May 16th, 2023
Last week, we talked about the fact that the Holy Spirit is the Father’s seal in the life of the believer. However, the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is so much more than the initial seal. Another aspect of His purpose on earth is to be a witness. When we think of a witness, a courtroom is probably the first thing that comes to mind. When there’s a dispute, a witness is brought to testify to the truth of what they know, regardless of the opposition in the room. To “bear witness” means “to show that something is true,” by presenting proof or evidence. The word translated witness is used in the Bible in regard to Jesus, His followers, and the Holy Spirit. This week though, I want to focus specifically on the Holy Spirit and share some important truths from God’s word about His role as a witness:
1. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth about Jesus. He testifies to the validity of everything that Jesus said even though Jesus isn’t physically on the earth. He always points to the cross and the heart of the Father, agreeing with every written Word. John 15:26 says,
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning.”
1 John 5:6 says,
“This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”
2. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God. Salvation is confirmed in the heart of a new believer by His power! Romans 8:13-16 says,
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…”
3. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses to that which we haven’t seen with our natural eyes. We didn’t physically see the crucifixion of Jesus, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can testify to its truth with as much conviction as if we were there. Acts 5:31-32 says,
“God exalted [Jesus] at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
4. The Holy Spirit gives evidence of the Gospel and His witness is an absolutely necessary component of preaching God’s word. Jesus told his disciples to “remain in the city until they were clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Acts 1:8 says,
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses…to the end of the earth.”
The apostles knew the Gospel was for the Gentiles as well as the Jews because the Holy Spirit was poured out on them when they heard the Word preached! Acts 15:8-9 says,
“God, who knows the heart bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.”
Biblical preaching was always accompanied by power!
5. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to work signs and wonders, thereby bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel. Acts 14:3 says,
“So, they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Hebrews 2:3-4 further confirms this saying,
“…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
6. The witness of the Holy Spirit’s power keeps our eyes on God and not men. 1 Corinthians
2:1-5 says,
“And I (Paul), when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
7. The Holy Spirit is a guide in our personal lives, bearing witness to the truth in every circumstance we face. His sheep know His voice (John 10:4-5) and He leads them. God is never without a witness and His people are never without direction because the Holy Spirit is still here! Acts 14: 17 says,
“Yet He did not leave himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
Hebrews 10:14-17 says,
‘For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
The Holy Spirit was poured out after Jesus ascended so that there would be not one witness but many! He bears witness to the truth of God’s Word in and through you. Everyone who is saved and filled with the Holy Spirit is made to be a witness for God. The empowered church of Jesus Christ is the only answer to our society’s problems and the only way to reach a generation. The world isn’t waiting for fancy words or manmade wisdom. They will be won only by the demonstrated reality and power of God. They will be won by a move of the Holy Spirit in the church of Jesus Christ for the glory of the Father. Signs follow believers because the miracle-worker, the creator, the same one who hovered over the waters at creation, dwells in our hearts by faith. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth in power, testifying to the validity and authority of God’s Word and the power of the blood of Jesus. He is a witness and by His grace, so are we.
1. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth about Jesus. He testifies to the validity of everything that Jesus said even though Jesus isn’t physically on the earth. He always points to the cross and the heart of the Father, agreeing with every written Word. John 15:26 says,
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning.”
1 John 5:6 says,
“This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”
2. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God. Salvation is confirmed in the heart of a new believer by His power! Romans 8:13-16 says,
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…”
3. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses to that which we haven’t seen with our natural eyes. We didn’t physically see the crucifixion of Jesus, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can testify to its truth with as much conviction as if we were there. Acts 5:31-32 says,
“God exalted [Jesus] at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
4. The Holy Spirit gives evidence of the Gospel and His witness is an absolutely necessary component of preaching God’s word. Jesus told his disciples to “remain in the city until they were clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Acts 1:8 says,
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses…to the end of the earth.”
The apostles knew the Gospel was for the Gentiles as well as the Jews because the Holy Spirit was poured out on them when they heard the Word preached! Acts 15:8-9 says,
“God, who knows the heart bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.”
Biblical preaching was always accompanied by power!
5. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to work signs and wonders, thereby bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel. Acts 14:3 says,
“So, they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Hebrews 2:3-4 further confirms this saying,
“…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
6. The witness of the Holy Spirit’s power keeps our eyes on God and not men. 1 Corinthians
2:1-5 says,
“And I (Paul), when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
7. The Holy Spirit is a guide in our personal lives, bearing witness to the truth in every circumstance we face. His sheep know His voice (John 10:4-5) and He leads them. God is never without a witness and His people are never without direction because the Holy Spirit is still here! Acts 14: 17 says,
“Yet He did not leave himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
Hebrews 10:14-17 says,
‘For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
The Holy Spirit was poured out after Jesus ascended so that there would be not one witness but many! He bears witness to the truth of God’s Word in and through you. Everyone who is saved and filled with the Holy Spirit is made to be a witness for God. The empowered church of Jesus Christ is the only answer to our society’s problems and the only way to reach a generation. The world isn’t waiting for fancy words or manmade wisdom. They will be won only by the demonstrated reality and power of God. They will be won by a move of the Holy Spirit in the church of Jesus Christ for the glory of the Father. Signs follow believers because the miracle-worker, the creator, the same one who hovered over the waters at creation, dwells in our hearts by faith. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth in power, testifying to the validity and authority of God’s Word and the power of the blood of Jesus. He is a witness and by His grace, so are we.
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