For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Jesus sent His followers as sheep among wolves, warning they would be delivered to councils, scourged, brought before governors and kings for His sake as a testimony, hated and betrayed, and called to endure to the end and flee when persecuted in one city. When delivered up they are to take no anxious thought beforehand how or what to speak, for it will be given in that same hour without relying on personal preparation or wisdom. The witness is not merely human, for the Father and Christ Himself give the words and speak through the messenger. When brought before authorities for faith and allegiance to God's law, the Spirit guides the mind and gives utterance and heavenly wisdom with clearness, power and divine authority that astonishes enemies, reaches hearts and strengthens struggling souls. Believers are not to prepare a fixed speech or trust their own words, but to prepare daily by treasuring Scripture, learning Christ's teaching, obeying, praying and serving with undivided trust, so that in the hour the Spirit enlightens the mind and brings needed truths to remembrance with recognizable wisdom and power.
Words and Setting
Jesus sends His followers as sheep in the midst of wolves, to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, warning that they will be delivered up to councils, scourged in synagogues, and brought before governors and kings for His sake for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. They will be hated by all for His name's sake and betrayed by brother and parent and children, even by brother and father, yet he that endures to the end shall be saved. When persecuted in one city they are to flee into another, and will not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come, for the disciple is not above his master, as Christ Himself often left the city where He was working for a place where He would not be recognized. In the time of the end life must be hid with Christ in God, and when a disciple lacks wisdom he must take the matter to the Lord in prayer and acknowledge Him in all ways for Him to direct the paths. This foretelling of persecutions they will meet for His name's sake is the setting to which the promise belongs.
When delivered up they are to take no thought beforehand how or what to speak, because it shall be given them in that same hour what to speak. They need not devise their defense in advance or rely on their own preparation or wisdom, for the words they speak in testimony for His sake are given to them in that hour. When brought before rulers and accused, and when brought before governors and kings for His sake, the Father's Spirit gives them what to say at that time. Kneeling prayer that the Divine Spirit will control thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to the truth or unworthy of the Master is spoken prepares for this fulfillment.
For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you means the witness is not merely human. The Spirit of the Father speaks through those brought before authorities for His sake, so the testimony is not from unaided ability and God gives what is needed to testify under persecution. They can speak His words, learned from His teaching and brought back to mind in conflict, which calls for care and courage in giving testimony under pressure. It is not the messenger who speaks but the Lord who gives the messages of warning and reproof through them, and the messenger is to speak the truth faithfully and without fear, relying on the Lord's protection and power. The one set apart in youth to bear Christ's word to erring ones and to carry the word before unbelievers, to reprove from the Word actions that are not right and to exhort from the Word with voice and pen, receives the Word opened and made plain so it is not a strange language, spoken in the true eloquence of simplicity by one never learned in the schools, with Christ's Spirit and power present, commanded not to be afraid of man because His shield protects, never to deviate from the truth under any circumstances, and to give the light given, with the messages for these last days written in books and standing immortalized to testify against those who once rejoiced in the light but gave it up because of the seductive influences of evil.
Spirit Speaks in Trial
When followers are brought before authorities, councils, judges, rulers, governors and kings for His sake, for their faith and for allegiance to God's law, the Spirit of the Father guides their minds and gives them utterance and heavenly wisdom for a testimony. They need not devise their defense in advance nor take anxious thought beforehand for their words, for in that moment it will be given them what to say, and what is spoken is the Spirit's work in them. As the Spirit enlightens their minds they present the truth with divine power, and the words they speak can be distinguished from their own thoughts and recognized as God's words carrying wisdom, life and power. This calls for courage without presumption and without boldness in human strength, casting all care upon Jesus, putting entire trust in Christ, and worshiping and serving God alone with undivided service, which brings success, together with His promise to be with those who teach all nations even unto the end of the world.
