” ‘Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils
and scourge you in their synagogues.
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake,
as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how
or what you should speak.
For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
for it is not you who speak,
but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Now brother will deliver up brother to death,
and a father his child;
and children will rise up against parents
and cause them to be put to death.
you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
But he who endures to the end will be saved.’ “
(Matthew 10:16 – 22)
When we read a passage like this from Matthew 10
We may, as a believer – a Christian, have some sense of fear.
No-one WANTS to be persecuted
Even though the Bible says that we will:
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly
in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
(2 Timothy 3:12)
But the “persecution” is not always
As obvious as the above…
Attacks and opposition come in many
Shapes and sizes
And YES it can and it does come from those
Whom we love
And especially from those whom we
Thought – love(d) us too
And the attacks may not be Life and Death
But rather a continual wearing down
Eating away at our strength and purpose
Opposing everything we say or do
Undermining us at every turn
To the point that we think we are being foolish
In even thinking that we are being attacked
Since taken in isolation the attacks
are so menial and insignificant
But when considered as a whole
Are blatantly obvious even to
The most sceptical that you may share with
And whom you seek help from
But here indeed is the answer
To this particular problem
As Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:
“do not worry about how or what you should speak.
For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
for it is not you who speak,
but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
(Matthew 10:19 – 20)
Or since Pentecost we may say
Pray in Tongues
Pray in the Holy Spirit
Pray along with God
With His language
When we do not know what to do
Pray in tongues
Pray in the Holy Spirit
When we face attacks and opposition
Pray in tongues
Pray in the Holy Spirit
When those who are closest to us
Undermine us and attack us
Pray in tongues
Pray in the Holy Spirit
In so doing we edify ourselves
We are relying on and in Him
And by praying will come Peace
Shalom and Rest
And He will provide the answer