(By: Norm Rasmussen, Director, Precious Testimonies Evangelistic Ministries)
"We must have a TEST, and PASS the test ...
before we have a testi-MOAN-EEE of any impact"
Your born again testimony is highly valuable to God as a tool He can use to help advance His Kingdom in the lives of the unsaved. After his deliverance of the legion of demons, the Gadarene demoniac naturally wanted to stay with Jesus. Rather than grant his desire, Jesus told 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.' Jesus commissioned this man to go back home and become his community's first Christian missionary, and all God asked him to do was share his testimony. It was the wisdom of God in operation! You and I have the same commission in our sphere of influence (which can be the world via the Internet!) because God has had compassion on YOU as well and has spared you from eternal damnation . . . go TELL what the Lord has done for YOU!
Psalms 96:3 and Revelation 12:11 are two Biblical references that clearly indicate that God uses our Jesus-glorifying testimonies to help advance the Kingdom of God on this planet.
Testifying is probably the most natural (and in many cases the most effective) means of witnessing for Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit has given The Body Of Christ. Let us look for opportunities constantly to testify.
Born again testimonies especially validate the work of God in one's life. Testimonies are evidence that God is alive and well on planet Earth -- working unceasingly in the lives of those who purpose to mean business with God.
Words used properly have great effectiveness in unleashing the anointing of God. Learn to use words that leave an IMPACT! Grab your audience as quickly as you can. Secure their interest by using words that will entice them to want to hear or read the rest of what you have to say.
A well-shared testimony can paint a powerful WORD PICTURE in the mind of the hearer or reader. People remember word pictures much longer than just stated facts. Jesus told parables because they form powerful word pictures in our mind, as well as convey a spiritual message(s). A well-shared testimony can do the same thing.
Skillful communicators ALWAYS try to tell a true story (TESTIMONY) to accentuate or reinforce important points they are trying to make. Why? To try to paint a vivid word picture in the mind of the hearer or reader, and to try to reinforce fact. They also try to stir up emotions of their audience, knowing this also helps the audience be more receptive to what one is trying to "sell."
Always look for ways to try to stir emotions of the hearer or reader of your testimony. It most likely will have a greater impact. Addressing deep, unmet needs in a person's life stirs emotions. As you share how God has met many of your deep needs, it gives HOPE to others with like need(s). Many of the most deep, inner needs that God desires to meet in our lives are listed below under "During".
BEFORE:
Give details of your life before you became serious about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. What type of environment were you raised in? What were your beliefs about God? What were your struggles with God? What were your beliefs about the Bible? What did the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross mean to you? What was your understanding of this incredible sacrifice for your sins?
DURING - (The BORN AGAIN Process):
Your number one purpose for testifying is to give Jesus Christ glory (heartfelt thanks and showing appreciation) for what He has done in your life and to advance the Kingdom of God (help win souls to Jesus Christ). In so doing, you honor and glorify the Father as well as the Holy Spirit. Describe the circumstances in detail that caused you to get serious about turning your life over to Jesus Christ.
Most people's actions spring out of their unsatisfied, deep inner needs. What were the unsatisfied, deep inner need(s) that you had that the Holy Spirit used to draw you to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
Here are some examples of deep, inner needs:
Lack of peace. Fear of death/hell. Something missing-void in your life. No meaning to life. Loneliness. Lack of security. Poverty. Lack of purpose. Longing to be loved. Longing to be unconditionally accepted. No real friends. No motivation. Alcohol or chemical dependencies. Eating disorders. Guilt from sin - needing forgiveness. Hopelessness-prison. Boredom with religion. Demonic activity in your life. Need of deliverance-healing. Hunger to know God better. Feelings that God betrayed you.
AFTER:
Share how your relationship with Jesus Christ has changed you. Why are you excited about your relationship with Christ now? Give the details!
As you write your testimony, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit about interweaving scripture into your testimony. Use a Bible translation that is easy to understand. Remember -- God promises that His Word will "not come back to Him void" (See: Isaiah 55:11).
It is usually better to write a testimony that you think is too long rather than one that is too brief, when submitting it for publication. A long testimony can always be shortened, but too brief of a testimony cannot be made longer by an editing staff. Take time to share miraculous events that have happened after you got saved, as well as before you got saved. Dynamic answers to prayer, for instance, are so encouraging to other believers. These are very valuable in adding impact to your overall born again testimony.
The most effective testimony in reaching the unsaved is not sharing a list of your 'spiritual accomplishments.' People searching for spiritual answers want to know how God became real and alive in your life, and the positive changes that God has done in your life. (Tip: Sharing painful trials you have gone through and how God brought you through them and what you learned through those trials can add an additional anointing of God on your testimony. Never underestimate the value of sharing your trials and how they have strengthened and enriched your relationship with God).
Try to use words that the unsaved comprehend the easiest. Stay away from using 'religious' words as best as you can. Being transparent, being real, being humble and appreciative and thankful . . . gives God the very best quality testimony you could possibly give Him to touch the lives of others.
Share your testimony with passion. Share it in humility, yet with excitement! (No one likes a boring, monotone speaker or writer). Are you in love with God? Tell the world about your love affair with Him! He absolutely delights in seeing you tell others of how much He means to you -- and what He has done for you!
'Go tell the world every way you can' what the Lord has done for you! Don't put off sharing (writing especially) your testimony. You don't have tomorrow promised to you ... on this side of eternity anyway.
If you would like to email us your testimony, please send it to: ptoffice@precious-testimonies.com
Another writing you might be interested in is: Helpful Tips On Writing Your Testimony
Dear Reader - are you at peace with God? If not, you can be. Do you know what awaits you when you die? You can have the assurance from God that heaven will be your home, if you would like to be certain. You can even have that assurance RIGHT NOW! Either Jesus Christ died for your sins, or He didn't (He did!). Are you prepared to stand before God on the Judgment Day and tell Him that you didn't need the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross to have your sins forgiven and get in right-standing with God? We plead with you...please don't make such a tragic mistake.
To get to know God, to be at peace with God, to have your sins forgiven, to make certain heaven will be your home for eternity, to make certain that you are in right-standing with God right now ... please click here to help you understand the importance of being reconciled to God. What you do about being reconciled to God will determine where you will spend eternity, precious one. Your decision to be reconciled to God is the most important decision you'll ever make in this life, because in Christ, it is impossible to put a value on the worth of your soul in light of eternity.
PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...
JESUS DID IT! and...
Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-20 is our assurance)