The Spirit’s Power for Everyday Faithfulness
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Jesus is revealing the future so we will know how to live in the present.
[The Holy Spirit empowers us for faithful, bold witness, day after day.]
7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
“The strife and pain that Jesus is speaking of are woes that will give birth to a whole new world—a world that is better than anything we could imagine.” — Jason Meyer, Mark for You – Bible Commentary
9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. — Mark 13:7–13 NIV
On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them v. 9b
[To be a witness is to speak the truth about what God has done and who God is, especially when doing so requires courage.]
And the gospel must first be preached to all nations v. 10
…say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit v. 11b
[The Holy Spirit empowers us for faithful, bold witness, day after day.]
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. — Acts 4:13 NIV
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly… With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. — Acts 4:31&33a NIV
Our calling is to remain faithful to Jesus, depend on the Holy Spirit and keep being a witness for Him.
Faithful witness begins today with the people in front of us. Our conversations and the way we treat them can point them toward Jesus.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak about Jesus with courage and to treat people with the same love He shows us. And faithful witness means continuing in both, day after day.
…the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. — v. 13b
Day after day, we learn to depend on the Holy Spirit and follow where Jesus leads.
We don’t know what following Jesus will cost us tomorrow. But we can depend on the Holy Spirit and remain faithful to Him today.