The Testimony of Jesus

The Testimony of Jesus

. . . is the spirit of the word of prophecy. Rev. 19:10. Blessed are they who have been sealed with the testimony of Jesus in the depths of their heart. This is the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood: a testimony of death. When Jesus died, we died with Him. Rom. 6:6; 2 Cor. 5:15. Jesus has redeemed us from the power of sin, so that we are no longer indebted to the flesh, that we should live according to it. Rom. 8:12. We can with great boldness, by faith in the finished work of Christ, take up this firm and unshakable position of faith in our hearts: dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Rom. 6:11. We can take up this firm position of faith and remain in it for the rest of our lives, in bold confidence in His grace and power. Only when we remain in this relationship of faithfulness and love for Christ can He put His seal on us and give us His testimony, which is the spirit of the word of prophecy. Those who press into the depths of God understand the times and receive the Spirit that searches all things. 1 Cor. 2:10.

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Pet. 1:20-21.

There isn’t a single human brain that can fathom the word of prophecy. It is only granted to those who have the testimony of Jesus. The others never get anything more out of it than a few opinions about God’s Word. Since there are only a few in whom Jesus’ testimony has taken root, one almost always sees and hears only human opinions when the word of prophecy is written or spoken about.

Those who have Jesus’ testimony are a danger to Satan. John was sent to the island of Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. Rev. 1:9. In Revelation 12:17 we read that the dragon was enraged against those who kept the commandments of God and had the testimony of Jesus. However, it is of no avail if all the hosts of hell storm against them. They are invincible as long as they keep the commandments of God and have Jesus’ testimony. Their body can be killed if God permits, but their spirit and faith cannot be overcome. These are the ones who mature for Christ’s coming.

May we all maintain this firm position of faith in our hearts, so that Christ can give us His testimony. Everything has been made ready from God’s side, and the time of reformation is at hand. Heb. 9:10. We can’t even entertain the thought of being transformed from glory to glory if we have not taken up this firm position, nor will we ever be living witnesses of what God can do in a human being.

A person does not possess true joy and peace if he does not have Jesus’ testimony. He will only have a human understanding of God’s Word, and his manner of life will be unstable and unsteady. At blessed conferences and meetings such people can make decisions about being more careful regarding the use of the tongue, about being more generous, more humble, etc., but it is evident that many of them never get any further than testifying about their wretchedness and their defeats. We are not called to be such witnesses, are we?

It is both necessary and great to come to the place that we honestly and sincerely acknowledge our wretchedness, but we must not stop there without also laying hold of faith in victory and transformation. The apostles were living witnesses of victory and transformation; and since they testified on the basis of their lives, they could impart hope and faith to the most wretched. 1 Tim. 1:12-16.

In these last days we need living witnesses who can testify with power about what God can do in a person. Take up this position of faith: dead to sin and alive to God; and you will be such a witness.