Testify

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Revelation 12:11 NKJV

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Testify

Have you ever experienced a time when somebody's story moved you so much that it changed your perspective on God's grace? Maybe it was a story of healing, recovery, or redemption—someone who had been through unspeakable horror yet stood before you, revealing how they survived. A personal testimony is uniquely powerful. It is more than just a story, but it is real, tangible evidence of God's intervention in the lives of regular people.

I hear people's stories all the time. Sometimes, when I hear a person tell their story, I am amazed at the grace of God that has been with that person. I listened to the story of a woman – she was an abuse survivor who had gone on to overcome the horro of her past. She stood before me, living proof that God's grace in a human heart could bring healing and transformation. It was her witness – her testimony – that struck me. That's how I became a testimony-minded person. But why? A testimony is not like any other personal narrative. It says more than that God showed up. A testimony bespeaks God's activity: not some vague essence of the deity, but personal work in personal lives.

More than a decade ago, a guy named James (name changed) was living a life of addiction. It had already ruined his relationships with family and friends, destroyed his career, and robbed him of hope. He had lost his way so many times it seemed like he was constantly hovering over rock bottom. But then, one day, it all changed. He walked into a little recovery group meeting and encountered Jesus. For the first time in his life, he really surrendered. Christ showed up in his sin-sick world and shattered the chains of his addiction.

Years later, James stood before a congregation, sharing his testimony. He didn't have polished words or fancy theology; he spoke from the heart. As he shared how Christ had broken his chains, people in the audience were moved to tears. His testimony was like a key that unlocked something in others—a hope that if God could free him, He could free them, too.

That's the power of a testimony. A testimony is more than just telling others what happened to us, where we were, and what we went through; it also points them to the One who made it all possible. "They overpowered him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witness." (Revelation 12:11.)

We know the blood of the Lamb: Jesus' sacrifice overcame sin and death. But what's the 'word of their testimony'? How does that spread the victory of Christ? A Testimony is nothing less than the verbal re-presentation of the victory of Christ in our lives. In other words, it's the words that carry the testimony of Christ's presence in one person's life into the lives of others.

A Testimony downplays storytelling in favor of the verbal impartation of the gospel into someone else's life. It's how a witness both gets and gives people hope and the means of establishing the freedom and healing that follow.

I want to invite you to join me today to explore what such a sharing of testimony might entail—what it might mean to declare what God has done for us: "When on the Cross he took the pain and made the way and broke the chains and shook the prison"—and to understand why such a sharing might be significant—not only for us but for those who need to hear.

The Power of Testimony: Understanding the Impact of Sharing Our Stories

A testimony involves being willing to open up ourselves before others to show them how God's grace has been at work in us. These aspects of testimony make it a powerful thing: it is authentic, it is personal, it is real, and their lives are touched. In Wesleyan theology, the 'word of our testimony' is not merely the words we speak. It's the evidence of a life transformed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ. It's not simply a verbal confession; it's the lived experience of God's love, grace, and power working in and through us. Sharing one's faith as testimony does not necessarily take the form of a verbal confession, a conscious decision, or a success story of the past. It is the power and reality of God's love, grace, and power at work in you.

Our scripture text from Revelation 12:11

Revelation 12:11 NKJV

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

This verse alludes to the spiritual battle raging in all of us and extols the power of testimony to overcome the powers of darkness. Wesley believed that conquest over sin and evil for every person requires two elements: the blood of the Lamb, that is, Christ's atoning death, which has abolished the power of sin, and the word of our testimony, that is, a declaration of how God's victory has become a living reality in our lives.

The practice of testimony in the Wesleyan tradition comes from our experience of grace; in John Wesley's words, it's about 'experiential religion,' the experience of God's grace, and our own participation in that grace in our daily lives.

The new birth itself — the justifying work of our salvation when Jesus said in John 3:6 “6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” happens every time we repeat that action. We are justified that very minute. This is why we can say, 'I once was lost, but now I am found.' The penalty of sin was paid in Christ's blood, which covers you in your newness.

But wait, there's more! While evangelicals often preach on the one-time verdict of salvation, Wesleyan theology insists on the twofold nature of Christian perfection. The ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, who works within us toward a "definitive" sanctification that results in an enduring degree of spiritual maturity and Christlikeness, transforms us in addition to washing us with the "Blood of the Lamb."

Our testimony is not simply that of what occurred when we got saved but rather concerns how this experience has led to an ongoing sanctification to bring about holiness, love, and grace. This includes daily victories over sinful temptation as the believer grows in grace and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Wesleyan theology emphasizes an ongoing process of sanctification, where the heart is continually perfected in love for God and others. This perfection is not about achieving sinlessness or the absence of human weakness but about being free from willful sin and increasingly reflecting God's love. It focuses less on the condemnation of residual sin and more on the gradual evidence of God's transformative power at work in us as we strive to live holy and obedient lives.

Our testimony, however, is not only what happened back then – it's what's still happening now. It's a story of continuing grace still unfolding, waking up, and becoming more like Christ daily.

