It’s My Testimony

I just finished attending and enjoying my 50 year High School reunion. But the journey home wasn’t easy. A long wait in the airport, weather delays at the arrival airport and a turbulent flight all caused me to be exhausted when I finally got home. But I have been enthusiastically and non stop sharing the story of my reunion experience whenever the opportunity presents itself. In Acts 22:3–15, even though a mob has gathered to try to take his life, Paul doesn’t see a crowd, he sees a congregation. And with that, he sees the opportunity to share his testimony, in the hopes that someone will be saved. I pray that, like Paul, we will see the opportunities that God has presented before us and be willing to share our testimony. Amen.

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.

“‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.

“‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.

“‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. (Acts 22:3-11)

Paul was surrounded by a crowd that had gathered at the temple in Jerusalem with designs on killing him. They were upset, having accused him of bringing gentiles into the temple area reserved for Jewish worshippers. As he was being taken into custody by Roman soldiers to prevent a riot, he was granted permission to address the crowd. After briefly reciting his Jewish background and credentials, Paul began telling them his conversion testimony. He related his encounter with the risen Lord as he was pursuing Christians who had fled to Damascus. On the road to Damascus he was blinded by the Lord. This supernatural act of a bright light and Jesus speaking to him captured his attention and stopped him in his pursuit. The Lord instructed Paul to go into Damascus where he would receive his assignment.

“A man named Ananias came to see me. He was devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.

“Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’ (Acts 22:12-16)

Paul continued his testimony with the miraculous recovery of his sight and the assignment of his call. A man named Ananias was sent by the Lord to meet with Paul, restore his sight and explain his assignment. He was baptized

“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’

“‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live! (Acts 22:17-22)

Paul’s testimony regarding his conversion continued with the Lord instructing him to leave Jerusalem and go far away to the Gentiles. This final portion on his conversion testimony triggered the anger of the Jews at the temple again and led them to call once more for an attack on him. Paul’s initial concern about the mission the Lord assigned him to was that the Christians he had persecuted would be antagonistic against him. But as the Lord had warned him, it was the Jews whom he had once been zealous in representing who would attempt to kill him. Nevertheless, Paul saw an opportunity to share his testimony And he did not let the moment derail him from his mission and assignment.

Conclusion

Paul’s testimony was about how an encounter with the risen Savior changed everything about his life. He went from persecuting Christians to helping people become Christian. He is arguably the most impactful and influential person of the New Testament outside of God (The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). How’s that for the kind of change that God can make in your life? Paul had a testimony of a miraculous conversion and an even more miraculous assignment. Paul isn’t the only one with a testimony. Each of us has a testimony of how God changed us and how God is using us for his kingdom too. Your testimony may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, but it is just as important to God‘s kingdom. The book of Acts doesn’t record numerous great and moving sermons from Paul. But it does record him sharing his testimony often. That’s not by accident. You too need to share your testimony often, even if it is rejected. Because your testimony will help someone to know the power of God, and lead them to an encounter with the One who can change their life forever!

Blessings, Rev. Glenn