Declare The Good News
“I am an ordinary Christian, not an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher,” a woman wrote me. “When I couldn’t go to church during the pandemic, sermons and blogs online fed me and gave me guidance on how to pray outside my comfort zone. But what else can I do to make a difference?”
I immediately thought about my friend Suzanne. One day she asked God what her new role was now that all her children were gone from home. She felt He gave her a question “What can you do for Me that no one else can do?” She answered back, “Tell my story.” And she began to do that.
Peter, the disciple said, “But you are the ones chosen by God…God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” (1 Peter 2: 9-10 The MESSAGE)
A testimony is “to tell something you know firsthand, or to authenticate a fact.” When we share our testimony, we can testify to what Jesus has done for us and hopefully help influence others for Christ.
Think on this Scripture: “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you…that you may also fellowship with The Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (I John 1:3)
We declare. What we have seen. What we have heard! You never know who is listening when you tell a story. Or what the results might be.
One afternoon when my friend JoAnne and I were in a big city attending a Christian conference we decided to stop for tea. As we sat at a counter in an old-fashioned drug store, she began to tell me of a recent miracle healing story she had heard on a Christian television program. I asked pertinent questions to get the full picture. A man sitting two seats down from us held a newspaper in front of his face. Obviously, he was not reading it, but was listening to JoAnne tell how Jesus is still doing miracles today.
Suddenly the man threw the newspaper across the counter and loudly shouted, “All right, already, I will get baptized. Sunday, I will.” And he ran out of the drug store. JoAnne and I looked at each other in amazement. We offered a short prayer for the man who was obviously on his way back to the Lord.
There are more than 500 references in the Bible related to the word “tell” including these: tell the people, tell your son, tell your brother, tell the good news, and a lot of names of individuals who are instructed “to tell” also. Jesus most often said, “I tell you the truth.” The New Testament is full of instances about people who shared their story. They went and told!
When Jesus delivered the man possessed by legions of demons, the evil spirits ran into pigs who then plunged off a steep slope and drowned. Herdsmen who saw what happened ran to tell those in nearby villages. The man, now clothed and in his right mind, begged to go with Jesus. But He told him to go home and tell them how much the Lord had done for him— how He had shown him mercy. He did. He even went to Decapolis to proclaim his deliverance—a region of ten cities. The people marveled at his testimony. (Mark 5:18-20)
“It is a wonder of grace Jesus used a man who once had thousands of demons to bring God’s truth to thousands of people. He became a missionary evangelist,” writes a Bible commentator. 1
After the Samaritan woman had an encounter with Jesus at the well, she ran to tell the townspeople. Scripture says, “Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’” (John 4:39) Not only did they accept her story, but they also invited Jesus to their village. After two days with Him, many more believed He was the Messiah. Spiritual multiplication.
Philip sought and found Nathanael and told him that they had discovered the One whom the prophets wrote about–Jesus from Nazareth. “Come and see.” (John 1:45-46) When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Jerusalem, they told the church, apostles and elders all that God had accomplished through them. (Acts 5:4)
On the morning when the women found Jesus’ tomb empty, they hurried to spread the news, and “were telling these things to the apostles.” Their story appeared as nonsense until Peter ran to investigate for himself. (Luke 24:11,12 NASB)
Amazed. Marveled. Astonished. That’s how the “hearers” responded when they heard some of the testimonies recorded in the Bible.
God is still saving, delivering and healing people. Restoring families. Rescuing lost loved ones. We just need to stay sensitive to what He wants us to share. And be open to do it.
So, let’s rejoice over our own niche in life and look for ways to share our personal testimony. Let’s go bring encouragement and hope to others by assuring them He can do something great for them too! Let’s help make a difference.2
Prayer: Dear Father, forgive me for thinking I did not fit in because I do not have the giftings I recognize in other people. Thank You for the way You have changed my life since I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Help me be bold to share my testimony when the opportunity comes—and not hold back because I don’t think what I have to say is important. Please bring the people into my life who can be blessed to hear my testimony. Thank You too for those in my past who did not hesitate to tell me about Jesus and His love for me. Amen.
Decree: I will tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love for us and especially what He’s done for me.
- Brian Simmons, The Passion Translation Bible, 2020 edition, (BroadStreet, commentary on Mark 5:20), 104.
- Portions excerpted from “Cast Your Shadow: Influence on Purpose” by Quin Sherrer.
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