“They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”  (Revelation 12:11)

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

Come to any Sunday morning service at Morgan’s Point or Forks Road East United Church (the two congregations I serve in Wainfleet Township), and you will notice that it includes a segment known as “Celebrating God’s goodness.”

It is an open microphone session where everyone is encouraged to share how they have experienced the goodness of God in their lives, particularly during the previous week or other recent time period.

Seldom is there a shortage of people willing to share something exciting that happened in their lives.

Some of the stories are nothing short of miraculous, some would be labelled God-incidences, some are about God’s guidance in everyday situations, but they all have one thing in common.

They point to the greatness of our awesome God.

There are times when there are so many reasons for giving God praise that it cuts into my sermon time, but I don’t mind one bit.

Because there is such great power in the sharing of these stories that one sermon by itself cannot offer. Let me explain.

In the first place, they provide encouragement to those who are listening.

I recall a Sunday when a disproportionate number of testimonies had to do with breakthroughs and answers to prayer that had to do with finances. It “just so happened” that we had a first-time visitor to our church that day who had just experienced a serious financial setback. She went home greatly encouraged that God cared about her financial well-being as well.

Since many of the stories attest to the healing power of God, anyone who comes with any healing need or a burden for a loved one/friend who is sick,receives an infusion of hope that they would not have received otherwise.

Recently we started keeping a written record of these testimonies. This way, when someone is discouraged about the way their life is unfolding or feeling that God is not that real anymore or doing miracles anymore, all they have to do is access the record of what God has done in most recent times and their spirits are stirred.

They receive enough hope to hang in there for just a bit longer and stretch their faith just that bit more until they get their breakthrough. “If God did it for them, He will do it for me as well!”

As the verse from Rev. 12:11 points out, a testimony has the power to help you overcome obstacles in life.

So, when I am discouraged, I can rehearse victories I have experienced in the past, so that I can declare: “What God has done before, He can do again for me!”

Another powerful effect we have witnessed is when people start receiving their healing simply by hearing another person’s testimony, without anyone having to lay hands on them or pray for them.

Once when I shared the testimony of how God caused a polyp in my colon to come out in a bowel movement, a woman had a polyp in her colon completely disappear (as verified by her doctor following a colonoscopy).

The testimony of one person became a prophecy that brought about change in another person…wow!

Now you know why we would not dare skip “Celebrating God’s goodness” time at our churches. It is so powerful that we cannot afford to skip it!

So, my dear friend, please share your testimony with the rest of the world at every available opportunity, even if it means overcoming your fear of speaking in public or your reluctance to be in the spotlight.

You will never know how God will use your story to change someone else’s history!