The Power of Your Personal Testimony

“But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!’ And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’

They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.”  Acts 16:25-34

The whole courtroom audience was spellbound by the story being recounted by the witness. It all seemed so plain now that they heard the whole story from this person who was an eyewitness. The verdict? “Not guilty, your honor!”

What turned the tide? Just moments before, everyone was ready to send the accused to prison, but now he was being embraced and restored to his life as a free man! The reason? The testimony of an eyewitness.

How powerful the testimony of an eyewitness! But there is another sphere of life which greatly needs a word of testimony - those who need to hear how a life can be changed from a living nightmare to a joy-filled, peaceful, and meaningful life of purpose when surrendered to Christ.

Those around you are listening; they are waiting to hear to testimony of your witness, so they can make their judgement as to the place of Christ in their own lives. Don’t fail them by withholding evidence, by refusing to give an answer for the hope within you. Boldly proclaim the liberating truth that Jesus saves, and help every man and woman make their decision based on your witness.

The first century Christians turned their world upside down through their witness.