The Book of Revelation talks about the characteristics of those who overcome. One of the four characteristics of an overcomer is: they hold the testimony of Jesus. There may be some validity to the idea that this is a reference to our personal testimony of Jesus. But that is probably not the testimony to which he is referring! The testimony that Jesus shared was a firsthand account of the true nature and character of God!
Hebrews tells us Jesus was the exact representation of God. Jesus said the words He spoke and the works He did were the Father’s. In other words, He did nothing of Himself; everything He did was designed to show us exactly who God really was. His teaching, ministry, personal conduct and ultimately His death, burial and resurrection provide us with the perfect interpretation, intention and application of every word God has ever spoken.
For thousands of years men who did not have firsthand knowledge of God gave a testimony of who they assumed God to be. They twisted His Word into a legalistic quagmire that held people in bondage instead doing what it was intended to do: give them a better quality of life. In fact, they twisted His Word to such a degree that it denied His name. Many good people today still think of the Old Covenant as a covenant of fear. Sadly they base that testimony of God’s character and nature on hearsay!
A testimony is an eye witness account: firsthand knowledge of the facts.
They do not present their interpretation of the facts; they do not present their subjective emotional reaction to the facts; they do not repeat what someone else has claimed to see and hear; they only testify to what they have personally seen and/or heard.
No human being had ever seen God as He was; therefore, the testimony of any man, teacher, rabbi or king, prior to Jesus could not be completely reliable; it was only hearsay and assumption. Jesus was with God and, in fact, was one with God; His is the only credible testimony of God in existence.
When we interpret or apply the Word of God in any way that is inconsistent with Jesus’ life, teaching, death, burial and resurrection, we are abandoning the testimony of Jesus and creating a private interpretation.
Many well-meaning Christians preach a very convincing message that actually opposes the truth. The Holy Spirit can only manifest grace, i.e. power to live the truth, Jesus’ version of the truth, not our version of the truth!
Kingdom living is dependent on relating to Jesus as Lord. It might behoove us to examine everything we believe, share, preach, teach, think and pray to determine if it is consistent with or does it stand in opposition to the testimony Jesus provided of God through His life, death, burial and resurrection.
Thanks so much, Jim, for your teaching. There are too many things in my life that it has affected to list here. In short, my life is PROFOUNDLY CHANGED. I will not accept defeat any longer & my passion is to submit and truly be a disciple of Jesus. I used to pray over and over, “Lord, I JUST WANT YOUR TRUTH. I don’t care what doctrine I have to give up. And don’t want to just read about all of this. I want to WALK THIS WAY so the power of God becomes manifest in my life!!! But I don’t know how, and I don’t know anyone who actually believes that it can happen.”
Then I found your teachings through somehow finding Sid Roth. NEVER AGAIN WILL I GO BACK TO A POWERLESS LIFE AGAIN!!!
I have LITERALLY turned storms & tornados from hitting around us, and sent last year’s hurricane around my parents’ home in Florida. This is just minor stuff to what I am seeing change in lives around me with the authority and power of the Lord.
I AM the righteousness of God in Christ!!
Thank you, Jim, and the entire Impact Ministries team!!! I speak blessings over all of you as the Lord brings you to mind almost daily!