The Power of Your Testimony

Have you ever felt like your story was too messy for God to use? Or maybe not exciting enough?

Maybe you’ve thought that your past mistakes or the things you’ve been through have put you on the sidelines of God’s plan, making you feel more like a benchwarmer.

You watch others who seem to have it all together, and you wonder if you’ll ever get a chance to be in the starting lineup.

Or you’ve not been through difficulty or heartache and think your story isn’t messy enough to get people’s attention when you share the gospel.

But what if I told you that God doesn’t see it that way? What if your story, with all its ups and downs, or lack thereof, is exactly what God wants to use to reach people you could never imagine?

In the book of Acts, chapter 22, we find the Apostle Paul standing before a crowd, sharing his story.

Now, Paul wasn’t always the hero of the faith we know him to be. He had a past—a messy one.

He was a Pharisee, deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, and he was passionate about persecuting Christians.

But here’s the amazing part: Paul didn’t hide from his past. He owned it. He used it as a platform to connect with others, especially those who seemed unreachable.

Today, we’re going to see how God can use our stories, no matter how messy or mundane they might seem.

We’ll see that our past doesn’t disqualify us; instead, it can be the very thing that opens someone else’s heart to Jesus.

So, as we hear from Paul, I want you to think about your own past. What parts of your past have you been hiding?

What if those are the very parts God wants to use?

Let’s see together how our stories have a mission, the power of your testimony, and how God can use them to make a difference in the world.

Let’s take a look at the first five verses of chapter 22.

Acts 22:1–5 NKJV

1 “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: 3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

I. Own Your Past - God Can Redeem It (1-5)

Here we see Paul standing before a crowd, and he starts by sharing his background.

Paul has just been rescued from the mob by the soldiers. Now he decides it’s time to speak up. We see that in the last few verses of chapter 21. And the commander is amazed that his dangerous criminal could speak Greek. He had Paul confused with a dangerous leader of assassins from the area.

Paul is given permission to address the crowd. So he stands up at the top of the stairs, motioned with his hand to the crowd. Slowly, the noise of the crowd begins to settle, eventually there’s deafening silence.

Then Paul speaks to them in the Hebrew language. The language of the people.

He tells them about his past.

He uses the word in verse 3 which means "brought up" or "educated."

This tells us that Paul was deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition. He wasn’t just a casual observer; he was trained by Gamaliel, one of the most respected rabbis of the time. Paul was a Pharisee, a religious leader, passionate and zealous, and he even persecuted Christians, thinking he was doing the right thing.

Now, why does Paul start here? Why does he bring up his past, especially the parts that aren’t so flattering?

It’s because he knows that owning his past is the key to connecting with his audience.

He’s saying, “I was one of you.” He doesn’t run from his past; he uses it to build a bridge.

Paul understands that what he once thought disqualified him is now the very thing that allows him to reach others.

So, what does this mean for us? Many of us have parts of our past that we’d rather forget.

We think that if people knew the real story, they’d never listen to us.

But here’s the truth: God can redeem every part of our story. The things we think disqualify us might be the very things that open someone else’s heart to Jesus. When we own our past, we allow God to use it for His glory.

This week, I challenge you to take a step of faith.

Write out your “before Christ” story. Not the cleaned-up version—the real one.

Even if you think it’s boring. That’s ok. Boring is not all that bad. Especially if the person you’re sharing the gospel with thinks they’ve led a pretty good life and don’t need forgiveness for anything.

Be honest about where you’ve been and what you’ve done. Because when you own your past, you give God the opportunity to redeem it and use it to reach others.

Remember, your story has a mission, and God can use every part of it.

Now, let’s move on. Here’s where Paul’s story gets real interesting. Let’s take a look.

Acts 22:6–16 NKJV

6 “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

Paul shares with the crowd the amazing moment when he met Jesus, literally.

He describes how a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him, how he was blinded and humbled, and how his life was forever changed.

To some, this phrase in verse 16 “wash away your sins,” and “calling on His name” seems to suggest that baptism is required for the washing away of our sins, but that’s not the case.

In his Expanded Translation of the New Testament, Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest puts it, “Having arisen, be baptized and wash away your sins, having previously called upon His Name.”

