TESTIFY:

Tell People What God Has Done For You!

“Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Mark 5:19

One of the great things about my testimony is that no one can argue with me. No one can say it didn't happen to me. Its my story. They weren't there. They don't know what God did or didn't do in my life.

A testimony has three main parts: a BEFORE Jesus, the CHANGE of Jesus, and the AFTER the change. Look at the man in Mark 5.

BEFORE

verses 3 and 5 “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.” “Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.”

CHANGE

v. 13 “He (Jesus) gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. . . . “

AFTER

v. 15 “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there dressed and in his right mind; . . .”

Before Jesus, the man was possessed by evil spirits and his life was a mess. Jesus changed Him by giving the evil spirits permission to leave the man. After Jesus changed the man, he was sitting with Jesus dressed and in his right mind.

Here is a modern example from a friend of mine (used by permission):

BEFORE

Growing up I did my share of things I am not proud of, mostly normal teenage antics. I was rude, obnoxious and unkind, but I referred to it as being exact, witty, and advanced. During that time I believed there was a God, but did not think you could know Him personally.

When I was a junior in high school, my car slid into a ditch on an icy road. God used that experience to connect with me. A bus full of teenagers from a youth group stopped and pushed my car out of the ditch. As we were parting ways, one of them handed me a booklet called, “The Four Spiritual Laws.” I read the booklet.

The first law stated God loved me and had a wonderful plan for my life. I thought that was great.

The second law stated I was sinful and separated from God. I agreed I had done some wrong things and, therefore, I was willing to agree I was separated from God.

The third law stated Jesus Christ had died to pay the price for my mistaken nature and behavior. Again, I thought, good deal.

The fourth law stated that I needed to make a personal decision to accept the free gift of Jesus Christ’ death for all the times I had missed the mark. On top of that, after making such a decision, I would need to turn control of my life over to God.

Now I had a problem. First, I figured that no one could run my life better than I could. Second, I believed that God’s perfect plan for my life was to be a missionary in China or to die instantly. Neither option appealed to me, so I tossed the booklet in a drawer and proceeded on with my life.

After graduating from high school, I enrolled in the university. As a freshman, I felt a sense of loneliness. I was just one student in a sea of 14,000.

CHANGE

Early in my freshman year, God re-directed me to the 4 Spiritual Laws booklet. I re-read it with the same results. I still did not think anyone could run my life better than I could and I still did not want to die instantly or become a missionary in China. But God did use the opportunity to prompt me to start reading my Bible.

Beginning in the New Testament, I eventually read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and half way through Romans. I came upon Romans 8:28. Romans 8:28 says “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Using those words, God pointed out that if His perfect plan for me was instant death or missionary work in China that would be the absolute best thing for me.

I responded to God’s invitation by asking to take advantage of the free gift that was available to me because of the death of Jesus Christ.

AFTER

I did not become instantly perfect, nor do I believe such is possible while on the earth. I do, however, believe it is possible to allow God to direct your life and use you to accomplish His purposes for the world. God arranged for me to meet a man who was a recent college graduate who had experienced the same type of encounter with God. This man taught me how to talk to God and read the Bible, to listen to God. He showed me how to tell other people the story of what God had done in my life. He helped me see how real God was. Since then, I have been helping other people experience for themselves how real God can be

God still explains things to me when I read the Bible or sometimes by using the words of other people. I still struggle to let God direct my life. I have my own plan. God still shows me His plan is better. My life is not perfect. But I have hope because I will be in heaven with God when I die. I have peace because what happens to me while I am on the earth is best for me. I have comfort because I am never alone. God is always with me, and I am content, most of the time!

Note this testimony has a what his life was like before Jesus Christ changed him. How Jesus Christ changed him. And an after Jesus Christ changed him.

God works in my life all the time. I can describe any of these situations. When I do, I am testifying to the work of God in my life.

Here is an example:

BEFORE:

I had been wrestling with a difficult personal issue. God did not seem to be providing me any direct leading. Several people who I respect had given me their opinions. But I wanted to hear from God on the matter through the Word or through prayer.

CHANGE:

Early in the morning three days ago, I was reading the Bible. I was reading in Revelation. Just finishing up reading through the entire Bible. I was thinking about that. I was not thinking about my personal issue. But God was thinking about me. He pointed out to me that in Revelation He commended three different churches for their “patient endurance.” He told me that He wants me to patiently endure. That is what I needed to hear. It was not what I was looking for, but it was what I needed.

AFTER:

I am no longer wrestling. I have peace with God that my personal issue is not too big for Him to help me with. He is in control. I thanked Him for being in control. I rejoice that He asks me to “patiently endure” when things are tough.

I have 100's of these examples. I trust you do to. See if you can write one of them out now using the BEFORE – CHANGE – AFTER format.

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