But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 

—Romans 10:14

Scripture:

I don’t know about you, but I’m a big fan of hearing people’s stories. When I choose books to read on vacation, they’re generally biographies. Maybe that’s because, for me, the best kind of story is a true story.

When it comes to sharing your faith, one of the most effective tools at your disposal is your personal testimony—the story of how you came to faith and how Jesus has transformed your life.

The apostle Paul wrote, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14 NLT).

The founding fathers of our nation certainly weren’t shy about sharing their stories of faith. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” He also said in a different letter, “I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator and, I hope, to the pure doctrine of Jesus also.” Despite his flaws, our third president understood the importance of sharing personal testimony and the power of faith for a nation.

A testimony builds bridges. It’s a way to connect with others so they can see how you came to be the person you are and why you believe what you believe. It’s also a way to help people see how they can come to faith as well.

Another great thing about sharing your testimony is that you can indirectly preach the gospel to someone. For example, instead of just walking up to a person and saying, “You’re a sinner, you need to repent, and Christ died for you,” you can share your testimony.

It might go something like this: “You know, before I was a Christian, my life was going nowhere. I had a sense of emptiness, and I wondered what was wrong, what was missing. Then one day I went to a church service and heard the pastor say . . .”

That’s how you can preach the gospel while you tell your own story. And then you can ask, “What do you think about that? Have you ever heard that before? Have you ever considered who Jesus is?”

Every believer has a testimony, and every testimony matters. Of course, some testimonies are more dramatic than others. But when you really get down to it, everyone’s testimony is essentially the same: “I was lost. I was separated from God and was guilty and lonely and afraid to die. And I was on my way to Hell. But Jesus Christ, in His grace, intervened in my life and transformed me.”

Sharing how the flame of Christ was lit in you can lead to the flame being lit in other people’s lives as well. And as various flames are stoked, the conditions become ripe for all-out revival. That’s the power of a personal testimony.

Reflection question: Which parts of your personal testimony might resonate with other people? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 

—Luke 6:27–28

Scripture:

One of the most difficult things about revival is that it requires us to reach out to people we would prefer to ignore. My mother was married and divorced seven times. After I became a Christian and a pastor, the Lord spoke to my heart and told me to go back to my mother’s husbands and share the gospel with them. It didn’t always go well.

One of the men—Eddie, who lived in Hawaii—had been especially cruel to my mom. He once knocked my mother unconscious with a statue. When I saw her lying on the floor, bleeding profusely, I thought she was dead. Needless to say, I had a very hard heart toward this man even after I was an adult.

But when I was in Hawaii preaching, I felt directed by the Lord to go meet with him. It was obvious that he wasn’t doing well. He lived in a tiny apartment, and he was in great pain. I told him what Christ had done for me, how He had changed me, and I invited him to come and hear me speak. He said no. He wanted nothing to do with the gospel message.

On the other hand, I also had an opportunity to talk to a man I loved. His name was Oscar Laurie. He had adopted me and treated me as a father should treat a son. But my mom left him. Years later, I sought him out too. I visited him and his wife, Barbara, in New Jersey. Over a delicious Italian dinner in their home, Barbara said, “Greg, tell me how you became a Christian and then a minister.”

As I shared my story, Oscar just stared at me. He was a retired attorney, and I felt as though I was standing before a judge giving my testimony. When I finished, he simply said, “Greg, let’s walk in the morning.”

During that walk, he said, “Greg, I was listening very carefully to what you said last night. And I would like to give my life to Jesus Christ.” He dropped to his knees in the middle of a park and prayed.

I can’t tell you for sure what happened in the lives of all the men I shared the gospel. That’s God’s department. My job was to plant the seeds. God is the One who nurtures them and causes them to grow. But to plant those seeds, I had to reach out to people who caused pain and chaos in my life.

Jesus knew how difficult it would be for His followers to obey His instructions in Luke 6:27–28: “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” (NLT).

But He also knew that extraordinary things happen when we do.

Revival happens.

Reflection question: How can you share the gospel with someone you would rather avoid? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 

—2 Timothy 1:8–9

Scripture:

Spiritual revival can be compared to a romance between a man and a woman. Guys know that when you first take a girl out, you want to make a good impression on her. So, you shower, make sure your shirt is clean, and show her great respect. Maybe you open the car door for her. You pull out her chair at a restaurant—a nice French restaurant.

But when you get married, things change. You still open the car door for her, but you close it before she’s all the way in. And the closest thing to a French restaurant that you take her to now is Jacque in the Box or Le Golden Arches. Something has happened. The passion has slipped away. You’re no longer making the effort.

That reminds me of a story I heard about a woman who wanted to divorce her husband. She told her attorney, “I want this divorce to hurt him badly. I want him to feel as much pain as possible.”

The attorney said, “Here’s how to do it. For the next three months, smother your husband with affection. Compliment him constantly. Tell him what a great guy he is and how much you care for him. Then, when he’s feeling on top of the world, drop the divorce papers on him. He won’t know what hit him. He’ll be devastated when you walk out.”

The woman agreed to the plan. For the next three months she complimented her husband, affirmed him, and told him how much she loved and appreciated him. When the three months ended, her attorney called her and said, “All right, let’s get this divorce started.”

The woman said, “Divorce? We’re going on our second honeymoon.” By committing to the relationship as God intends, the woman unwittingly ignited the flames of passion again.

Similarly, when believers commit to the Christian life as God intends—by studying Scripture, immersing ourselves in prayer, getting involved in a church, and sharing our faith—we fuel the fire of revival in ourselves and others.

That’s why Paul wrote, “So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:8–9 NLT).

One person’s spiritual boldness paves the way for others to follow, just as John Hancock’s bold signature on the Declaration of Independence gave others courage to follow.

Passion and boldness are key ingredients of revival.

Reflection question: What would rediscovering your spiritual passion look like in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie