Still on the stand!

If you missed yesterday, or you’ve already forgotten what I wrote, go back and catch up about being a Witness. Good to have you with me now.  I just couldn’t cut down Tuesday’s lesson without leaving out the best part, and the best part holds promises that should not be ignored.

Did you ever get exactly what you expected? Me neither. The pictures created in my mind never did match up with reality.  I set my own expectations no matter what information my senses received.  Sometimes I was pleasantly surprised, other times I was bitterly disappointed. Those expecting the Messiah were the same.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. (John 4:25 KJV)

She described her perception of the Messiah. It didn’t match that of a conquering hero, powerful enough to defeat Rome. We define by our own desires and expectations. God provides what is needed. He provided the faithful witness. John described Him:

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And 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 1:4-5 KJV)

The gospel in a paragraph, isn’t it. Of course, there is more, much more, but this description is enough for hours and hours of discussion. However, I want to go one verse further:

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6 KJV)

Don’t go building a religion on this one verse, but to think about the power God has to make us kings and priests unto God!  After that, think of the responsibility that kings and priests have. That’s our witness.

Pretty overwhelming, isn’t it?  Do we really want that responsibility? To be placed in a position that others will look to us for answers? Where are the answers?

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Luke 12:11-12 KJV)

We may never be brought before church or secular law, but we are called upon to witness about our faith. We will be able to answer through the teachings of the Holy Spirit.

Well, that is if we allow Him.

Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV)

Paul has several good admonitions in chapter 5, but this one stands out. We have the capability to silence the Spirit in our lives – or we can allow Him to speak through us. The choice is ours, our witness.,