“Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,” 2 Timothy 1:8-9.
In these verses, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy, his young apprentice, urging him to remain steadfast in his faith regardless of any challenges he may face. Paul, who is imprisoned because of his ministry which was opposed by the Jewish leadership, encourages Timothy not to be ashamed of his testimony about Jesus Christ or ofPaul himself, who suffers for the gospel. This reflects the early Christian reality of persecution and the natural human tendency to distance oneself from those who are suffering for their faith.
Let me first ask this question. What comes to mind when you think of someone’s testimony? If you were to ask anyone, they would say it is their story on how they became a believer and a follower of Christ. And to some degree they are correct. That is a part of what it is. However, our testimony is much greater, for it is anything we have seen or experienced that proclaims the truth to others. From a Christian context, it is a declaration of anything God has done for us and/or made us aware of.
When the apostles went out to proclaim the truth to the known world, they told what they saw and heard. They did not always discuss theology, but they always shared their experiences. How did Christ touch their lives? What did He do throughout their ministry? These are several things that touched the hearts of the people. Peter is recorded as saying the following:
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. For David says of Him, ‘I SAW THE LORD CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME, BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE WAS OVERJOYED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; FOR YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’ “Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. So because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. “It is this Jesus whom God raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses. “Therefore, since He has been exalted at the right hand of God, and has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ; this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do? Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:22-38.
Notice, the Holy Spirit convinced those who heard the testimony of the apostles. They did not have to plead and beg them to get saved. All they did was share what they experienced. They also linked their testimony to what the people already knew regarding King David. It was a powerful statement they were not able to refute.
So, I want to encourage you to tell your testimonies, both to the lost and the saved. Tell those who know Christ and those who do not. We as Christians need to hear your stories, for they will be an encouragement to us when we see what He has done for you, for we know He can do the same, if not more, for us. The lost also need to hear your stories because they will see a tangible example of the love of God by seeing how He has shown His love to us. Do not think your testimony is not good enough. If it is about God and is the truth, He will use it. People want and need to hear your stories. Who is to say that God did not allow you to experience things just for you to be blessed, but also for your experience to bless others, especially the lost.
I would like to share my story about how God protected me from my stupidity, which led me to being saved. When I entered the Air Force and finished all the training I needed, I was sent to Homestead AFB where I operated the base computer system. I was unsaved at that time and had few friends but ultimately met two people who got me started using drugs. We were ultimately turned in. When I found this out, I was angry and went to my room and sat down and told God, “If you are real you need to let me know because right now, I don’t think so.” At that point, the Holy Spirit came to me, and I could not stop smiling. It was an amazing experience. And from then on, this was a major story in my testimony. And as a final note, they removed my drug usage from my record, and I was able to receive an honorable discharge.
Many times God allows us to go through difficult times in order to bring us to a point where we will humble ourselves before Him, after which He uses these instances to show the love He has for everyone. I have shared my story many times and it has helped me show God’s love for others.
One specific story I will share was when He used me to turn a young man back to the Lord, and ultimately back to his father. He was separated from his father who was a pastor, due to his drug usage. He had an apartment in South Miami which he shared with friends who also used various drugs. We met at a 24 hour restaurant where he heard me mention my church in Homestead which had the same name his father pastored at in Virginia, and he came to me and we talked. I drove him home, and we walked along the beach in his back yard from midnight until around 2 AM, and God used me to share my faith with him and show him he needed to stop using drugs and renew his relationship with his father. I prayed for him before I left to return to the base, because I had to work the next morning.
I lost track with him for over a year. But then the Christian rock band I worked with running sound had a concert at a church, and when I arrived and was getting out of the car, this young man whom I ministered to a year ago ran up to me and told me he and his father were solidly back together, and he also told me he stopped using drugs the night I left. I spent time with him before the concert started encouraging him to continue growing in his faith.
I tell this story to show how God can use us, but we must be willing to go where He sends us and let our lives be a testimony of Jesus to the lost, as the Holy Spirit uses us in ways we never can anticipate. I have found that spending time in prayer, as well in reading His Word, prepares us for the tasks He gives us. And by doing these things, we will be prepared when the Holy Spirit gives us the job written by Matthew in the last two verses of his book:
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.
Be First to Comment