Testify

“Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.” -Acts 9:35 NLT

God revives communities by first changing lives in those communities. As individuals go from death to life, lost to found, bound to free, sick to healed, demonized to delivered, there is then tangible evidence of the love and power of God at work. These stories begin to spread hope in families, neighborhoods, towns, and cities. This is how spiritual awakenings begin. Testimonies tear down demonic strongholds and reveal just how real and personal Jesus is.

These stories of transformation remove blinders of unbelief and hold the power to turn many hearts to the Lord. Testimonies are often the traveled pathway from unbelief to belief. Many have given their lives to Jesus after seeing someone whose life was changed by God. Testimonies strategically breakthrough spiritual blindness and touch the heart.

The Bible says, “the enemy blinds the minds of unbelievers.”

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

-2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT

Evidence of God confronts and removes the blinders that cause unbelief. I believe testimonies are one of God’s main ways of revealing Himself to the world. Blinders are removed by simply sharing good news. When you talk about what Jesus has done in your life it has the power to make cold, dead hearts come alive.

Testimonies - TURN OTHERS - to Jesus!

Let’s look at one of my favorite examples in scripture. This is Aeneas’s Story:

“Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.”

-Acts 9:32-35 NLT

Peter, whose life had been changed by Jesus, now filled with the Holy Spirit, was traveling from place to place strengthening believers and reaching more people with the gospel. The Church was growing and many were coming to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. The healing power of God flowed through Peter and a man named (Aeneas) who had been bedridden for eight years was now walking around.

Don’t miss this!

This one testimony turned the whole population of Lydda and Sharon to the Lord. When they saw Aeneas walking around they repented of their sins and surrendered their lives to Jesus. The population knew Aeneas’s previous condition and now he was completely different. What happened in between was a Holy Ghost baptized man of God stopped for him, dropped the J-Bomb, and blew up the devil’s plans. Aeneas went from bedridden to walking down the block as a living example of a life touched by the love of Jesus Christ.

Aeneas walking - shifted the atmosphere. One flame can indeed light a million.

One testimony can turn a whole family, town, and city to Jesus. One miracle can flip the script on the enemy and bring revival to a whole community. I’ve just given you one example today, but just know the Bible and Church history is full of them. This is how God makes Himself known to the world. This is how revivals take place. This is how towns and cities are restored to their God-given purpose.

It’s time to testify!

What I love about being a part of God’s family is the diversity in our stories. Every testimony of faith matters and is extremely important. If you’ve given your life to Jesus - YOU HAVE A TESTIMONY! From the prodigals who got lost in the world and found their way home, to the ones who gave their lives to Jesus at a young age and didn’t have to hit rock bottom before seeing their need for a Savior, to the ones like Aeneas who experienced a healing miracle or maybe you were a drug addict like me who got rescued by the hand of God, whatever your story has been it matters when it comes to reaching others for the glory of God.

Our diversity enables us to reach more people. So, don’t be ashamed of your story, share it. Walk out your faith in front of others. Talk about what Jesus has done in your life.

“Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.”

-Psalm 107:2 NLT

Written by Travis Habbershon