Paul began preaching right after his conversion (Is This possible for others too?)
Acts 9:20
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Paul began preaching right after his conversion. For his whole life he had studied the scriptures and as a result, when the Holy Spirit came on him, he began to receive illumination and all that he had studied began to make sense and point to Christ. Perhaps, Paul began preaching by sharing his testimony of how Christ had saved and delivered him on the road to Damascus. His first sermon titles were probably called my testimony on the road to Damascus. Perhaps many knew him as the man with the road to Damascus testimony from his first few preachings! But the lesson here that we can learn from Paul’s immediate preaching is that EVERYONE can begin preaching RIGHT AWAY after their salvation. What can they preach? Their testimony of how God has delivered them- Revelation 12:11.
-Examples of people who began preaching their testimonies right after their conversion:
1. The woman of Samaria
John 4:28-30
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
John 4:39
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
Many Samaritans of the city came to believe in Jesus Christ simply by the testimony of this Samaritan woman. Your testimony is powerful and can have great effect if you will publish it!
2. Mad man of Gadarenes
Mark 5:19-20
Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
The mad man of Gadara became a mighty preacher to TEN CITIES simply by his testimony of how Jesus Hd saved and delivered hm. Sitting on your testimony of what God has done for you is keeping you from being a preacher to perhaps 10 places! Your testimony has powerful effect and can lead MANY PEOLLE to Jesus Christ.
3. The disciples of Jesus Christ.
We are all benefiting from not just the teachings of Jesus and His death on the cross but from the eyewitness testimonies of the disciples who interacted with Christ. Today, we can learn from Jesus and follow his example because the disciples did not shy way from sharing their testimony. Look at what John the Apostle said:
1 John 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
John opens up his book by stating that it is clear eyewitness testimony of their testimony and interaction with Christ which they are declaring to us! How powerful is that! The testimony of these disciples has made a mighty impact on all of us and continues to do that today.
As you share your testimony, you will grow in strength and more things to say will be given to you. This is what happened with Paul the Apostle:
Acts 9:22
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Paul increased in strength. This is not physical strength but rather boldness and enablement. Maybe Paul’s first couple of preachings weren’t as spectacular, but as he kept going, Paul became more bold in his preaching and was enabled by the Spirit with more things to say as he kept sharing his testimony of what happened to him on the road to Damascus. Maybe if you had met Paul in his first three invitations, it would have went something like this: “let’s invite the man who encountered Jesus on the road here to Damascus to share with us his testimony!” But after the seventh or eighth time of encountering Paul, you will have noticed that his message had now changed and become more seasoned and powerful becaus he had now received enablement by the Spirit and increase in strength of his preaching. As you share your testimony the Holy Spirit will give you more things to say. Don’t worry about not knowing the scriptures enough, your testimony is also very powerful and your faithfulness with that will cause God to bless you with more things to say. Be blessed and be encouraged, amen.