse. This is exactly what happened during my finger episode. Within my dismal and squalid place, Christ, the Morning Star, rose in my heart. The New Living translates it this way:
Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
Christ rose up in my heart to bring forth worship where no worship was present. He entered my squalid place of fear and torment with the light of His own worship for the Father. Imagine, Christ Himself came into my heart to be the worship where I was bound and unable to worship. This worship wasn’t for me nor was it about me, but it completely included me. I experienced Christ’s own union with and adoration of His Father within my frame.
I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.
I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me.
John 17:21-23 NLT
You see, I want to bring this point home before I proceed with my story, because this was a pivot in my whole concept of worship and a dynamic turning point in my life. I wasn’t lying in bed with my injured finger, singing songs and hymns. I wasn’t even yielding and surrendering to His will and perfection in this event. No, I literally was indwelt by the Son of God, who worshiped His Father in me.
A lovely lady came up to me at the Reign of the Kingdom conference after I told the story of my finger, and asked, “What did it look like?” Oh, how refreshing that was! It wasn’t sympathy for God taking me on a painful path, instead, it was the child-like wonder of a fascinated heart. “Tell me!”
I don’t remember how exactly I answered her, but I can say that the worship was explosive. It was loud and big and exuberant. It was far beyond me singing with my eyes closed and hands raised. Christ’s worship in me was beyond anything I had even seen or known as worship. It was complete, total, unrelenting focus, with passion and power beyond anything I could muster. They were ONE!
ALL TESTIMONY IS PROPHECY
The other day, I had lunch with my uncle and aunt, and he made the statement after hearing my recounting of these events, that all testimony is prophecy. I think he’s absolutely right. I understand it this way. All real testimony is of the Life of Christ and life begets life. So when we testify of the Life of Christ, His Life is imparted. To testify of Christ is literally to prophesy His Life into those who receive.
My earnest prayer is that as I continue to share my story of His Life, that the prophetic nature of that Life – the living impartation of Christ – would impact all those reading it.
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10b NKJV
For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].
Revelations 19:10b AMP
* If you don’t have the Reign of the Kingdom CD series, I highly recommend them. Recently I have been playing parts of these messages in our body meetings and we have been really blessed! It’s evidence that testimony is prophecy.
Come on let’s go on with the story!
[…] out to be a novella. (I pray it’s enjoyable!) And please let me reiterate a statement I made in one of those posts: “This worship wasn’t for me nor was it about me, but it completely included […]
[…] my finger episode, my eyes were opened to a different reality. I saw all my seeking for a tangible touch from God […]
John, I also would love to hear your testimony from the conference. Maybe soon I can order the whole series. You all are still so dear to me and it is so wonderful to see God’s hand expanding you all to change lives and call us to go deeper and deeper in Him.
John, What a perfect picture of what should happen between a “married couple”. As we become one we share as one – joys, sorrows, pains, and worship! Your BELOVED took and carried what was yours and replaced it with what is HIS. Such Love, such wonderous Love…what was your pain and fear was completely consumed by more love and greatness than is comprehendible or explainable. My mind can only begin to imagine – my heart quickens at the possibility of one day knowing this experientially but then shrinks upon thought of the reality of what was occurring in your body… Read more »
I would love to hear your testimony! Thank you!
John, this story of His through you rings of present and eternal significance.
Oh John, Jesus ! Thank you! Christ’s prayer of resurrection power and reality through Paul is/was proclaimed for us exponentially … at the conference and forever “… that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints, God’s devoted people, the experience of that love – what is the breadth and length and height and depth of it; that you may come to know practically, for yourselves the love of Christ which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience – that you may be filled through all your being unto all the fullness of… Read more »
When you mentioned the lady at the conference asking “What did it look like?”, I thought at first she meant your cut finger! Hahaha! On another note, I am enlightened by the Truth you bring about testimony being prophecy, I had not seen that before and am excited to see it now. Jesus Is my testimony, It is His Life! I also loved your sentence that the worship was not about you, but included you. Amazing to consider and grasp. I am rejoicing at the thought; worshipping now!
I don’t have the conference CDs and I would really, really like to hear your testimony John!
Oh, the CD’s from the conference arrived yesterday, however, the CD of month for April did also. I can’t stop listening to that first!!!! But since I attended the LOVE Reign’s conference I highly recommend this set of CD’s also. Such a blessing to hear your testimony again. HIS LOVE shines through!!!!!