Singing for Jesus

Some years ago, following fellowship dinner at church, the folks would gather together and have a good old fashioned testimony service with singing, sharing of blessings and telling what the Lord has done in their lives. The experience was like the words of the old song, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God hath done.” Singing for Jesus is all about the powerful sharing of our personal testimony, letting people know what the Lord has done or is doing in our life. I believe it would do us all well to have an old-fashion testimonial service from time to time, especially with the Thanksgiving season upon us.

Listen to this personal testimony process with David in Psalm 40:1-3, and then we’ll have a pop quiz. “I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things he did for me, and they will stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in him.” Did you hear the word “new” in this passage? “He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God.” Did you also note the reasons why there was something new to sing about? “He listened; He heard my cry; He lifted me up; He set my feet upon a rock; He established my goings; He steadied me as I walked along.” And what was the result of singing this new song? “Many shall see and hear of it, and fear, stand in awe, and put their trust in him.”

Now, I want you to catch the pattern in this personal testimony process. First, there is the need. Even if we don’t want to admit it, I believe there is no lack of being needy in our daily living in this world. Secondly, in this testimonial process, there is the need for an encounter experience with Jesus, where “God supplies all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Because of our personal need and our going to Jesus for help, this encounter with Jesus changes our lives for the better. This leads us to our third ingredient in our personal testimony, and that is, the ability to sing, to testify, tell, share and proclaim what Jesus has done in our lives. Whenever we encounter Jesus, we have something new to sing about. And lastly, if you don’t think it makes a difference in the lives of others to hear your personal testimony, think again. The response to hearing our personal testimony is a powerful tool that God can use to convince and persuade others to put their trust in him as well. I have come to the conclusion that this singing of a new song for Jesus, this personal testimony of praise for what God has done in our lives, is a life transforming experience for those who sing it and for those who hear it.

The Bible is full of evidence for this personal testimony process and results. Remember the woman at the well, the demoniac, Zacchaeus, the leper, Mary Magdalene, blind Bartimaeus, and many others? They all had a need; they all had an encounter with Jesus; they all sang or testified about how Jesus changed their life; and in every case, others responded to their testimony, by putting their trust in Jesus. Listen to this quote from a book on the life of Christ, under the chapter, “A Touch of Faith.” “Our confession of his faithfulness is Heaven’s chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of the power that is divine. God desires that our praise shall ascend to him, marked with our own individuality. These precious acknowledgements to the praise of the glory of his grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls.” (The Desire of Ages, p. 347)

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. (Psalm 96:1-3) God gives us new reasons for praising him every day. Why not make this Thanksgiving season, a time to sing for Jesus!

Pastor Jim Nichols

Seventh-Day Adventist Church