This Is My Story; This Is My Song - The Power of Personal Testimony
A powerful message on the significance and transformative power of personal testimony in the life of believers and its role in evangelism and spiritual warfare.
Text: 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, Acts 22:1-4, 1 Peter 3:15
Preacher: Ptr. Sael Anota
Service: Gift Worship (PM)
Focus: Maturity/Fellowship
Monthly Theme: “Unfolding God’s Abounding Blessing”
The Undeniable Power of Personal Story
People can doubt or debate the Bible or the existence of God, but no one can deny your personal story with God. Your testimony is one of the most effective tools in your evangelism toolbox.
One dictionary defines “testimony” as “giving a firsthand authentication of a fact, especially in court.” It also has the idea of “open acknowledgement” and is closely related to being a witness.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” — Revelation 12:11
There is power in your story! A strong testimony gives peace, comfort, and assurance. It generates the conviction that as the teachings of the Savior are consistently obeyed, life will be beautiful, the future secure, and there will be capacity to overcome the challenges that cross our path.
Understanding Biography and Autobiography
BIOGRAPHY - a usually written history of a person’s life; an account of the life of something
AUTOBIOGRAPHY - the biography of a person narrated by that person; a usually written account of a person’s life in their own words
One of the most amazing truths about life is the fact that everyone has a story. In Christian circles, we call our story our “testimony.”
A testimony is a statement for the purpose of establishing and recording truth. Testimonies or witnesses that do otherwise are false. This reality plays out in divine or human court. People can argue our opinions, but they will find a difficult time arguing our story. We have power at our disposal when we share our narrative.
The Nature of Testimony
A testimony is a public declaration of what God has done in your life. It’s not just about the words spoken, but the power and impact they carry. When we testify, we share God’s goodness and faithfulness, encouraging others and giving glory to God.
Testimonies have the power to:
- Inspire faith in those who hear
- Build hope in desperate situations
- Defeat the enemy through declaration of God’s victory
- Encourage fellow believers in their journey
- Give glory to God for His faithfulness
The Biblical Foundation of Testimony
Your story is powerful. Testimony bears witness to truth. Don’t ever take your story for granted. There is a biblical concept of testimony that can help you understand why you have a story to share.
Scripture tells us that our story begins with God’s story. There is a large, grand story that has happened before us, now, and will happen for all eternity. God has a testimony and His story ripples and echoes into all spaces.
Testimony as a Weapon of Victory
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” — Revelation 12:11
This means that the word of our testimony is a weapon - a weapon of victory that brings us into our ordained position as overcomers. As Christians, we are encouraged daily to use our testimony together with the name of Jesus as a weapon to wage war against Satan and his cohorts.
The power of testimony lies in:
- Its authenticity - it’s your personal experience
- Its uniqueness - no one else has your exact story
- Its relatability - others can connect with your struggles and victories
- Its divine backing - God honors the testimony of His works
Biblical Examples: “This Is My Story”
David - From Shepherd to King
1 Samuel 16:1-13 - David could testify of God’s unexpected choice, anointing him as king while he was just a shepherd boy tending his father’s sheep.
Mephibosheth - From Exile to Royal Table
2 Samuel 9:1-13 - Mephibosheth could testify of King David’s kindness, bringing him from a place of hiding and fear to eat at the king’s table like one of his sons.
The Prodigal Son - From Waste to Welcome
Luke 15:11-32 - He could testify of a father’s unconditional love, welcoming him home despite his rebellious past and wasteful living.
The Gadarene Demoniac - From Torment to Testimony
Mark 5:1-20 - He could testify of Jesus’ delivering power, freeing him from legion of demons and restoring him to sound mind.
Cornelius the Centurion - From Gentile to Gospel
Acts 10 - He could testify of God’s inclusive love, opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles through divine vision and encounter.
The Woman at the Well - From Shame to Sharing
John 4:1-42 - She could testify of Jesus’ acceptance and revelation, transforming her from an outcast to an evangelist in her community.
The Man Born Blind - From Darkness to Declaration
John 9 - He could testify of Jesus’ healing power, giving him sight both physically and spiritually, despite religious opposition.
