The Witness

^“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” – Hebrews 10:14-17

 

The scripture says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. (Rev 12:10) He daily levels accusations against God’s people trying to push us off the path of righteousness.  Accusations such as: “You’re not sanctified” or “You’re not where you ought to be with God.”  He wants to sow a seed of doubt in your mind and weaken the faith you have in Christ.  Entertaining these accusations is a dangerous notion because it can give rise to you initiating your own reasoning to defend the experience of salvation.  The defense against the enemy is given by God, it is the witness.

 

As stated, Satan is our adversary.  Yes, God will tap you on the side every now and then to say, “time to straighten up” or “time to let that go.”  However, the exhortation of the Spirit and the accusation of the devil have a distinct difference, and the witness with Bible reading helps us understand it.  It is possible that many in the faith fall prey to casting away their confidence and fleeing back to an altar, or worse still, the sinful world, simply because they never come to understand the difference between God’s direction and Satan’s deception.  The devil will twist the goodness of God’s direction and use it against you.  While lobbing in accusations and false truth of his own.  When you're seeking God as a sinner he will tell you that you're unworthy, unloved, and can never be saved.  He will tell you it’s not for you, and not the right time.  It’s a kernel of truth nested in a loaf of lies.  When you come to God, repent, and feel assurance of sins forgiven; then he steps in with the doubts and questions.  You didn’t get it, or you don’t know what you’re doing.  If that doesn’t work, sometimes he will turn you to look at others.  They are not living it, they are all liars, etc.  Again, some truth nested in a great big pile of lies.  That’s Satan, his aim is deception to achieve destruction.  Which is why we need the witness of the Holy Ghost.  Yes, we need the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, save us, give us power to overcome sin, but we need it to witness to us.  It is a must have.  It is our character witness.  Imagine you were accused of stealing and hauled before a judge.  However, a prominent and upstanding citizen comes in and says it couldn't be you.  He vehemently denies the false accusation and proclaims boldly to the judge while pointing directly at you: “You have the wrong person; I witness under oath that this man (or women) was having dinner with me last night at the time of the robbery……. he (she) is innocent!”  This citizen’s word is respected and immediately you are set at liberty.  It is not your reason, logic, or conduct that frees you from the accuser, but rather the testimony of the character witness.  In this manner, the Holy Ghost is a witness unto us.  He is a manifestation of the righteous character of Christ in us.  He is the strongest and most powerful witness there is.  He is sent by Jesus himself to testify to all accusers that we (the sanctified) are redeemed!  That we are children of God and in the bondage of sin no more!  Therefore, when Satan comes along and tries to accuse you, there is a witness.  Don’t bother with trying to build your case; simply stand on the character witness of the Holy Ghost to tell your accuser that you are not free born but free made! 

 

Feel led to mention that this truth can sometimes give rise to sin and repent preaching.  The notion that because Jesus died, and the Holy Ghost came, we put our faith in Jesus and then were saved.  Regardless of the life we live or the sins we commit.  Again, a small truth wrapped in a big lie.  Did Jesus die for you?  Yes.  Does faith save you?  Yes.  Are you sanctified by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost?  Yes.  Is the Holy Ghost a witness of salvation? Yes.  Does this mean we can now sin because Jesus paid it all and our sins are remembered no more?  Absolutely not.  Because Hebrews 10:26-27 tells us: ^“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”