Don’t be surprised by trials, by Satan wanting to take you out.  Those of us who are prepared and can stand and comfort with the same comfort those who are in the midst of afflictions and persecutions and trials that we’ve already been through, and let them know with all confidence that God will not allow you to be tempted past that which you’re able to stand, and with every temptation, He makes a way of escape.  Prepare for persecution.  We have the promise, but we need to be diligent seekers of Him to receive His reward.  He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.  Beloved, we need to build our faith, the faith Paul contended for.  To hear his own testimony, “I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7), praise God!  We’re preparing for persecutions; we need to look at that and say, “Are we keeping the faith?  Are we defending the faith?”  If so, then where are all the signs that follow them that believe?  I’m concerned that we’re going into this war these last days.  Beloved, when iniquity is abounding, when Satan’s coming in like a flood, we need some seasoned warriors that are available that God can use in raising His standard up against the kingdom of darkness.  “Preparing for persecution” doesn’t mean fortifying ourselves—it means attacking!  Put on the whole armor of God that you may set out against; amen? 

How are we doing individually in our preparation?  And I think our thought processes, as we talk about this, have been way too defensive.  We need to be emboldened.  We need to be that one who can run through a troop and leap over a wall; amen?  As we’re coming into this hour, thank God for those who by faith, in this eleventh chapter, were delivered; but thank God, it did not prevent those who went the way of the grave.  They obtained a good report through faith and did not see the manifestation in this life, but were partakers in the spiritual, in the eternal realm, and became that great cloud of witnesses.  And so let us run with patience this race that’s set before us.

Father, we thank You for Your Word, and we just ask that You to prepare our hearts for the warfare that’s at hand.  Father, do not let us, at this moment, fall asleep like the disciples did when You asked them to tarry one hour.  It’s a time of intercession.  It’s a time of preparation.  It’s a time of sobriety.  Do not let these weights and sins that do so easily beset us hinder us from running this race with patience, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.  Fat cows, we’re fat and sassy.  Never had it better.  We just ask You, Father, for one thing: Your heart of compassion for the lost.  We ask You for humility to serve Your body.  We ask You for the grace that we would not be one that would deny You.  Let men see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.  We ask it, Father, in Jesus’ name; amen.