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Text: Matthew 5:13-16
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith
shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to
be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Introduction:
Jesus said �Ye are the light of the world. . . .� The world is described in the Bible as a place of spiritual darkness. John wrote that Jesus was the �true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world� (John 1:9). Jesus has ascended back to heaven, but He has not left the world without light. He informs you and me that we are the light of the world. Our changed lifestyle allows others to see that our God is real. This changed lifestyle is often referred to as our testimony. Your testimony is an outward witness of an inward change that causes others to notice your relationship with God.
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Scriptures tell us that Enoch �had this testimony, that he pleased God� (Hebrews 11:5). In order for you to please God with your testimony, you must �Let your light so shine before men . . .� (Matthew 5:16). Almighty God wants you to glow! In order to glow before men, there are some things you should know about having a good personal testimony.
I. Salvation Experience
As one of his definitions of the word testimony, Webster defined testimony as �a public profession of a religious experience.� Your testimony is your personal experience of salvation. There are two important elements of this experience.
A. Conversion
The first element of your salvation experience is that of conversion. Jesus said, �Ye must be born again.� Conversion is a supernatural birth from above. To be the light of the world, you must have a genuine conversion experience. Only when you are �in Christ� will you have a changed life. Conversion allows you to glow through personal testimony.
B. Change
The second element of your salvation experience is that of change. Where the emphasis of the first element is being �in Christ,� the emphasis of the second element is �old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new� (2nd Corinthians 5:17). Salvation always results in an experience of change. It is that changed life that causes you to glow through personal testimony.
II. Separation Required
In order to have a testimony that is pleasing to God and commendable to others, you will discover that separation is required. The Bible instructs us to �come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing . . .� (2nd Corinthians 6:17). In order that your light might shine before men, it is essential to practice biblical separation. There are some things from which you must separate yourself.
A. Activities of Evil
The first thing you separate yourself from is activities of evil. Paul wrote of these evil activities, �let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints� (Ephesians 5:3b). Those things which the Bible condemns as sinful must not be practiced by the Christian who desires to have a good personal testimony.
B. Appearance of Evil
The second thing you separate yourself from is the appearance of evil. Of this requirement, Paul wrote, �Abstain from all appearance of evil� (1st Thessalonians 5:22). While there are some things which the Bible does not condemn as evil, they are to be avoided because they have the appearance of evil. Such appearance of evil would hinder your light from shining and darken your testimony.
C. Attitude of Evil
The third thing you separate yourself from is an attitude of evil. An ungracious, arrogant, and pompous attitude will destroy your testimony before the world. Many have diminished their testimony because of a poor attitude.
III. Service Expected
The third thing you need to know to have a good personal testimony is that service is expected. Having separated yourself from those things which would diminish your testimony, you must now separate yourself unto the things that will cause your light to glow brightly. Jesus said let the world see your �good works that they may glorify your Father which is in heaven.� There are some things you must do to render the service which is expected.
A. Surrender Your Life to Christ
In order to render the service which is expected, you need to surrender your life to Christ. Of this surrendered life, Paul wrote, �I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service� (Romans 12:1). God expects you to surrender yourself to Him for any service He desires. You must surrender yourself, your body, as an instrument for service unto God.
B. Serve God with Your Life
After you have surrendered your life unto God, you will discover you are ready to begin a life of service. Any life that is not yielded in service to God is a wasted life. Nothing glows brighter in this spiritually dark world than a life yielded in service unto God. As you serve God, others will see your �good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.�
Section Six-Lesson Eight
Personal Testimony
1. The foundation of your _________ is your personal experience of salvation.
2. To be the light of the world, you must have a genuine ______________ experience.
3. Salvation always results in an experience of _____________.
4. In order that your light might shine before men, it is essential to practice biblical ____________.
5. The first thing you must separate yourself from is ___________________ of evil.
6. Some things are to avoided because they have an ___________________ of evil.
7. Many Christians have diminished their testimony because of a poor _______________.
8. The third thing you must know to have a good testimony is that _______________ is expected.
9. In order to render the service which is expected, you must ________________ your life to Christ.
10. Nothing glows brighter in this spiritually dark world than a life yielded in _______________ unto God. |
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