THE POWER OF TESTIMONY
Is it disappointing that some people behave as if God has done nothing worth mentioning in their lives? They neither talk about His goodness nor glorify Him for what He has done. During testimony time in Church worship services, you will notice the same people come out to testify of God’s goodness. You cannot but wonder could it be a sectional thing? Is God only doing something worth mentioning in the lives of those few? Some are ashamed to testify to God’s goodness while others simply do not know the power of testimony. The Psalms says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy [Psalm 107:2]. He did not say keep sealed lips, hide God’s amazing goodness or amplify the works of man and Satan. When Jesus redeems you from the curse of the law or heals you from sickness, it gives you the opportunity to testify to His loving kindness and grace.
We must begin to announce our redemption in the area of need and we shall receive and realize it. “Say unto them, as truly as I live, says the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you” [Numbers 14:28]. God is faithful; whatever He hears you say that He shall do for you. It now depends on you; if you confess healing and satisfaction in God, you will be healed and fulfilled. If you confess sickness, worries, fears and depression, you buy one and get two free. You get what you say. God remains trustworthy and dependable in all situations, at all time. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof [Proverbs 18:21]. Pastor Jude Chukwumaife wrote, “Your tongue is a destiny molder. You can create life; speak health and wellness with your tongue.” In the genesis of life it was written, “And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God spoke, let there be light and there was light” [Genesis 1:2-3]. God spoke and the chaos becomes cosmos. Again, “thou are snare with the words of thy mouth, thou are taken with the words of thy mouth” [Proverbs 6:2].
Watch what you say; negative confession brings negative result. What you say can be use against you. When one ask you, how are you doing or how are you? You should respond positively – I’m fine or well. You can be trapped by what you say. On the other hand, the enemy gets threatened by what you say. “And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony.” [Revelation 12:11]. Your testimony becomes a weapon of spiritual warfare. Make your confession strong and the devil is troubled; it finds its way out of your airspace.
As God spoke things into being from the genesis of life, so did Jesus speak pardon and healing into people’s life. “Go and sin no more; rise up and walk and your sins are forgiven.” These words are very powerful and infectious as well as bring balm in Gilead; healing unto them that they were spoken to, those who read them in faith and those who believe them and speak to themselves. While Jesus was here on earth, He made various confessions and testify to whom He was and the relationship with the Father. He said, “I and my Father are one.” “I came to do the will of my Father.” Thank God for you have heard me; Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. My Father has not stopped working and for certain the son cannot do anything on His own. He can only do what He sees His Father do. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth [Matthews 28:18].
The 40 year old born blind man whom Jesus healed testified, “One thing I know, that whereas I was blind but now this man [Jesus] made me see.”[John 9:11, 17, 25] Despite the fact that the Pharisees and Jewish elders tried to force him say otherwise, he maintained and kept his confession strong. The Samaritan woman that Jesus delivered went out and testified, “Come and see someone who has told me all things I ever did” [John 4:29]. John the Baptize had a wonderful testimony, “I am not the Christ, and the one that comes after me is greater than I.” Apostle Peter was speaking to Israel’ elders and he testified, “Therefore let all the house of Israel knows assuredly, that God had made that same Jesus whom you crucified, both Christ and the Lord” [Acts 2: 36]. As Apostles Peter and John went to the temple to pray, they made and healed a lame man at the gate called beautiful. During that incidence, Apostle Peter testified, “Silver and gold have I none but such as I have, I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise and walk” [Acts 3:6]. Peter implied, I may not have physical needs, but I have He that is everything – Christ in me the hope of glory, the Healer and Restorer. He also testified to the elders, “Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened to the lame man and why are you staring at us ……” This man standing here is completely well because of the power in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. You put Jesus to death on the cross but God raised Him to life………Only Jesus has the power to save [Acts 3:16, 4:12].
Apostle Paul never wasted opportunity to testify his encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus. He testified to elders in Damascus, in Jerusalem and even today we read his testimonies in the letters of the bible. Paul testified before many courts the experience of his new beginning, his conversion. For example: In Acts 26:1ff, Paul spoke before Agrippa, who said Paul’s learning had made him mad and later said he almost persuaded him to become a Christian [26:24, 28]. Paul was later taken to Rome and he continued with the same truth. You may not know that no one else can say your experiences better than yourself.
You need to tell the story of your conversion: where you were drawn from, how you became a Christian. Someone needs to hear how Christ pursued you, how far you resisted Him and where you finally gave up; I mean totally surrendered. Someone needs to hear what you had struggled and still struggling with and you overcame those that had given way; what you’re still doing with those still contending for your attention and time. Someone needs to know your Christian experiences: the struggle that confronts you daily since you became a believer. If God has really touched you, you cannot hide the experience you have with Christ: some are deliverances, healings and protection as well as struggles. Personal testimony is the greatest witnessing tool. It has power to convince, convict and turn around any body: sinner into saint, poor into rich, sick into healthy, etc. It is this same message that turn around drug addicts, murders, armed robbers, homosexuals, self righteous and all sort of men and women in every situation and times into becoming battle axe for Christ. Perhaps it is your testimony that someone is waiting for; will persuade that man or woman to give his/her life to Christ. By your testimony, heaven will rejoice and it will be counted unto you as a good harvest of soul.
Hannah testified, a few years ago I stood here beside you and asked the Lord to give me a child. He did and here is he. The Lord gave me just what I asked for and I came to fulfill my vows – dedicate him unto the Lord all the days of his life. In 1 Samuel Chapter 2, Hannah sang songs of praise unto the Lord. She testified, “You have made me strong and happy Lord, you rescued me. Now I can be glad and even my enemies join to laugh. No other god is like you…..a woman did not have a child, and you gave her seven……..you take away life and you give life….you set the world on foundations and they belong to you,……glorify God and confess His compassion, grace and mercies. The God who has made a childless woman, a mother of children can do it again. Your testimony shall encourage someone who is praying and waiting on God for intervention. It will strengthen the faith of someone who believes on God and have depended on Him no matter what. Your testimony will make one waiting for breakthrough to keep trusting and believing and not give up. Your testimony shall also reassures one who is testifying that God answers prayers and can do anything. There is no impossibility in Him.
Daniel had a divine revelation to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; he testified, “Our God, your name will be praised forever. You are all powerful and you know everything……and you are the source of wisdom and knowledge. You explain deep mysteries because even the dark is light to you….. [Daniel 2:20-23]. Daniel testified to God’s omnipotence; no human being has the power to reveal such things as the king demanded except God who rules from heaven. He alone can explain mysteries. The three Hebrew boys – Shadrach, Meshack and Abedinago refused to worship the man –made god of Baal but testified to the Omnipotence, omniscience of God of heaven, “The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. But even if He doesn’t, we still won’t worship your god and the gold status you have set up” [Daniel 3:18ff]. This confession became manifest when they were thrown into the flaming furnace and it did not burn them because God sent His angel to rescue them. Following these two incidences, King Nebuchadnezzar did not only promote Daniel and the three Hebrew Boys but testified to the superiority of the God of heaven. Every other god in the land was destroyed and the King ordered the worship of the only true God – the God of Daniel and the Hebrew boys.
Words are in our mouths and in our hearts, waiting to be confessed and testify; before there start working salvation, deliverance, favor, safety and healing. Testimony is a very powerful instrument in witnessing and evangelism, even in preaching. Testimony has the power of conviction and encouragement. If God could do it for her, He would do it for me. Let those whom God saved and healed testify to His goodness and God will be glorified.
Reach: Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.