Monday
The Legacy Of Testimony
Read 1 John 1:1-4; Acts 1:6-8; Revelation 12:11
"And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:11).
Your testimony is about what you have experienced - what you have seen and heard. A real Christian can talk about their experiences with God through Jesus Christ. We as Christians are called to a relationship of real communication with the Son of God. God comes to live inside us. Things change. God deals with every person in a different way. The more Christians that come forward and talk about how God has intervened in their life, the more people will begin to realize that God is for real, miracles do happen, and prayer works. This will inspire others to seek God and turn from their sins so that they too can know the peace and satisfaction that comes to a person who truly gives their life over to God.
Acts 1:8 says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." To be a witness to Jesus is to speak and communicate the things that you have seen and heard in your life, that happened because of Jesus. Its the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real to us, and makes Jesus real through us.
God's plan is for people to hear the good news that Jesus Christ paid for their sins, and conquered death for us through rising from the dead. After believing, people should go on to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and then testify to others what God has done for them.
Tuesday
The Power Of Testimony
Read Acts 1:8; Hebrews 10:5-7; Psalms 110:111
In court, eyewitness testimony usually seals the deal in the conviction of an accused criminal. When a traffic accident occurs, an investigating officer obtains testimony from those involved – and eyewitnesses when available – in order to reconstruct the events which led to the accident. Testimony literally means the “story, or report, of one,” or one’s own story. Testimony is powerful because it is immediate, direct and personal. It isn’t a story about something or a report about what somebody else said or did. It is a personal description of one’s direct experience. This is the key to testimony’s power. It is about a reality that is experienced. It’s not a story about something told in the third person, nor is it a theory or hypothesis.
The Christian faith, nearly 2,000 years old owes its very existence to the power of testimony. The movement started, of course, with Jesus Christ, who identified himself as the long-awaited Messiah, God’s Anointed One, sent to save mankind from its sins. In the gospels, Jesus left no doubt as to his identity as Son of God and Son of Man, co-existing for all time with the Father and Holy Spirit, yet born in flesh as one of us for a specific purpose. Jesus taught in public for three years before his death, and here’s the key to everything he said: His testimony was from the Father. Jesus said he related only that which was given him by the Father and that those who knew him knew the Father. In other words, Jesus was one with God, giving personal testimony that was literally divine. One may argue that there are all types of evidence that support the claims of the Christian faith, that the life of Jesus was a unique instance of divine intervention in human affairs. Many brilliant theologians have come along during the ensuing centuries both to defend and to define the faith. Many inspirational and anointed preachers have come along to lead others to Christ. But the greatest force in the history of Christianity is still testimony.
Wednesday
Three Sources Of Godly Testimony
Read Hebrews 10:7; 1 John 5:11; John 5: 33-36; Luke 2:19
Testimony of scripture: Jesus’ attitude toward the scriptures is manifested in many ways. The scriptures affected every aspect of Jesus. His co-existence with the Father, the testimony of the prophets foretelling His coming, His birth, His life and ministry, trial, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. No person ever had so much written about Him and required of Him as Jesus. And in minute detail, He filled full every demand and expectation required of Him by the Scriptures. He did not meet the expectations some assumed of Him, but He met every requirement demanded of Him in Scripture.
Testimony of men: All through His life, Jesus heard his mother’s testimony about Him. She had kept many things concerning Jesus in her heart. We have the testimony of John and the testimonies of those who received miracles from Jesus.
Testimony of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit always testifies about Jesus. He doesn’t speak His words, but He says what He hears God say. He is truth, so you can be sure He will always tell the truth. He was with Jesus when He hung on the cross. He was there when Jesus died. When a soldier stuck a spear in Jesus side, water and blood together spilled onto the ground. So now the Holy Spirit, the water and the blood all testify and agree about the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary. The Holy Spirit testifies that His power brought Jesus back to life again!
Thursday
How To Write Your Testimony
Read Revelation 12:11; Acts 26
Skeptics may debate the validity of Scripture or argue the existence of God, but no one can deny your personal experiences with him. When you tell your story of how God has worked a miracle in your life, or how he has blessed you, transformed you, lifted and encouraged you, perhaps even broken and healed you, no one can argue or debate it. You go beyond the realm of knowledge into the realm of relationship with God.
These steps are designed to help you write your Christian testimony. They apply for both long and short, written and spoken testimonies. Whether you are planning to write down your full, detailed testimony or preparing a quick 2-minute version of your testimony to share on a short-term mission trip, these tips and steps will help you tell others with sincerity, impact and clarity what God has done in your life.
First and foremost - remember - there is power in your testimony! Revelation 12:11 says we overcome our enemy be the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. Read Acts 26. Here the Apostle Paul gives his testimony. There are a few things to consider before you start writing your testimony. Think about your life before you met the Lord. What was going on in your life leading up to your conversion? What problems or needs were you facing at the time? How did your life change after that?
Friday
Let’s look back on what we have learned this week and review. In reflecting it is our desire that if something that you have learned really stands out that you look at ways in which you can implement them into your situation and life that will make a difference in your life.
Have you shared you testimony? _____________ God deals with us in different ways, and when we come forward and tell our story people realize that God is for real. Do you see the importance of testimony? __________ Have you shared your testimony with someone? ______
In what ways and what places can you share your testimony? _________________________
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Do you believe testimony is powerful? ____________List how testimony is powerful:
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What are three sources of Godly testimony and how can they help us in sharing our testimony?
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When sharing your testimony what are three important things to share when sharing your testimony? ____________________________________________________________________
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The Weekender
My Story
Write your testimony and share it with someone.
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