The words so given come with clearness, power and divine authority, exciting astonishment and admiration even in enemies, as if after undisturbed opportunity for study. They reach hearers' hearts, reveal Christ to rulers and others who might not otherwise hear the gospel, and carry words of great consequence to those in danger of perishing. They refresh and strengthen struggling souls, enabling servants to speak clearly and powerfully to unbelievers through unexpected help, with the blessing of the Spirit coming when most needed even if not immediately after prayer. Such utterance makes clear that Jesus is speaking through them, and kneeling prayer that the Divine Spirit will control thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of the Master is spoken prepares the way for this fulfillment even amid great physical suffering and mental anxiety.
In that trial believers do not stand alone, for God gives them strength and help to uphold and defend His word. The Spirit strengthens them to remain faithful to the truth and to stand against error even when facing prison or death. This support upholds God's servants when they face rulers for their witness, giving them wisdom and words against enemies and persecution.
Preparing for the Promise
No fixed speech or planned defense is to be prepared beforehand for the hour of being delivered up and brought before authorities to testify for Christ's sake, for the words will be given in that same hour. There is to be no reliance on personal preparation or wisdom, on one's own words, on combative speech, or on self-reliance. Dependence is to be on God, trusting Christ while the Spirit of the Father brings to mind what should be said and speaks through the witness.
Preparation is daily, by studying and treasuring God's Word and storing it in the heart, by learning Christ's teaching, by knowing Bible truth thoroughly, and by following Christ in obedience. It is carried on by strengthening faith through prayer and by serving God faithfully each day with undivided affection, devotion, and trust. Diligent knowledge of God and Jesus through Scripture gives the soul power and efficiency for that hour.
In the hour itself the Holy Spirit enlightens minds and brings the needed truths to remembrance, speaking through the servants on trial for their faith so that their words reach hearers' hearts. The words of heavenly wisdom thus brought to mind are distinguishable from one's own thoughts and are recognized as God's words, carrying wisdom, life, and power. Those who have neglected Christ's words, who have not filled the mind with truth and have not experienced His grace in trial, cannot expect the Spirit to recall those words for them.
Readiness therefore calls for dependence on God rather than human devising, with watchfulness and prayer because of continued danger of error. Earnest prayer, even kneeling prayer, is to ask that the Divine Spirit will control thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to the truth or unworthy of the Master is spoken. Earnest prayer and faith open the way for God to give the right words at the right time without reliance on human wisdom, while heavenly messengers work to impress the hearts of those addressed.
Past and Future Fulfillments
Jerome's kneeling prayer that the Divine Spirit would control his thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of his Master would be spoken was answered when he was brought before rulers for Christ's sake, fulfilling the promise first given to the disciples that the Spirit of the Father would supply what to speak in that same hour without taking thought beforehand. The words then given came with a clearness and power that excited astonishment and admiration even in his enemies, as if after undisturbed opportunity for study, though he had been shut for a year in a dungeon unable to read or even to see, and was in great physical suffering and mental anxiety.
The same promise strengthened Luther when, awed and embarrassed, he stood before the emperor surrounded by the most illustrious personages in the empire to answer for his faith, and the words given him in that hour were Christ's own words to strengthen His servant in trial. His calm, truthful testimony before the Diet at Worms was Christ speaking through him, with God giving strength and help to uphold and defend His word, and the Spirit impressing the leaders who heard so that some acknowledged the justice of his cause while others, after searching Scripture, later became supporters of the Reformation. The Spirit who gives power to stand against error when facing opposition can speak even through an enemy, for God moved Duke George, though Luther's enemy, to expose papal abuses in the assembly, so that the voice heard there was that of One greater than Luther preparing the way for reform.
The promise will be fulfilled again when Sabbath-keepers are brought before courts to answer for their faith. At that time those who professed the third message without sanctification will have abandoned it and will become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren, misrepresenting and accusing them by false reports and insinuations and stirring up the rulers against them. In the approaching crisis God's people will be brought before councils where every position of truth they hold will be severely criticized and met with opposition, and standing in that trial will require an intensity of zeal, piety and devotion gained beforehand. The preparation now made decides both personal salvation and the destiny of other souls, so time now allowed to go to waste must be devoted to preparing for the crisis.
