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Sharing Your Testimony
First, God commands us to share our testimony. We see it in Deborah's song: "They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates" (Judges 5:11) .Second, we are to remember what God has done in our lives. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" (Psalms 103:2). Sharing what God has done with others is the best way for us to remember what God had done. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (Exodus 17:14).
Third, it is one of the ways that we continue to overcome the enemy. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11). Every time one shares what God has done in his life, his faith is strengthened. Those who fear and fail to share their testimony often loss the blessing they have previously received.
Fourth, we are to hold fast to our profession of faith. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised;" (Hebrews 10:23).
Fifth, when we share our testimony, it encourages others to believe in God and also receive His promises. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses" (I Timothy 6:12).
Sixth, it is a way of passing on our faith to our children. "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:7). One way of teaching the Word is to share how God works in our lives.
Seventh, sharing our testimony of what God has done is a means of worship. "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole" (Luke 17:16-19). The one who stopped to worship is remembered to this day. Don't be one of the other nine.
"And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever" (Joshua 4:21-24). Your testimony can be a standing stone for others to see.
"That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else" (I Kings 8:60). We are to share our testimony that all the earth may know the the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
"Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only" (II Kings 19:19). Hezekiah's prayer for deliverance was based upon the testimony that he would have concerning the work of God in his life.
"Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods" (I Chronicles 16:24-25). This is part of David's psalm of exhorting others to share what God had done in their lives.
"Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. .... Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously" ( Psalm 96:3 ,10). Again, David encourages us to share what God had done in our lives even among the lost.
"I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Psalm 119:46). David give us an example of sharing with others.
"He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25). I like what the man who had been blind from birth answered the religious leaders after Jesus had healed him. They illustrate that we don't have to understand "everything". We are just to share what God had done in our lives.
"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him" (John 4:28-30). Jesus crossed national, religious, and social boundaries to offer living water to the woman at the well. After receiving the living water, she shared her testimony with the men of the city that she knew.
"Howbeit Jesus suffered
him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how
great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus
had done for him: and all men did marvel" (Mark 5:19-20).
Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to minister to two men possessed of demons.
When one of the men was set free, he requested to follow Jesus, but Jesus
told him to share his testimony with his friends. He did so.
He went to Decapolis where there was ten cities in one area and began to
share what Jesus had done. It is a great example of giving your testimony.
Outline For Writing A Testimony
Your testimony should generally include the following:
1. When did your problem(s) arise?2. What was the nature of your difficulties?
a. Who was involved?3. What wrong or incomplete course(s) of action did you use to resolve your situation.
b. How did each person respond?
c. What were the consequences in your life?(1) Spiritual?
(2) Mental?
(3) Behavioral?
(4) Emotional?
(5) Physical?
(6) Relational?
(7) Financial?4. How did God lead you to come to Whole Person Counseling?
5. What Biblical principle(s) did you receive?6. How were they applied to your situation?
7. What were the results?
8. How long has the results remained?
9. Please email mewhether or not your testimony may be used and whether or not your name, initials, or email may be used.
10. Make sure that your testimony glorifies God more than Whole Person Counseling.
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