YOU HAVE A TESTIMONY!
1 John 1:1
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: BIG BANGS
1. A woman was getting her hair cut the other day...and the beautician mentioned she had a degree in “Cosmology.”
2. So the woman asked her whether she thought the cosmic background radiation was the best evidence for the big bang.
3. She replied that big bangs wouldn’t look good on her, and that's the moment when the woman noticed the diploma on the wall that said "Cosmetology."
B. SCRIPTURES ABOUT “TESTIMONY”
1 John 1:1, “That...which WE HAVE HEARD, which we have SEEN with our eyes, which we have LOOKED AT and our hands have TOUCHED—THIS WE PROCLAIM concerning the Word of life.”
Rev. 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
1 Pet. 3:15, “Always be prepared to give... [a] reason for the hope that you have.”
C. IDEA & TITLE
1. Each of us needs to KNOW that we have a testimony, how important it is, how to share it, and know how it will affect others.
2. The title of this message is “You Have a Testimony!”
I. WHY IS OUR TESTIMONY SO IMPORTANT?
A. YOUR TESTIMONY IS A WEAPON AGAINST HELL
1. One of the greatest weapons we have against hell is our testimony. The Bible says, “They overcame him...by the word of their testimony” Rev. 12:11. Your testimony makes you a threat to hell, so open your mouth and testify.
2. You see, it’s not just ‘what you came through’ that matters, but ‘what comes through you!’ Your personal victory benefits no one except yourself. But when you open your mouth & declare the faithfulness of God...Your testimony becomes a weapon...a sword in your hand & an instrument of power to set the captives free.
3. Your testimony becomes a lifeline to someone who’s sinking. Tell your neighbor: “I’ve got a testimony.”
B. IT GIVES THE DEVIL A BLACK EYE!
1. We used to serve the enemy. Now, we ‘serve him notice’ that we’re serving God. David (Ps. 138:1) said, “…before the gods I will sing praise to You!”
2. IT DECLARES OUR ALLEGIANCE. We’re in enemy territory. We need to declare which side we’re on.
3. ILLUS. A Grandma in a Confederate State came out of her house with a broom to face the advancing Union Army. “Do you think you can whip the Union Army with a broom?” said an officer. “No. But I’m here just to let you know which side I’m on!”
4. We need to make it real clear to the devil and people around us which side we’re on. There shouldn’t be any doubt!
C. SPEAKING RELEASES GOD’S WORD INTO PEOPLE
1. The religious leaders (of 1st Century) told the Apostles “STOP SPEAKING THE NAME OF JESUS.” The devil doesn’t want YOU to speak either.
2. Why? Because life & death are in the power of the tongue! (Prov. 18:21) When you speak the Words of God, you release the Life & Power of God.
3. We’ve been given the keys to the Kingdom of God. It’s within our power to open and shut that Kingdom to others.
4. When we vocalize the Word, its force moves into this world. It enters the heart of those who hear it and begins to work. The more you can speak the Word of God, the better!
5. “So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” Isa. 55:11. The Word can save and transform any person who hears it. It has power to set people free.
D. CONFESSION MAKES FAITH PERMANENT
1. Confession is a vital link to faith. Rom. 10:8-10, we’re SAVED because we confess Christ! 2 Cor. 4:13.
2. ILLUSTRATION
a. A man of God led a young rich man to the Lord. He stayed with the man of God a while. The day came when he had to return to his wealthy lifestyle. He told the man of God he was afraid that he might slip back into his old habits.
b. The man of God told him to tell the first 10 people he met that he’d become a Christian. If he did, he wouldn’t have to give up his bad friends, they’d give him up!
c. That’s exactly what happened; When he witnessed to the first 10, he was recognized as a Christian and those who wanted no part of Christianity got away from him! [J.M. Boice, Christ's Call To Discipleship, Moody, 1986, pp. 122-23.]
II. HOW TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY
A. HINDRANCES TO SHARING OUR TESTIMONY
1. 90% believe they should share their faith. 40% invite someone to church. Only 3% share their faith with an unbeliever.
2. REASONS WE DON’T TESTIFY
a. Fear
b. Lack of Urgency
c. Lack of Knowledge (Do you have to know all about electricity before use? Sit in darkness until do?)
d. Too Busy
e. Assuming the Best
3. W.E. Sangster: "How shall I feel at the judgment, if multitudes of missed opportunities pass before me in full review, and all my excuses prove to be disguises of my cowardice and pride?"
B. TIPS ON SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY
1. Your “testimony” is YOUR STORY of how God’s power has transformed your life. “GOD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR ME:”
a. I felt like I wasn’t going to make it.
b. I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
c. I felt like I was going to die...but I didn’t die, the divorce didn’t kill me, the drugs didn’t kill me, the sickness didn’t kill me, the car wreck didn’t kill me.
2. Come on somebody: Your job was attacked, your character was attacked, your finances were attacked but the enemy couldn’t take you out! “I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but I didn’t die. I walked through the fiery furnace but I didn’t burn up. I waded through deep waters but I didn’t drown. God brought me through in victory!”