Saul to Apostle Paul - From Persecutor to Preacher
Philippians 3:3-9, Acts 22:1-4 - Paul could testify of Christ’s transforming power, changing him from a persecutor of Christians to their greatest advocate.
The Philippian Jailer - From Despair to Deliverance
Acts 16:25-34 - He could testify of God’s supernatural intervention, saving his family and bringing salvation to his household.
You and Me - From Death to Life
Ephesians 2:1-13, 1 Peter 2:9-10 - We can testify of God’s grace, bringing us from spiritual death to eternal life, from darkness to His marvelous light.
The Personal Application: Our Song of Testimony
Where would we be if we haven’t had an encounter with God? Like a song reminds us: “Naglalaro sa hangin ang buhay ko; di alam kung saan ang tungo. Sumasabay sa agos ng mundong ito; akoy gulong gulo… Nasaan kaya ako, Hesus kung wala ka. Di ko na malaman kung saan ako pupunta…”
We all have our own side of the coin. We all have our stories; our testimonies; our song. The Word encourages us to always be ready to give an answer to every query.
The Command to Share Our Story
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” — 1 Peter 3:15
This scripture gives us clear instruction:
- Sanctify the Lord in our hearts - make Jesus Lord of our lives
- Be ready always - maintain constant preparedness to share
- Give an answer - provide a clear response about our faith
- To every man - be willing to share with anyone who asks
- The reason of hope - explain why we have hope in Christ
- With meekness and fear - share with humility and reverence
The Elements of Effective Testimony
An effective testimony includes:
- What your life was like before Christ - your struggles, emptiness, searching
- How you encountered Christ - the moment of realization, surrender, salvation
- What your life is like now - the transformation, peace, purpose, hope
- What Christ means to you - personal relationship, daily guidance, eternal security
The Transformative Power of Sharing
When we share our testimony, several things happen:
- We encourage others who may be facing similar struggles
- We give glory to God for His faithfulness and power
- We strengthen our own faith by remembering God’s goodness
- We participate in spiritual warfare by declaring God’s victory
- We fulfill the Great Commission by being witnesses for Christ
Overcoming Through Testimony
The blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony work together to bring victory. The blood represents Christ’s finished work on the cross, while our testimony represents the ongoing evidence of that work in our lives.
Our testimony becomes a weapon because:
- It declares God’s power over impossibility
- It proclaims His love over rejection
- It announces His light over darkness
- It reveals His life over death
- It demonstrates His hope over despair
A Declaration of Identity
Make this declaration: “I am no longer condemned, I am what God says I am, I have what God says I have and I can do what God says I can do, in Jesus’ name. Amen!”
This declaration reflects our transformed identity:
- No longer condemned - Romans 8:1, no condemnation in Christ Jesus
- What God says I am - chosen, beloved, redeemed, called, victorious
- What God says I have - eternal life, peace, joy, purpose, inheritance
- What God says I can do - all things through Christ who strengthens us
The Ripple Effect of Your Story
Remember that your story is part of God’s larger story. When you share your testimony:
- You become part of the great cloud of witnesses
- You contribute to the ongoing narrative of God’s faithfulness
- You inspire others to recognize God’s work in their own lives
- You participate in the eternal story of redemption
Your testimony is not just your story - it’s God’s story lived through you.
Conclusion: The Song That Must Be Sung
This is your story; this is your song - the unique melody of God’s grace played out in your individual life. No one else can sing your song or tell your story with the same authenticity and power that you can.
In this season of unfolding God’s abounding blessing, let us recognize that our personal testimonies are themselves abundant blessings - not just for us, but for everyone who needs to hear of God’s transforming power.
Your story matters. It has the power to:
- Break chains of bondage in others
- Inspire faith in the doubtful
- Bring hope to the hopeless
- Demonstrate God’s reality to the skeptical
- Encourage the weary in their journey
Be ready always to give an answer for the hope that is in you. Your testimony is one of the most powerful tools God has given you for evangelism, encouragement, and spiritual warfare.
Let your song be sung, let your story be told - for the glory of God and the blessing of others who desperately need to hear that if God can transform your life, He can transform theirs too.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” — 1 Peter 2:9
This is your story; this is your song - a testimony of God’s marvelous light shining in the darkness of your past and illuminating the hope of your future!