The Power of a Personal Testimony

Dear Jerry,

We are making a few changes in our missions support.  Some will be effective for May, while the others will take effect in July.

First, Starting with the May, 2018 support please:

Increase  6411 B Daku, Paul Sr. to $300/month.

Bring  6408 Baptist Mid-Mission Support>Troy Manning,

6422 International Partnership Ministries Nao Andre,

Galatians 1:15 KJV 1900

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

      and 6421 International Partnership Ministries Lucian Saul

down to the percent level of giving all of our other missionaries. 

So, in summary, Paul Daku Sr. will get $300/monthly and all of our other missionaries will be split evenly with the giving. 

Secondly, starting with the July disbursement, we will no longer be supporting the following missionaries: 

6406 All Points Baptist Mission Support>Thurston Hassler

6407 Antioch New Testament Baptist Mission Support>Carl Bernard

6411 B Civale, Jim

Power of a personal testimony

6413 Death Unto Life Support

6415 FBMI Support - Juan Vallejo

6423 Leon Valley Baptist Church Support>John Robinson

No one can say it did not happen

So, to summarize, they will receive the last of our support with the June disbursement. 

No one can say its not true

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Also, please confirm you received and will process this email. 

You can talk about change and what God has done for you

Thanks!

1.  Use your testimony.

You have both current stories of God’s work in your life, as well as your conversion story.

Even if you had a less-than-dramatic experience in becoming a Christian, it is still important.

You can talk about how the Lord is changing your life on a daily basis.

Tell how He is helping you raise your children or do your job. This is particularly helpful if you sense a similar need in your friend.

Read  The power of personal testimony

You might want to think in terms of transformational stories, rather than testimony. Testimony may have been confined only to the conversion experience.  But we can talk of God’s current work in transforming our life today.

2. Your story has power.

First, it’s personal. You don’t have to memorize Bible verses, or worry about telling it correctly.

Second, it is conversational. It’s not a sermon. It can be shared over a cup of coffee or after a round of golf.

Third, no one can dispute it. If you have joy, peace, and love in your life as a result of knowing Christ, that will be evident.

Fourth, it is interesting. It’s natural for friends to want to know more about each other.

Even if your friend is antagonistic to the Gospel, he/she may still be interested in why you value your relationship with a man named Jesus.

3.  Plan your testimony.

You can use Paul’s testimony in as your outline.

(1) Tell about your life before Christ.

You don’t need to go into embarrassing detail, but you do need to be frank enough about your story so that those who hear it can compare the you back then with the you right now.

(2) Describe the conversion experience that you had.

Be honest and genuine and provide the relevant details. After all, this is when you receive the gift of eternal life.

(3) Explain what your life is like now.

What have you stopped doing, or started doing as a result of your new life?

If you need help developing your testimony, start with this Personal Evangelism Testimony Questionnaire

4. Point people to Jesus.

This is your story, but it has meaning only because Jesus is part of it. The purpose of your story is so that the other person will come to Christ.

The key question to keep in mind:

Where is Jesus in this story?  Where is the activity of God?

5.  Clearly explain the Gospel message.

Take pains to explain the Gospel clearly and simply.

Perhaps use one of the gospel scripts.

Make sure you know how to use a gospel script.

It’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of reliving your life-changing story, but the real story is the Gospel.

But be sensitive to the moment and discern if the Holy Spirit is opening the doors for this.

6. Share several key Scripture verses.

You’ll probably want to share ; ; ; ; and .

Add any favorite verses you may have.

Most gospel scripts have a string of verses that support their story.

7.  Avoid abstract Christian terms.

As a test, define the following terms as simply as you can, so your non-Christian friends understand them: saved, born again, sin, faith, repentance, receive Christ, lost, eternal life.

See my use of Christianese: What is a prayer burden?

8. Explain how you actually received Christ.

Share enough detail so the other person will know what to do if he/she has the desire to know Christ. Often, not knowing the logistics of receiving Christ keeps people from doing what their hearts long for.