Wider Work of Witness
When Christ is at work within His followers, the words they speak and the righteous works they do come from the Spirit of the Father working in them. This happens as they keep their connection with Him by faith and by continual surrender of the will, manifesting His spirit in obedience. Such fruit is no ground for boasting, because the power belongs to His Spirit and not to themselves.
The same promise reaches far beyond the courtroom into daily employment, where the Saviour stands close beside His people so they are not left to feeble human effort. While they labor to lead others to Christ, He gives them words that refresh, encourage, and strengthen poor struggling souls in darkness, and in fulfilling the promise their own faith is strengthened so that blessing others brings blessing to themselves. Those ready to follow His call and speak for Him are guided by the Holy Spirit in personal teaching, with Christ supplying the words and the Spirit opening hearers’ hearts and minds to receive truth. Canvassers who trust the Lord as they travel from place to place have angels round about them giving words that bring light, hope, and courage, becoming acquainted with people, praying with them, understanding their true needs, and explaining Scripture with hands unbound, so that many who would otherwise never hear the truth are reached. Every teacher granted the sacred privilege of representing Christ can hold the reassuring conviction that the Saviour is beside them giving words and showing ways to display His excellence, as laborers together with God and lights in the world revealing the gracious attributes of the Redeemer’s life.
The messenger of warning and reproof does not speak from personal authority or wisdom, for it is the Lord who gives the message through the human instrument. The one set apart even in youth to bear Christ’s word to the erring, to carry it before unbelievers, and to reprove and exhort from the Word with voice and pen, receives the Word opened and made plain so it is no strange language, spoken in the true eloquence of simplicity even by one never learned in the schools, with Christ’s Spirit and power present. That commission commands faithful speech without fear of man, never deviating from truth under any circumstances, and giving the light given, which for the last days stands immortalized in books to testify against those who once rejoiced in the light but yielded to seductive evil influences. When sent at the set time into open opposition, false accusation, religious surveillance, danger, and peril to bear reproof, the messenger must not shrink, plead to be spared, or shun conflict, but go and wait upon God in humble confidence, fulfilling the whole duty for which He sent them. Looking to God and going at His bidding, faith, courage, and obedience are tested, yet God restrains those who would do harm so that imprisonment and abuse are escaped and no hand is laid on to hurt, an angel stands by to direct when and where to go, and His shield protects.
God also gives unexpected help when His servants present truth to unbelievers, enabling them to speak clearly and with power by the Spirit. He supplies the right words at the right time rather than leaving them to their own wisdom, providing words of great consequence to those in danger of perishing. Earnest prayer and faith prepare the way, heavenly messengers work to impress the hearts addressed, and the blessing of the Spirit may come when most needed even if not immediately after prayer.
The speech thus supplied is not oratory as the world counts oratory but heavenly eloquence, words dictated by the Holy Spirit that go directly to minds, awaken conviction, and lead hearers to ask what truth is. As men in the days of the apostles spoke as moved by the Holy Ghost, so now those supposed to be illiterate will speak words dictated by the Holy Spirit, and those who catch divine rays from the great invisible Master-teacher will not lack fitting words. God supplies the words of the meek and lowly in heart, joining divine power with human service as they share the light and grace Christ supplies to comfort those longing for sympathy, and learning His meekness and lowliness prepares them to speak rightly to those they visit. They reveal Christ not through superior knowledge, talent, or philosophy but through words and conduct marked by patience, kindness, forbearance, and calmness even when opponents distort Scripture or provoke retaliation, requiring courage without presumption, casting all care upon Jesus, putting entire trust in Christ, and worshiping and serving God alone with undivided service. Even believers who have long feasted on truth must impart light to other minds, and when they feel unqualified yet consecrate themselves, He gives wisdom, tongue, and utterance so adversaries cannot gainsay or resist, calling every man, woman, and youth with reasoning powers to use reason to save souls, cultivate talents, and take up one line of work after another rather than be pronounced slothful servants.
