THE POWER OF A TESTIMONY

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

Acts 22:1-10 (NLT) – 1 “Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” 2 When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater. 3 Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished. 6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me. 10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’

• Whenever we share our testimony with others, it’s important to know who we are speaking to.
• Paul was speaking their language. He knew his audience was Jewish and spoke of his Jewish upbringing.
• When we are sharing Jesus with others, begin by speaking in a way they can understand. This is why Christianese doesn’t work.
• The Holy Spirit always speaks in ways people can understand. He will give you the words to speak.

Mark 13:11 (NLT) – 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

• DEFINITION – “common ground” – opinions or interests shared by each of two or more parties.
• Examples of common ground can be sports, hometown, interests, hobbies, family, work, experiences etc.
• When you succeed in finding common ground or a common “language” you are more likely able to get their full attention, since you’ve now entered “their world.”

1 Corinthians 9:20-22 (NLT) – “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”

• Paul began sharing his testimony, but was not hiding his past here. He didn’t sugarcoat anything, but was very transparent about where he’d come from.
• He was doing this to highlight how God has transformed his life.
• By doing this, Paul was saying, “I’ve been in your shoes. I can relate.”
• It’s important that when sharing our testimony, we don’t try to hide the truth or exaggerate it.
• This shows humility and gives the listener evidence that change is possible. If God can do it for you, He can also do it for them.

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) – “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

• The key to any testimony is to end it with how Jesus transformed your life.

• A true testimony consists of sharing how you were bound in sin, Jesus called you to repentance, and you surrendered your life to him.

• DEFINITION – transformation: a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

• Your life is the evidence that what you’re saying is true.
• Let Jesus receive honor and glory through your testimony. The point of your testimony with someone is to reveal that Jesus can change their life too.
• The Good News is that Jesus can transform any person no matter what their past looked like. HALLELUJAH!