For example, my friend last week asked me, How do I start following Christ – he wanted to know how to pray, how to receive that gift.  He actually asked me to help him pray.

Adapted from Sharing Christ When You Feel You Can’t by Daniel Owens.  Order your copy from Amazon.

I God Did It!

Galatians 1:11–12 KJV 1900

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The German philosopher Schopenhauer wrote, “We forfeit three-fourths of ourselves in order to be like other people.”

Francis Asbury, first bishop of the Methodist Church in the United States, once prayed at a deacon ordination, “O Lord, grant that these brethren may never want to be like other people.”

Of course, there is a wrong kind of individualism that destroys instead of fulfills; but in a society accustomed to interchanging parts, it is good to meet a man like Paul, who dared to be himself in the will of God.

But his freedom in Christ was a threat to those who found safety in conformity.

God had chosen to reveal in a different way to Paul. In , Paul stated his theme:

“He claims to be an apostle,” they argued, “but he does not stand in the apostolic tradition.” It is this misrepresentation that Paul answered in this section of Galatians. His nonconformity was divinely deliberate.

God had chosen to reveal in a different way to Paul. In , Paul stated his theme: His message and ministry were of divine origin. He did not invent the gospel, nor did he receive it from men; but he received the gospel from Jesus Christ.

in a different way to Paul. In , Paul stated his theme: His message and ministry were of divine origin. He did not invent the gospel, nor did he receive it from men; but he received the gospel from Jesus Christ. Both his message and his apostolic ministry were divinely given. Therefore, anybody who added anything to Paul’s gospel was in danger of divine judgment, because that gospel was given by Jesus Christ from heaven (). The best way for Paul to prove his point was to reach into his past and remind the Galatian Christians of the way God had dealt with him. Paul stated that his past life was already known to his readers (), but it was obvious that they did not fully understand what those experiences meant. So, Paul flashed on the screen three pictures from his past as evidence that his apostleship and his gospel were truly of God.

His message and ministry were of divine origin. He did not invent the gospel, nor did he receive it from men; but he received the gospel from Jesus Christ.

Both his message and his apostolic ministry were divinely given.

in a different way to Paul. In , Paul stated his theme: His message and ministry were of divine origin. He did not invent the gospel, nor did he receive it from men; but he received the gospel from Jesus Christ. Both his message and his apostolic ministry were divinely given. Therefore, anybody who added anything to Paul’s gospel was in danger of divine judgment, because that gospel was given by Jesus Christ from heaven (). The best way for Paul to prove his point was to reach into his past and remind the Galatian Christians of the way God had dealt with him. Paul stated that his past life was already known to his readers (), but it was obvious that they did not fully understand what those experiences meant. So, Paul flashed on the screen three pictures from his past as evidence that his apostleship and his gospel were truly of God.

II My Past

Galatians 1:13–14 KJV 1900

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

We all have past....

Some are wildly different and God rescued us from major trouble

Others it was a quiet story.

My past:

vs 13

He was persecuting the church and profiting and progressing in the Jewish religion. Everything was going his way, and he was rapidly being recognized as a spiritual leader in Israel.

It is interesting to note the words that are used to describe Paul’s activities when he was “Saul of Tarsus” persecuting the church. He “consented” to the murder of Stephen (see ), and then proceeded to “make havoc of the church” (see v. 3) by breaking up families and putting believers in prison.

The very atmosphere that he breathed was “threatening and slaughter” (9:1).

Acts 9:1 KJV 1900

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

So bent on destroying the church was Paul that he voted to kill the believers (22:4–5; 26:9–11). He mentioned these facts in his letters (; ; ), marveling that God could save such a sinner as he.

1 Timothy 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Steeped in Jewish tradition, young Saul of Tarsus championed his faith. His reputation as a zealous persecutor of “the sect of the Nazarenes” became known far and wide (see ).

