Word of the Week - Testimony

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.  Rev 12:11

Testimony" is translated from the Greek word martyria, which means "evidence." But not just any evidence. To put it simply, your testimony is your story, which includes the pain you've been through on the way to where you are today.  Every believer has a Testimony and even though they can be very different from person to person, they all matter and can be used to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.  Sharing your Testimony also brings Glory to God.I find it quite profound in the scripture above that the Lord gives two key factors that will give us victory over the enemy of our souls, the blood of Christ through the Cross and the word of our Testimony, which demonstrates the power of Christ in our lives.  I love hearing people’s Testimonies/stories because it allows me to get to know them at a deeper level and better understand their heart and it also encourages me as I witness how God is at work in their lives.  No matter how dramatic or simple a Testimony it is always impactful.  Of course, most of us tend to think that our Testimony/story is not as exciting or interesting as others, so we shy away from sharing it; or, we are concerned about being judged or offending people due to their sensitivities and being politically correct.  All of these fears play right into the enemies plan to keep us quiet and ineffective.  The bottom line is that God has anointed every believer with a personal Testimony and we should look for every opportunity to share our God story. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”  1 Peter 3;15 The key to sharing our Testimony/story is that we do it with a pure heart of gentleness and respect; if people are offended when shared in this manner then they will be offended regardless of what you share with them and it is worth the risk.  It is certainly more important to be authentic than to worry about pleasing everyone.  I can assure you that this pleases our Father in heaven and plants seeds of faith that will be harvested at the right time.  It is not our responsibility to save people, that is God’s work, it is simply our privilege and opportunity to share what God has done in our lives.A strong Testimony is authentic and as much about our struggles as our victories.  We've all had experiences that have cut us to the core. Some of these are our own faults; others aren't. Whatever the case, many of these moments in life have left us marked by visible or invisible signs of the past.  Jesus' blood completely dissolves our sin and shame and covers us in His righteous identity. This is a powerful moment when wounds become scars.  Scars are simply wounds that are healed. And because they're healed, they no longer carry the pain and shame they once did, but are evidences of healing and reminders of God's power. We should never regret them or believe we have to hide them. But rather, the way we use testimony as a weapon is to unashamedly display our scars — to tell our story to others.Whether you are a pastor, student, business person or laborer there is tremendous power in your testimony and when you share it with others it not only blesses the Lord and others, but it also benefits the person giving the Testimony by: 1) Connecting us in a deeper relationship with others, 2) reminding us of our past and keeping us aware of where we came from and accountable to not falling back into the sins of the past, and 3) building our faith and giving us hope for the future.  We are reminded of how much God personally loves us and what He has done to demonstrate His love.  This is a beneficial and encouraging process.“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” 2 Timothy 1:8-12Let’s look for an opportunity to share our Testimony this week and let God do His great work and reap the benefits of sharing our Testimony.Have a great week.-Duane