A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (July 6, 2017)
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony [record/report/witness]; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)
It is very interesting to look back at the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus and see how his first disciples were selected. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, it tells us the story of the first two disciples who were present when John the Baptist declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God and the Son of God. These two disciples, which included Andrew (the brother of Simon Peter), inquired of Jesus as to where he was staying. Jesus responded with this simple answer, “Come and See”.
One of the next disciples selected was Philip and Jesus said to him, “Follow Me”.
Then the first miracle that they all witnessed was in John 2 where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. This time the following profound statement came from Mary, the mother of Jesus, when she said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it”.
What I see here is a pattern and I see it playing out all through the Word of God. Come and see, follow me, do whatever He says. Jesus was the first to follow this same pattern by saying that He did not do anything or say anything that He did not see the Father do or hear the Father say. The phrase “those things that we have seen and heard” is repeated eleven times in the New Testament. The following are just a few examples:
And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. (John 3:32)
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20)
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (1 John 1:1)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)
We see this testimonial pattern acted out over and over again with the woman at the well who went back and told the men; with the women at the gravesite of Jesus who went back and told of their conversation with the two angels; with the disciples in the Book of Acts who were told not to speak about Jesus; with John on the Isle of Patmos; and on and on.
Jesus is a big believer in on-the-job training. He wants you to see it with your own eyes. I will never forget the first time I saw the power and anointing of God move in a church service. My first thought was, “Oh my God, this stuff is real. The Bible is true!”. When you see and witness that type move of God you cannot stay quiet.
Jesus is still making that same invitation today. The original invitation still stands. Come and See! Follow me! You want to see miracles? Just do whatever Jesus says to do!!!
