"But 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"Ye are my witnesses..." (Isa 43:10).
What does it mean to be a "witness"? What do we automatically think about when we read these verses of Scripture? Do we think about roaming from house to house, passing out Gospel tracks, hoping to make a difference in someones life? For the most part, we have been taught that this is what encompasses being "a witness" for the Lord Jesus; this "witnessing" is the accepted exercise that "witnesses" perform... But is this accurate?
Proponents of this idea often quote Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". Again, is this verse a "witnessing" method that infers how to win souls? I do not believe so. This word "teach" means, "to make disciples". Therefore, this verse does not necessarily instruct us HOW to win souls, but rather, our course of action AFTER they have come into the kingdom.
So what does it mean to be a "witness"?
In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was called the "tabernacle of witness". The Bible says, "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen" (Acts 7:44; Num 17:7-8; 18:2; 2 Chron 24:6). How could a single, lone-standing & voiceless structure be a "witness"? Because being a "witness" really has nothing to do with our carnal efforts! It doesn't necessarily have much to do with going door to door to invite people to become Christians. Are you surprised? While this exercise of course is noble, it isn't necessarily what the Lord Jesus had in mind when He spoke these words in Acts 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me..."
So what defines a true witness? As we look to the tabernacle, we can easily determine why it was divinely given such a label, "the tabernacle of witness". In fact, Jesus' words (in Acts, the Gospels, and elsewhere) were most likely borrowed from this label, which had been assigned to the tabernacle thousands of years before. Let's observe just a few qualities of this "witness":
- First of all, the tabernacle of witness contained the revealed presence of God (Exod 40:33-35; Lev 16:2; etc). In my humble opinion, this was the greatest attribute of all. What a powerful testimony this must have been to the surrounding foes of Israel! Even so, now WE are to possess and display this same revealed glory. Such an attribute will surely draw all men to the Jesus within us (Jn 12:32). Such a displayed and genuine glory is what the earth is crying out for (Rom 8:18-20)! House to house? When this level of glory is revealed, the earth will swarm to us!
- The tabernacle of witness also contained the articles of furniture that were necessary for the ministry of the priesthood to properly operate. This tells me that as believers function in their respective roles (Eph 4), that the earth will look and see a beautiful spiritual organism, as opposed to a contradictory mess that has been seen in ages passed. Real and genuine fellowship can be achieved at the table of shewbread, the altar of incense, etc. As this occurs, the love that is evident will be a witness and testimony to the unifying and sanctifying power of God! Furthermore, as this priesthood ministers to Jesus, the world is watching. Our pure worship of God is a genuine witness to the earth around us (Song 5:9-16; 6:1).
- The tabernacle of witness contained the golden pot of manna within the ark (Heb 9:4; Exod 16:33-34). How can manna act as a witness for the tabernacle of witness? Well, in the manna, we are directed to God the Son: He who came down from above and condescended as the bread of life. He, as the eternal Bread, is our sustenance during our earthly wilderness wandering, even as the natural manna was sustenance to the Israelites during their time in the desert. As men look upon us and see the miraculous, real, physical, emotional and spiritual provision that Jesus gives, we truly will be a witness! Real "witnesses", therefore, are those who partake of such abundantly provided glories, as the earth looks on.
- The tabernacle of witness is the place where Aaron's rod budded (Num 17:8-10), and the place where his rod was kept as a memorial (Heb 9:4). In Aaron's rod, life came out of death; fruitfulness sprang from drought. This is to be typical of the believer too, as a witness of the Lord Jesus. The new creation man is to be so dramatically different than the old man, that it can be likened to life coming out of death. Such a wonderful display is surely a witness to those around us: "For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish" (Ps 132:13-18).
- The tabernacle of witness contained the two tablets of stone, upon which were inscribed the Law of God (Exod 40:20-21). These too were found in the ark. This occurrence is symbolic of the power and authority that the believer is to confidently possess, via the law (Word) of God. Power over demonic influences and personal carnality will surely bare witness to the peoples of the earth that Jesus is indeed Lord over all!
- Finally, the tabernacle of witness was in the center of the camp (Num 2:17). In other words, it was continually and perpetually looked upon as a witness, not only on certain days of the week, and in certain "religious conditions", but everyday, and at all times. Mere "Sunday morning Christians" have done more damage to the "witness" of true Christianity than can be accurately expressed! We should take heed to the witness that was perpetually exhibited by the tabernacle. (Ps 34:1; Acts 16:25; etc).
Though there is much more that can be said, this will be sufficient. Such glorious attributes of this tabernacle are some of the reasons WHY it was labeled as a "witness"! Though it was located in the wilderness, this "witness" accurately expressed (and bore witness to) the reality, power, provision, mercy, love and holiness of the Lord! The Shekinah glory that abode in that place was the divine seal and accreditation of it being a witness: Until God possessed it, it was no witness at all. Can you see the wonderful relation here? True witnesses are only those who have their fill with God, even as the tabernacle was God's abode! The only manner by which we, as believers, can be a similar fruitful witness is to increasingly possess these same qualities in our own personal temples (Eph 2:19-22). To go about "witnessing" without proper regard for these Scriptural qualities is to be a vain witness, and is to ignore the enabling shade that Calvary's Cross supplies! And what a fruitless disaster that would be! One writer has said, "If the Holy Ghost is not filling us, our testimony (witness) is but empty prattle". I could not agree more.
Let's seek to be God-ordained "witnesses", and become effective! Such as the world has never seen! May the earth be drawn to the revealed glory of God that protrudes from our personal temples and "tabernacles of witness"!
"A true witness delivereth souls..." (Prov 14:25).
No comments:
Post a Comment