Witness of the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ After the Holy Ghost!
Witnesses of Resurrection Power After the Holy Ghost
Immediately before his ascension into heaven Jesus Christ responded to a question his disciples asked him,
“Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?” Acts 1:6.
Jesus’ response:“It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” Acts 1:7-8.
Jesus made this prophecy directly to his disciples, the early church and to us the Contemporary Church of this age. Therefore, this prophecy of Christ is an ongoing prophecy.
This prophecy of Christ would not happen while Jesus was still on earth. First, Jesus had to leave earth before he would send the Holy Ghost, John 16:7.
In John 20:22, Jesus said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost”, this does not mean the disciples received the Holy Ghost then for Jesus was still here on earth. This was before his ascension. This occasion serves as a reminder and confirmation that all the disciples need to and will receive the Holy Ghost. If this were, the Promise of the Father Acts 1 would not happen. If this is the infilling of the Holy Ghost then which prophecy does this represents the fulfillment of?
Resurrection Power From Another Comforter
The Holy Ghost could not have come to the disciples while Christ was on earth for He is ANOTHER COMFORTER. Jesus was leaving earth shortly therefore he was not leaving them comfortless, John 14:18. Therefore, Christ was sending another Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to be with them. Remember, the Holy Ghost is nothing more than the Spirit of Christ.
Additionally, Jesus told his disciples “wait” for the Holy Ghost, Acts 1:4. How can the disciples wait for something they have already received according to John 20:22? The latter Scripture is not the fulfillment of the promise of the father but Acts 2 is.
Similar to how the Holy Ghost could not come before Jesus Christ left the earth, the disciples could not be “witnesses unto” Jesus until after his ascension. It is the Holy Ghost, which supply the “power” to be “witnesses” to Jesus Christ. There is no “witness” to Jesus, which have not the Holy Ghost. Therefore, there are no powerless witnesses to Jesus Christ, Acts 1:8.
We know a witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about some dramatic event via his senses and can help to validate a claim. However, the role as “witnesses” that the disciples fulfill was more demonstration than speaking. Yes, they preached and taught but it was their “witness” of power with signs, wonders and miracles, which validate their claim as eyewitness to Jesus’ resurrection power.
“God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” Hebrews 2:4.
The Disciples are Witnesses of the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ
Note careful the usage of language, the Scripture said, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me” and not “of me”. Usually, we would say witness of an event. This is partially for none of the disciples witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. However, the disciples are witnesses of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Christ did all his great deeds by this same power. Now, the disciples are going to substantiate their claim by doing the similar signs, wonders and miracles like Jesus.
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all,” Acts 4:33.
This is not a witness by speech alone but demonstration of power. There is no witness of God who is powerless. Where is your power?
The “two witnesses” in the Book of Revelation are no different. Every witness of God is empowered by the Holy Ghost. “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth,” Revelation 11:3.
You are powerless because you reject the Holy Ghost. Your claim to be witnesses of Jesus Christ is false because the Holy Ghost does not back up your claim with demonstrations of resurrection power.
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