Wesley believed believers are never left to fight the battle against sin alone. God's grace enables us to overcome sin, temptation, and the world. This victory is experienced in our lives and embodied in our 'testimony.'

Our victory is the work of Christ upon the cross. Wesley taught that it's in Christ that we find deliverance: 'The death of Christ alone delivers us . . . No deliverance is anticipated but from the blood of the Lamb.' So, 'God has chosen us in Christ.'

This is not where the story of the Christian's testimony ends, though. When you say, 'Yes, I fell, but yes, Jesus picked me up, ' your witness is that his victory over sin is real, and that is played out in your life. Wesley preached of 'Christian perfection'—the possibility of being 'perfected in love,' with the potential for a holy, perfectly happy state of existence' through sanctifying grace, which he believed we could experience here on earth—where we're free from the control of willful sin and able to walk in holiness and love. Not perfect, in the sense that we never make mistakes. We will never be perfect in ourselves. But we testify that God can perfect us if we want him to. We can move into the victory.

Picture throwing a stone into a pond. Its ripples spread out in every direction farther than the eye can see. The same is true of your testimony. You might never know how many people are helped by your story of what God has done, but he makes it spread hope, healing, and transformation.

As you share your lives and your testimonies, you can produce something that's more than words in a conversation: your story can encourage the hurting, remind the wandering that there is hope, and tangibly recall that God is still working. Testimony is the grace of God in motion. It's the unseen effect that ripples out when you share your story.

Wesley was convinced that testimony is communal, personal, and missional. Members of the early Methodist societies met regularly to hear each other's stories about how God's grace was at work in their lives. Testimonies edified one another and reminded believers that grace was at work not just in life's triumphs but also in its struggles.

Testimonies are not just individual stories, but narratives to be shared with the church community. In the phrase from Revelation 12:11, the 'word of their testimony' is not just one person's witness, but the collective voice of the entire community. When we share our stories with each other, we strengthen our communal life as Christians, building each other up and enriching the body of Christ.

Your testimony has a missional purpose. It isn't just for us—it is for sharing the Gospel. Demonstrating one's experience is an invitational act, calling others to join in the transformative work of God's grace. Sharing our testimony is to let our light shine before others and show them the way to Jesus.

The second part of Revelation 12:11 reads: 'they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death'. Many of those early believers paid what some of us today almost feel uncomfortable calling the cost of discipleship, for following Christ inevitably comes with a price.

But for us and other believers, even if we don't fear violent persecution, telling our story may still be a step out of our comfort zone. It might feel like too much of a risk or vulnerability to talk about our struggles and what God has done for us. The Christian's testimony is an act of sacrifice to the Lord—we should share the gospel if we believe God will use it, even though it is uncomfortable.

There is power in the word of our testimony: not just as witnessed in past salvation from sin and death, but by attesting in every moment, by grace and as strengthened in the Spirit, to sanctification in progress for the witness of a holy people. It is not an empty talking point but a living testimony, not a story, but a sword with which we can continue to fight sinister wolves and share the good news of the grace of God.

Boldly Testifying: Overcoming Fear and Sharing How Christ Has Changed Our Lives

Sharing our testimony can be scary. Some of us get tongue-tied. We might question if our story is exciting enough. Will anybody listen? But the right perspective keeps our testimonies focused on God, which takes the pressure off us. Are you talking about something God has brought about in your life? Then that's not just about you. That's about the work of Christ. We want people actually to see the reality of God's work in us.

The Wesleyan appeal to testimony rests on the authority of one experiencing the grace of God, but as it is to be shared, faith in God—the central aspect of our humanity—is immediately established in a community of faith. What's the next step toward establishing that community? How does one set aside the reticence or nervousness we sometimes feel about sharing our faith?

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

This verse reminds us that sharing our testimony is not as much about standing in front of a crowd and saying something as it is about living in a way that your life demonstrates God at work. We are to be 'ready to defend our hope: a reason for the hope that lies within us – and perhaps most importantly – with 'meekness and fear.' To share your story is an act of love. To share your story is to invite others to see how God's grace carried you when things were amazing and how his grace carried you when things were not.

Most of us balk at the idea of sharing our testimony because of fear: we don't think we're good enough, or that we'll be rejected, or that we'll stumble over our words. While knowing what to say is helpful, what's more helpful than the most perfect phrase is the willingness to speak from the heart, to simply share the truth of what God has done in your life. You might have the grandest or flattest testimony in the world – either way, it's just your testimony that will sustain someone.

Consider the people in the Bible who proclaim the gospel: none of them were preachers or theologians. They were simple men and women reporting on the difference that Jesus made to their lives – the Samaritan woman by the well (John 4:29 “29 “Come and see a man who has told me everything I’ve done! Could this man be the Christ?”” She had nothing prepared; that is just what Jesus did for her, and her testimony brought them to Christ.