“ Everybody knew that this brilliant student of Rabbi Gamaliel (22:3) was well on his way to becoming an influential leader of the Jewish faith.

His personal religious life, his scholarship (26:24), and his zeal in opposing alien religious faiths all combined to make him the most respected young rabbi of his day. “

Then something happened: Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of the church, became Paul the apostle, the preacher of the gospel. This change was not gradual; it happened suddenly and without warning ().

Acts 9:1–9 KJV 1900

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

What is the something that happened to you?

Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians; a few days later he was in Damascus preaching to the Jews that the Christians were right.

How could the Judaizers explain this sudden transformation? Was Saul’s remarkable “about-face” caused by his own people, the Jews? Unthinkable!

The Jews were encouraging Saul in his program of persecution, and his conversion was an embarrassment to them. Was Saul’s change caused by the Christians he was persecuting?

But if the amazing change in Paul was not caused by the Jews or the church, then who caused it? It had to have come from God!

No matter how you look at it, the conversion of Paul was a spiritual miracle. It was humanly impossible for Rabbi Saul to become the apostle Paul apart from the miracle of God’s grace. And the same God who saved Paul also called him to be an apostle and gave him the message of the gospel.

II My Conversion

Galatians 1:15–16 KJV 1900

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Whenever Paul spoke or wrote about his conversion, it was always with emphasis on the fact that God did the work. “Salvation is of the LORD” ().

“This is the true gospel. Any other gospel is counterfeit.” In these verses Paul explained the characteristics of his conversion experience. God did it (vv. 15a, 16a). “It pleased God … to reveal his Son in me.” Whenever Paul spoke or wrote about his conversion, it was always with emphasis on the fact that God did the work. “Salvation is of the LORD” (). God did it by grace (v. 15b). Paul’s experience reminds us of young Jeremiah () and also of John the Baptist (). Salvation is by God’s grace, not man’s efforts or character. Grace and called () go together, for whomever God chooses in His grace He calls through His Word (). The mysteries of God’s sovereign will and man’s responsibility to obey are not fully revealed to us. We do know that God is “not willing that any should perish” (), and that those who do trust Christ discover they have been “chosen … in him before the foundation of the world” (). God did it through Christ (v. 16a). In another letter Paul makes it clear that he had plenty to boast about when he was an unconverted man (). He had religion and self-righteousness, as well as reputation and recognition; but he did not have Christ! When, on the Damascus Road, Paul saw his own self-righteous rags contrasted to the righteousness of Christ, he realized what he was missing. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (). God revealed Christ to Paul, in Paul, and through Paul. The “Jews’ religion” () had been an experience of outward rituals and practices, but faith in Christ brought about an inward experience of reality with the Lord. This “inwardness” of Christ was a major truth with Paul (2:20; 4:19). God did it for the sake of others (v. 16b). God chose Paul, not only to save him but also to use him to win others. In the Bible, the doctrine of election is never taught with a view to producing pride or selfishness. Election involves responsibility. God chose Paul to preach among the Gentiles the same grace that he had experienced. This, in itself, was evidence that Paul’s conversion was of God, for certainly a prejudiced Jewish rabbi would never decide of himself to minister to the despised Gentiles! (See ; ; ; , .) God did it for His glory (v. 24). As a fanatical rabbi, Paul had all the glory a man could want, but what he was doing did not glorify God. Man was created to glorify God (), and man is saved to glorify God (). Bringing glory to God was ever a compelling motive in Paul’s life and ministry (; ; ; ; ; ). The Judaizers were interested in their own…

God did it by grace (v. 15b). Paul’s experience reminds us of young Jeremiah () and also of John the Baptist ().

Salvation is by God’s grace, not man’s efforts or character. Grace and called () go together, for whomever God chooses in His grace He calls through His Word ().

