And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

(Revelation of John 12:11, New American Standard Bible)

LAMB’S BLOOD AND THEIR TESTIMONY

Can we suppose that the testimony of those who are accused by Satan night and day is not “testimony of Jesus”? Is not the witness common to all believers the gift of the Spirit? If there is one thing that marks Christ’s possession it has to be the Holy Spirit, because (a) the world cannot receive HIM (b) those who receive HIM have passed from death to life, hence they are no longer the world and (c) the Spirit reverses the effect of the flaming sword at the gates of Eden.  The testimony of Jesus is common heritage as prophesied and verified(Acts 1:8, John 7:39, Romans 8:9, Acts 19:2, Luke 24:49).

How we got from every believer testimony to charismatic exclusivity

The devil is accuser (prosecutor, like Moses), deceiver, and thief. He is occupied night and day with throwing accusations against God’s people. The term diabolos, the source of our word DIABOLIC, signifies “thorough slinging”, from dia διά, and ballo, βάλλω, respectively through and throw. This is why Peter exhorts believers (1 Peter 5:8) to be vigilant against the roaring lion seeking prey.

John and his brothers possessed the prophetic Spirit

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation of John 19:10)

“of thy brethren that have” does not refer to one individual, but several; in fact we affirm that John and his brothers had this same Spirit, not a thing, but the very God himself.

We and the believers of New Testament times go from reverence for all believers to reverence for one with exclusive gifts due to the immature patterns of the levitical system and the exclusiveness of male priority in the patriarchal age. Moses did not buy it. He thought that all God’s people should have the Spirit that gives them authority to speak God’s word (Numbers 11:29). Paul did not buy it (1 Corinthians 12:29, 14:5).

At least be human and humane

Man up therefore (Joshua 1:9) and recognize that the Spirit of prophecy is the believer’s living hands-on assurance, every hour of every day, divine presence is assured. You are not without God if you went to a theatre to see a movie or to an untimely grave. Immanuel means exactly what it sounds like and human arguments cannot change the fact. You know if you are faking sonship or not! Sonship such as the Heavenly Father offers cannot be successfully faked.

The Spirit of prophecy is Jesus’ evidence

• The spirit of truth, is God’s Spirit, is God, not a thing or aspect of divine operation
• The spirit of life, is God’s Spirit, is God, not a thing or aspect of divine operation
• The spirit of grace, is God’s Spirit, is God, not a thing or aspect of divine operation
• The spirit of Christ, is God’s Spirit, is God, not a thing or aspect of divine operation

The surefire evidence of all things Messianic is the Spirit – given first at Pentecost – who continues the help Jesus brought to his generation. God’s truth, life, grace, and anointing are Spirit-driven.