For ye saints of the Most High...
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.
This is speaking of the Last Days, which I believe we are in. Nation rising up against nation, kingdom against kingdom, great earthquakes, famines, pestilences, but I believe it is going to get dramatically worse, we have yet to see so much more terrifying things. In the United States we don't see famine and different things like other countries do, because for some reason the Lord chose to put us here. But I believe there will be a day when this comes. Persecution and tribulation has already come to Christians in other countries. There will be a day when there will be persecution for true Christians here. 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
BUT it will be for us a testimony!
It will be by the GRACE of God we might endure these things and hold fast to Him until the end. It is by this grace that we are taught to live godly and deny worldly lusts, with the ability to live sober, righteous, godly lives in this present age, looking for our hope which is in our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify us unto Himself. So that we might be a peculiar people, zealous for good works. He has given us according to His divine power, all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through our knowledge of Him, who hath called us to glory and virtue!
Speaking of persecution, there are so many testimonies of missionaries who experienced martyrdom that amaze me! These believers in the midst of being tortured and persecuted are rejoicing, singing hymns, committing themselves to the Lord, and forgiving those who are torturing them. This is not humanly possible, this is the Lord. Some actually see angels or the Lord in the heavens, God gives them vision and a lot of the testimonies say that they were not feeling any pain during this torture. This is the Lord, delivering His people, though He takes delight in the death of His saints, He is so gracious and pours out that grace abundantly in the time of need. He is so good. I can't begin to pretend that I am ready for torture or persecution, but if the Lord wills, then He ordained it and we must walk in it by HIS GRACE that works in us. In our flesh we would deny Him, but by abiding in Him NOW while things are relatively easy, drawing near Him now, we will assure He will be with us if it comes to that.
Not sure how I got on this tangent, but one more thing about persecution. In Matthew 16:28 it says there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom. What does this mean!!! They have surely not lived for 2 thousand years! But notice, "taste of death", this is what they will not do. In the account of Stephen in the book of Acts when he was come to his end there is something spectacular about it! It says Stephen kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep. I know this "fell asleep" means died. But many many testimonies of martyrs over the years also testified to this falling asleep. Many of them did not taste death, they fell asleep. When we are in Christ we do not die, we fall asleep! In Him! 2 Peter 3:4 the fathers fell asleep as well, they did not taste death, they fell asleep.
Why the persecution!!?? FOR HIS "NAME'S SAKE"!! AMEN! It is about HIS glory! Not man's; man whithers away, ages and is done away with, but the end of Christ's days is never. He is forever. He is the same forever, His days do not fail like it says in Hebrews 1. He is the only one worth losing your life for, He is the only one that can subdue your enemies, He is the only one who requires you lose your life because He gave Himself for you. He is so worthy. But it can't be by reasoning and self will that you could possibly suffer for Him, with Him as He suffered, only by the will of God.
Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Wow, this is a command from the Lord, not to think on, not to meditate on what I shall answer beforehand!! Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Amen. Upon reading the verse 14 above I had to repent. I often, when wanting to be used of the Lord or knowing He will use me to speak, I think it through, what will I say. Then I think on what I will say instead of being in a constant crying out to Him and letting Him lead me. Thinking on what I will say beforehand, because He says not to do this, is sin, not following His command for me. Besides the fact that I am just man, what am I to say? How would I know what a person will need to hear? Only God knows this and only I know what God wants to say if I am crying out to Him for direction and words at the moment I need them.
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
This is not to be taken lightly! This is a PROMISE! Take Him at His word! He will give you a mouth and wisdom!!! Words that can only come from Him and will astonish your enemies even. He promises this power if we take hold of it. If we are abiding in Him, meekly looking to Him every moment for words, only He can give the perfect and only profitable words. Take hold of this promise, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path!
Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
This comes back to persecution. But not only persecution by strangers or enemies, but by those closest to you. You will be hated. Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
You will not perish! Do not fear men who can only kill the body, but fear God who can take both body and soul and cast into hell! You will not perish, you have eternal life if you abide in Christ, if you continue in Him until the end. :) 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. You may fall asleep in Him, but you will not perish if you are Christ's.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
I don't think I fully understand this verse. But it brings me much joy! Honestly! I know there is a patient longing, and waiting for the coming of the Lord, for our salvation. There is much in the gospels about waiting on the Lord, watching for Him, this requires patience, which blessedly comes from Him. He will test us, we need endure by His strength with patience, especially when the coming persecution takes place, we will be in need of much patience, again supplied by the Lord for one abiding in Him.
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