Witnessing with the Spirit
by Marlene Cooper
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We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him (Acts 5:32).
Those called to be witnesses in court may have to face fierce cross-examination to dismantle their testimony as inconsistent, irrelevant or even untrue. Those who survive this ordeal are often people with an unshakeable inner certainty that what they have said is, indeed, ‘the whole truth’.
After Pentecost, the Apostles were on fire with the power and love of God. Day by day, the company of believers grew in number in response to their preaching and healing ministries. Nevertheless, the opposition was strong and unrelenting. So, what enabled them to persevere and return for more? What impelled them to preach Christ tirelessly when so much was at stake for them?
Called to give an account of themselves, they spoke up from the unshakeable inner certainty of the truth and authority of the one they preached about: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’ (verse 29). Boldly, they gave a nutshell account of God’s saving purpose fulfilled in Jesus, climaxing in the heart of their testimony: ‘We are witnesses of these things – and so is the Holy Spirit!’ (verse 32).
Their witness was not an earthly matter. It was a gift of the Spirit of truth, a gift of God. Rightly did the Pharisee Gamaliel perceive afterwards: ‘If it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God’ (verse 39).
To be a witness of salvation is always a gift of the Spirit received by faith. It is in Christ himself that we can have the inner certainty and assurance that our witness is powerfully true, a gracious rescue brought to the world for all. As a gift, it needs daily receiving and renewal as we humbly and penitently open our hands and hearts to receive the Spirit’s witness again. It is the Spirit who opens our eyes to see the living Jesus at work in our broken and sin-weary world.
Just as the Spirit witnessed with the Apostles, so he empowers and equips us as witnesses to our Saviour today. We are his witnesses, so let our account – whatever challenges we face – be the story of God’s mercy and goodness revealed in Jesus. We draw our unshakeable inner certainty from the Spirit of truth, whose gifts of grace and unfailing encouragement keep us in tune with the needs we meet wherever we are.
Shine in our hearts, Holy Spirit of truth, as we serve as witnesses to the wonder of God’s saving love in Jesus. Remind us of Jesus’ presence as we give an account of our hope to those who long for his love. Amen.
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