Testimony

“The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God” (Ellen White, Evangelism, p. 616).

The Holy Spirit works in our lives in three phases (John 16:8-11). First, He convicts us of our sin to bring us to Jesus. Second, He convicts us of Christ’s righteousness, which is sufficient to save us. Third, He expels Satan and sin from our lives (John 16:11).

My parents did raise their six children (I’m number five) to believe in God and the Bible. We learned that there was a heaven to win and a hell to shun. However, we did not pursue a relationship with God or trust in Him. My mother’s brother, my uncle, married a Seventh-day Adventist. One day my Uncle Harold announced to his new wife that he would prove to her from the Bible that she did not have to keep the Sabbath (Saturday). After much study, however, he realized that the true Sabbath of the Bible was indeed Saturday. Soon Harold was baptized and became a Seventh-day Adventist.

In due time Harold shared his faith with our family, and, try as I might, I could not find a way to disprove the Sabbath teaching of the Bible. I did not want to keep the Sabbath. It was an interruption in my plans. Over time the conviction of the Holy Spirit that I was a sinner bound for destruction deepened in my mind and heart. I knew I was not following God, and I knew I would not be saved. About that time a letter arrived from Uncle Harold, and he described what heaven would be like using the Bible as his authority. As I listened to his description of heaven, I felt a strong desire to give my life to God. Then I heard the voice of God in my heart as clearly as if someone was sitting next to me. “Either you give your life to Me now, or you never will.” Immediately I felt great fear. I was trading heaven for the things of this earth. I got up from my chair, went to my room, and shut the door behind me. I knelt by my bed and prayed for the first time from my heart. I struggled to know exactly what to say, but eventually I prayed, “Dear Jesus, I want to be what You want me to be. I want to do what You want me to do, and I want to go where You want me to go.”

The instant I said that prayer, I felt a change sweep through my body. My old anger and bitterness were released, and the love, peace, and joy of God filled my heart. I knew God had heard my prayer, and I knew what I must do. I got up from my knees and went to tell my mother the good news—that I was now going to live for Jesus and begin keeping the Sabbath. Tears of joy fell on her cheeks. Within days I began to sever every sinful tie that bound me to the world. Some people did not understand my decision, and the way ahead was not yet completely clear, but my conscience was clear, and joy filled my heart! Later I studied with the local Adventist pastor and began to understand much more about God’s will for my life. Eventually I was baptized and became a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is the best decision I ever made!

Bible Texts to Pray About

• John 16:8-11—It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins and lead us to Jesus.
• Romans 3:10, 23—There is none righteous, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
• Romans 6:23—The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.
• John 3:16—For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.
• Ephesians 2:8, 9—We are saved by grace through faith, not our own goodness. It is the gift of God, not our own works.
• 1 John 5:11-13—If we have accepted Jesus by faith, we know we have eternal life.
• Romans 8:16—The Spirit Himself bears witness, and we know we are sons and daughters of God.

Each day, as we turn to Jesus and pray, we receive His forgiveness and grace. As the children of Israel went out daily to receive the manna from heaven, so we daily renew our relationship with Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:58). Through the presence of the Holy Spirit moving in our lives, we confess our sins to God, accept the righteousness of Jesus in our behalf, and are enabled to resist the temptations of the devil (Galatians 5:16).

Suggested Prayers

• Dear Father in heaven, I know I am a sinner. Please forgive all my sins as You promised to do (1 John 1:9). Thank You! You also promised to give me eternal life if I accept Jesus as my Savior. Today I choose Jesus. I can’t wait for Jesus to come!
• Dear Jesus, I want to walk always in the presence of the Holy Spirit so that I may detect the approach of the devil and his evil spirits. Give me Your strength to recognize and resist their temptations (James 4:7).
• I am now trusting in You, Lord, for my salvation. May I have joyful and confident assurance so that my life may attract lost souls to You.
• Dear Father, so many people in the churches of this world have only religion. They do not know Jesus and His saving grace. Please send Your Holy Spirit to convict them of their sins and lead them to Jesus. Cause them to be weary of mere ceremonies. May they hunger for the true presence of God in their lives.
• Lord, we pray for those in spiritual and mental prisons to be set free from guilt and other captivities.
• Lord, please raise up modern-day Waldensian students who are willing to serve You in difficult places.
• Please raise up brave missionaries willing to work among the 746 people groups in the 20 countries of the Middle East.
• We pray for the 1,000 Missionary Movement in Northern Asia-Pacific Division and Southern Asia-Pacific Division. May these young people be empowered to do God’s work.
• We pray for the 202 million people in the 41 least-reached cities of Southern Asia-Pacific Division to know Jesus.
• We pray for the youth who are living dangerously for the Lord through One Year in Mission (OYiM) and Mission Caleb.
• We also pray for our list of seven or more people [name the names if appropriate].
• Local Prayer Requests

Suggested Songs

Blessed Assurance (Hymn #462); I Do Believe (Hymn #486); Lord, I Lift Your Name on High; There’s Just Something About That Name; Only Trust Him (Hymn #279); Is He Worthy; Spirit of the Living God; The Spirit Song.