By Augustus Henry (PhD)
“COME on over and sit down for a minute and take a look at this episode of 20/20 that I’m featured in.” Mr. Davis was a retired law enforcement detective who helped solve a murder case before it turned cold. The case made national news and he shared with me, while I was in the process of hauling furniture away from his house, some details regarding the case. One such detail was the significant value of trustworthy witnesses in piecing together the complex puzzle required to solve such a mystery.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus’ disciples were assured: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The word power means authority. It’s important for us to remember that we are engaged, whether we are aware of it or not, in an intense combat between the armies of God and the armies of Satan (good versus evil). In order for strongholds to be broken, hostages set free and the lost reconciled to the Good Shepheard, we must learn to exercise the Divine authority available through the Godhead. God the Father gave the Israelites many victories over their national enemies, Jesus gave his disciples victory over demonic spirits and the Holy Spirit continues the work by living victoriously through the church today.
Heaven Needs More Witnesses
Most courts recognize three types of witnesses: eyewitnesses, expert witnesses and character witnesses. An eyewitness testifies about what they know from observation of what happened. An expert witness testifies from the angle of their training in a particular area (ex. doctor, scientist, psychologist, etc.). Character witnesses testify about what they know, from personal experience, about the characters of the people involved (habits, mannerisms, attitudes, tendencies, etc.). The war that is intensifying with each moment is about the truth regarding God’s character. Therefore, the Godhead is in need of witnesses who are willing to take the stand to testify about His character of righteousness and love. Please note the following:
• Revelation 12:7 states: “And war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon and his angels.” The war spoken of here was a battle between different views and beliefs. Satan promoted an ideology that was in contrast to the truth as promoted and demonstrated by God.
• Genesis 3:4,5 exposes the same tactics the enemy used in heaven to win a third of the angels to his side; misrepresenting the reputation and character of God to break the circle of love and trust. He uses the same tactics on earth: “…You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Eve disregarded the Divine instructions and warnings only after she believed lies about God’s intentions towards her.
• The prophet Isaiah declared to Israel: “You are my witnesses says the Lord…” The nation of Israel was assigned the task of testifying to the surrounding nations of the God of heaven and earth who wanted to deliver them from their self-destructing ways and practices.
The enemy lies about God because He knows that lies believed produced fruit after their kind and none of us can truly trust a God who we don’t think is trustworthy. The world needs the witness of those who have experienced God for themselves in the same way that the Samaritans needed the witness of the woman who encountered Jesus at the well. John 4:39. As the truth is lived out in the lives of those who are sanctified by it the spell of the enemy would lose its hold.
Empowered to Witness
We are not expected to stand against the forces of darkness under our own strength but through the might of the Lord which is imparted to us. “For God has not given you the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. It was Divine power that enabled Joseph to resist the sinful invitations from his master’s wife (Genesis 39). It was Divine power that enabled Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to request a diet in harmony with the laws of health while in Babylon as well as to risk their lives by not bowing to the god’s of Babylon (Daniel 1,3 & 6). This same power was manifested through the prophets who declared the plain words of God; John the Baptist who was thrown in prison and the disciples who suffered greatly for their witness. As we are baptized in the truth and love of God we cannot help but to share what we’ve seen and heard. The Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome the paralyzing effect of fear of punishment, death and loss so that we can live as open channels of Heaven’s grace. Through the working of the Holy Spirit we can say with the apostle Paul: “…it is not longer I who live but Christ who lives in me…”. Gal. 2:20.