Post by tomdurst on Mar 26, 2011 15:51:47 GMT -5
GOD CAN SPEAK THROUGH US
By Thomas E Durst
By Thomas E Durst
Mark 13:9-11 (New Living Translation)
9 “When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
[Emphsis supplied]
I believe that the prophecies in the Olivet Sermon which is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 were all fulfilled in the first century and terminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD which brought a complete end to the Old Covenant. However, I see in all of these things eternal principles which apply beyond their historical setting and application.
Let me give you my paraphrase or interpretation of how I would apply these verses to everyday life:
When the inevitable challenges of life happen, and you are brought into difficult situations [before kings and governors points to the appearance of some outward, seemingly insurmountable problem] "don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit." The gospel, the good news about the all power of God over every challenge, must be preached to everyone and one of the primary ways this will happen is by your sense of peace, love, and even joy that can be brought into that trying situation.You can be a vessel through which God can speak and reveal Himself.
If we wait upon God and live in communion with Him we shall be prepared for whatever may happen in life. We need not get all worried about knowing what to say or do but we shall be given wisdom and guidance when the time comes. Those of us who tend to worry about what might be around the corner can find a lot of comfort in these verses.