“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10 ESV).
When John the Revelator heard the worship of heaven and the angel proclaim the blessing of being invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, he fell down to worship the angel. But the angel rebuked him saying, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.”
The meaning seems to be, that the angel, John, and their fellow-servants, were all doing the same work of bearing testimony to Jesus, therefore they were all on equal footing. They were “fellow servants” of the gospel of Jesus and their proper worship was due Him alone.
The spirit of prophecy, the essence of truly prophetic preaching, is the testimony of Christ. This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:22-24).
We therefore must make it clear that our witness is not self-improvement through human effort or rule-keeping, but Jesus our Sacrifice, Jesus our Savior, Jesus our Sovereign. A clear and simple testimony about Jesus is the essence of truly prophetic preaching.
PRAYER: Dear Father, as we study Your Word, help us to look for Christ on every page. For Your Word testifies of Him. And as we proclaim Your Word to others, help us to always testify of Christ. We want to be known as fellow servants of those who hold to the testimony of Jesus. For it’s in His name we pray, amen.