Witnessing

From: Christian Treasury: Volume 8

Acts 22:15 • 3 min. read • grade level: 8

“Thou shalt be His witness.”

Acts 22:15¹⁵For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (Acts 22:15)ACT 22:15¹⁵For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (Acts 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 26:16¹⁶But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; (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 26:22²²Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: (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 1:8⁸But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8). And he may prove, as the Apostle John did, that the "testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 1:9⁹I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 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. 1:5⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 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 5:31³¹If 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 5:19¹⁹Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (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, 29²⁸Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. ²⁹But 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 8:28²⁸Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but 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 12:49⁴⁹For 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 1:18¹⁸No man hath seen God at any time; 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 17:26²⁶And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (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. 15:3³For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. (Romans 15:3).

“I do always those things that please Him." John 8:29²⁹And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for 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 5:30³⁰I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because 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 4:34³⁴Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (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 3:32³²And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. (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 1:3³That 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. (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 24:32³²And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:32)

“That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you.”

1 John 1:3³That 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. (1 John 1:3)

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