The power of a Testimony
Galatians 6:14-17
Introduction: Have you ever considered the Bible to be
one continuous story. Well it is a story of Gods love for His creation, that
includes you and I.
Think about it, when God began to reveal Himself to the world He did not send
down bookshelves filled with outlines, theologies, or lectures, He began with a
story. As a matter of fact, He created a huge picture of His love (through
creation) and then placed a man and a woman inside that picture. Adam and Eve were
the first recipients of God’s story!
The Bible is a story book. It’s not a book of lectures, outlines or sermons.
It’s simply a storybook filled with the most powerful stories you will ever be
witness to.
So, it’s no wonder that God wants us to share our stories of His work in our
lives. 1 John 1:2-3 tells us: “the life was
manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal
life which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- 3 that
which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have
fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with
His Son Jesus Christ.”
The Apostle John walked with Jesus and was now sharing his story with his
readers. He was testifying, announcing the Good News of Jesus to those who
would listen.
From the verses I just read did you catch the word – declare? It is used to
show us John shared his story. The Bible uses another word for sharing our
story; it’s called testimony or witness. When we share the story of God’s work
in our life we are sharing our testimony. That’s exactly what God expects from
every born again believer – to simply share the Good News, to share the story
of how that Good News has changed us! He wants us to share our testimony. He
wants us to be witnesses to what we have seen Him do in our lives.
Some teach witnessing to consist of quoting
scripture and wielding a big heavy Bible. There are places for that but when it
comes to a personal testimony all you need to do is just tell your story, in
your own words and let the Holy Spirit apply them to the person you are talking
to. Love them enough to tell them and let God do the rest.
Sharing this kind of story is powerful and life changing! Most people are in
church this morning because someone shared their story and it brought them to
Jesus! So relax, you don’t have to know everything in the Bible to be a
witness. You don’t have to be a graduate theologian to share the Good News. You
only have to be willing to share the story of what God has done in your life.
That’s exactly how Christianity has been
spread from the first day of the first Church. Jesus would work in someone’s
life and they would simply share that story with others.
For
Example:
When Jesus healed the blind man, the blind man said: I know this: “I was blind,
and now I can see!” (John
9:25)
When Jesus forgave the Samaritan woman she “told everyone, Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be
the Messiah?” (John 4:29) The people of her village later told her, “Now we
believe because we have heard him ourselves, (John 4:42)
These were simply common people telling an extraordinary story of Jesus working
in their lives. That’s why Jesus told His disciples “you must also tell others
about me” (John 15:27).
But let’s be honest, sometimes were afraid to tell our story.
In other words, our lives don’t always match what we know God has done in us.
Instead of living a good story and having a good “testimony” we have gotten
sidetracked and our testimony, our lives have become a mess. Our walk doesn’t
match our talk!
That’s what Paul is dealing with.
Galatians chapter six begins with a believer losing his testimony, a “Christian
is overcome by some sin”. If anything will mess up your testimony getting
trapped in sin will certainly do it! (i.e. worldly
living, greed, envy, pornography, drugs, shady business deals)
Galatians chapter six is about testimony. The first part tells us how to help
someone else who falls. The second part tells us four pitfalls that will ruin
your testimony: they are; pride, comparing yourself with others, selfishness,
and lying to yourself.
It’s at verse eleven that he makes the final shift and explains what it takes
to maintain a good testimony: what it takes to make sure your walk matches your
talk.
Here is three parts to a powerful testimony. If you follow these three parts
you can feel confident about sharing God’s work in your life and it will make a
difference in the lives of those who hear it.
1. Focus on the Cross. V.14
Have you ever noticed, Christians love to share their horror stories. They love
to tell all the bad things they did before they got saved. If there not telling
on themselves they are asking it of someone else. It’s almost as if they are
bragging about their past life.
If you want to fill a church to standing room only bring in a guest speaker who
was known for their sinful lifestyle and announce he/she will be sharing their
testimony. There will be more people than you can shake a stick at; people want
to hear about the old man.
