“Thou shalt be His witness.”
Acts 22:15ACT 22:15
Paul, the former enemy, was proclaimed to be his Savior's chosen vessel to fulfill the purpose expressed in the Lord's words, "I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness." Acts 26:16. The ever-present consciousness of the high and holy favor that had constituted him a witness led to his continuous, faithful testifying, which he recounted years later in words that should even now stir our hearts: "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great." Acts 26:22.
The believer may appropriate the Savior's parting words to those who followed Him to Olivet: "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." Acts 1:8. And he may prove, as the Apostle John did, that the "testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 1:9) leads to separation from the world and rejection, as his banishment to Patmos indicated in his day.
For our witnessing, the Holy Spirit presents to us the blessed Lord Himself who is the true and "faithful Witness." Rev. 1:5. The lowly One perfectly testifies of the Father who sent Him, and exhibits to us the manner of witnessing to which we are called.
Just as service is summed up in the words, "Follow Me," so all true testimony that we may bear conforms to the manner of testifying the following scriptures denote.
“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true." John 5:31.
“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do." John 5:19.
“I am not come of Myself, but He that sent Me is true.... But I know Him; for I am from Him, and He hath sent Me." John 7:28, 29.
“As My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things." John 8:28.
“I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." John 12:49.
“The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." John 1:18.
“I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it." John 17:26.
Such precious testimony the Spirit of God reveals as rendered by the One of whom it is written. "Christ pleased not Himself." Rom. 15:3.
“I do always those things that please Him." John 8:29.
“I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." John 5:30.
“My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me." John 4:34.
May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and cause our hearts' affections to be moved by the true and faithful witnessing of our blessed Lord. And may the testimony recorded of Him, "what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth”
(John 3:32), enable us to reproduce, in our measure, the witness of those humble and true followers whose record reads: "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you." 1 John 1:3.
“The things concerning Himself" still cause our hearts to burn within us. His talking with us tells of love that fulfilled divine and gracious purposes, even at the cost of Calvary, glorifying God and binding us to His heart forever. Before our eyes He is seen in lowliness, submission and devotion to His Father's will, yet all the while the brightness of "eternal glory.”
Surely, such knowledge of Himself must produce, in those who are His own, a witness unto Him which will faithfully reflect the glory of His Person. To our admiring, adoring hearts the Spirit has ministered Christ, the glory of His Person, the preciousness of His love, the faithfulness of His testimony and the dear desire of His heart that we should be His witnesses. E. J. Checkley
"Did not our heart burn within us,
while He talked with us?”
Luke 24:32
“That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you.”
1 John 1:3