“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:16-22 (NIV)
Holiness never remains static and neither does sin. It is either going in one direction or the other. Also, standing water turns stagnant and putrid. And “lukewarm” makes our Savior nauseous. We can certainly see this fleshed out in our own lives, right? The enemy seems to desire for us to wander about in a trackless waste and despises the one who is zealous for the Lord and seeks to advance His kingdom through the power of the Spirit. And with that soul, Satan is no match. God’s purposes will most assuredly be fulfilled through that saint. This is where the believers confidence comes from not from our own flailing and inept abilities. Because our strength is mere weakness, and our wisdom, folly. Flesh is not equipped to battle the arrows of the evil one. Also, eternal works for the Kingdom can only be accomplished through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
One of the greatest temptations out of Hell is for Christians to believe one can live without trials or walk rightly sans the Spirit. We live in a fallen, broken, sinful world and our Lord has promised us tribulations. Troubles shouldn’t surprise us rather we should expect them. Earth is our passage not our home, heaven is. Also faith grows sharper and stronger in storms and often withers without adversity. And no one sneaks quietly into heaven. When faced with the corruption of this evil world our words are to be backed by the full force of inner calm. A peace that passes all understanding. Scripture tells us “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Standing on God’s promises increases our faith. And the Holy Spirit will bring them to mind when stored in the heart. Also, as followers of Jesus and students of God’s Word, He will give us what to say and when to say it as we prayerfully ask. Don’t be drowsy, know the condition of your flocks and rise, watch and pray against all evil.
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV)