A "Christian Testimony" is that sure knowledge which is borne to the soul by the Holy Spirit
- a sure communication from the Holy Spirit that what one is doing or feeling is true and reliable. Once one gains
this confidence, then it becomes the basis of one's belief and is something that that individual wishes to share
with others.
The Word Testimony is a Strong Conviction. It is also depended on in courts of law. When someone bears testimony
under an oath to bear the truth, they are placing their lives on the line for that testimony, or the lives of others
on that same Line.
This "Strong Conviction" becomes our Hallmark. If we lie under oath, our testimony becomes worthless.
But if we who have sworn to be honest and true to our statements, we then have that Strong Conviction and that
Conviction, will in many cases, free us, or free someone else who is being accused.
When Christ asked his disciple Simon Peter if he loved him; Simon Peter was asked Three Times (the solemn Witness
requires three witnesses) whether he loved the Lord or not. Peter each time affirmed his love for the Lord; this
was some time after the Lord asked Peter who he thought he was. Peter instantly and with great conviction stated,
"Thou are the Christ! The Son of the Living God!" - he was so full of the Holy Ghost at that point, he
bore his testimony with Power and with great Authority.
The Lord emphasized the importance of Testimony with Peter,
after asking him three times, if He loved him. But it would not be very long before Peter found himself at the
other end of the spectrum, when he denied three times that he had ever known the Lord. This was a Hard Lesson for
Peter to learn, but it firmed up Peter's Testimony even stronger than it had been when the Lord has queried him
if he loved him. It would become the Strength of his conviction from that time forth and forever more.
The Lord's final words to Peter after the Three times asking
if Peter loved him, was, "When thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren." So it is possible to have
testimony, but until one's faith is strengthened to a Sure Knowledge, it will require that we be building on it.
It can be a life-long effort, but with Everlasting results and Rewards!
A Living Testimony of Christ comes from trying one's faith
- Peter learned this the hard way - we all must learn it and in most cases, learn it as did Peter. But once we
gain that Strong Conviction that is borne to the soul, there is no mountain big enough; no body of water we can't
walk across or country or mind we can't penetrate. Testimony is what makes up Faith. And then with Faith, there
is nothing we can come up against as boundaries to our abilities in the Lord.
Testimony is something required of a true believer in Christ.
A mere belief in Christ is not enough. The Apostle James affirmed this truth to us in the Book bearing his name,
stating that faith without works (evidence), is dead of itself. It requires the evidence of belief. It would be
of great service to everyone, to read the Book of James, for in it, one discovers the true essence of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
How is your Testimony? Are you building it? If not, you have
lots of work to do and you best get started! But it comes through living the Word, not just reading or hearing
it. James told us, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." -
James 1:22
Once you gain a sufficient Testimony of the Restored Gospel
of Jesus Christ, you can then share the Gospel - powerfully - with other seekers of Truth. In fact, the Lord in
modern Revelation told us point blankly, "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh
every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." - D&C 88:81.
The Apostle Paul gave us his Testimony which is one that few
believers in Christ have not heard, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." - Romans 1:16
And then Paul wrote to Timothy (found in 2 Timothy 1:8-12...
1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony
of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power
of God;
1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
May we also be able to have such a Firm Testimony of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, and be able to say as did the Apostle Paul, "...For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation..." - Romans 1:16.
Cheryl Cowart & Jake Jaccard
for Celestial Bound
