All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work."  (2 Timothy 3: 16 - 17)

On Inspiration, Knapp writes:  "An extraordinary divine agency upon teachers while giving instruction, whether oral or written, by which they were taught how and what they should speak or write."

This is my experience.

The Holy Spirit is the source of all inspiration and power.

Faith comes from hearing

"Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ."  (Romans 10: 17)

Although faith is a pure gift of God, God has nevertheless provided that the only way we obtain this treasure is through the preached or written word of God.  This is the way we received our faith.  This is the manner we can share in the mission of Christ to spread the faith.

"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last."  (John 15: 16, 19)
"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia!)  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

How do I participate today in the Great Commission?
Lector, Teaching, Blog, Twitter, Email, Texting, and Conversation, Promised Cards.  When I become aware that these are the ordinary providence to sow the seed of faith, I am motivated to do it better.

Blessed are those who have been invited to the Wedding of the Lamb

"Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.”  (Revelation 19: 9)

The Wedding Feast of the Lamb is the Eucharistic Feast, the Mass. Those who are invited to attend are to consider themselves very happy, honored and indeed to be envied.  To "eat bread in the kingdom" is one of the greatest blessings in life.

How come it that so many miss this point?  In Isaiah 55: 1 -2, God issues invitation to grace  to all in these words:

"All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, buy grain and eat;
Come, buy grain without money,
wine and milk without cost!
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what does not satisfy?
Only listen to me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare."  (Isaiah 55: 1 - 2)

The Wedding Feast of the Lamb is the Eucharist where we eat Bread in the Kingdom.  The gift, which is free is  most precious and the Giver of the best Gift offers Himself as the Gift.  In the Eucharist, We sit in table with Christ our High Priest who gives Himself to us.

Firmly resolve on this in your mind

"Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
 for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute."  (Luke 21: 14 -15)

When you wake up in the morning and stand before God in prayer, there  are a number of truths that you must affirm strongly in your mind. Here are my favorites:

This is the day the Lord has made, I shall be glad and rejoice in it.
I shall serve the Lord today.
The Lord is my Good Shepherd, I shall lack nothing today.
No fears, worries or doubts today.

Resolve in your mind from the first moment of your day and let it be a rule never to be departed to trust in God's Providence every step and every moment of this day.

I found an interesting commentary on Luke 21: 14 - 15 in Matthew Henry Online Commentary:

" "God will stand by you, and own you, and assist you, in your trials; you are his advocates, and you shall be well furnished with instructions, v. 14, v. 15. Instead of setting your hearts on work to contrive an answer to informations, indictments, articles, accusations, and interrogatories, that will be exhibited against you in the ecclesiastical and civil courts, on the contrary, settle it in your hearts, impress it upon them, take pains with them to persuade them not to meditate before what you shall answer; do not depend upon your own wit and ingenuity, your own prudence and policy, and do not distrust or despair of the immediate and extraordinary aids of the divine grace. Think not to bring yourselves off in the cause of Christ as you would in a cause of your own, by your own parts and application, with the common assistance of divine Providence, but promise yourselves, for I promise you, the special assistance of divine grace: I will give you a mouth and wisdom.’’ This proves Christ to be God; for it is God’s prerogative to give wisdom, and he it is that made man’s mouth. Note, First, A mouth and wisdom together completely fit a man both for services and sufferings; wisdom to know what to say, and a mouth wherewith to say it as it should be said. It is a great happiness to have both matter and words wherewith to honour God and do good; to have in the mind a storehouse well furnished with things new and old, and a door of utterance by which to bring them forth. Secondly, Those that plead Christ’s cause may depend upon him to give them a mouth and wisdom, which way soever they are called to plead it, especially when they are brought before magistrates for his name’s sake. It is not said that he will send an angel from heaven to answer for them, though he could do this, but that he will give them a mouth and wisdom to enable them to answer for themselves, which puts a greater honour upon them, which requires them to use the gifts and graces Christ furnishes them with, and redounds the more to the glory of God, who stills the enemy and the avenger out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. Thirdly, When Christ gives to his witnesses a mouth and wisdom, they are enabled to say that both for him and themselves which all their adversaries are not able to gainsay or resist, so that they are silenced, and put to confusion. This was remarkably fulfilled presently after the pouring out of the Spirit, by whom Christ gave his disciples this mouth and wisdom, when the apostles were brought before the priest sand rulers, and answered them so as to make them ashamed, Acts. 4, , 5, and 6.[3.]"

You will face an ordeal for 10 days

"Do not be afraid of anything that you are going to suffer. Indeed, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."  (Revelation 2: 10)

The test will be for a short duration but the reward will be eternal.

 "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
for you know that the testing* of your faith produces perseverance.
And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  (James 1: 2 - 4)

Be joyful in trial and persevere till the last because you know that the expected end will be good.

You can never outdo God in generosity

"For those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”  (Luke 21: 4)

Was this widow acquainted with the story of the widow of Zarephath?  The widow of Zarephath gave to Prophet Elijah the last morsel of food in her home.  The Lord rewarded her for this and throughout the famine she and her son never lacked food.

Complete trust in God's providence is the key to joyous living.  As you trust Jesus, your generosity to Him grows.  You then learn from experience that you can never outdo God in generosity.

I came into the world, to testify to the truth

"For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  (John 18: 27)

Jesus is the truth, the way and the life.  If He came to the world to testify to the truth, it means that He came to bear witness to Himself and His mission.  He is the Son of God, the King of Kings and the Savior of all mankind.

The disciple of Jesus must also bear witness to the same reality.

"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last."  (John 15: 16, 19)
"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brother."  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)