CALM AND COLLECTED

          Luke 21:19 ‘In your patience possess ye your souls.’

                   This text is set in the context of the disciples;

     I.  Enamored With Temporal Things:(Vs 5)

'And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,'

I suppose that we are all taken in by things that dazzle our minds about a somewhat of a 'fairy tale life.' At first glance it appears this is just an innocent look at the temple, but then Jesus abruptly throws cold water on the moment. Note the last two words of verse five, 'he said,' (Vs 6) 'As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.'

   Without having to doubt what was transpiring here it was a 'shock and awe' moment. Jesus suddenly closed the 'fairy tale' book of their mind and gave them a dose of reality. We too are not to get so enamored with temporal things that we lose sight of things that have eternal significance. Too much of our time, treasure and talents are resourced for the wrong world.

   In the book ‘ The Life Changing Story of Missionary J.O. Fraser, who worked among the Lisu people of China, once commented about the necessity of waiting on the Lord to do His work without the frantic, panicked rushing about that characterizes much of our labor. He said, ‘In the biography of our Lord nothing is more noticeable than the quiet, even poise of His life. Never flustered, whatever happened, never taken off His guard, however assailed by men or demons in the midst of fickle people, hostile rulers, faithless disciples- always calm, always collected. Christ the hard worker indeed, but doing no more, and no less, than God had appointed Him, and with no restlessness, no hurry, no worry. Was ever such a peaceful life lived, under conditions so perturbing?’ So be sure your focused on the right world and kingdom. The right world is fixed on the eternal not the temporal.

                               The context of this scene also speaks to the;

      II. Expectations Of Tribulation Times: (Vs 7) 'And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?'

    Every man's struggle is this matter of time! The 'When' of life's circumstances. Life here is lived against the clock and the calendar. Note the words, 'And they asked  him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? I have come to realize and appreciate that God is never in a hurry, but He's always on time. Peace is sister to patience and is the fruit of the Spirit. Waiting is a difficult thing to do because the time clock is running. We dare wait on nothing. The motto of our day, 'I want it and I want it now!!' Luke 21:19 ‘In your patience possess ye your souls.’ Christ set forth several coming tribulation expectations;

   1. Expect A Time of Deception: (Vs 8) 'And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.'

   2. Expect A Time of Distractions:(Vs9) 'But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.'

   3. Expect A Time of Danger:(Vs 10) Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

   4. Expect A Time of Diasters:(Vs 11). 'And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.'

   5. Expect A Time of Defamation: 12 'But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.'

   6. Expect A Time Of Death: (Vs 16-17)  And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.' And for some;

   7. Expect A Time Of Deliverance:(Vs 18) 'But there shall not an hair of your head perish.'

The context of this scene also speaks that;

    III. Endurance Testifies Of Trust:(Vs 19) 'In your patience possess ye your souls.'

The Life of Christ on earth was brief to say the least and His public ministry even more brief, three and a half years, yet here we are 2000 years later sifting through the fragments that leave us mindful that patiently waiting on God is rewarding. Who has a ministry that could produce such results? I dare say, no one has ever produced such results with lasting results. Much of our energies are consumed in frustration, fears and faltering because we are in a hurry. The Psalmist said in Psalm 27:14 ‘Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.'

Disclaimer: No claims of absolute originality are made for this material.

As one man said, 'I milk a lot of cows, but I churn my own butter.'