Mark 13:9-13

Jesus continue to admonish His disciples by reminding them of the unimaginable event coming before the end, which are prodigious sufferings that will stimulate vivacious work of gospel proclamation, perfect counsel present in trial will galvanize their testimonies, and perseverance of saints will authenticate every true living faith.

Prodigious Sufferings Stimulate Vivacious Work

   “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. 10And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. —Mark 13:9, 10

Christians should take care, circumventing unnecessary danger. Personally, and aggregately be responsible in your preparation for the coming persecution of the end-time events.  The church will continue to walk circumspectly, with patience and fortitude, performing duty in spite of severe persecution.

Perfect Counsel Present in Trial Galvanize Testimonies

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.—Mark 13: 11

The persecutions which you shall suffer shall become a glorious proof, both of your innocence, and of the guilt of those who reject the gospel.  Believers should not be too anxious in bearing testimony to authorities because the Holy Spirit will inspire them with wisdom and courage.

Perseverance of Saints Authenticate the Living Faith

   And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. —Mark 13:13

Under great trials, bearing up and perseverance to the end is a character of a true living faith.  Christians take heed that you’re not drawn away from Christ and your duty to him because of sufferings.  Hatred of all men will not deter the faithful to carry on and prosper knowing that we may be crushed and borne down, yet the gospel will stand forever.

Mark 13:1-8

In response to the disciples question about “when will these things happen and what will be the signs when all these things about to happen,” Jesus in reply redirected the disciples futuristic mindset toward present obedience saying two things: Do not be deceived that perjurers multiply and do not be frightened that panics intensify, admonishing them that signs do not presage the end.

Do not be Deceived that Perjurers Multiply

And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 6“Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. —Mark 13:5-6

Stay focus on Your Present Obedience against future speculations because false impressions are self-inflicting.

Stay focus on Your Doctrine because greater treats are not coming from without but within the household of faith.

Do not be Frightened that Panics Intensifies

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. —Mark 13:7-8

The End is Yet to Come, Life must go On concentrating on watchfulness and faithfulness in the present. 

The Beginning of what Lies beyond is Coming with much more—and much worse suffering, fear, and trembling. 

Conclusion

With all these things, the new social order emerging will validate the character of the church rather than annihilate her existence.  The realities of the already not yet events of the kingdom of God are in full display. Pay attention, stand firm!

Isaiah 30:15-18

The Plan of God is the Safest Way

            For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.”—Isaiah 30:15a

                But you were not willing.  And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,”—Isaiah 30:15b, 16a

Accepting God’s way promises security

God’s plan for dealing with our crisis is repentance from path of self-destruction,” and “calmly” “rest” in God’s promises of deliverance. 

Accepting God’s way promises stability

God is the only reliable source of strength or military power that is dependable.  In quietness we are assured that God is our Friend.  “This is the victory that overcomes the world—even our faith.”

The Plan to Reject God’s Way is catastrophe

            But you were not willing. . ..,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.  One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, until you are left as a flag on a mountain top and as a signal on a hill. —Isaiah 30:15b, 16b-17

Rejecting God’s way leads life in calamity

Judah’s refusal to trust in God’s promises of salvation place their security in jeopardy.  Entrusting your safety and strength to horses or personal ability is a sure catastrophe.

Rejecting God’s way reverses the blessing of superiority

A choice of not trust in God, reverses your blessing on your way to Canaan into a curse.      

five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. —Leviticus 26:8

“How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up? —Deuteronomy 32:30

Isaiah’s message sets a challenge that we will face in our lifetime:  Should we calmly trust God’s strength and deliverance in difficult situations, or should we do everything humanly possible to bring victory through our own strength?  God’s way offers life; any other choice will bring failure and death.

Conclusion

            Therefore, the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. —Isaiah 30:18

In all situation, God called us to turn to faith and to rest on God’s grace and promises.  In the midst of turmoil, God asks in us quietness and confidence in His control over devastation.  But when we say no, God will wait after His work of judgement is complete to show mercy unto you.

God waits in expectation for Israel (5:2, 4, 7).  The prophet Isaiah waited in hope (8:17).  In the day of God’s salvation, the redeemed will say, “Our God, for whom we waited, and He will save us” “25:9).  The righteous say, “We wait for you (33:2).  “Those waiting on YHWH will renew their strength” (40:31).  “You will know . . . those waiting will never be disappointed” (49:23).

Psalm 63:1-11

The Psalmist is reminding his readers that life’s wilderness is real regardless of one’s personal status in life and those who will handle it best are those that have unquestionable regimen, unmeasurable resources, and unshakable resolve.

In the Desert Vital to Survival is Your Unquestionable Regimen

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. —Psalm 63:1

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. —Psalm 27:4

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! —Psalm 105:4

Your survival in the desert storm and the easiness of overcoming it will completely depend on the kind of life’s regimen you already developed in your life in times of calm and peace.  It is catastrophic for one to learn how to be strong when strength is a must needed commodity in the midst of storm.

In the Desert Vital to Survival is Your Unmeasurable Resources

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. —Psalm 63:5

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” . . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! —John 14:8,9

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. —Psalm 63:7

The greatest of all resources one needed most in the desert storm is that one who have attitude altering power, ever present, available, and all sufficient.   The fact is even our outward circumstance never changes, our changed attitude toward circumstances verified by our past experiences is enough to make a sizeable difference.

In the Desert Vital to Survival is Your Unshakable Resolved

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. —Psalm 63:8

But you have upheld me because of my integrity and set me in your presence forever. —Psalm 41:12

Indecisiveness in the desert storm is absolutely disastrous.   Unaskable resolve to trust in God in the midst of storm eliminates anxiety, intensifies dependence, and fortifies praise.  When we cling to God and God clings to us, there is a double embrace; holding at each other makes us firmly upheld.

Jeremiah 29:10-14

The God’s chosen people is on Holy Captivity; under divine training through sufferings, trials, and disciplines purposely not to put them under calamity but rather summons them to saintly maturity with their future perfection, happiness, and glory in view.

God’s Captivity is not a Calamity

                ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. —Jeremiah 29:11 [NASB]

                Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.—Psalm 40:5 [BSB]

                For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. —Isaiah 55:8 [KJV]

God’s purpose in captivity is not to bring calamity, rather, brings about the restoration of peace, prosperity, and the future welfare of as a chosen people.

God’s Captivity Summons Saintly Maturity

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. —Jeremiah 29:12-13

                Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. —Jeremiah 33:3 [ESV]

                So, I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. —Daniel 9:3 [NASB]

‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’—Jeremiah 29:12-14

God’s captivity summons the chosen people’s elevated sole desire to love Him; bringing back unto them the spirit of prayerfulness, truthfulness of the heart, and heartfelt desire to find Him; restoring them back into a prosperous nation.