A testimony is like a spiritual autobiography. When people hear our testimony they should not only learn something about our past and how we came to Christ, but they should also learn the basic truths of the gospel.
Paul gave his testimony on a number of occasions but always as a means of sharing the way of salvation, not drawing attention to himself (Acts 21:37-22:25; 24:10-21; 26:1-23). One of the simplest and yet most profound testimonies found in the Bible came from the lips of a man who had just been healed and saved by Jesus. He said, “Whether He (Jesus) is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). David pointed to the importance of personal testimony in Psalm 145:4-13.
The importance of giving your testimony is highlighted by three very helpful passages. The first passage is found in Mark 5:19 where Jesus instructed the demon possessed man to go and tell others what God had done for him. “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” Another passage which encourages us to tell others what Jesus has done for us says, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did’ ” (John 4:39). As we have opportunity to testify, God uses His gospel to bring people to a saving knowledge of Himself just as he used the testimony of the woman Jesus met at the well in Sychar. One final passage which clenches the case and proves the importance of testifying about the work God has accomplished in our lives is found in Peter’s first epistle. It says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
Testimony and spiritual autobiography have been very important in the history of the church. Two of my favorites are the Confessions of Saint Augustine and The Life and Diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards. While both of these books cover much more than the conversion experience, they include ongoing sanctification and the contemplations that are a part of God’s gift of Christ and how the Holy Spirit works in a person’s experience as they come to Christ and begin walking with God. From these we can see how beneficial testimonies have been in the church as an encouragement to fellow believers. Part of our fellowship is hearing from each other how God has worked in our lives to make us who we are for His glory.
You may not have experienced a major crisis, or been delivered out of some horrible situation, or it could be that you were saved as a young person. None of those situations hinder or help in giving a testimony, if the object is talking about Jesus and the way of salvation. No matter what your background or experience has been, your testimony should be very similar to the blind man in John 9 who recounted the facts and said, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He (Jesus) is from; yet He has opened my eyes” (John 9:30)!
I would like to give you a challenge. Would you write out your testimony? Below is an outline which will help you organize your testimony for your own benefit and for the benefit of anyone you may have opportunity to share with. Every believer should take time to write out their testimony because writing makes us precise and clear. Ask God the Holy Spirit to lead you in the preparation and writing of your testimony. Every testimony should include the basic concepts of the gospel. The following outline is based on Paul’s testimony as given to Agrippa and recorded in Acts 26:1-23. Under each point of the outline you will find some key phrases designed to help you think through your salvation and how God brought you to Himself.
1. What I was like before Christ came into my life (v. 4-6).
My life before surrendering to Christ was…. My family, friends, interest were.… My security (most important value) was.… My religious background and attitude about Christ was…. I began to understand that I was a sinner because of…. I felt the weight of my sins….
2. How God begin to open my eyes to Christ (v. 9-11).
God showed me my need of Christ when…. I was awakened to my need by Christ (people, books, meetings, circumstances). What I thought and/or noticed (about myself, God, others) at this point was….
3. How I came to understand and believe the gospel (v. 12-15).
Those aspects of the gospel that touched my life were… I came to understand that Christ was… I saw my need was of Jesus…. I believed on Jesus… I surrendered to Christ… I committed my life to Jesus….
4. How Christ and the gospel has changed my life (v. 19-23).
My relationships with… My attitude toward… My desires now are… I’m now doing… I am growing spiritually… I love worship now because…. God is working in my life by… Jesus is with me every day… Christ has changed me so much my life is different in these ways… The Bible has become very precious to me…. I desire to know the Lord and His word better….