“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
—2 Timothy 1:8-10
When this writer became a Christian and joined a church, there was a great deal made of a person’s testimony. Many churches love to hear testimonies.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But there seems to be (at best) a misunderstanding in the churches about what constitutes a Christian testimony.
After hearing quite a few testimonies in church, a few observations were made.
- Testimonies are dramatic.
- Testimonies include a lot of crying and emotion.
- Testimonies are about the person testifying.
However, as it turned out, these observations were mistaken.
The testimony is NOT about the person giving the testimony. Okay, it is: but only in the way that Jesus has transformed him.
One’s testimony is not a bio; it’s not a “time to shine.” It’s about how Jesus saved a sinner and transformed his life here on earth.
Another thing learned which may or may not be true in every case: the more dramatic the testimony; the more crying and emoting exhibited: the less fruit that person’s life seemed to have.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
—John 15:4
“Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:”
—Colossians 1:4-6
Christians have been giving testimonies for centuries. Why do those who inhabit the modern churches seem to struggle with this most basic of Christian commands?
Giving a Christian testimony is not hard. Jesus even told men how to do it.
“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.”
—Luke 8:38-39
SHOW people how “great things God hath done unto thee.”
That’s the basis of the Christian testimony.
Show the world: actions, not words.
Show the world how Jesus transformed an abject, hopeless sinner into a saint, into a worker of righteousness.
One’s testimony of Jesus is ALWAYS important. Does someone claim to be a prophet? Do they testify of Jesus Christ? IF no, then they are a false prophet.
“for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
—Revelation 19:10
One’s testimony of Jesus will be vital in the end times. One’s testimony of Jesus is how believers overcome the forces of the dragon and his workers of iniquity.
“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.”
—Revelation 12:11
The Greek word for “witness” is “martyr.”
As has been the case for almost 2000 years, the most powerful testimony a person can provide is to be a martyr for Jesus.
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
—Matthew 10:32
Do you have the testimony and the fruit of Jesus?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
RELATED ARTICLES
- MODERN AMERICAN TESTIMONY: No Jesus, No Christ
- Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven? Be Sure!
- LOVE and SLAUGHTER: The World’s Idea of End Times Love
- Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians
- Persecution of the Saints: The Fear and the Pit and the Snare
by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Stuart Miles, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-15. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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Filed under: Biblical Teachings, END TIMES PREPARATION, The Apostate American Church, Christian testimony, testify, testimony, witness
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