| It is vitally important that we are taught in such a | | | | end. There will be frequent wars, political upheaval |
| way as we will not be deceived. When many | | | | and revolutions. |
| people come to this passage in the Word of God | | | | That does NOT mean that things are out of |
| they can become confused. Others might sense a | | | | control. God is still in control. |
| feeling of fear and become afraid. And, of course | | | | What it does mean is that the Bible is true and |
| there are those who do tend to become over | | | | accurate and reliable. |
| excited and who go overboard when they | | | | This world is NOT going to get better! Jesus said |
| consider the coming again of Jesus Christ. | | | | so, and yet we are continually seeking all the time |
| That is why we need sound solid teaching from | | | | to improve the condition of man, as we minister |
| balanced leadership. Yes, it is a big ask but in | | | | to people in the power of the Holy Spirit. We |
| these days it is essential, as these are dangerous | | | | have to balance these two issues and it is not |
| times. | | | | always easy, but then Jesus Christ never said it |
| Having warned the disciples about being deceived, | | | | would be easy. Peter and John and James and |
| one of the next things Jesus says in Luke | | | | Paul and all the others certainly discovered that to |
| Chapter 21 is, "Do not be frightened." Verse 9. | | | | be true, and we need to teach this to our people. |
| Now this is one powerful leader speaking to those | | | | Verse 10. We will not go further on this week, |
| who were about to become leaders and most of | | | | but let's read it, because this has been happening |
| them were successful. Do check out the actual | | | | on a grand scale over these past years. |
| text. There is always a special blessing for those | | | | Nation will rise against nation. This has happened in |
| who take time to read The Word of God. | | | | an amazing way over these past years, and the |
| There is a lot of fear around today as well as | | | | first time I heard of ethnic cleansing was during |
| deception and greed and corruption and warfare | | | | the break up of Yugoslavia in Europe. |
| and immorality and almost an explosion of sin. We | | | | ETHNOS: ethnic cleansing has now become part |
| need this word from Jesus. | | | | of our vocabulary. There have been increasing |
| When we see and hear of certain things going on | | | | conflicts in the Balkans, in Ireland and Russia and |
| in the world, do not be deceived or confused or | | | | these so-called liberated countries, and we have |
| afraid, and not over-excited either. This is such a | | | | witnessed this across Africa with its tribal conflicts. |
| relevant and apposite word for these present | | | | This is NOT a sign that God has lost control, but |
| times. | | | | that the Bible is true, accurate and reliable. |
| Verse 9 teaches us that there will be many | | | | Do NOT allow yourself to be deceived, and do |
| disturbing events, and Jesus word to us is, "Do | | | | NOT become frightened. We may need to hold |
| not become terrified". Do not panic. Do not allow | | | | fast to this word from Jesus more and more |
| these things to upset you unduly. These things | | | | over these coming weeks and months. |
| must happen. | | | | These studies are prepared and submitted two |
| This is why it is so important that we know what | | | | months or so before they are published. Who can |
| is in our Bible. Need I say this to those reading | | | | tell what might happen in these coming months as |
| these weekly studies? Perhaps I do. Read your | | | | situations appear to move so very quickly around |
| Bible. Study the Scriptures. | | | | our troubled world. |
| What did Jesus actually say? Why do I ask that? | | | | Hold fast to the Word of God. Know what is |
| Because there are some things which are | | | | there. Know what Jesus taught. Prepare in time of |
| pointless praying about. There is no use praying | | | | peace for what we may be called upon to exhibit |
| that these things will not happen, when Jesus | | | | in days of war. This is one of the main tasks of |
| says they will. | | | | those in leadership although many are unaware of |
| The disciples wonder if all this will be the end, and | | | | this, and that is sad and sometimes tragic! |
| Jesus explains that it is only the beginning of the | | | | |