Testimony

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”
And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. – Luke 8:39 ESV

Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” – John 4:39 ESV.

Definitions of Testimony

A witness is someone who sees something important or amazing and then is able to share what they saw.

The word testimony comes from the Hebrew word ed (Strongs H5707), meaning “witness, testimony, or evidence.”  

The word testimony also appears in the Old Testament as “the legal proof of God’s trustworthiness.” Specific visible evidence existed within Israel attesting to the trustworthiness of God’s revelation of Himself to them.

The Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines testimony as: “a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath  in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official; firsthand authentication of a fact: evidence; an outward sign; an open acknowledgment; a public profession of religious experience; the tablets inscribed with the Mosaic law; the ark containing the tablets; a divine decree attested in the Scriptures.”

Our testimony about Jesus is one of the first things we speak and declare after our salvation. “Jesus saved me!” This is when God stepped into our lives and changed everything, including our very destinies, because of Jesus’ sacrificial blood. 

We start by giving our testimony about how Jesus saved us. Then, what He saved us from and how it has changed us. This testifies to who He is and that He is the ONLY one who can save us.

Our testimony can also help us when pain and disappointment come. We know that God is faithful, even though, at times, we do not understand His decisions and His ways.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” –Isaiah 55:8-9

As Christians, our testimonies are ongoing, and they speak of God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness to us. For instance, we can testify of how He provided for us when we were in need, how He protected us from someone or something, or how the Holy Spirit comforted us when we were sad. There are so many ways to testify of God’s unfailing love, and each encounter of God’s faithfulness becomes a part of our testimony! 

THERE IS POWER IN YOUR TESTIMONY

By sharing your testimony, you bring others to Jesus and bring them into a divine story of changed destiny for all of mankind. You become a witness to salvation and a witness to the truth that only Jesus can save, and this brings glory to God.

It is essential to know your testimony and to share it with others. Our testimonies can impact and change the trajectory of another person’s life.

How do you do that? It’s easy! Share what God has done for you, past and present! This is how your life becomes a testimony for Jesus and of Jesus.

Here is an analogy that a friend shared with me. It’s like being at the scene of an accident, being a witness at someone’s marriage, or witnessing an impactful event. At an accident, a police officer will ask you what you saw, heard, or experienced. He is gathering evidence of what people witnessed. Being a witness at a wedding ceremony, you are a witness to a vow and a covenant, as you saw them become married. At an impactful event, you are giving witness to something that happened. All of these examples are a testimony. 

We have the greatest testimony of all!  Jesus is our Savior! He is active in our lives, and He is trustworthy and faithful. We are witnesses to that because of what He has done in our lives and what we have witnessed Him doing in other people’s lives.

Remember, your testimony is powerful, and it is vital in bringing others into knowing Jesus as their Savior and giving them hope through different trials in life. It is a proclamation of His goodness.

Our testimonies are ALWAYS being added to! God is ALWAYS doing something in our lives.

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

–-Psalm 71:15-16 ESV

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. – Psalm 66:16 ESV

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! – Psalm 96:3 ESV

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

–Revelation 12:11 ESV

So, testify! Testify of His love! Testify of His faithfulness! Testify of His trustworthiness! People need to hear your testimony, and you might change their destiny!! You are the evidence of His mercy and grace! You are the evidence that we have a Savior, and His name is Jesus!!

Blessings!

Joy Pharo,

Sanctioned Love