3. Nobody can argue with your experience! They can’t argue against the transformation of your life. That’s why your testimony is so powerful!
4. PAUL SHARED HIS TESTIMONY 3X IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. Paul’s testimony in Acts 26:4-23 is a model testimony. So you tell of your...
a. Life before Christ (vss. 4-11)
b. How You Came to Christ (vss. 12-18)
c. Your Life after Christ (vss. 19-23; how things changed)
5. IF YOU EXPERIENCED A MIRACLE:
a. Relate the problems you had
b. How You sought the Lord for help
c. How God worked & how much better you are
d. TRUST that God will do all the rest. Your responsibility is just to tell your story; the results are up to God.
e. Finally, PRAY. Simply pray with the person. Ask the Lord to work in their life, to help them. If you can, give them a tract or a Bible.
III. YOU’VE GOT A TESTIMONY!
A. WHAT HAPPENED WAS FOR A PURPOSE
1. God raised you up, God healed you and delivered you from the hand of the enemy – FOR A LARGER PURPOSE.
2. “BUT GOD...” (has anybody got a ‘but God’ testimony?) “I should be dead, But God...!”
a. ‘But God’ has healed me
b. ‘But God’ has delivered me
c. ‘But God’ has promoted me
d. ‘But God’ has protected me
e. ‘But God’ has anointed me
3. SOMEBODY...is going to be delivered because of your testimony, somebody is going to be healed because of your testimony, and somebody is going to receive boldness and strength to try again because of your testimony.
4. Somebody on the verge of a nervous breakdown is going to find peace and comfort and strength because of your testimony.
5. Somebody who’s ready to quit on life is going to keep on living because of your testimony. No wonder the devil wants to shut you up; he wants to stop your testimony!
6. You have a testimony that: “No weapon formed against you will prosper.” “If God be for you, who can be against you.”
B. “THANK” INSTEAD OF COMPLAIN
1. Some of you, instead of murmuring and complaining about your trials, ought to be praising the Lord and saying: “Thank you mister devil for giving me something to work with.” “Thank you mister devil for putting a sword in my hand (a testimony) to cut off your head with.”
2. Do you remember how David killed the Giant? He used Goliath’s own sword. The devil intends for your trial to take you down, but God intends to turn your trial into a weapon that kills the enemy!
C. THE DEVIL’S PLANS WILL BACKFIRE
1. I’m prophesying to you right now: That God is going to turn it around, God is going to make the devil’s plan backfire in his face. If you will hold on, God will deliver you and he will put the enemy’s sword in your hand and you will cut off the enemies’ head with his own sword.
2. You need to know that ONLY JESUS CAN TURN...
A MESS into a MESSAGE
A TEST into a TESTIMONY
A TRIAL into a TRIUMPH
A VICTIM into a VICTORY, and
A CROSS into a CROWN!
3. God sent me here to tell you: “You’re going to make it, you’re not going under, you’re going over.”
4. What’s your testimony?
I was sick, but God healed me.
I was lost, but Jesus found me.
I was bound by drugs and alcohol, but God delivered me.
I was oppressed by a spirit of fear, but God set me free.
I was sinking in debt, but God gave me a miracle.
I was about to lose my marriage, but God brought restoration.
I was about to lose my mind, but God stepped in and spoke peace. There’s power in your testimony!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: If you have Jesus, you can’t hide Him!
1. Many years ago some prospectors were panning for gold in Montana when one of them found an unusual stone. Breaking it open, he saw that it contained gold. Working eagerly, the man soon discovered an abundance of the precious metal. With unrestrained delight they shouted, "We've found it! We've found gold! We're rich!"
2. Before going into town for supplies, they agreed not to tell a soul about their find. While in town, not one of them breathed a word about their discovery. When they were about to return to camp, though, a group of men had gathered and were ready to follow them.
3. "You've found gold," the group said. "Who told you?" asked the prospectors. "No one," they replied. "Your faces showed it!"
4. It's much like that when a person discovers Christ. The joy of sins forgiven and a new relationship with God shows on that person face and life.
5. Those miners, wanted to keep it quiet about their find; but if Jesus becomes you Savior, you won’t be able to hide it!
B. THE CALL
1. Missionary Keith Gustavson was in Congo in 1997 when the civil war erupted. He said the people in the remote areas knew the fighting and soldiers were approaching because they heard the drums beating, warning of the danger. [Daily Bread, 9-24-2000]
2. All people will stand before God in Judgment. Will we not warn them? The drums of Bible Prophecy warn us – let’s tell others of the approaching danger!
3. Is there someone in your family, or that is a close friend, or that you work with – who’s not ready to meet the Lord?
4. Let’s take this message as God’s word to us that before Christmas break, we’re going to tell them our testimony. How many will raise a hand in agreement?
5. How many here today want to make certain your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life? If it’s not in there, you can’t go to Heaven. How many want to ask Jesus to save you this morning? PRAYER.
[This uses some material from Terry Sisney’s “I’ve Got A Testimony”]
