A Tear Stained Bible
E.A. Johnston passionately illustrates how a tear-stained Bible embodies a lifetime of faith, trust, and reliance on God's promises through trials and deliverance.
In this heartfelt testimony, E.A. Johnston shares the profound significance of a tear-stained Bible as a testament to enduring faith and God's unwavering promises. Drawing from Psalm 138 and Matthew 16, Johnston reflects on personal experiences of prayer, deliverance, and surrender to Christ. Listeners are encouraged to trust deeply in God's faithfulness and find hope in His word through life's challenges.
Full Transcript
It is prayer of Thanksgiving. David writes in Psalm 138, I will praise thee with my whole heart, Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. And then his faith in God is demonstrated in verse 8, The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.
I hold in my hands a tear-stained Bible, The pages are worn, they're covered with the scribblings and dates of Notes through the years where God spoke to me here, And a verse gave me strength there. It's a record book with dates of all the times Through the years I've turned to this book, When I had no one else to turn to. And I stood on its promises as I leaned on God's arm And clutched his word close to my heart.
Oh, the many times I wept over it, Hoped in it, rested upon it, And trusted in its promises with the resolve and faith That God would perfect that which concerneth me. The Bible is my old faithful friend, Tried and true, it's been dependable, In comforting in times of trouble and affliction. It's been nourishment to my soul when I needed hope and help.
It's a testimony to the very grace of God In saving a sinner like me. It's a proof text on the dependability of God To be true to his word that God takes care of his own. For time and time again, In its pages I've written praises to God For his many deliverances and answered prayers.
Years ago, I was reflecting upon Christ's words From Matthew 16, 25, which state, For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. After meditating on the significance of those words And pondering them in my heart, I wrote the following words in the flyleaf of this Bible. What is my life that I should keep it selfishly from me? I choose to lose it so completely, And have it found in thee.
I can honestly say, I've come to know the reality of those words, For I have lost it all willingly To find Jesus to be my all in all. I don't have any material wealth or possessions of this world To leave to my daughter when I die. All I have is this old worn-out Bible With its pages discolored by her daddy's tears Through these many years.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The significance of a tear-stained Bible as a record of faith
- David’s example of praise and trust in Psalm 138
- The Bible as a source of strength and comfort in trials
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II
- Personal testimony of God’s faithfulness through answered prayers
- The Bible as a proof text for God’s dependability
- Reflection on Christ’s teaching about losing and finding life
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III
- The choice to surrender life for Christ’s sake
- The reality of finding life in Jesus through loss
- The legacy of faith symbolized by the worn Bible
Key Quotes
“I hold in my hands a tear-stained Bible, The pages are worn, they're covered with the scribblings and dates of Notes through the years where God spoke to me here.” — E.A. Johnston
“The Bible is my old faithful friend, Tried and true, it's been dependable, In comforting in times of trouble and affliction.” — E.A. Johnston
“What is my life that I should keep it selfishly from me? I choose to lose it so completely, And have it found in thee.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Turn to Scripture regularly as a source of strength and comfort in difficult times.
- Trust in God's promises even when circumstances seem uncertain or challenging.
- Embrace the call to surrender personal ambitions in order to find true life in Christ.