The Word of our Testimony is a powerful thing. Indeed, the international evangelical Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship movement is based around it, inviting non-believers to hear testimonies from ‘regular’ Christians as to how God has touched them and helped them and changed their lives; rather than listening to evangelical sermons delivered by full time preachers.

But what is a Testimony? The online dictionary.com website gives five succinct meanings for the word:

1. Law: the statement or declaration of a witness under oath or affirmation, usually in court.
2. Evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof.
3. Open declaration or profession, as of faith.
4. Usually, testimonies. the precepts of God.
5. The Decalogue as inscribed on the two tables of the law, or the ark in which the tables were kept. Exodus 16:34; 25:16.

Testimony is a noun, and the associated verb, the action word, is “to testify” for which three meanings are given at the website:

1. To bear witness; give or afford evidence.
2. Law: to give testimony under oath or solemn affirmation, usually in court.
3. To make solemn declaration.

For Christians, we can define Testimony in two simple statements:

• The evidence in support of a fact or assertion (a proof).
• The public declaration regarding a religious experience.

For Christians, we can define Testify in four simple statements:

• To express or declare a strong belief, especially to make a declaration of faith.
• To make a statement bases on personal knowledge in support of an asserted fact.
• To declare publically; to make known.
• To bear witness; to provide evidence for.

One of the most important verses in the Bible in regard to testimony is Revelation 12:11 which reads:

“And they overcame him [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death.”

Adam Clarke says of Revelation 12:11,

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb

Here is given the reason why the followers of Christ prevailed at this time against all their adversaries. It was because they fought against the dragon in the armour of God. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb – by proclaiming salvation to sinners through Christ crucified, and by their continual intercession at the throne of grace for the conversion of the heathen world.

And by the word of their testimony – By constantly testifying against the errors and follies of mankind.

And they loved not their lives unto the death – They regarded not their present temporal estate, but even gladly delivered up their lives to the fury of their persecutors, and thus sealed the truth of what they spake with their blood.”

There are many examples in the Bible of overcomers, who, through the Word of the Lord, gave testimony to the power, the majesty and the mercy of God. Here are a few of the many examples from which we may learn:

• “And Joseph said to them, Do not fear. For am I in the place of God? But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save a great many people alive. And now do not fear. I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke to their hearts” Genies 50:19-21.
• “And Job answered Jehovah and said, “I know that You can do all, and not any purpose is withheld from You” Job 42:1-2.
• David said “For the Word of Jehovah is right; and all His works are in truth” Psalm 34:4.
• “Mary said…… And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” Luke 1:46,49.
• “And he [Steven before he was stoned] said, Behold, I see Heaven opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God” Acts 7:56.
• Paul said: “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:12-13.

As Chuck Pierce says at the end of Chapter 19 of “Time to Defeat the Devil”:

“One thing all these testimonies have in common is that all the speakers direct our attention to the Lord. Our testimony, like our worship, is meant to magnify the Lord, not our own ego. Only when Jesus is exalted will our testimony bear the witness of the Holy Spirit.”

For Christians to use the Word of the Lord in a testimony however, it means we must read and be familiar with the Word to start with. If we do not read the Word, then it is hard for the Holy Spirit to draw out from us that which has never been there in the first place. Even, if you are like me and really struggle to recall chapter and verse, the Holy Spirit can still draw out the intent of the Word, and the Spirit of the Word, and that Spirit, gives life (see Romans 8).

One thing about our testimonies which irks the enemy, is that an honest testimony is hard to refute. I have known people listen to my testimony and, though they cannot/will not accept the testimony and the conclusions which derive from it, they know that I am not lying. It stops them in their tracks and it makes them think. Yes, I believe even our unaccepted testimonies make an impact in the lives of the hearers, which perhaps later, someone else will come to water and the seeds which were planted, will begin to grow.

Christians are overcomers by the Word of our Testimony, there is no doubt in that. The prime difficulty Christians seem to face is just to give our Testimony for God in the first place. But Second Timothy 1:7 says: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In other word, God has given us all we need to overcame him, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony (Paraphrased Revelation 12:11). We have the Words, we have the tools, now we just need to do the job…..

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This article both paraphrased and based on and around the ideas and scripture compilations on pages 240-241 of Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Pierce‘s book “Time to Defeat the Devil: Strategies to Win the Spiritual War.”

We highly recommend this book to you.

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