Praise

September 21, 2010

WITNESSING THROUGH PRAISE

Scripture Reading--Psalm 107:2a

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so."

When we speak in church and tell how God is working in our lives, we call this "sharing a testimony."  If we said the same thing to lost people, we would call it "witnessing."  Our testimony is a powerful, evangelistic tool.  Not everyone can preach a sermon, but everyone can share a testimony.  One of the most powerful weapons in our evangelistic arsenal is our personal testimony.

We can use our testimony to gain a hearing for the Gospel.  Jesus told the woman at the well to return home and to tell the people what had happened to her.  She told the townspeople to come and see the man who told her everything she had done.  Everybody came to hear Jesus because of her testimony.

In Mark 5, we read about a man dwelling in the tombs.  He was so fierce and full of evil spirits that people were afraid of him.  Jesus cast the demons out of this man, and he wanted to follow the Lord.  But Jesus said to him, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee" ( v. 19b ).  People marveled when they heard this man's testimony.

Praise is simply bragging about what we appreciate.  Robert Murray M'Cheyne said, "Give unlimited credit to God."  I was preaching in a church where the pastor told me about a 92-year old man who went downtown every week to pass out Gospel tracts.  If God has done something for us, we should broadcast it.

   

C.T. Studd was a wealthy man who sold everything he had so he could be a missionary to China, India, and Africa.  He once said, "Some wish to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell.  I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell."  God can use our praise to shine the light on the path of unsaved people.

SPEAK UP FOR GOD:  Seize every opportunity to brag on Jesus and on what He has done for you!

--Harold Vaughan--