The Testimony

In today’s context, testimonies have become a powerful tool used by preachers to draw non-believers into their gatherings and to strengthen the faith of those already within the church community. According to Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing the Word of God. As people begin to practice this faith, they seek out a church or are led by believers to become part of the Christian community. This often involves taking baptism, after which they are essentially confined within the institutional structure of the church. The Word of God, which initially sparked their faith, is now dispensed in limited portions—typically during Sunday services.

These weekly portions of the Word are often presented in a polished, sugar-coated manner to comfort the minds of the congregation. Believers are trained to confine their spirituality within the boundaries of church doctrine and practice, rarely encouraged to explore or experience more beyond that. Churches refer to these individuals as “members of our congregation” and often discourage interaction with other churches.

Due to the limited scriptural nourishment provided, pastors frequently supplement their sermons with dramatic testimonies—stories of miraculous events or blessings experienced by others. While these testimonies may inspire awe, they can also unintentionally stir feelings of inadequacy among listeners, making some believers feel unworthy of receiving similar blessings or experiencing such powerful moments in their own lives.

Sharing Our Experiences 

In rehabilitation centres, individuals often share their painful stories of addiction and its consequences to find emotional relief and to inspire hope in one another that recovery is possible. Could a similar approach be used within the body of believers—sharing personal struggles to encourage one another in breaking free from the grip of sin? If such sharing genuinely helps to strengthen faith, then we must ask: what, then, is the role of Jesus within the church? The apostle Paul assured the early Christians that it is their Redeemer—the God of hope—who provides true hope even in the darkest of circumstances:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Unfortunately, in many churches today, testimonies are sometimes shared not to glorify God but to seek attention or sympathy. When testimonies are offered to gain fame, they can discourage others, causing them to feel inadequate or believe they will never experience such victories. When shared for sympathy, though people may respond with compassion, the stories often leave the listeners burdened with fear and anxiety rather than faith and encouragement.

Because of this, even when a believer sincerely shares a testimony to highlight the unmerited grace of God, the focus of the congregation can shift. Instead of celebrating God’s grace, people dwell on their own unworthiness. In our time, many ministers widely publicise miraculous testimonies through media—recording moments of healing or deliverance and using them to promote their ministries and attract attention.

This leads us to a critical question: Does God actually call us to share our past spiritual experiences to inspire others or increase their faith? Or are we sometimes shifting the focus away from Christ—the true source of hope and transformation—and placing it instead on experiences, emotions, and personalities?

God’s Command About Testimonies

Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave clear instructions to the people of Israel on what to do—and what to avoid—during times of crisis. Despite these warnings, their continued disobedience led to oppression by surrounding nations. Yet even in their rebellion, God assured them of His protection, promising that their enemies would not ultimately prevail.

In those moments, the people were in awe of God’s miraculous acts. However, over time, they drifted away from Him. They began to treat the Ark of the Covenant as though it were God Himself, forgetting that it was merely a symbol meant to remind them of His power and faithfulness. Instead of seeking God anew, they clung to past miracles and slowly turned from Him.

As a result, God gave a specific command:

“Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.” – Isaiah 8:16 (NIV)

When prophetic warnings were given, the people often responded with fear and distress. Yet rather than allowing them to remain fixated on the past—on either judgment or miracles—God instructed them to bind up those testimonies and seal them. In essence, God does not want us to keep returning to those old stories as if they are the foundation of our salvation.

Whether it’s the testimonies of past warnings or the present-day tendency to misuse testimonies, God calls us to move forward. Continually repeating the miracles performed in the lives of our ancestors, while neglecting to walk in faithful relationship with God today, misses the point. God wants our focus not on what He once did, but on what He is doing now, in hearts that are yielded to Him.

When our lives fail to reflect the love of God, people begin searching for answers elsewhere—sometimes even turning to the dead or seeking guidance through other deceptive means. But when God instructed us to bind up the testimony and seal it, He was not calling us to continually speak of past warnings or miracles. Instead, He calls us to live out our faith. Our lives themselves should be the testimony—shining with faithful obedience and love, as Jesus said:

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

When we live in His righteousness , our words will align with God’s truth, and we will naturally point others to the one true and living God. As we have been called to be a royal priesthood, Scripture tells us that people will seek wisdom and truth from our mouths.

“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.” – Malachi 2:7 (NIV)

Therefore, God calls people to turn to His instruction and to the testimony through our lives. As Isaiah declares:

“Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” – Isaiah 8:20 (NIV)

This means that if someone speaks outside of God’s truth, there is no light in them. We are called to be bearers of that light—living testimonies of God’s Word and His ways.

The True Meaning of Testimony

A testimony is a solemn declaration affirming the truth of an event—essentially, a firsthand account or authentication of a fact. The apostle John gives such a testimony when he writes:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14 (NIV)

This was not a secondhand report—it was a personal, firsthand experience of witnessing the incarnate Christ. The question we must ask ourselves is this: Do we possess such an intimate experience of Christ, one that enables us to boldly declare to the world that the Word became flesh, bore the sins of humanity, died on the cross, rose on the third day, and now dwells within His people?

God calls us not to merely repeat the singular moment of our initial encounter with Him, but to live lives that continually reflect the truth of the Gospel. He desires that our lives serve as ongoing testimonies, rooted in righteousness and shaped by the indwelling of Christ. As Isaiah records:

“Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” – Isaiah 8:18 (NIV)

In His final prayer before the crucifixion, Jesus offered a testimony to the Father—not a list of miracles or wonders, but a report of faithfulness. He emphasized the sharing of truth, the unity of believers, and the fulfillment of the Father’s will. John captures this prayer in his gospel:

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” – John 17:22-23 (NIV)

A true testimony reveals the truth (John 17: 14-17) when the world seeks to suppress it (Romans 1:25). It proclaims the righteousness of Jesus in a world drowning in deception. It declares the transformative power of God’s atonement, as we become new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We must each examine our lives and ask: What do I have to report to my Father in Heaven? If our testimony centers on personal accomplishments, Jesus offers a sobering warning—He may say, “I never knew you.” But if we walk in His light and reflect His character to the world, He will welcome us home:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 7:21 (NIV)

The true testimony of a believer is this: I was once in darkness, but now I live in the light. When we honestly share with others the depth of darkness from which God has delivered us, it reveals the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

If we are afraid to speak about our past sins, it may be a sign that we still cling to them or have not fully let go. But if we have truly been transformed and have become a new creation, then sharing our past no longer burdens us—it has no power over us anymore.

Such testimonies not only glorify God but also show others the transformative power of His grace, encouraging them to leave behind their sin and seek the same renewal. Sadly, many servants of God portray themselves as though they achieved transformation through their own fasting, efforts, or spiritual discipline, placing themselves on a pedestal, instead of pointing others to the power of God’s grace that changed them.

God does not ask us to share the miraculous experiences, but to become a testimony. Let us preserve the true essence of a testimony. May our testimonies reflect truth, genuine transformation, and faithful obedience—revealing Jesus to the world through lives that are united with Him.