There are going to be those that don’t experience victory in the natural realm, but it doesn’t negate the fact that we’ve obtained an eternal prize, an eternal victory; amen? —and how we’re to respond to those things that are around us.  Those that are not delivered should not in any way cause doubt or fear to enter into our lives, because the Scripture says, “Our faith is the victory” (1 John 5:4).  The Scripture makes it very clear, in this verse, that without this kind of faith, it’s impossible to please God.

“Lord, increase my faith.”  Is that where your heart is today?  If persecution’s going to come—I don’t know how it’s going to work itself out, but it could very easily work itself out in some of these different areas—Christians being discriminated against.  We may not, at that particular time, be allowed to avail ourselves of many things that are offered to the general public.  We know that this is going to happen during the tribulation, because the time will come in the tribulation that, unless you receive the mark of the beast, you won’t be able to buy or sell or involve yourself in the societal functions.  You see, I don’t think it’s just going to be an instantaneous thing; this is going to be things that they’re working up to.    We would be wise to prepare ourselves for it.  I would say if we’re not allowed to avail ourselves of groceries (you’ll see where I’m going with this), then maybe we need to be at a place where we’ve filled ourselves with the Word of God and that faith is being built on a daily basis where we’re trusting God for our daily bread, to where we’re living in faith, and God will send ravens supernaturally and bring us food; amen?  I’m talking about preparing for persecution.  I’m talking about living in the supernatural.  Would you be content to eat manna every day?  Same thing every day? 

I was reading in Numbers how the children of Israel were supernaturally fed by God and ended up despising the manna.  Now, we all know who the manna was.  The manna was Christ.  Amen?  And the Holy Spirit just began to quicken to me saying, “It’s amazing how quickly My people despise My provisions when it doesn’t meet their standards, their desires, their lusts.”  Do you think maybe we should develop an appetite—since we’re preparing for persecution—and a contentment for just Jesus?  And whatever He provides, be thankful for?  He’s sufficient.  I’d encourage you to ask yourself, “Do I despise the Lord?”  If you’re discontent, you do.  Christians believe God will prosper us.  And he does.  But today, we’re eating a lot of our fat cows!  Amen?  If we’re preparing for persecution, those little skinny cows are coming.  How much of the supernatural prosperity did those little skinny cows consume?  How much?  All of it.  If we’re preparing for persecution, don’t look to your substance and what your right arm has provided you.  The Scripture says, “In the day of this adversity, a man’s wealth will not deliver him; only our righteousness will deliver us” (Proverbs 11:4, Ezekiel 14:14, 20), praise God!  Don’t trust in uncertain riches.  If they come, thank God!  Be wise with them.  But trust in the Lord and in the power of His might; amen?  What are we doing to prepare ourselves for persecution?  Are we living like it’s not coming?  And I’m not just talking about material things and how we’re living; I’m talking about how’s your heart being prepared?  Is your heart going to end up failing you for fear?  We can get so fearful that we begin to compromise, and we begin to preserve ourselves, and deny the Lord.  “Oh, though they all deny You, not me!”  And then one of the gospels says, “And so said they all,” all of them (Mark 14:31).  And they all denied Him; they all ran and forsook Him (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50).