Jesus sent His followers as sheep among wolves, warning they would be delivered to councils, scourged, brought before governors and kings for His sake as a testimony, hated and betrayed, and called to endure to the end and flee when persecuted in one city.
When delivered up they are to take no anxious thought beforehand how or what to speak, for it will be given in that same hour without relying on personal preparation or wisdom.
The witness is not merely human, for the Father and Christ Himself give the words and speak through the messenger.
When brought before authorities for faith and allegiance to God's law, the Spirit guides the mind and gives utterance and heavenly wisdom with clearness, power and divine authority that astonishes enemies, reaches hearts and strengthens struggling souls.
Believers are not to prepare a fixed speech or trust their own words, but to prepare daily by treasuring Scripture, learning Christ's teaching, obeying, praying and serving with undivided trust, so that in the hour the Spirit enlightens the mind and brings needed truths to remembrance with recognizable wisdom and power.
Words and Setting
Jesus sends His followers as sheep in the midst of wolves, to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, warning that they will be delivered up to councils, scourged in synagogues, and brought before governors and kings for His sake for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. They will be hated by all for His name's sake and betrayed by brother and parent and children, even by brother and father, yet he that endures to the end shall be saved. When persecuted in one city they are to flee into another, and will not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come, for the disciple is not above his master, as Christ Himself often left the city where He was working for a place where He would not be recognized. In the time of the end life must be hid with Christ in God, and when a disciple lacks wisdom he must take the matter to the Lord in prayer and acknowledge Him in all ways for Him to direct the paths. This foretelling of persecutions they will meet for His name's sake is the setting to which the promise belongs.
When delivered up they are to take no thought beforehand how or what to speak, because it shall be given them in that same hour what to speak. They need not devise their defense in advance or rely on their own preparation or wisdom, for the words they speak in testimony for His sake are given to them in that hour. When brought before rulers and accused, and when brought before governors and kings for His sake, the Father's Spirit gives them what to say at that time. Kneeling prayer that the Divine Spirit will control thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to the truth or unworthy of the Master is spoken prepares for this fulfillment.
For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you means the witness is not merely human. The Spirit of the Father speaks through those brought before authorities for His sake, so the testimony is not from unaided ability and God gives what is needed to testify under persecution. They can speak His words, learned from His teaching and brought back to mind in conflict, which calls for care and courage in giving testimony under pressure. It is not the messenger who speaks but the Lord who gives the messages of warning and reproof through them, and the messenger is to speak the truth faithfully and without fear, relying on the Lord's protection and power. The one set apart in youth to bear Christ's word to erring ones and to carry the word before unbelievers, to reprove from the Word actions that are not right and to exhort from the Word with voice and pen, receives the Word opened and made plain so it is not a strange language, spoken in the true eloquence of simplicity by one never learned in the schools, with Christ's Spirit and power present, commanded not to be afraid of man because His shield protects, never to deviate from the truth under any circumstances, and to give the light given, with the messages for these last days written in books and standing immortalized to testify against those who once rejoiced in the light but gave it up because of the seductive influences of evil.
Spirit Speaks in Trial
When followers are brought before authorities, councils, judges, rulers, governors and kings for His sake, for their faith and for allegiance to God's law, the Spirit of the Father guides their minds and gives them utterance and heavenly wisdom for a testimony. They need not devise their defense in advance nor take anxious thought beforehand for their words, for in that moment it will be given them what to say, and what is spoken is the Spirit's work in them. As the Spirit enlightens their minds they present the truth with divine power, and the words they speak can be distinguished from their own thoughts and recognized as God's words carrying wisdom, life and power. This calls for courage without presumption and without boldness in human strength, casting all care upon Jesus, putting entire trust in Christ, and worshiping and serving God alone with undivided service, which brings success, together with His promise to be with those who teach all nations even unto the end of the world.
