Tell them about Me

You will be accused before governors and kings of being my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me. And the Good News must first be preached to every nation. But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry about what to say in your defense. Just say what God tells you to. Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11

Jesus had been in the Temple with his disciples, and on the way out one of His disciples commented, "Teacher, look at these tremendous buildings! Look at the massive stones in the walls!" Jesus replied, "These magnificent buildings will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another."

Later, as Jesus was talking with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, four of His disciples came to Him privately and asked him when the destruction of the buildings would take place, and how they would know that the destruction was near. What they heard would be enough to frighten the strongest man. They heard about wars, earthquakes, famines, personal arrests and trials in court, about fathers betraying their children, brothers betraying their brothers, and being hated because of their allegiance to Him.

My focus this morning was on just one verse in that section - Mark 13:11. Don't worry about what to say in your defense. Just say what God tells you to. Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit."

When we are accused, or when we're in a tight spot, our normal response is to craft the most compelling argument we can think of that will justify our actions, or get us out of a tough spot. Jesus tells His disciples to do just the opposite. "Don't worry about what to say in your defense." You're standing in a courtroom, accused of crimes that can bring penalty of death. And you're not to worry about what to say. How do you prepare for that?!


Just say what God tells you to. Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

This is big. One little verse in the middle of the 13th chapter of Mark. But it's huge!

As Christians, we WILL be tried. We wil be questioned and sentenced, whether in a court of law, or a court of peers. We must prepare for a day when someone accuses us of being a Christ follower. It may be a 1:1 trial - a friend, co-worker or family member accuses you of being weird because you don't do the things you used to do anymore. Or they ask you why you appear to live at peace. Or they ask you to do something that you know is not God's best for your life.

How do you get ready for that?
Don't worry about what to say in your defense. It's not really you who is on trial anyway - it's Jesus!
Say only what God tells you to. Better practice listening for what God says. Stop defending yourself and listen to Him. What does He whisper? What does His Word shout? What does God speak into your very soul as you wait upon Him in the early hours of the morning?
Then you will know it is not you who is speaking, but the Holy Spirit. No matter how eloquent our words may be, no matter how clear our diction, and how well crafted our message, without the Holy Spirit our words will be powerless. When He speaks, the words have power. They penetrate the target. They achieve God's goal.

It's not too soon to practice these three steps. Don't worry about your own defense. Listen for what God is speaking to you, so that you will be ready to speak only what God tells you to. Listen for the Holy Spirit's speaking - stop listening for the sound of your own voice.

Intentionally listen for God's voice. That's a Healthy Habit.