Musing – What do we mean by “Sharing our Testimony”?

                               Hebraic Musing – What do we mean by “Sharing our Testimony”?

The word “testimony” is found 113 times in the NIV and has a variety of uses.  For example:

·         Of God’s provision -- In Exodus, the Testimony is the Ark in the Tabernacle that held manna and Aaron’s rod that budded as a testimony to the multiple miracles and provision during the Exodus and wandering in the wilderness.  And it held the Stone Tablets with Ten Commandments; which serve as a testimony of our sinfulness.

·         Testifying -- One of the commandments says "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Ex. 20:16  Later in the Torah, we hear important rules regarding use of legal testimonies - "Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.” Num. 35:30

·         Jesus tells us the purpose of the Gospel – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matt 24:14

·         Personal experience – “Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.” John 1:32  And that is part of John the Baptist’s personal testimony.

·         Our personal lives serve as a testimony to others of how belief and trust in Christ changes His believers.  “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.”   Matt. 10:18 NKJV

We have a testimony when verbalizing our salvation experience and/or our experience with miracles, and blessings.  We can use a simple outline – (1) Life Before; (2) What happened; (3) The difference since then. 
Our personal testimony can be tailored to resonate with the need(s) of a particular audience.  And trials can become testimonies afterwards.

I find it interesting that we rarely hear sermons that include a personal testimony.  Sometimes we’ll hear of a third person testimony, but those fall flat and ineffective.  From personal experience I’ve seen and encouraged the sharing of personal testimonies, typically of one’s salvation experience, and have witnessed many many making decisions for Christ as a direct result -- The power of personal testimonies!!!

I have often said “People argue with my teachings and they argue with my preaching; but they cannot argue with the truth of my personal testimony.”

And God’s testimony is the greatest – “We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.  Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart.  Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” 1 John 5:9-11  NIV

  Points to ponder

Might your written testimony become the outline to be tailored for "divine opportunities"?

Might your written testimony become a tract, a witnessing tool?

Can you deliver your testimony in varying time lengths for different occasions?

 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”   Rev 12:11

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                  December 5, 2017

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – inspired and excerpted from Johanna Hocker’s   “Sharing our Testimony” May 23, 2017