We are saved by calling on the Lord by faith (Acts 2:21; 9:14), and we give evidence of that faith by being baptized.

The key word here is in verse 16, "epikalesamenos," which in the construction of the verb, means "having called on His name."

This shows us that Paul was saved by calling on Jesus, not by any ritual or act. His story is miraculous, but the thing that really matters is that Jesus met him personally.

Now, you might be thinking, “My story isn’t as dramatic as Paul’s.”

And that’s okay. The power of your story isn’t in the fireworks; it’s in the transformation.

People might argue about theology or doctrine, but they can’t argue with your personal experience.

Your story is unique, and it’s powerful because it’s yours. God is in the details of your life, and He uses those details to show others who He is. So…

II. Tell Your Story - God is in the Details (6-16)

So, how do we tell our story? It’s simple.

Break it down into three parts: Before Christ, How I Met Christ, and Life After Christ.

Before Christ, share what your life was like and what you struggled with.

How I Met Christ, talk about the moment or process when you realized you needed Jesus.

Life After Christ, describe how your life has changed since then. It doesn’t have to be dramatic; it just has to be real.

This week, I encourage you to practice telling your story.

Share it with a friend or family member. Remember, God is in the details, and your story has the power to touch someone’s heart.

When you tell your story, you’re not just sharing your life; you’re sharing the hope and transformation that only Jesus can bring.

Now, let’s look at the third main thing we see.

Acts 22:17–21 NKJV

17 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

Paul talks about a vision he had while praying in the temple.

In this vision, God tells him, "I will send you far away to the Gentiles."

The key word here is in verse 21, “exapostellō," meaning "I will send you out." Paul is literally being sent out as an apostle, and God’s plan for him is not just local—it’s global.

Now, God may not be sending you out as an apostle to foreign mission fields. But whatever or wherever it is…

III. Embrace Your Mission - God Has a Bigger Plan (17-21)

Think about this for a moment. Paul, a former Pharisee who once persecuted Christians, is now being called to reach the Gentiles, people he never would have associated with before.

This was a radical mission, and it didn’t make sense to everyone around him.

In fact, when Paul mentioned the word "Gentiles," as we’ll see next week, the crowd listening to him became furious. But Paul understood that God’s mission for his life was bigger than his own plans or the expectations of others.

Had Paul left that part out of his testimony, he might have been released after a while. And he probably knew it.

But he had to be faithful to the truth and be transparent, not glossing over anything.

What does this mean for us?

Sometimes, God calls us to step out of our comfort zones and into places that might make others uncomfortable.

He might ask us to reach out to people who are different from us or to serve in ways that don’t make sense to those around us.

But here’s the thing: God’s plan is bigger than our understanding, and He has a unique mission for each of us.

So, who are the "Gentiles" in your life?

Who are the people God might be calling you to love, serve, and share with—especially those who are often overlooked?

This week, take some time to pray and ask God to show you who He wants you to reach.

Remember, your mission might not make sense to others, but it’s not their mission—it’s yours.

Embrace it, because God has a bigger plan, and He wants to use you to make a difference in the world.

Conclusion:

As we wrap up today, I want you to remember this: Your story is more than just a collection of past events. It’s a powerful tool that God wants to use to make a difference in the world.

Just like Paul, your past can be redeemed, your story matters, and your life has a mission.

Think about Paul’s journey. He went from being a persecutor of Christians to one of the most influential apostles in history.

Why? Because he owned his past, he told his story, and he embraced his mission. And the same God who worked through Paul is ready to work through you.

You might feel like your story is too messy or too ordinary, but God sees it differently.

He sees the potential for transformation and impact. Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things for good for those who love Him. Your story, with all its ups and downs, is part of that "all things."

So, as you go into this week, I challenge you: Don’t edit your story. Don’t minimize your past. Don’t doubt your mission.

God wants to use your story to change someone else’s life. Be bold. Be courageous. Share your story with someone who needs to hear it.

Let’s pray together for the courage to be that kind of witness. Let’s ask God to open our eyes to the opportunities around us and to give us the words to speak when the time comes.

Remember, your story has a mission, and God is ready to use it in ways you can’t even imagine.