Texts: Judges 6: 6-9, 2 Chronicles
20:1-20, Psalm 40: 1-10, 2 Timothy 1:8
Testimony is a statement made by
a witness to prove that something, an event or an occurrence is true. It is an
open declaration, an attestation, a confirmation or evidence in support of a
fact. With reference to this sermon, Testimony will be defined as an “open
declaration of what the Lord has done”.
Psalm 105: 1-2 say, "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name,
make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him;
tell of all his wonderful acts". It is a spiritual witness and it
should be well thought out and be truthful. It is a way of witnessing to others
on how faithful the Lord is. The scripture says in 2 Tim 1:8, "So do not be ashamed to testify about our
Lord.” No one should be ashamed to testify about the Lord to others
especially about the Salvation of your soul. He has saved you and called you to
a holy life. His faithfulness, righteousness, unlimited mercy and grace must be
told. It is written in Rev 12:11, "they
overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Christians
are encouraged to testify to the goodness of the Lord. It is scriptural and by
so doing others will be encouraged, hope will be restored and faith will also
be built up.
God wants us to testify to his
deeds. He gave us an example in Judges 6:6-9. When the Israelites did evil, He
punished them for seven years but when they cried unto Him, He sent a prophet
to them to remind them of what He did in the past, that which should have been
their testimony. The God of Israel says in verses 8 - 9, "I brought you out of Egypt, out of the land
of slavery. I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all
your oppressors. I drove them before you and gave you their land."
There are many testimonies in the
scripture but these few will be considered as below:
MOSES's TESTIMONY (Deuteronomy 32: 1-14).
He testified to the faithfulness of God in v4, "A faithful God, who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” Moses
reminded the Israelites what the Lord did for generation long past by saying in
v7, "Remember the days of old, consider
the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders,
and they will explain to you.” Verse 10, “How the Lord had guarded Israel as the apple of His eye how the Lord
alone led Israel, no foreign god was with him.” Moses testified to what the
Lord did in the past so that Israel could desist from worshipping foreign gods.
He alone is sufficient. He is the All sufficient God.
DAVID's TESTIMONY (Psalm 40: 1-10).
When David waited patiently on the Lord he testified as follows, (verses 1-3) “For the Lord turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, He set my feet on a
rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn
of praise to our God”. Verse 5 says, ”Many O Lord my God are the wonders
you have done”. Verses 9-10 says, “I
proclaim righteousness in the great assembly, I do not seal my lips as you know,
O Lord. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your
faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the
great assembly.” Brethren, David's testimony encourages you and I to wait
on the Lord and when testimony follows, you should not keep sealed lips but
share it so as to encourage others too.
PAUL's TESTIMONY (2 Timothy 1:12).
Here, Paul gave this testimony to encourage you and I to be faithful. In case
you are being persecuted or suffering for the sake of Christ. Paul said, "that is why
I am suffering as I am, yet I am
not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is
able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." Also in Acts 26:22, he testified in the
presence of King Agrippa, "But I
have had Gods help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small
and great alike." Day by day commit and entrust your all into His able
hand. He is able to guard whatever you hand over therefore surrender all to
Him.
KING JEHOSPAPHAT's TESTIMONY (2 Chronicles
20: 1-15). When the Moabites, Ammonites
and Meunites came to make war with him, he stood up in the assembly at the
temple of the Lord and said in verses 6-7, "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You
rule over all the Kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand and
no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of
this land before your people and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham
your friend?" He went further
and said in verse 12, "O our God,
will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that are
attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
After he had reminded God of His past deeds and surrendered totally, God sent
His word through one of the Levites in the assembly and he said in verse 15,
"This is what the Lord says to you. Do
not be discouraged because this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but
God's."
Brethren, whenever you testify be
assured God will do more for you and also move on your behalf. Everybody has a
testimony. That you are alive is a testimony. Share your testimony and see what
the Lord will do for you.
ADVANTAGES OF GIVING TESTIMONY.
- Helps to renew your trust and confidence in God
- Helps to build your faith and have hope.
- Reminds you of God's past deeds.
- Enables you to count your blessings.
- Enables you to return all glory to God and to acknowledge His supremacy.
- Enables you to receive more from God.
- Gives you the right attitude to thanksgiving since testimony is always accompanied with thanksgiving.
PRAYER - Father, in the name of
Jesus, henceforth, let me not hide your testimony. Give me the grace to share
it readily. Let my life be full of testimonies, praises and thanksgiving. Amen.
