Tips from the Truth for Testimony [Part II]
When the
Lord Jesus Christ made his special trip across the Lake of Galilee into Gentile
territory, He was making one of the most significant moves of His three and one
half year ministry, because, as soon as He accomplished this one thing, the
deliverance and salvation of the Demoniac of Gadara, He promptly left the area,
returning to the land of Israel. This action underlines the great love God has
for just one soul who is in complete bondage to sin, and, in this case, totally
possessed of the devil!
This mission of mercy may be the most
powerful illustration in the Bible of how the Lord Jesus Christ can turn a soul
from complete darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God! In one
moment of time this demonized man, who was utterly without hope and abandoned
by all, was transformed, miraculously changed both outwardly and most of all
inwardly to become the missionary to those who had known him as the madman!
This is the ultimate demonstration of the instantaneous, life-changing
occurrence of being ‘born again’.
The Lord’s purpose was not just to deliver
Him from the penalty and power of sin, but also to send into those ten cities
known as the Decapolis, a man that had one of the most powerful testimonies
recorded in the Word of God! This man had been imprisoned by at least ten
different demonic conditions which are recorded in Mark 5:1-10. But the focus
of our study is his great testimony, and there are seven key principles which
he demonstrated that we too can use when we give our own testimony to others.
First of all and probably the key fact we
must emphasize when we tell others of our salvation, is our changed life
(v.15). This verse shows that this man was changed in all areas, including his
outward demeanor, ‘sitting’ no longer
in a dangerous rage as before, but now the peace of God replaced the presence
and power of Satan’s affliction.
He also was ‘clothed’ showing he had a new appearance and regard for morality
now that he was saved. But, the main issue here was his mental condition. He
now was ‘in his right mind’
illustrating the powerful, miraculous work the Lord had accomplished by
restoring the man’s ability to think right thoughts!
Some of you were saved during childhood
and do not have this kind of evidence of an outwardly changed life. But, the
change that God has wrought in your heart demonstrated by the Godly desires to
do right, to love others, to live for the Lord are amply evidenced in your
conduct. One need only to go to the local rescue mission and see the difference
between the grace of God in the life of someone who was saved young and those
who have chosen to go the other route, the broad way that leads to destruction!
And so, we all have changed lives, His grace has kept us from the destructive
effects of sin and we must thank Him for it each day and be ready to give an
answer to every man that asks us a reason of the hope that is in us with
meekness and fear!
Secondly, this man was most effective with
those who knew him. Jesus told him to ‘go
home to thy friends’ even though the man’s desire was to be with Jesus! The
Lord knew that he would have a rewarding ministry with those who had witnessed this
powerful transformation into a ‘new
creature in Christ’.
And then, the Lord told him what the
content of his message should be: ‘Tell
them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on
thee.’ Two areas of emphasis we must focus upon in giving our own testimony
message and that is, first of all, the greatness of our God in salvation.
We could go on and on defining how great
God is in His work of salvation, but the emphasis must be on the Lord’s mighty
power to change the heart and soul of man, giving man His Holy Spirit and
thereby guaranteeing that He will one day bring us home to heaven!
And secondly, his message focused on the
compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ in His great love wherewith He loved us…how
He made a similar journey to our own soul just as He did to this one in Mark 5.
If we had been the only person on the planet He would have come for us because
of His great love and compassion for us!
The fourth point shown here by the man’s
conduct is his obedience to the Lord’s command. Obedience demonstrates our love
for the Lord (John 14:15) and it also brings us into a position of His
protective authority! This man was under the authority of the Lord as He went
on His mission and therefore the Lord gave him the power to ‘publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus
had done for him’ which is point number five, he spoke the Word! The very
Word the Lord gave him he immediately used for His glory!
The power of speaking the Word can not be
over-emphasized for it is the supernatural, soul-piercing Word of God that does
the work of God!! Inter-mingling the Word of God into your personal testimony
is a must in order to get the results the Lord desires. You don’t have to be an
expert to speak of the John 3:16 love of God, or tell of your knowledge of
needing a Savior because ‘all have
sinned’ (Romans 3:23)
The next and maybe the most obvious is the
fact that he gave glory to Jesus: ‘How
great things Jesus had done for Him’, and this is key, utilizing the name
of Jesus and giving Him glory for His working in your life! Many will talk of
God, but the name of Jesus often is not used in ‘spiritual conversations’ but
merely the church or God or good works. But, the name of Jesus is what must be
spoken ‘For there is none other name
under heaven whereby we must be saved’
(Acts 4:12)
And finally, men will respond to the
message of your testimony. ‘All men did
marvel’ (v.20) Regardless of how you may perceive the outward actions of
those you testify to, believe it, men will respond. God’s Word will not return
unto Him void, men will respond, and the Lord will use your testimony in the
lives of those who hear. It is His responsibility to ‘Give the increase’ and bring men to salvation, not ours… we simply
must obey by doing our part and proclaim His all powerful Word! (Mark 16:15)
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