22 December 2020
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (2Peter 2:9)
“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honoured his name.” (Malachi 3:16)
Sharing our testimonies is a Christian duty and privilege. It is a shame that many Christians hesitate to share. Some due to stage fright, some are unduly worried; some relied on eloquence and ended up honouring men instead of glorifying God. Sharing testimonies for Christ is declaring His glory and the time spent is therefore Kairos. The heavenly gate is open, and God with the multitude of saints and angels in heaven listens attentively to what we say. Therefore we ought to cherish every opportunity to give our testimony with prudent meditation and careful preparation.
In Exodus chapter 18, Moses exalted the Lord’s when he told his father-in-law Jethro How God delivered the Israelites from the hands of Pharaoh. Upon hearing Moses’ testimony, Jethro was delighted and praised God, ‘Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods.’ In John chapter 4 when the Samaritan woman ran back into the town and excitedly told the people there about Jesus, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” as a result, many went out of the town to look for Jesus.
The Lord gives us two principles for sharing in these passages:
Firstly, Jesus Christ is the only one to be exalted in our sharing. Every man ought to be concealed as this is a time when God alone is to be seen. Thanking men will take our eyes away from the throne of Christ.
Secondly, know that it is the Spirit of God that convicts. The people told the Samaritan woman that “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:42 ESV). If someone praises God after hearing your testimony, do not think highly of yourself. Rather, humbly thank God for using your testimony.
It is on these two principles that we are to prepare our sharing prudently. A careful preparation always begins with prayer, and prayer should always begin with confession. When you fix your eyes on the Golgotha cross, your lips will be filled with the power of the precious blood.
Next, ask the Lord to impress in your heart what to say. Spend time meditate on it, and pen down the essential points and details if necessary. Writing helps organize our thoughts and emotion and make our sharing clearer. Do not crack a joke just to cover up your tenseness; and never say “actually I did not want to share but Pastor asks me to …” Such words will disrupt the work of the Holy Spirit. Sort out your emotion and whisper a silent prayer in your heart. Your soul will be firmly anchored in the Lord Jesus. He will give you the confidence to speak to His glory. Let us echo with the Psalmist: “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” (Psalm 66:16)
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