Suppose you suddenly find yourself in a room full of people. The lights go off, and the room goes dark. Everyone begins to stumble around, not knowing what to do. Then, one person lights a candle. That singular light draws everyone's attention, mainly because no light was available before the candle was lit. No one is all that concerned with how large the candle is or how intense the flame is; they just know that there is a light.

Your testimony is the light in the darkness. You might think that what happened in your life is not valuable enough, or not dramatic enough, to serve here for somebody else, but even a candle in the darkness can help guide someone who is lost. You don't need to have visited the Holy Land, attend a University, or the most beautiful church on a Sunday morning. All you need is a story – 'Here is how Christ became a light in my life – I know he wants to be a light in your life too.' And even a little light is better than none.

Your testimony is about God's power, not yours. Other times, we hold onto our testimony as if it's our own, as if it's not good enough that we deny God or ourselves, but we also need to prove worthy in our own account. 'Please, don't let anyone see me…' We don't tell our story because we've done a lot, or our story sounds like a great adventure. We tell our story because that's how God's grace continues to work in us. Wesleyan theology reminds us that when testifying, we're praising God for His grace in His work in us, not boasting about what we've done. So we begin with words like: 'Grace saved me, because…' Grace saved me, because I denied Satan. Grace saved me, because I denied the world. Grace saved me, because I denied myself. But you are not the hero; no one else is the hero; I am not the hero. God is the hero.

Maybe your story isn't filled with action, but let's be honest and genuine. Your story of how God gave you peace in the midst of a storm or who was steady and faithful through a broken relationship or set of decisions – this is real. This is a real story. This is something to be thankful for. This is a testament to God's faithfulness and work in your life. There is nothing we need to hide – who we are and the stuff of which our stories are made – as long as all of it leads us toward the leading edge of grace.

This comes out strongly in Peter's words here in this verse. This reminds us that when you share your testimony, you are not necessarily looking for a 'teachable moment' so that you can launch into a scheduled gospel presentation. Instead, our aim is to live in such a way that your life becomes a testimony. When others – at work, school, in the marketplace – see how you deal with hardships and successes, they'll ask why. Then you can share the hope that you have in Jesus Christ.

In this Wesleyan sense, this is part of living out your sanctification—of shining through in all that you are and all that you do, the work of grace being accomplished in you, of the way of life in holiness and love that God intends you to embody. Your life becomes a window onto the unfolding of his work of grace in you.

You don't have to fill up your testimony with lots of words; you simply need to be willing to step out and testify, fear and all. It could be the humblest, simplest story of God's grace that might bring a ray of hope into someone's despair. When our lives bear witness that God's grace has saved us, it gives others the opportunity to reflect on their own lives and what they're lacking. When you share your testimony of God's working in your life, you are a conduit of God's love. So don't hold back your story. In your willingness to tell others about the hope that lives within you, you may be witnessing to the One who will be your everything for eternity.

As we wrap up this message and this series, I want to remind us of the incredible journey we've been on. We've seen how Jesus is our Pain Taker, Way Maker, Chain Breaker, and Prison-Shaking Savior. We've explored how He sets us free from the things that bind us—whether it's sin, addiction, fear, or doubt. But today, I want to challenge us to take this freedom one step further—to live in it and to share it with others.

Freedom in Christ is not a one-time experience; it's a daily walk. It's about standing firm in the truth that Jesus has already broken our chains. It's about trusting that, no matter what we face, we don't have to return to the prison of our past.

Imagine what your life could look like if, every day, you embraced the freedom Christ offers. What if you stepped forward in faith instead of falling back into old fears? What if instead of letting past sins define you, you allowed God's grace to lead you into the new life He's promised?

This is the life Christ calls us to. A life not just of avoiding sin but of stepping boldly into the fullness of the freedom He's given us—a life of joy, purpose, and peace. A life where we are free to serve others, love deeply, and live as a testimony of God's grace.

But here's the thing—this freedom isn't just for us. It's meant to be shared. Remember what we talked about earlier: your testimony is like a light in the darkness. It might be a small light, but even the smallest light can guide someone who's lost.

When we share our stories of how Christ has changed us, we offer that same freedom to others. We say, "Look at what God has done in my life. He can do it for you, too." Your story—no matter how simple or complex—is a testimony of God's love and power. And when you share it, you give others the chance to experience the same hope and transformation.

So, here's the final challenge: Will you live in the freedom Christ has given you, and will you be bold enough to share it with others?

As Galatians 5:1 reminds us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Jesus didn't set you free, so you could stay quiet or keep it to yourself. He set you free so you could live fully in that freedom and invite others to experience it, too.

We've been talking a lot about the power of testimony, and the truth is, your testimony has the power to change lives. People around you are hungry for hope. They're desperate to know that change is possible. And your story—your honest, authentic testimony—might be the very thing God uses to bring them to Him.

So, let's commit today to living in the freedom Christ has won for us and to boldly testify to what He has done. Let's be the people who share the good news of Jesus with those around us, not just with our words but with our lives.