How to Effectively Share Your Testimony... For Real.

Paul was about to be killed by a mob scene in Jerusalem and asks for a chance to "reason" them out of it. He stands up before the crowd and shares his conversion experience.

Acts 22:3 (ESV) “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.

The first thing you do is find common ground with whoever you're talking to. Paul is talking to strict law-abiding Jews. He begins there.  He says "I am a Jew… zealous for God as all of you aren't this day". In other words I am just like one of you. We need to learn how to find common ground with people to whom we tell our story.

Paul even finds deeper common ground sharing how he longed to kill Christians - just like they were doing to him at the moment!

Acts 22:4 (ESV) I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

Second, talk about Jesus. Paul tells what Jesus did not what Paul did. Jesus showed up, chose Paul and assigned him a purpose. This was nothing on Paul's part. Paul simply responded to the Word of Jesus.





Acts 22:6–8 (ESV) “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

There's hope for everyone! If there's anyone in all of scripture who wanted to be Christian the LEAST - it was Paul. Yet Jesus came and changed his life. An effective testimony shines the light on what Jesus has done, never what you have done.  

Third, share what you are now because of Christ. Paul will do this:

Acts 22:14–15 (ESV) And he (Ananias) said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

This is what I am, I have encountered the Lord Jesus, I hear His voice, and I share what He tells me to say.

Finally, tell the truth, regardless.

Paul does the unthinkable for this crowd. They have been listening so far to his testimony. Will Paul tell them he has been called to the Gentiles because their people (the Jews) didn't listen? This little truth is it's going to cost him with this bunch. 

Here's what he does: 

Acts 22:17–18 (ESV) “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’

Acts 22:21 (ESV) And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

This landed Paul up in a heap of trouble. Had he avoided this fact, he may have been released. But he lays it all out for Christ and lets the chips fall where they may. 

Sure enough they wanted him dead and seek to kill him. 

But this is why his testimony is so powerful. Paul knows it will cost him to share it and he still gladly and proudly shares it! 

That's a true testimony of life change. Paul won't follow Christ for what it gets him in terms of good things. He is going to follow Christ and be true to the work of God upon him no matter what it may cost Him. This kind of testimony is believable and reliable.

PRAYER:

Father, help me be the same. I want to share the truth no matter what it may cost me. I want to be honest and upfront and clear in my witness. Open doors for me to share the work of Christ in me. And when I start speaking, give me words from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name.