The Power of Testimony

So I threw myself down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “Do not do this! I am only a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” - Revelation 19:10
It's funny how sometimes we tend to overlook the book of Revelation.  Maybe it's because we are scared of it or maybe we just think that we can't understand what it's trying to say.  Who knows, but as part of God's word, it is no doubt important.

This verse, particularly that last part that I have in bold, was brought to my attention during a class that I have started taking on Wednesday nights at church.  The class is called: "The Testimony of Jesus"

There is so much buried in this verse that the teachers of this class have some great insight into.  It helps us to understand the position that Jesus left us with when he left this planet:
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit." - John 20:21-22
Wait a minute, He did what?  He breathed on them?!?  Let's back up a minute and define a few words here...
Spirit (Pneuma) - Breath, like a breeze or blast of air.
Prophecy - Either speaks of a future event or changes the present. 
Keep in mind that our English-translations are a best effort at coming up with words to describe the Greek meaning (or Hebrew in the case of the old testament).

You see, this is why James was so adamant about taming the tongue.  What you speak has the power to change the atmosphere around you, for good or for bad.  Why is this?  Let me explain.

The Testimony:

     In the old testament the Testimony was the Ark of the Covenant.  Why was it called the testimony?  Because it was God's testimony to man during this time, it represented who He is and gave them a tangible way of seeing who God is.  This was accomplished by what God had them place in the Ark and what those items represented:
  1. The ten commandments - Word of God
  2. Manna - The Bread of Life
  3. Arron's Staff - The Power of God
Ok, so here is where this gets cool.  When Jesus came to Earth, He became God's testimony here.  Let's dig:
  1. Word of God - The Word became flesh
  2. The Bread of Life - Jesus said: I Am the Bread of Life
  3. The Power of God - Jesus Said: All power is given to Him
You see, in the old testament the Ark was the dwelling place of God here on Earth.  In the new testament Jesus was God dwelling among us!  He is the word of God, the bread of life and the power of God: God's testimony to man about Himself.

But wait, there's more!  
The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son. - 1 John 5:10
This Testimony (the Word, Life, and Power) is transferred to us when we believe in Jesus (did you catch that?  The same testimony that was in the Ark and embodied in Jesus is inside of you and I!).  So now just as Jesus breathed the Spirit on the disciples and the Spirit moved, we have been given this same power simply by speaking the testimony of Jesus and our personal testimony about Jesus.

How awesome is this truth about how the spoken word breathes forth the Spirit of God!
  • When God created the world he spoke.  God was breathing forth the Spirit who moved on the Earth and creation came to being.
  • When God created man, He breathed life into him.
  • On the day of pentecost, there was the sound of a mighty wind (breath) and it changed the atmosphere in the room.  
You can't see the Spirit, but you can see the evidence of the Spirit moving and we can give testimony to that evidence because we are witnesses!

I leave you with this video that reiterates the points that I'm trying to make here and also gives witness to the power in a testimony.  Don't ever stop telling people what God has done!





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