WITNESSING IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY.
Luke 12:1-12.
LUKE 12:1. Crowds of people were thronging Jesus, so much so that they trampled upon one another. But Jesus’ priority was to speak “to His disciples first.” He began to say, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
LUKE 12:2. We need not fear any of the malignant forces mustered against us, because although we are operating in time, we are also operating in the light of eternity. Right will be brought to light. Our duty remains, and ‘woe betide me if I preach not the gospel’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16)!
LUKE 12:3. Mission is not just for professionals, but for all who profess Christ. Whatever God may teach us in the “darkness” of personal tribulation, that must we speak out when all is well. Whatever we may hear and understand in the quietness of personal meditation upon the Word of God, that must we proclaim on the rooftops.
LUKE 12:4-5. The right fear of God should make us fearless before men. We must respect ‘the powers that be’ (cf. Romans 13:1), but we should nevertheless be bold before those who oppose God (cf. Daniel 3:17-18; Acts 4:18-20). We must share the gospel with others - not so much to save our own souls (as that is already a done deal for those who are in Christ) but for the sake of those who are perishing in their sins.
LUKE 12:6-7. Despite possible opposition, those of us who are witnesses for Christ - whether in the pulpit or the workplace, the market or the school - are constantly in His providential care. Not one little sparrow falls to the ground without our heavenly Father, and He alone is able to number the hairs upon our heads. You are of more value than a whole flock of sparrows, so “Fear not.”
LUKE 12:8-9. If we are faithful in our calling to call others to Christ, our reward awaits us. Our inheritance is wrapped up in His. On the other hand, those who do not confess Christ - that is those who deny Him - already have their condemnation (cf. John 3:18).
LUKE 12:10. Jesus’ damning indictment against stubborn unbelief has a preface which must not be overlooked. All sins and blasphemies are capable of forgiveness, He says. Pause and ponder such grace!
The accuser is more concerned with the exception, and troubles poor souls with worries about whether they might have committed the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. The answer to such concerns is that - in the context of this text - the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost appears to be stubborn, relentless, unbelief.
The Pharisees had put themselves in an impossible situation. As long as they looked on the work of the Holy Spirit - manifested in the life of Jesus - as a work of the devil, there was no hope for them.
Unbelieving religious bullies, who view every new movement within Christianity as ‘the work of the devil’ are also putting themselves in a dangerous position.
LUKE 12:11. Jesus knew there would be persecution. The Book of Acts, and the entire history of the Christian church testifies to this. When His disciples would be hauled before the courts, or just put on the spot, the Lord would often give an impromptu word in season from the mouth of His servants. He still does.
LUKE 12:12. “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”
This not an excuse for preachers to be slovenly, or slack in their sermon preparation. It would be futile to say, ‘if such and such comes up then I will say…’ because, faced with the crisis, we might fail to recollect all that. But when events catch us unaware, we are forced to depend upon the Lord.
On such occasions He will give us the words, and the wisdom to say just exactly what He wants us to say. The words will be His words, to which none of our opponents will be able to reply; and the wisdom His wisdom which they will not be able to gainsay or resist.