So whenever you share your story – the focus needs to be on what Jesus did for
you; your salvation not what you did before you had it! Remember we sin because
we are sinners, were not sinners because we sin!
That’s why the Apostle Paul said, God forbid that I should boast about anything
except the cross. That advice works for everything! Focus on the cross.
We’ve all seen TV or movie scenes where focus is illustrated. First we see a
large scene, lots of action, lots of people, things going on everywhere. Then
the camera moves in, everything is blurred except for one small object. All you
see is that object. That’s called focus.
It’s easy to get our attention on anything and everything except what’s
important. It’s easy to find our selves distracted and sidetracked (that’s what
the second part of chapter six is all about). But we have to stay focused. What
Jesus did on the cross must hold our attention because it means everything!
Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to give us forgiveness, freedom
and a whole new life – eternal life. The cross is the symbol of every purpose
God has for us.
There’s a benefit to focusing on God’s purpose for our lives. The more we focus
on the cross the less we focus on the stuff that weighs us down and holds us
back. That’s what the end of the verse 14 explains: Because of that cross, my
interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also
long dead. (Galatians 6:14b).
The more we focus on God’s purposes the less we focus on the world. If you
focus on the cross you will notice something else. The longer you live for God
and His purpose the people who do not live for God will begin to drop away.
When you stop partying like the world, talking and walking like the world the
less people who live for that stuff will want to be around you because you
don’t live that way any longer.
But don’t get discouraged. Many of those same people will start coming around
again when they see something in you they know they need: Jesus. They will
begin to notice that you’re different and that difference makes all the
difference!
The Apostle Paul addresses that difference
in the next part.
2. Realize you are not the same any more.
V.v.15-16
If you want to have a powerful testimony, if you want
to have confidence to share your testimony with others. Then realize that you’re
not the same person you were before. When Jesus came into your life, when you
turned your life over to Him, accepted His forgiveness and made Him the boss,
when you began a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you were given a new
life. You became a new person!
“Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore,
for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Begin each day telling God
”you made me a new person when I accepted Jesus into my life. Now I’m going to
live that way! My actions will be different, my attitude will be different, my desires will be different. I am a new person living for your
purpose. I will do good, focus on the cross and live like the new person that I
am!”
I know what you’re thinking! “Pastor, it’s not that easy!”
I didn’t say that it was easy. It’s simple, but it’s not easy!
There is the cross then there is the new man now…
3. We must be
willing to wear the scars. V.17
You see, the Apostle Paul was hurt, big
time! He was rejected by his best friends. He was beaten more than once within
a few strokes of death. One time he was even stoned to the point of death, but
he lived.
The Apostle Paul could literally take off his shirt and point to the scars,
physical scars very similar to
what must have been on the back of Jesus Christ after He was beaten before He
was nailed to the cross.
Paul was saying – I’m willing to take the hits as long as it means I can live
for Jesus. You and I may not be ask to bear physical
scars but we will have scars to bear!
That’s why the Apostle says in verse 17a “From now on let no one
trouble me”
In other words don’t bother me if your plan is to discourage me.
There will always be the self righteous crowd and the crowd who loves to say
hurtful things, or accuse us of wrong doing, or laugh at us, or even try to
drag us back into the life God saved us out of. Just remember the words of Paul
“don’t trouble me” keep that life to yourself.
You can’t live for the world and for God at
the same time. The worldly crowd will try to trouble you, lean on God and let
Him lead you through it. He will I know I can tell you from experience, God is
faithful.
Conclusion: Do you want to have a
powerful testimony? Do you want to live a life that people point to and say –
“Hey, that person really lives for God. That’s a true believer – a genuine
Christian.”
Then – Focus on the cross, focus on God’s purpose for your life, live the new
life God created you to live and be willing to take the hits and the hurts for
God.
Your story can have a powerful impact on someone else’s life, even if it’s just
a little part of that story!
Your testimony, the way you live your life is God’s story to your world! So
follow a proven strategy and share your story!
Close as God leads…