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04.01.2010

Luke 21

From time to time in my daily readings it happens that not just one part or piece stands out but rather the whole chapter and theme and overview hit me. I saw several things of interest to me:

Luke 21

The Widow’s Two Mites

 ¹ And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,^[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Giving God your best doesn't mean giving God MUCH, it means giving God the BEST YOU HAVE. So today, I will give God the Best I HAVE not the best someone else has!

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

⁵ Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ⁶ “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

⁷ So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
⁸ And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore^[b] do not go after them. ⁹ But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
¹⁰ Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. ¹² But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. ¹³ But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. ¹⁴ Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head shall be lost. ¹⁹ By your patience possess your souls.

     Nation will rise against nation, we've seen this in two world wars and several since. Kingdom will rise against Kingdom... Then it hits me. He talks about The Kingdom of God CONSTANTLY. He's not saying the same thing. Yes nations will have natural wars, but there will also be wars of the spirit. The Kingdom of God will clash against The Kingdom of Darkness of This World. 

     We are now seeing that in full force. Evolution being taught as fact with no evidence, legalization of the murder of babies, acceptance of sexual immorality of every kind. The battle ground is in our homes, internet, government, courts, even work places. One can't call abortion murder in the workplace without being written up for not being tolerant of other view points. 

     This battle is taking place everywhere. You go to a workplace lunch room and the TV has a room of people engrossed in a battle over who a child's real father is. These things ought not be! The Kingdom of God is being fought hard because the Devil knows his time is up. He will and has already brought those in the Kingdom of God into the courts. Decide NOW that you need not meditate what you will say. Just as Jesus walked through verbal traps so will you. HE will put HIS words in your mouth through the Holy Spirit. His promise is that if you will do it his way not a hair on your head will be lost. Fully Protected through these trials is your promise! Patience is the key to keeping your mind, will, and emotions in tact. 

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ²³ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

     The People are concerned about global warming and films depicting the end of the world through natural disasters are abounding. Astronomers are finding new things in the sky all the time. There are signs in the sky constantly. The very constellations are signs of the Word and the Plan of redemption. 

     The spirit of fear is all over this generation. Fear of economy and disaster and people... This is that time!

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁹ Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. ³¹ So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The Importance of Watching

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy^[c] to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
³⁷ And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. ³⁸ Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

     Watching means to watch the signs and determine the times you are in. In a previous reading we looked at discerning the times! This should read:

Watch therefore and pray always! In this way you may be counted worthy...

This isn't saying that you should pray that you would be counted worthy. It's saying that by watching and praying you would be counted worthy! 

Darrell G. Wolfe