The mysteries of God’s sovereign will and man’s responsibility to obey are not fully revealed to us. We do know that God is “not willing that any should perish” (), and that those who do trust Christ discover they have been “chosen … in him before the foundation of the world” ().

Galatians 1:16 KJV 1900

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

God did it through Christ (v. 16a).

In another letter Paul makes it clear that he had plenty to boast about when he was an unconverted man ().

He had religion and self-righteousness, as well as reputation and recognition; but he did not have Christ! When, on the Damascus Road, Paul saw his own self-righteous rags contrasted to the righteousness of Christ, he realized what he was missing. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” ().

God revealed Christ to Paul, in Paul, and through Paul. The “Jews’ religion” () had been an experience of outward rituals and practices, but faith in Christ brought about an inward experience of reality with the Lord.

This “inwardness” of Christ was a major truth with Paul (2:20; 4:19). God did it for the sake of others (v. 16b).

Man was created to glorify God (), and man is saved to glorify God (). Bringing glory to God was ever a compelling motive in Paul’s life and ministry (; ; ; ; ; ). The Judaizers were interested in their own…

If Paul had been interested in glorifying himself, he could have remained a Jewish rabbi and perhaps become Gamaliel’s successor. But it was the glory of God that motivated Paul, and this ought to motivate our lives as well.

If Paul had been interested in glorifying himself, he could have remained a Jewish rabbi and perhaps become Gamaliel’s successor. But it was the glory of God that motivated Paul, and this ought to motivate our lives as well. When Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a young preacher, his father, the Rev. John Spurgeon, suggested that Charles go to college to gain prominence. It was arranged for him to meet Dr. Joseph Angus, the principal of Stepney College, London. They were to meet at Mr. Macmillan’s home in Cambridge, and Spurgeon was there at the appointed hour. He waited for two hours, but the learned doctor never appeared. When Spurgeon finally inquired about the man, he discovered that Dr. Angus had been waiting in another room and because of another appointment, had already departed. Disappointed, Spurgeon left for a preaching engagement. While he was walking along, he heard a voice clearly say to him, “Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not!” (see ). From that moment, Spurgeon determined to do the will of God for the glory of God, and God blessed him in an exceptional way. Paul has pictured himself as a persecutor and has reviewed his character and conduct. He has also pictured himself as a believer, reviewing his conversion. He no

III My Ministry

Galatians 1:16–23 KJV 1900

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

gal 1.16-

What were Paul’s contacts with other believers after he was converted?

This is a question vital to his defense. Paul had no personal contacts with the apostles right after his conversion experience on the Damascus Road. “Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” ().

HE PREACHER (1:16C–23) What were Paul’s contacts with other believers after he was converted? This is a question vital to his defense. Paul had no personal contacts with the apostles right after his conversion experience on the Damascus Road. “Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” (). The logical thing for Paul to have done after his conversion was to introduce himself to the church at Jerusalem and profit from the spiritual instruction of those who had been “in Christ” before him. But this he did not do—and his decision was led of the Lord. For if he had gone to Jerusalem, his ministry might have been identified with that of the apostles—all Jews—and this could have been a hindrance to his work among the Gentiles. At this point we need to remind ourselves that the message of the gospel came “to the Jew first” (; ). Our Lord’s ministry was to the nation of Israel, and so was the ministry of the apostles for the first few years (see ). The death of Stephen was a turning point. As the believers were scattered, they took the good news with them to other places (; .). Philip took the message to the Samaritans (), and then God directed Peter to introduce it to the Gentiles (). However, it remained for Paul to carry the gospel to the Gentile masses (; , ), and for this reason God kept him separated from the predominantly Jewish ministry being conducted by the apostles in Jerusalem. Paul did not immediately go to Jerusalem. Where did he go? He reviewed his contacts and showed that there was no opportunity for him to receive either his message or his apostolic calling from any of the leaders of the church. (Compare this section with , and keep in mind that even the best biblical scholars are not agreed on the chronology of Paul’s life. Fortunately, the details of history do not affect the understanding of what Paul has written: We can disagree on chronology and yet agree on theology!) He went to Arabia (v. 17b). This was after his initial ministry in Damascus (). Instead of “conferring with flesh and blood,” Paul gave himself to study, prayer, and meditation, and met with the Lord alone. He may have spent the greater part of three years in Arabia (), and no doubt was involved in evangelism as well as personal spiritual growth. The apostles had received three years of teaching from

