30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 21 10-19 WATCH AND PRAY II 11 Luke 21 18 Persisting in faith
📖 Luke 21:10-19
*FRIEND OF GOD*
21May2021 - *Persisting in faith* - _Luke 21:10-19_ - WATCH AND PRAY II (11) – Bible reading: _Hebrews 11:32-40_
As we watch and look around at our world today, the shrieks, the sounds and the crescendo of voices of people who are in trouble are increasing. Fear is gripping people as to what next will happen.
The Lord has assured His people that not a hair of our head will be lost.
We have seen that this promise of God must be accepted in the understanding of the eternal body that the Lord has prepared for those who love Him and are awaiting His return. Therefore, even though there are all of these frightening events happenings around us, we ought not to fear but be rested in the hope that the Lord has given to us of eternity.
We grieve at the physical death of a loved one but we grieve with hope at the transitioning of our loved ones from this age to the next.
Till the very end, our task is to fulfil God’s purpose here on earth, faithfully.
_Luke 21:18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. Matthew 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered._
As the Lord assures us that we have nothing to fear as we go through these end-time challenges, the Lord will also act on our behalf against those who harass and persecute the church.
This is not the eternal wrath of God, where those who have not surrendered to Him will be cast, which is the lake of fire. This place of eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. The Lord does not want anyone to perish there but He desires that all should repent and come to Him.
_Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into *the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels*:_
_II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, *not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance*._
The Lord *will punish those who trouble and persecute the church*, though we do not want them to incur the chastisement of God. _Zechariah 2:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye._
Therefore, those who plan and scheme to harm us and destroy us are inviting on themselves the punishment of God. We do not want them to go through the punishment of God. We long that they would repent, return and be restored to God but man in his foolishness, pride and being under the grip of the devil, thinks that he can harm the people of God and get away with doing so.
As we watch, what do we see happening around us? Wars are escalating in their intensity. Right now, in Israel, the war is gathering momentum. Natural calamities, with the recent cyclone here in India as well as in China, has caused immense hurt and suffering.
Everyone suffers terribly as the Lord permits these events to take place. The Lord, on one side, is wanting man to repent, return and be restored to Him but on the other, the Lord is causing His punishment to fall on humanity, which is rejecting God and harming His bride, the church.
_II Thessalonians 1:5-6 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; (6) since *it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you*,_
Coming back to our verse, _Luke 21:18_, it is the perspective of eternity that enables us to be men and women of faith here on earth.
Our task is to watch and pray in these times. We must also continue to the very end in our walk of faith in our God, knowing that we are in His hands and the Lord is in control over all that is taking place.
_Hebrews 11:32-40 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: (33) who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (36) Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. (37) They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— (38) of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, (40) God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us._
The call for the church is to continue in faith till the very end. As we read this passage in _Hebrews 11_ we see that some saw positive results of their faith but for others, even though they walked in faith, they had to face hardships. *All of these are for the perfecting of the body of Christ, as a whole*.
Finally, what is it that we hold on to, till the very end?
_I Corinthians 15:53-55 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY." (55) "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"_
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you prepared to persist in your faith in Jesus till the very end?```