Pay attentions to the Holy Spirit

Mark 13:9-13

 “But be on your guard, for they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all for my name sake.   But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Watch out, be on guard you're going into a meeting, and they are going to ask you to take a job that has no hope of success!  I believe you would be on your guard; you would listen to each word and be leery of all the compliments.  I was the guy walking into that meeting, and it was not a human that told me to be on guard, but the Holy Spirit that lives in me.  What could have been a career-ending move turned out to change my bosses plans.  We did not go on that path at that time because I was on guard and listening to the Holy Spirit and not my flesh.

When Jesus tells us to be on our guard, we better pay attention!  Jesus is talking about what the eleven will experience, and the Sanhedrin was the ruling body of the courts.  Today in the United States of America you need to be on your guard, not being fearful or paranoid, that is the word from Jesus to each of us.  But be alert to a real enemy that hates you and has come to steal, kill and destroy your gospel message.

I have been on planet earth for 76 years and never would I have believed that a person who follows Christ would be charged with a crime because they refused to bake a wedding cake for two people of the same sex.  And not only that, the news media would support such action as just and fair even though the baker was willing to sell them any cake in the place, but would not make a special cake for them. 

Could it be I was ignorant of what Jesus told us in Scripture, in this world we will suffer tribulation?  Or am I like many of my brothers and sisters in Christ who believe we are not going to see such things in the good old USA?  Well, the dam leaks and it is going to bring a flood of persecution, but Jesus has stated be on your guard, but do not allow anxiety to fill your life for we are promised the Holy Spirit will give us the words to speak.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice