--Telling It Like It Is
--Read | Matthew 10:32-33
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

Life often demands proof. Sometimes it seems that no matter what we say, people simply will not believe us unless we can provide some definite verification. That can be a good thing when what you’re sharing is the most important news in the world—and you have the evidence to back it up.

The news I’m talking about is the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. And the proof is your own personal testimony.

Every single believer has an irrefutable account of how Christ saved him or her from sin. It is disheartening when people downplay their faith story as boring or “ordinary.” How could this story ever be ordinary? It isn’t just some narrative about how you spent your day; we’re talking about a supernatural event. This is the chronicle of how Almighty God entered your heart. News like that is far from boring.

Remember that no one can discount your testimony. It’s your own story—the truthful telling of how God has worked in your life. A testimony is similar to a fingerprint: no two are the same. And regardless of the details, no one can ever deny your own personal experience. Even if some people do not believe in the power of Christ, they cannot refute what He has done in your life.

Boldly giving your testimony can be a challenge, especially if you’re not sure how your audience will react. At such moments, however, know that your story will be something they’ve never heard before. God gave you a special gift in your unique testimony. Are you sharing that gift with others?

--In Touch

--Telling Your Story
--Read | John 9:1-7 -(Recommended Reading)
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The Lord will use a Christian’s personal testimony in powerful ways. As we speak about how God has rescued and changed us, the Holy Spirit can heighten people’s interest in spiritual matters and use our words to help them seek Christ as their Savior.

In John 9, we learn about a blind man whom the Lord healed. He had been sightless since birth, and many people wanted to know about his miraculous healing. To each one who questioned him, he told the facts as he had experienced them: “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!” (John 9:11 NLT).

When we obey Jesus’ commands, people around us will notice that there is something different about us. Perhaps they’ll be curious about our ability to remain patient or calm in times of adversity. They may ask why we have given up popular activities or avoid certain places. We can respond as simply as the blind man did: “I was spiritually blind and separated from God by sin. Jesus, the Savior, died on the cross to pay for my sins. Through faith in Him, I know I have been forgiven and have been adopted into God’s family. That’s why I am not the same.”

We don’t have to know every answer to every question in order to talk about our Savior. We need only tell what has happened to us personally. Take the time to write out your testimony in a few sentences, and be able to relate the story briefly and clearly. Then look for an opportunity to tell someone what God has done in your life.
--In Touch
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[-By: Abigail]
[As brief as I can, ..... 'I thought I was a Christian. I was baptized in the Baptist Church at 11 years old. Later, I was confirmed into a Lutheran Church having gone throurgh several months of Catechism Classes and memorizing Creeds and Prayers, verses, etc. I prayed (sometimes), I thought I was a Christian because of all the above 'works' and 'deeds'.

I went to Church at Easter and Christmas Time, the birth of Christ and the death/resurrection of the Lord. I believed these were truly of the Lord. Which they are! Was I saved? NO! We are told in the Bible that 'the devils believe and tremble.'

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble." [James VS. 20)= "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (VS. 26b) "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."(VS. 24) "You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

I had a brain aneurysm in 1985, NDE. After almost 5 months of being comatose, I awakened to find myself in a Hospital with no hair, and a large (approx. 6 inches long cut on my head). I was not expected to live, and if at best, I would be in a wheel chair for the rest of my life.

I later found that several Christian women were praying for me, I knew one from one meeting, several months earlier. I continued Bible Study classes with these Christian women, and I found that I needed a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I had to repent of my sins, believe that Jesus died for my sins, and ask Him to come into my heart and help me live for Him. I am a new creation, I no longer desire the things I thought were fun. If you want to be certain of your salvation and eternity into heaven with the Lord Jesus please read Romans 10:9-11,13 and turn your life over to Him. It's all or nothing with Jesus.
Matthew 16:24- "Jesus said "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
"For the scripture saith, 'Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."
(VS.13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."]

Friend, "We are saved by grace through faith; and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
[By the grace of our Lord Jesus I did not die in my sins, and I am not in a wheel chair. Every person who is a follower of Jesus should have a conviction in their hearts to tell others of His saving grace, found only in Jesus.]

--The Sin of Silence

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household." (2 Kings 7:9)

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Andrew Murray said, "There are two classes of Christians: soul winners, and backsliders."
In my humble estimation, there are two great sins a Christian can commit: the greatest is to fail to love the Lord Jesus. The second greatest is not adultery or drunkenness, but it is the sin of silence--to refuse to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Suppose you knew the cure for cancer. Would you not tell it? Suppose you were on an island where people were starving to death and you knew where there was a vast hoard of food. Would you not tell it?

Ours is the greatest mission, the greatest message, the greatest Master the world knows anything about. Our mission is the Great Commission. Our message is the saving Gospel of our Lord and Savior. Our master, Jesus Christ Himself, has told us we ought to take the gospel to every creature on earth. Yet many Christians are sinning against this command. They're committing what I call "the sin of silence." If you're not a witness, you're not right with God, I don't care what else you may do.

-ACTION POINT:
I care not how faithfully you attend, how eloquently you teach, how liberally you give, how circumspectly you walk or how beautifully you sing. If you're not witnessing, you're not right with God.
--Adrian Rogers