Hebrews 11:36 says that “others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, bonds, and imprisonments.  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, slain with the sword.  They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins.”  The scripture says they were “destitute.”  That’s a powerful word; isn’t it?  Have you taken time to ask God to show you His grace and bring to remembrance these men who walked in true faith.  Those that called things that are not as though they were; those who really understood that faith was the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  That could live in the unseen realm and realize that all of those things that we see in the Spirit realm, God can make them tangible in this life if we’d believe Him.  Yes, He can today still send quail for us, praise God!  Yes, He can today feed multitudes with five loaves and two fishes.  Do you believe that?  We need to start if we’re going to be preparing for persecution.  Let me tell you something, if you find yourself destitute, Jesus had better be your source; amen?  We’ve lived in such great abundance; we don’t know what it means to lack.  And yet so many of us think we’ll be able to handle the persecution that’s coming.  “When it comes, I’ll be ready!”  Really?  I know we’re living in “fat cow” territory now, but are we rich toward God?

Preparing for persecution, adversity, natural trials, and afflictions.  I believe, pestilences—this thing we’re going through right now.  Some of these scientists are predicting that there’s just another one right around the corner.  It wouldn’t surprise me.  God’s judging this world.  And we are in the world even though we’re not of it; amen?  And you and I are going to have to face the same pestilence that the whole world is facing.  During these times, the first thing in our hearts should an expectation of the promises of God; amen?  What are we doing to exercise our faith?  What are we doing to reach out and believe God for things and not look at certain other ways of obtaining them, in the smaller things?  If the first thing we do is run to the medicine cabinet, run to the doctor, how in the world are we developing faith?  Those that diligently seek Me; amen?  We need to prepare for the persecution and the judgments that are coming on this world.  We need to be crying out, “Increase my faith!”  Amen?  Is that where your appetite is?  Are you hungry for that? —are you hungry for more supernatural activity in your life?  For being able to be that agent that goes out in the name of Jesus, believing that He’ll confirm His Word with signs following?  Are we maybe not having the success that we had at one time because we’re more caught up among ourselves about who the greatest among us is?  Are we in the proper place as we relate to Jesus’ lordship and living in the humility that we should be living in?  I believe that if we’re in the place of humility that we should be living in, God will exalt us.  We need to be exalted in the kingdom.  We need to be exalted in the heavens.  I’m talking about the fact of Satan being aware of who we are.  “Jesus I know, Paul I know; but who are you?” (Acts 19:15.)  If we’re going to be preparing for persecution, we want to be making sure we’re known.  We should be on Satan’s hit list.