The words so given come with clearness, power and divine authority, exciting astonishment and admiration even in enemies, as if after undisturbed opportunity for study. They reach hearers' hearts, reveal Christ to rulers and others who might not otherwise hear the gospel, and carry words of great consequence to those in danger of perishing. They refresh and strengthen struggling souls, enabling servants to speak clearly and powerfully to unbelievers through unexpected help, with the blessing of the Spirit coming when most needed even if not immediately after prayer. Such utterance makes clear that Jesus is speaking through them, and kneeling prayer that the Divine Spirit will control thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of the Master is spoken prepares the way for this fulfillment even amid great physical suffering and mental anxiety.
In that trial believers do not stand alone, for God gives them strength and help to uphold and defend His word. The Spirit strengthens them to remain faithful to the truth and to stand against error even when facing prison or death. This support upholds God's servants when they face rulers for their witness, giving them wisdom and words against enemies and persecution.
Preparing for the Promise
No fixed speech or planned defense is to be prepared beforehand for the hour of being delivered up and brought before authorities to testify for Christ's sake, for the words will be given in that same hour. There is to be no reliance on personal preparation or wisdom, on one's own words, on combative speech, or on self-reliance. Dependence is to be on God, trusting Christ while the Spirit of the Father brings to mind what should be said and speaks through the witness.
Preparation is daily, by studying and treasuring God's Word and storing it in the heart, by learning Christ's teaching, by knowing Bible truth thoroughly, and by following Christ in obedience. It is carried on by strengthening faith through prayer and by serving God faithfully each day with undivided affection, devotion, and trust. Diligent knowledge of God and Jesus through Scripture gives the soul power and efficiency for that hour.
In the hour itself the Holy Spirit enlightens minds and brings the needed truths to remembrance, speaking through the servants on trial for their faith so that their words reach hearers' hearts. The words of heavenly wisdom thus brought to mind are distinguishable from one's own thoughts and are recognized as God's words, carrying wisdom, life, and power. Those who have neglected Christ's words, who have not filled the mind with truth and have not experienced His grace in trial, cannot expect the Spirit to recall those words for them.
Readiness therefore calls for dependence on God rather than human devising, with watchfulness and prayer because of continued danger of error. Earnest prayer, even kneeling prayer, is to ask that the Divine Spirit will control thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to the truth or unworthy of the Master is spoken. Earnest prayer and faith open the way for God to give the right words at the right time without reliance on human wisdom, while heavenly messengers work to impress the hearts of those addressed.
Past and Future Fulfillments
Jerome's kneeling prayer that the Divine Spirit would control his thoughts and words so that nothing contrary to truth or unworthy of his Master would be spoken was answered when he was brought before rulers for Christ's sake, fulfilling the promise first given to the disciples that the Spirit of the Father would supply what to speak in that same hour without taking thought beforehand. The words then given came with a clearness and power that excited astonishment and admiration even in his enemies, as if after undisturbed opportunity for study, though he had been shut for a year in a dungeon unable to read or even to see, and was in great physical suffering and mental anxiety.
The same promise strengthened Luther when, awed and embarrassed, he stood before the emperor surrounded by the most illustrious personages in the empire to answer for his faith, and the words given him in that hour were Christ's own words to strengthen His servant in trial. His calm, truthful testimony before the Diet at Worms was Christ speaking through him, with God giving strength and help to uphold and defend His word, and the Spirit impressing the leaders who heard so that some acknowledged the justice of his cause while others, after searching Scripture, later became supporters of the Reformation. The Spirit who gives power to stand against error when facing opposition can speak even through an enemy, for God moved Duke George, though Luther's enemy, to expose papal abuses in the assembly, so that the voice heard there was that of One greater than Luther preparing the way for reform.
The promise will be fulfilled again when Sabbath-keepers are brought before courts to answer for their faith. At that time those who professed the third message without sanctification will have abandoned it and will become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren, misrepresenting and accusing them by false reports and insinuations and stirring up the rulers against them. In the approaching crisis God's people will be brought before councils where every position of truth they hold will be severely criticized and met with opposition, and standing in that trial will require an intensity of zeal, piety and devotion gained beforehand. The preparation now made decides both personal salvation and the destiny of other souls, so time now allowed to go to waste must be devoted to preparing for the crisis.
