"You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." -Matthew 10:18-20
Who is this command to?
Spoken to the twelve disciples, this section of verses is in the midst of Jesus' instructions regarding sending them out to do ministry.
What does this command require?
Do not worry about the words to say when you are delivered up before governors and kings for Christ's sake.
What truths do we learn through this command?
There is much practical advice about ministry in this chapter. These verses specifically tell us much about where we get the message that we preach in adverse circumstances. The context Jesus mentions is a promised situation. Jesus says, "You will be brought before governors and kings". It will happen. When it does happen, don't worry about the words to say. The Holy Spirit of God will speak in and through you. What a great promise! The Holy Spirit speaks through us so that we don't even need to worry about what to say.
Constant prayer and communion with God through His Word is vital to this sort of situation. Picture the above situation as an athletic event that you and I are training for. We must constantly exercise our spiritual muscles so that we will be prepared for the event. The man who fails to plan, plans to fail. Will you be ready when it is your turn to stand and give a defense for hope that is in you? We must always pray and spend time in the Bible so that we will be saturated with God's will and God's words when this sort of thing happens.
What are the consequences for disobedience?
worry about a situation that God already has under control
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