I have written this week with the help of the Lord about “The Need For Patience In Perilous Times.” The scripture text for this article comes from the book of Luke. This book is the third book of the synoptic gospels. There are three synoptic gospels they are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This book was written by Luke, the beloved physician, who was a travelling companion with the Apostle Paul (Colossians 4:14) (II Timothy 4:11). He also wrote the book of Acts. The book of Luke is the most complete biography of Christ, about half of the material in this book is not in the other gospels, namely Matthew, Mark, and John. The author’s writings are well ordered going into the smallest detail of the subject matter. The book of Luke was addressed to most excellent Theophilus, with the purpose of confirming his faith in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Luke 1:1-4). For this Wordsmith article, we want to focus our attention upon the scripture text for this article which is found in (Luke 21:16-19). It says = 16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. This passage of scripture is part of the teachings which Jesus gave to his disciples as they were looking at Herod’s temple in Jerusalem. It was beautiful! They looked at it and said look at the goodly stones and how it is adorned! Jesus said to them, as for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. His disciples asked Him, Master, when shall these times be? And what sign will there be when these times shall come to past? Then he tells them about the signs of his appearing, and what the conditions in the world will be then. Read: (Luke 21:5-15). Then Jesus tells his disciples and “us” some things that will happen to them and “us” in the last and evil days and/or perilous, dangerous times. The family structure will break down family loyalty will cease, love will wax cold, and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. (Luke 21:16). They will be hated of all men because they love and serve Jesus. Persecution will come upon them because they are Christians (saints). (Luke 21:17). Jesus promises them divine preservation: but there shall not an hair on your head perish. (Luke 21:18). Then lastly, he tells his disciples, and the Apostolic church as a whole, to be careful that they do not lose their soul! “In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19). They will need patience in perilous times. For further study about the last and evil days and perilous times. Read: (Matthew 24:1-13) (II Timothy 3:1-5). Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church and every child of God who reads this article, we need patience too! What is patience? The Greek word for patience in this scripture text is hupomone (hoop-om-on-ay’) #5281 which means = cheerful or hopeful, patience or patient continuance, and endurance. The individual who has patience and is able to bear pain, go through tests and trials without complaint, they are able to preserve and to persist. The saints who have patience are able to keep on, keeping on, in spite of the difficulties they will face. Someone might ask the questions, “How do we get or receive patience?” (Romans 5:3, 4) says = 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience 4and patience, experience and experience, hope: Always remember that every trial, every affliction, every ordeal, and every trying experience is working patience in us. (James 1:3, 4) says = 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Our hardest test in the 21st century is: how do we handle the changes which are going on in our world today? We must be very careful that we do not become effected by the last and evil days, aka, perilous times. Times will change, people will change, and mindsets will change, but God’s holy people must remain steadfast in the Lord, and always moving forward. We must assume the position of patient endurance, and we must continue to live by the standards of the Apostolic doctrine and faith. We need patience in perilous times. We need calm endurance under stress and strain, and provocation. (Hebrews 10:35, 36) says = 35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. God has given his church the promise of eternal life. We will need patience in perilous times before we can receive it. During this month of October, we will be praying and focusing our attention upon our theme or objective for the month which is “The Need For Patience In Perilous Times.” We pray earnestly that our walk with the Lord will not be affected or changed because of these perilous times! (Reprint October 2025) Suffragan Bishop Charles L. Smith, D.D., Emeritus
