Miracles and Our Witness预览

Tabernacles of Witness

I shall never forget how my life was changed when I discovered that the Bible word translated “witness” is the word used to describe the Old Testament “Tabernacle of Witness.” This was a tent where God met with the people of Israel during their wilderness journey to the Promised Land.

That tent was called the “Tabernacle of Witness” because, for twenty-four hours of every day, God’s miraculous power and presence were in evidence there. Other nations could build tents. They could collect and use the same materials, but the glory of God’s presence—His miraculous witness—would not be there.

God was continually present in the tent. His glory was in evidence in the Tabernacle of Witness.” And do you know what? Jesus promised that His followers would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. Paul explained that means each believer is a temple of the Holy Ghost. So, we are Tabernacles of Witness, giving testimony through our words and deeds.

The apostles Peter and John received the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost. They lifted a crippled man to his feet in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 3:1–6). Their faith and action gave witness —proof of the resurrection of Christ. As a result of their witness in action, they were arrested and required to explain the power or the name by which they performed this wonder. Peter stood before the court of official religious dignitaries and declared: “We are His witnesses!”

The early Christians were commanded by those who opposed them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But they answered that they had to obey God before anyone else and that they were speaking about the things they had seen and heard.

Biblical, apostolic Christianity has always been promulgated by witnesses, confessors, and testifiers—by messengers who have met Jesus Christ and experienced His love and power in their lives. The greatest honor and calling on earth is to be a witness for Jesus Christ—to be endued with His Holy Spirit in order to preach the gospel in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

That is the miracle witness we are to give to our world, the reason the power of the Holy Ghost was imparted to believers. We become “Tabernacles of Witness” through whom God’s power and glory is manifested, giving proof that Jesus Christ is alive and present now.

Jesus, You promised that we would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be Your witnesses. Empower me, I pray.