Neville Goddard Lectures: “We are Witnesses” (1966)

29 Sep Neville Goddard Lectures: “We are Witnesses” (1966)

12/9/66

___(??) I found it. It’s “We are Witnesses.” Everyone is a witness to God’s Promise. We’re told in the 44th chapter of Isaiah…in fact, it starts with a question, “Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock, I know not any” (Is.44:7). So he tells every one of us, you and I were all in God in the beginning. This is not an accident—we’re all contained within him—it’s a purpose, it’s a plan. We saw exactly what God’s purpose was, every one of us, no one left out.

Now, what is a witness? A witness is one who has first-hand information of a fact or an event. We’re told in scripture that the evidence of two or three, if they should agree, it is conclusive. If two or three witnesses agree in testimony, it is conclusive, but you cannot on the testimony of one man. There must be two or more. Now we are told that scripture is God’s testimony. This is what man must testify to. And he testifies to it by telling the story not as hearsay but of his own personal experience. Here we find the words, “That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we have actually seen and touched with our hand, of the word of life, that declare we unto you” (1 John 1:1). There now are the witnesses.

Now, “Call the next witness.” May I tell you, everyone in this world will be called to testify to the truth of God’s Word as revealed in scripture. According to some rabbinical principle, and it really stands forever, what is not written in scripture is nonexistent. That seems stupid, doesn’t it? This room is not written in scripture and we’re told it’s nonexistent. My name is not in scripture, your name is not in scripture, a marriage is not in scripture, the whole vast world is not in scripture, and what is not written in scripture is nonexistent. And we’re called to testify not to anything here in any court we know, but only to the truth of scripture, to the Word of God. That’s all that we’re called upon to do. There isn’t a pope’s name in scripture; there isn’t a rabbi’s name in scripture, no one. Rockefeller’s name isn’t in scripture; our presidents are not in scripture; the kings aren’t in scripture; none of these things are in scripture, and we’re told they’re nonexistent. We’re only called upon to testify to the Word of scripture. And God’s play unfolds in us. How? The whole plan is contained in what is called Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in us fulfills scripture. And said he to them, “All that is written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled…scripture must be fulfilled in me…and Christ in you is the hope of glory” (Luke24:44, 22:37; Col.1:27). So Christ in man slowly unwinds himself, unfolds in man, and fulfills scripture; for no man can enter that state of glory until he fulfills scripture. And every word is fulfilled in us, in every child born of woman.

Now here, in the 20th chapter of Luke, we’re coming to the end, and he asks a question. He looked at them, having looked at all of them, he said, “What does this text of scripture mean: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone? If anyone falls on it they are broken into pieces; if it falls on anyone it will crush him’” (Luke 20:18). This is the Lord’s doing and it is glorious in our eyes. No one had it, no one understood it. But I have at home…I wouldn’t want to exaggerate…at least a dozen different commentary works on scripture. There isn’t an exegesis that touches it, no commentary title. Any attempt goes so far, far away from it; they do not know what it is all about.