Wider Work of Witness
When Christ is at work within His followers, the words they speak and the righteous works they do come from the Spirit of the Father working in them. This happens as they keep their connection with Him by faith and by continual surrender of the will, manifesting His spirit in obedience. Such fruit is no ground for boasting, because the power belongs to His Spirit and not to themselves.
The same promise reaches far beyond the courtroom into daily employment, where the Saviour stands close beside His people so they are not left to feeble human effort. While they labor to lead others to Christ, He gives them words that refresh, encourage, and strengthen poor struggling souls in darkness, and in fulfilling the promise their own faith is strengthened so that blessing others brings blessing to themselves. Those ready to follow His call and speak for Him are guided by the Holy Spirit in personal teaching, with Christ supplying the words and the Spirit opening hearers’ hearts and minds to receive truth. Canvassers who trust the Lord as they travel from place to place have angels round about them giving words that bring light, hope, and courage, becoming acquainted with people, praying with them, understanding their true needs, and explaining Scripture with hands unbound, so that many who would otherwise never hear the truth are reached. Every teacher granted the sacred privilege of representing Christ can hold the reassuring conviction that the Saviour is beside them giving words and showing ways to display His excellence, as laborers together with God and lights in the world revealing the gracious attributes of the Redeemer’s life.
The messenger of warning and reproof does not speak from personal authority or wisdom, for it is the Lord who gives the message through the human instrument. The one set apart even in youth to bear Christ’s word to the erring, to carry it before unbelievers, and to reprove and exhort from the Word with voice and pen, receives the Word opened and made plain so it is no strange language, spoken in the true eloquence of simplicity even by one never learned in the schools, with Christ’s Spirit and power present. That commission commands faithful speech without fear of man, never deviating from truth under any circumstances, and giving the light given, which for the last days stands immortalized in books to testify against those who once rejoiced in the light but yielded to seductive evil influences. When sent at the set time into open opposition, false accusation, religious surveillance, danger, and peril to bear reproof, the messenger must not shrink, plead to be spared, or shun conflict, but go and wait upon God in humble confidence, fulfilling the whole duty for which He sent them. Looking to God and going at His bidding, faith, courage, and obedience are tested, yet God restrains those who would do harm so that imprisonment and abuse are escaped and no hand is laid on to hurt, an angel stands by to direct when and where to go, and His shield protects.
God also gives unexpected help when His servants present truth to unbelievers, enabling them to speak clearly and with power by the Spirit. He supplies the right words at the right time rather than leaving them to their own wisdom, providing words of great consequence to those in danger of perishing. Earnest prayer and faith prepare the way, heavenly messengers work to impress the hearts addressed, and the blessing of the Spirit may come when most needed even if not immediately after prayer.
The speech thus supplied is not oratory as the world counts oratory but heavenly eloquence, words dictated by the Holy Spirit that go directly to minds, awaken conviction, and lead hearers to ask what truth is. As men in the days of the apostles spoke as moved by the Holy Ghost, so now those supposed to be illiterate will speak words dictated by the Holy Spirit, and those who catch divine rays from the great invisible Master-teacher will not lack fitting words. God supplies the words of the meek and lowly in heart, joining divine power with human service as they share the light and grace Christ supplies to comfort those longing for sympathy, and learning His meekness and lowliness prepares them to speak rightly to those they visit. They reveal Christ not through superior knowledge, talent, or philosophy but through words and conduct marked by patience, kindness, forbearance, and calmness even when opponents distort Scripture or provoke retaliation, requiring courage without presumption, casting all care upon Jesus, putting entire trust in Christ, and worshiping and serving God alone with undivided service. Even believers who have long feasted on truth must impart light to other minds, and when they feel unqualified yet consecrate themselves, He gives wisdom, tongue, and utterance so adversaries cannot gainsay or resist, calling every man, woman, and youth with reasoning powers to use reason to save souls, cultivate talents, and take up one line of work after another rather than be pronounced slothful servants.