Blessings Friends,
Luke 21:15:
“For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”
Thank you, Jesus!
This is such an important promise to Christians in light of The Great Commission to spread The Gospel to all the ends of the earth.
Most of us freeze up just thinking about sharing our testimony with someone. We worry we’ll make a fool of ourselves, or we don’t know The Word well enough to be convincing or answer any questions which might come up, or defend our faith.
After Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness, Luke 4:14 tells us that He “returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and news about Him spread through the whole countryside.” The key phrase here is “in the power of The Holy Spirit.”
Jesus was in the power of The Holy Spirit because of His willingness to give up His will for the will of His Father. This power not only gave Him wisdom and words that went to the hearts of His listeners, it also protected Him when His words turned some listeners into murderous mobs. Not to mention all of the healings and casting out of demons. If only all Christians had that power . . .
But, wait . . . in Luke 24:49, Jesus tells His disciples:
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Was Jesus’ promise for the disciples only? Luke 11:10-13:
“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 21:15, among other verses, tells us that it is not we who testify, but The Holy Spirit.
How much harm has been done by people doing it their way, The Crusades being an extreme example. Does this mean that people won’t ever be offended by our message if it is from the Holy Spirit? No. Jesus said the world hated Him, so they will hate us. But, as with Jesus, The Holy Spirit will protect and sustain us.
And the God-given seeds that fall from our lips will find fertile soil in the hearts God has prepared. They will take root, and grow, and in turn, produce seed that testifies to the glory of God.
God makes even witnessing a no-brainer.
He does it all for us, leaving us once again with only the choice of obedience over self-will. Something not even Satan or his demons have: See Matt. 8:28-34, Mark 1:21-28, and Luke 9:37-43 for a start.
I find it hard to believe that something demons won’t even dare to do (disobey God’s Son) comes so easily to me. Maybe that is what Paul meant when he talked about the thorn in the flesh.
We may not wrestle against flesh and blood, but my will is force to be reckoned with. Thank The Good Lord, He never gives up on me.
Lord, help me to abide in You. Help me die to You—every day—every hour—every minute. Amen.
God’s grace and peace be yours,
Rebecca
