In the activities of church fellowship, there is a time for sharing meals together and also moments for group conversation where individuals share updates on their lives. Fellowship life, which involves mutual interaction, signifies sharing and bearing together. What must be shared within this fellowship is our spiritual experiences—our life of communion with God, such as the experiences of overcoming through reliance on God, receiving insights illuminated by God, and prayers being answered. This aligns with the words of 1 John 1:3: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” In the context of church fellowship, sharing testimonies should be regarded as the foundation of a life of communion.
When sharing testimonies, it’s not about taking people back to a specific scene or reliving a particular experience, as this is impossible. We cannot make others see and experience what we have gone through. Instead, we are witnessing the God behind our experiences. Frankly, we cannot provide any concrete evidence to prove how God was present in a particular experience or how He led the unfolding of that experience. The only proof we can offer is personal testimony—the firsthand account of our own experiences. In the New Testament, the term “witness” refers to someone willing to give their life as a guarantee. Who would sacrifice their life for something untrue? Therefore, those willing to testify with their lives have more convincing witness. In the days of the Early Church under persecution, the terms “witness” and “martyr” were synonymous.
Though today we won’t demand that we vouch for our testimony with our lives, if we can bear witness for the Lord to the point of wholeheartedly investing our lives, sincerely and urgently, we can imagine that fellowship life will be more vibrant and influential. Have you ever felt unsettled because you didn’t testify, and is there a fervent desire in your heart to share?
When was the last time you shared a testimony with other brothers and sisters? This is not just a question but an invitation for immediate action. This coming Sunday (or on another day for other planting churches), MAC will hold a year-end thanksgiving gathering. As Paul says, “give thanks in all circumstances.” Looking back over the past year, we’ve experienced events big and small, and nothing has been taken for granted. Our lives are entirely dependent on God. Have you counted each as the Lord’s grace? Besides knowing them yourself, have you shared these graces with those around you? Apart from family and friends, your fellow group members, I hope you will also share your precious experiences and insights from the Lord with more brothers and sisters. Let us, through thanksgiving for different believers, testify together how God has treated MAC graciously, and may all glory be to Him.
Rev Wai Chor Chiu