The logical thing for Paul to have done after his conversion was to introduce himself to the church at Jerusalem and profit from the spiritual instruction of those who had been “in Christ” before him.

But this he did not do—and his decision was led of the Lord.

Not a cookie cutter

At this point we need to remind ourselves that the message of the gospel came “to the Jew first” (; ). Our Lord’s ministry was to the nation of Israel, and so was the ministry of the apostles for the first few years (see ).

The death of Stephen was a turning point. As the believers were scattered, they took the good news with them to other places (; .).

Philip took the message to the Samaritans (), and then God directed Peter to introduce it to the Gentiles ().

However, it remained for Paul to carry the gospel to the Gentile masses (; , ), and for this reason God kept him separated from the predominantly Jewish ministry being conducted by the apostles in Jerusalem.

Paul did not immediately go to Jerusalem. Where did he go?

keep in mind that even the best biblical scholars are not agreed on the chronology of Paul’s life.

He went to Arabia (v. 17b).

Galatians 1:17 KJV 1900

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

gal 1.17This was after his initial ministry in Damascus (). Instead of “conferring with flesh and blood,” Paul gave himself to study, prayer, and meditation, and met with the Lord alone. He may have spent the greater part of three years in Arabia (), and no doubt was involved in evangelism as well as personal spiritual growth. The apostles had received three years of teaching from

This was after his initial ministry in Damascus ().

Instead of “conferring with flesh and blood,” Paul gave himself to study, prayer, and meditation, and met with the Lord alone.

He may have spent the greater part of three years in Arabia (), and no doubt was involved in evangelism as well as personal spiritual growth.

Paul was going to have his own opportunity to be taught of the Lord. He went back to Damascus (v. 17c).

It would have been logical to visit Jerusalem at this point, but the Lord directed otherwise.

Certainly it was a risky thing for Paul to go back to the city that knew he had become a Christian.

The Jewish leaders who had looked to him as their champion against Christianity would definitely be after his blood. Apparently the “basket incident” of (see ) took place at this time.

He finally visited Jerusalem (vv. 18–20). This was three years after his conversion, and his main purpose was to visit Peter. But Paul had a tough time getting into the church fellowship ()!

If his message and ministry had been from the apostles, this would never have happened; but because Paul’s experience had been with the Lord Jesus alone, the apostles were suspicious of him.

He stayed in Jerusalem only fifteen days, and he saw only Peter and James (the Lord’s brother). Thus he received neither his message nor his apostleship from the Jerusalem church.

In the light of Paul’s conduct, his conversion, and his contacts, how could anybody accuse him of borrowing or inventing either his message or his ministry? Certainly he did receive his gospel by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

The same Christ who taught on earth also taught through Paul from heaven. Paul did not invent his teaching; he “received” it (; ; ).

What Am I asking you to know?

Modern-day “Judaizers,” like their ancient counterparts, reject the authority of Paul and try to undermine the gospel that he preached.

Paul could clearly explain his testimony ?

Can you present your testimony in a clear and concise manner?

In Paul’s day, their message was “the gospel plus Moses.” In our day it is “the gospel plus” any number of religious leaders, religious books, or religious organizations.

“You cannot be saved unless …” is their message (), and that “unless” usually includes joining their group and obeying their rules.

If you dare to mention the gospel of grace as preached by Jesus, Paul, and the other apostles, they reply, “But God has given us a new revelation!” Paul has the answer for them: “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” ().