My Witnesses

This article is from Issue 8, Called to be Witnesses

By Andrew Murray

“My Witnesses unto the uttermost
parts of the earth”
(Acts 1: 8)

What words are these for the man who had been crucified by His enemies, speaking of the ends of the earth as His dominion. How could it have entered the mind of any writer to venture the prophecy that a Jew who had been crucified, whose whole life had been proved by that Cross to be a failure, and whose disciples had at the last utterly forsaken Him – that by them He should conquer the world?

No human mind could have formed such a conception. It is the thought of God; He alone could plan and execute such a purpose.

Christ’s servants are to be witnesses to Him, ever testifying of His wonderful love, of His power to redeem, of His continual abiding presence, and of His wonderful power to work in them. Without wisdom or eloquence, without influence or position, each one is called, not only by his words, but by his life and action, to be a living proof and witness of Jesus.

The word that Jesus spoke to His disciples: “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8), gives them the assurance that the Holy Spirit would maintain in them Christ’s divine power. As Christ did His works only because the Father worked in Him, so Christ assured His disciples that He Himself from the throne of heaven would work all their works in them. They might ask what they would and it should be done unto them. In the strength of that promise, the church of Christ can make the ends of the earth its aim.

This is to be the only weapon they are to use in conquering men and bringing them to the feet of Christ. This is what the first disciples did. When they were filled with the Spirit they began to speak of the mighty things that Christ had done.

It was in this power that those who were scattered abroad by persecution went forth, even as far as Antioch, preaching in the name of Jesus, so that a multitude of the lost believed. Out of the fullness of the heart they spoke of Jesus Christ. They could not be silent; they were filled with the life and the love of Christ, and could not but witness to Him.

It was this that gave the Gospel its power of increase; every new convert became a witness for Christ. A non-Christian writer tells later in regard to the persecutions, that if the Christians were only content to keep the worship of Jesus to themselves they would not have to suffer. But in their zeal they wanted Christ to rule over all.

Here we have the secret of a flourishing church: every believer a witness for Jesus. Here we have the cause of the weakness of the church: so few who are willing in daily life to testify that Jesus is Lord.

What a call to prayer! Lord, teach Thy disciples the blessedness of so knowing Jesus and the power of His love that they may find their highest joy in witnessing to what He is and has done for them.

– Adapted from God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray.

Taken from Life on the Altar Publication
Issue 8 Spring 2023