Our paragraph topic is: (Opposition foretold) Part 6.
Christ continues his discussion with his disciples concerning how they are to respond when they are delivered up to the governors and kings. He is preparing his disciples for mental and spiritual training. He has told them that they are not to be anxious when they are delivered up. He wants them to understand what anxiety does to them. He wants them to understand that anxiety opens the door for the spiritual demons to come in and destroy their defenses. Anxiety will cause them to be fearful. Anxiety will lead them to think about the consequences of what will or may happen. It will take their focus off of today and put it in the past or in the future. Anxiety will cause their minds to consider endless possibilities of events that are not real and keep them in a circle of fear. The design of anxiety is to take control and give way to fear. And it is this fear that prevents the word of God from operating in their lives.
The disciples must remain calm. They must focus upon the words that Christ has given them,"Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak." By maintaining mental and spiritual clarity the enemy will not be able to enter the mind or the spirit. They enemy will have no foothold upon them. The door will be closed to fear without having any way of entering. So Christ says this to his disciples so that they can prepare themselves. The disciples have been with Christ long enough to know that he speaks with authority. What he says comes true. What he says is the truth and they can rely upon his words. They have seen the results of his words, the results of his actions, and they have come to believe and have faith in who he is.
Why does he tell them to not be anxious? It is important that they do not allow their minds to not be filled with fear. It is important that they not attempt to determine for themselves what they are to say, what will be the best words, what will have the most effect. When they are considering what to say the enemy can read their thoughts. They enemy can plan an attack that will lead them into destruction. But with their minds clear, their spirits calm in Christ, the enemy has no clue what is happening. Then Christ explains why he wants them not to consider what they are to speak. He tells them, "For what you are to speak will be given you in that hour."
You see, with the mind clear from fear, the words that they are to speak will be given to them. The words that they are to say will come to them. The words that they are to use to defeat the enemy will be spoken by the Holy Spirit through their mouths. So Christ wants them to be prepared to receive the Holy Spirit. He wants them to know that they have a companion with them that will defeat the enemy. He wants them to be bold and steadfast in the battle they will face with the evil spirits that they will face. This is a wake up all for us today. It is a tool, a weapon that we can use in our daily lives when we face trials and tribulations with the enemy. Do not be anxious. Do not be fearful. For what you are to say and what you are to do will be given to you. And the enemy will not know how to read you. They enemy will not know how to defeat you. The enemy will not know who you are until he sees the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through you.
Christ trained his disciples well in preparation for the battle. He has given us words to help us train today to be bold and steadfast and fearless. Will you head the words of Christ? Will you accept the training that he gave to his disciples and that he has provide for you today? Clear your mind. Calm your spirit. Be receptive to the word from the Holy Spirit and you will prevail. Can you hear the words of the Holy Spirit speaking to you, today?
Christ continues his discussion with his disciples concerning how they are to respond when they are delivered up to the governors and kings. He is preparing his disciples for mental and spiritual training. He has told them that they are not to be anxious when they are delivered up. He wants them to understand what anxiety does to them. He wants them to understand that anxiety opens the door for the spiritual demons to come in and destroy their defenses. Anxiety will cause them to be fearful. Anxiety will lead them to think about the consequences of what will or may happen. It will take their focus off of today and put it in the past or in the future. Anxiety will cause their minds to consider endless possibilities of events that are not real and keep them in a circle of fear. The design of anxiety is to take control and give way to fear. And it is this fear that prevents the word of God from operating in their lives.
The disciples must remain calm. They must focus upon the words that Christ has given them,"Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak." By maintaining mental and spiritual clarity the enemy will not be able to enter the mind or the spirit. They enemy will have no foothold upon them. The door will be closed to fear without having any way of entering. So Christ says this to his disciples so that they can prepare themselves. The disciples have been with Christ long enough to know that he speaks with authority. What he says comes true. What he says is the truth and they can rely upon his words. They have seen the results of his words, the results of his actions, and they have come to believe and have faith in who he is.
Why does he tell them to not be anxious? It is important that they do not allow their minds to not be filled with fear. It is important that they not attempt to determine for themselves what they are to say, what will be the best words, what will have the most effect. When they are considering what to say the enemy can read their thoughts. They enemy can plan an attack that will lead them into destruction. But with their minds clear, their spirits calm in Christ, the enemy has no clue what is happening. Then Christ explains why he wants them not to consider what they are to speak. He tells them, "For what you are to speak will be given you in that hour."
You see, with the mind clear from fear, the words that they are to speak will be given to them. The words that they are to say will come to them. The words that they are to use to defeat the enemy will be spoken by the Holy Spirit through their mouths. So Christ wants them to be prepared to receive the Holy Spirit. He wants them to know that they have a companion with them that will defeat the enemy. He wants them to be bold and steadfast in the battle they will face with the evil spirits that they will face. This is a wake up all for us today. It is a tool, a weapon that we can use in our daily lives when we face trials and tribulations with the enemy. Do not be anxious. Do not be fearful. For what you are to say and what you are to do will be given to you. And the enemy will not know how to read you. They enemy will not know how to defeat you. The enemy will not know who you are until he sees the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through you.
Christ trained his disciples well in preparation for the battle. He has given us words to help us train today to be bold and steadfast and fearless. Will you head the words of Christ? Will you accept the training that he gave to his disciples and that he has provide for you today? Clear your mind. Calm your spirit. Be receptive to the word from the Holy Spirit and you will prevail. Can you hear the words of the Holy Spirit speaking to you, today?
