Testimonies make great "sermons"

{This post was actually composed several months ago.  I'm not sure why I never posted it, besides  the  fact that I just didn't feel like doing so at the time.  Anyway, the timing seemed right this morning, so here it is!}

.........................................................................................................

Over the course of the past couple of months our church has been blessed to hear personal testimonies from guest speakers in our evening service.  We listened attentively as they recounted the seemingly tragic details, yet they stood before us giving God glory and praise for his strength and goodness.

They had been changed through these difficult experiences, but they understood that God, in his sovereignty, meant it for good.

What an amazing "sermon" they preach.  Those who have lived for God and seen his power at work in their hearts and in their lives.  It encourages us in our faith and motivates us to serve the Lord with an even greater level of devotion and fervency.

I love testimony time!  We should definitely do it more often.  And not just with guest speakers but in the context of our own congregation.  These times are so edifying.

On a similar note, the children and I have been reading through a Christian biography about Ira Sankey.  He worked with D.L. Moody in ministry many years ago  He is known for "singing the gospel" and had the gift of an amazing singing voice.

They had been praying for revival...that more people would come to know Jesus and live for him...and not much seemed to be happening.  Sankey was beginning to feel discouraged and he shared this with Moody.  Moody, however, was confident that God would complete the work that he had began through them.

In the following excerpt from the book, one man's testimony was used of God in a very remarkable way...

A week later, Moody opened another noon prayer meeting 
with the usual offer to speak of God's working in 
their lives.  To Ira's surprise, a man stood.

"For two days I have been away from the meetings, 
closeted with my Master," he said.

Ira was sitting far to the front but was enough 
to one side to turn his neck hard and see the 
man's face. It was the Rev. F.B. Meyer, the 
young pastor of a large Baptist congregation
in New York.

"I think He has had the victory over my 
arrogance and pride," Meyer said.  "And 
I believe I have made a full surrender
of all to Him."

The room was quiet, but not the usual 
stoic absence of sound.  It was a hushed,
anticipating quiet.

Meyer had stopped and was swallowing hard.  
Finally, he spoke again.

"Will you pray for me, friends?  I dearly 
long for the Spirit's blessing on every
word that comes from my mouth."

Ira may have imagined it, but the murmured 
prayers that afternoon seemed energized by 
a greater intensity than he had yet seen
in England.  Meyer's humble admission 
and obvious joy at his renewed relationship 
with Christ seemed to stir hearts in a way 
that the preaching and songs had not yet done.

That one public submission to repentance 
soon turned into the flood Moody had 
been expecting.  Hearts softened and 
word spread.  Shortly the noon meetings 
were filled to capacity.  People were 
turned away every evening and more workers 
were needed each night to meet people in the 
inquiry rooms.

Moody rejoiced in the crowds coming to hear
of the Savior.  But he never stopped calling 
for more to come, knowing that scores remained 
in ignorance about the state of their own souls.

I remember the smiles that Amera and I exchanged when we came to this point in the book.  It's precious to  read about those who have gone before us and see how God could use a testimony as a means to help others see their need for him. 

Has your life ever been deeply touched through the testimony of God's work in another persons heart and life?

How might God use your testimony to impact the lives of others?

{excerpt is from the book entitled "Ira Sankey, Singing the Gospel, by Kelley Deegan Bruss, BJU Press 2010}

Note: Testimonies we heard were from Matt Templeton and Steve Scheibner.