This Is the Way: A 30-Day Journey Through the Book of ActsSample

The Power of Your Testimony

By Jeremy Meister

“What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn’t just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. I started preaching this life-change—this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life—right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world.” —Acts 26:19–20 (MSG)

When I was eighteen years old, my grandpa took me to prison—an experience that marked me for life. It’s not what you may be thinking; I wasn’t in trouble with the law. You see, I’d recently given my life to the Lord. My grandpa, a volunteer minister with Prison Fellowship, invited me to go with him to share my story with a group of prisoners on one of his regular visits to the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson.

As we drove down the dusty highway in the Arizona desert heat, I asked him, “Grandpa, what am I supposed to share?” I’ll never forget his answer. He said, “Jeremy, just share your testimony. Tell them what Jesus has done in your life. That’s all you need to do.”

I thought about his words as we made our way inside the prison, passed through security, and walked the long hallways. Before I knew it, we walked into a classroom with eight men seated around an oval table. They were all wearing orange jumpsuits, and many of them were covered in tattoos. To say I was intimidated is an understatement, but these men were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

After introductions were made, my grandpa looked at me and said, “Go ahead.” Slowly at first and then with increasing passion, I shared my testimony—how God had transformed my life from a drug-using, suicidal teenager from a broken home to a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. After I shared my story, these men, many of them incarcerated for horrible crimes, shared how Jesus had also changed their lives. We prayed together and encouraged one another to stay strong in the faith. We were a group of men from all different backgrounds who were united through our testimonies. From that day on, I began to look for opportunities to share my testimony and testify of the Lord’s goodness and what He’s done in my life.

In the New Testament, the words testimony and witness are often used interchangeably, but the Greek word for both is martyr. To be a martyr is to be a witness. The first disciples testified of what they had seen and heard, and the early Church continued to grow because others believed their testimonies. Today, martyrs are people who are willing to lay down their lives for what they believe, and that’s exactly what many of those early disciples did.

The Apostle Paul understood the power of a testimony. He had preached from town to town, province to province, planting churches and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. In Acts 26, Paul finds himself standing before King Agrippa. And what does he share? He shares his testimony (see Acts 26:9–20). He talks about how he persecuted the early Church and how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus where his life was radically transformed. It was powerful!

Think about what you just read for a minute: when Paul stood before a king, he chose to share his testimony. Isn’t that amazing?! He could have taught or preached on any number of spiritual topics. After all, he’d been a Pharisee and was trained in Jewish laws and customs under Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3). He could have shared significant parts of our New Testament or any of his thirteen letters, all written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He could have shared on sanctification, spiritual gifts, love, sacrifice, covenant, or any number of topics. Instead, Paul simply shared his testimony: here’s who I was before I met Christ, how He changed me, and who I am today because of Jesus.

As believers, we would do well to follow the example of Paul and remember the power of our testimonies. Sometimes we don’t share our faith because we don’t know what to say, we don’t feel qualified, or we think it’s the preacher’s job. I’ve even heard people say they don’t have an interesting testimony because they’ve been a Christian since they were children. They don’t have a story about how they fell away from the Lord or lived a life apart from God. Your testimony may be how God kept you safe and preserved your relationship with Him from a young age. Regardless of the details, we all have a testimony, and each one of us can share what Jesus has done in our lives.

No matter who you are or what you’ve done (or not done), you have a testimony to use for God’s purposes! Believing in Jesus is the only testimony you need. 1 John 5:10–12 says, “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. . . . And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (NRSVUE).

Our testimonies are incredibly powerful! Scripture tells us we overcome the enemy “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [our] testimony” (Revelation 12:11 NKJV).Never underestimate the power of what the Lord has done in your life.

I encourage you to be bold! Look for opportunities to share your testimony—the good things God has done in your life. Share your salvation testimony, healing testimony, restoration testimony, provision testimony, and (fill in the blank) testimony. Testify to the goodness of God!

Prayer

Lord, thank You for transforming my life through the power of Your Son, Jesus. Help me to be bold in sharing the story of Your goodness and grace, no matter who I’m speaking to or where I am. Give me the courage to testify of Your love, healing, and salvation. May my words and my life bring glory to You and inspire others to know You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• Reflect on your journey with the Lord, and write out your testimony. Think about your life before Christ, how you encountered Him, and how He has transformed you. As you write, ask God to give you opportunities to share your testimony with others. Be open and ready to share it when God opens a door.
• Be intentional to share your testimony with someone close to you. It doesn’t need to be elaborate or perfectly rehearsed—simply share what God’s done in your life. Whether it’s how you came to know Jesus or a recent moment where He showed up in your life, use your story to encourage and inspire someone else.

For Further Study

Acts 26; Joshua 1:9; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 6:19–20; 1 John 1:1–4

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?