Daniel 4:1-2 "Share Your Testimony, Today." by Pastor Michael Petit. Calvary Chapel Devine's Weekly Devotion.

Calvary Chapel Devine · Calvary Chapel Devine's Weekly Digital Devotion

Daniel 4:1-2 
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! [2] It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

The FINAL chapter of King Nebuchadnezzar’s life? At least in the Book of Daniel. 30 years have passed since the fiery furnace incident in chapter 3. Daniel is now in his mid-50’s and Nebuchadnezzar is approaching 70. He had ruled Babylon for nearly 35 years. By this time, his enemies have all been defeated such that he rules the largest kingdom in the history of the world. The royal treasury is bursting at the seams, and he has completed several impressive building projects. In short, these are the golden years of his reign.

If I was to ask you what the most important day of your life? Wedding day, Birth of a child & being cancer free? In this world the greatest thing that happens is when someone decides to repent, give their heart to Jesus and to accept him as their personnel Lord and Savior. That’s the greatest thing that somewhere in this world someone will repent, believe in Jesus, and ask Christ into their heart. We are living in such dark time of Covid, politics or climate we are in today. It’s an afterthought. 30 years from now it will be you belong to Jesus.

In Chapter four we get a personal letter from King Nebuchadnezzar and his testimony. 
If I asked you to share your testimony today? Could you? 

Mark 16:15 ESV
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Romans 1:16 ESV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Preparing Your Personal Testimony
Sharing how you came to know God personally is one of the most powerful ways you can help friends grasp how much God loves us.

If someone asked you to share today, you might find it challenging to explain how you came to believe in God, or what he means to you?

Five Principals for Sharing the Gospel (S.H.A.R.E.)
by Lloyd Pulley from Calvary Chapel Old Bridge

Be Sensitive to the Spirit
How many times do you struggle to make something happen, but when you stop to pray, the Holy Spirit gives you the perfect solution and your task is accomplished in no time?

Being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit is critical when sharing the gospel with others. By listening to His prompting we can be led in what to say – and not to say – to someone who doesn’t know Him.

Humbly Build a Bridge
At my college there was this green grassy area called “the mall” where students hung out, studied, played Frisbee, and so on.

Often there’d be someone standing out on the mall sharing the gospel by yelling at passersby telling them that they were going to hell. I never once saw someone stop and talk to the yeller and say, “Oh you are right. I’ll go ahead and become a Christian now.”

When we approach people with humility and respect, they are more receptive to what we have to say. People want to know that you, and Jesus, genuinely care about them.

Jesus treated the Samaritan woman in John 4 with respect and, in turn, she and her entire community became believers.

Arouse Interest
In a world where so many are busy, tired and hurting, it won’t take much to arouse interest. People want to know that the things in their lives matter to another human being.

When you take time to talk to others, opening a door to share the gospel, take a genuine interest in them and they will take interest in what you have to say.

Reveal Sin
Today, pointing out sin is not PC and equals disrespect and being unloving. I am an emotions-based person, so the idea that someone could feel disrespected or unloved based on my words or actions is devastating. At the same time, this isn’t about me.

I am a sinner saved by grace, so talking about someone’s sin isn’t about pointing and condemning – it’s about extending the Christ’s freedom to that person. It’s telling them that the junk they struggle with – sin – doesn’t have to be an ongoing struggle.

Explain the Plan of Salvation
When sharing the gospel with others, you may never get to a point of explaining the plan of salvation to them. If you do, stick to the simplicity of the truth. Often people have questions like “Why does God allow cancer or war?” While those are good questions, they are a distraction from the point of your conversation. 
(Everyday Conversations, Eternal Impact by Lloyd Pulley)

Romans 10:13-15 
[13] For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." [14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

Someone has to go out and share the good news, share your testimony today. Can I please share this with you when sharing your testimony, you’re your past, keep it brief and don’t glorify the sin and they spend way too much time on you then about God. Testimony is not about you. It’s about what God has done for you. Who’s the star of the testimony God. Keep it simple. I know when I first share it was off the cuff it was about me. But I learn how to write it out. 

The Book of Daniel Chapter Four is an amazing chapter, we get the testimony of Babylonian King who is now a new believer in God and His testimony is included in the Bible. Something very important that King Nebuchadnezzar says he wants "all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth to know the Most High God." We should have that same priority in our life to share Christ with as many people as possible everyday. You can share to all peoples, nations and languages today because of technology. We have no excuse. This Christmas and New year's you will run into to so many family members, friends and people in the county to share Christ. So many are hurting today and looking for answers, you have the answer, Jesus. 

God Bless, 
Pastor Michael Petit.