Remembering Your Testimony

Lesson One of REMEMBER. RECORD. RECITE.

Matthew 28:19-20 contains what has come to be called the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV) Jesus gave this command to the apostles shortly before He ascended into heaven, and it essentially outlines what He expected His disciples to do in His absence.

The Great Commission instructs us to “make disciples.” This requires active participation. How are we to make disciples according to scripture? By baptizing them and teaching them all that Jesus commanded. Many also understand Acts 1:8 (ESV) as part of the Great Commission: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

What are we to be witnesses of? In a court of law, you can only testify to something you’ve seen, experienced, or have personal knowledge of. That means we are to be witnesses to God’s active participation in our own lives.

Giving an effective testimony starts with having the facts straight and being able to remember them with clear and concise details. Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” (NIV) If Jesus were on trial and you were called into court to be an eyewitness, could you remember all that the Lord has done for you? Christ Jesus is on trial every day in our culture. Haven’t you witnessed His grace and mercy in your life over and over?

Being a good witness means being prepared (recording your testimony). 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs us to be ready “in season and out of season.” It also means being able to communicate or recite your testimony effectively. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) says, “Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.” This makes your testimony, your story. And when your story is intertwined with His story, that makes it the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 145:3-5 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate.” (ESV)

From the very beginning and throughout Israel’s history, God made a habit of building monuments and establishing symbols that record and remind His people of His grace, which is to be a testimony to future generations.

Some examples are:

In Joshua 4:1-8, God instructed Joshua to have the Israelites take twelve stones from the Jordan Riverbed to serve as a memorial. These stones were to remind future generations of how God had miraculously parted the river, allowing them to pass over on dry ground.

Do you have any ‘stones of remembrance?’ For me, it’s a folded piece of paper in my wallet with a long list of miracles from my life. From being robbed at gunpoint, to God saving my marriage, just to name a few. I want to have my ‘stones of remembrance’ easily accessible.

It shouldn’t escape any of us that being a witness and testifying of God’s grace and mercy often arise from Satan’s assaults, and personal failures. Your testimony becomes more than just your salvation story. It’s very important to God, to others, and to us that we remember all that Christ’s justification and sanctification does within us.

Most of our suffering may be difficult to forget, although some painful memories diminish over time. However, it’s important to focus on the benefits we’ve received by God’s grace and mercy during those times of suffering. Remembering helps us to build an ever-growing testimony and keeps us in a posture of gratitude. 1 John 5:10 says, “Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son.” (ESV)

The spiritual benefits, which we will cover in Lesson Three, vary from person to person. One of the most important benefits is expressed in 1 Peter 1:7 (ESV), “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” So, our faith in Christ is strengthened through testing by fire. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” So, all circumstances, desserts or gardens, should cause us to be thankful, giving praise and glory and honor to Jesus.

Now, Satan wants you to focus only on the suffering. However, remembering our suffering while focusing on the spiritual benefits allows us to glorify Jesus and overcome Satan! Revelation 12:11 (ESV) says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” God wants you to remember the suffering but focus on His spiritual benefits. 

Remembering what the Lord has done for us helps us to share the gospel, personally, and in a clear and concise manner. Faith without works is useless (James 2:20). Our faith is the “evidence of things not seen,” yet seen in our obedience (Hebrews 11:1). And trusting in God’s word means obeying God’s word.

Philemon 1:6 (ESV) says, “And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” So, we need to be active witnesses of God’s grace and mercy in Christ. Sharing our stories is our act of faith and obedience. So, take time to remember all that the Lord has done for you. You never know who might need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ through your story.

Project One:

Do you have stones of remembrance? Start with prayer. Then, with a heart of gratitude, ask the Holy Spirit to help you write down two or three testimonies that reveal God’s active participation in your life. Just a paragraph each is fine. Try to include one key scripture.

Example: “God provided a vehicle when I had none.”

I didn’t had a car to get to work. The engine block cracked, and I couldn’t afford to replace it. After stressing about it for days, I was reminded by wonderful friends that the Bible says, “my God shall supply all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Although I had to take the bus to work, I kept praying, and my faith in Christ grew as a result. After a month, a kindly older gentleman, handed me keys and said, the Lord told me to give you this car. After thanking the man, and thanking the Lord, I realized that my time on the bus allowed me to share Christ, and pray with several people, one of whom had cancer.

Lesson Two: Chapters of your Testimony

Learn how to structure your testimony effectively in easy-to-understand Chapters. Lesson Two lays out key principles to share your story concisely, connect with others emotionally, and glorify God through your experiences.