LUKE 21:12-15 HOLY SPIRIT WILL HANDLE OUR SPEAKING

HOLY SPIRIT WILL HANDLE

OUR SPEAKING

LUKE 21:12-15

(See also Matthew 24 and Mark 13)

Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Susie: Before the immediate wars, famines, etc. and the destruction of the temple in AD 70, Christians would undergo severe persecution. Charges would be brought against them by the leaders of their synagogues and then would even stand trial before Roman Governors and both the Jewish kings and the Roman emperor.

Susan: The persecution Jesus described was in direct correlation to the fact that these people believed in, trusted, and followed Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts, we see believers first labeled “Christians”, literally bearing His name. Therefore, they were persecuted “for my name’s sake” or because of His name.

Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Susie: The persecution of believers and even their being brought to trial would also give them opportunity to testify about the power of Jesus’s name. Peter, when he testified before the High Priests, rulers, elders, and Scribes stated:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Luke 21:14-15 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Susan: Jesus assured them they did not need to worry about what to say when they were brought before these rulers. They did not need to give it a second thought, or a first thought, for that matter, because He (by the power of the Holy Spirit) would fill their minds with the right response for every situation. This should give everyone who witnesses on behalf of the Lord the encouragement and confidence to speak boldly without fear.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Susie: As we read the sequel to the Gospel of Luke which is called The Acts of the Apostles, we see the Holy Spirit fulfilling this promise the Lord gave us. The pages of Acts are filled with Christians on trial because of their faith in Jesus. Each time, they are given what to say:

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 23 – Paul presented his defense before Felix the procurator (governor) of Judea

Acts 25 – Paul testified before Festus who had taken over as procurator of Judea

Acts 26 – Paul bore witness before King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice

Ponder this and Apply it: Years ago, I (Susie) had a friend who had endured persecution, imprisonment, and even beatings because he boldly published a Christian newsletter in communist Romania. I told him that in a way, I envied him because he knew he had stood firm for the Lord, and I did not know if I could do the same. He assured me that, as Jesus promised in these verses in Luke, I would be given the strength to endure and the words to speak. As believers our main preparation for persecution is to be walking closely with our Lord. When we have complete trust in Jesus, we need not fear whatever the future may bring.