Pastor Charlie Rousey
Mark 13:9-11
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
What will our nation be like in 20 years? That is a very difficult question to answer because things are changing so fast. Technology has brought a very large world into a very small handheld device and has allowed us to interact with people around the world. This same technology has also become a way into the hearts and minds of us all, but especially our teenagers.
As I listen to those that guard the gateways of information into our lives, I hear a common message of “Man must increase and God’s Word must decrease.” This message offers us the freedom to do as we like without judgment, guilt, or shame. It is the same message that promised our first ancestors they would be “like God” and we all know how well that turned out.
In this enlightened society those of faith may fear speaking up, or posting, or liking, or whatever the next wave offers us as a platform to speak up and be heard. Jesus tells us in Mark 13 of a day that those that speak up will be canceled or worse, much worse. He commands us to take no thought as to what we will say because our words have no effect. We are to allow God’s Spirit to speak to them, through us.
When John the Baptist was asked, “Who art thou?” there are many titles he could have given himself, but the one he chose was, “I am a voice…” There were many people that tried to silence his voice, and there will be many today that will try and silence our voice. We are God’s living message today, so let’s make sure we speak the truth, regardless of the price.