Presence and Provision / Dvid Jeremiah

Presence and Provision Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Luke 12:11-12 In 1517, the Protestant reformer Martin Luther prepared an outline of 95 complaints against what he considered to be ungodly church practices. By refusing to retract his complaints, he was called before a church council in Germany in 1521. Tradition says his final answer to his accusers was, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” In the end, he was excommunicated.

Recommended Reading: Luke 21:12-15

Luther’s persecution was nothing new. Jesus warned His disciples that they would be brought before civil and religious authorities because of their faith in Him. But He told them not to worry about how they would respond. The Holy Spirit, “in that very hour,” would give them the words to say to their accusers. Yes, we should be prepared to defend our faith “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV). But our best preparation is faith in God’s presence and provision. In a non-Christian culture, your faith may be challenged. “Do not worry”—the Holy Spirit is with you.   He who has the Holy Spirit in his heart and the Scriptures in his hands has all he needs.  Alexander Maclaren