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Be Prepared for Trials and Persecution

Be Prepared for Trials and Persecution

Be Prepared for Trials and Persecution

Three quotes from the teaching on 16 Apr, 2025

Take up your cross every day, deny yourself every day, and expect persecution every day.

You don’t get full peace without problems—but you get full peace amid problems.

You are called to prepare—not to fear, but to be strong, stand firm, and praise God amid the trial.

Short description of the teaching

Andreas Slot-Henriksen teaches on Christian trials and persecution, highlighting that the Christian life doesn’t promise freedom from problems but rather prepares for resistance, temptation, division, and intense spiritual battles. He uses sharp, current examples from both the world and his own life to show that persecution today can be both physical and mental, posing important questions about how strong one’s faith is when trials hit. The teaching doesn’t expose fear but provides concrete tools to stand firm, make choices, die to self daily, and let God’s word transform mind and will. Christians are encouraged to take up their cross, choose Jesus consciously, and live with discipline and character strength—so no matter the trials or persecution, hope is greater.

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Character and Attitude,Discipleship,God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit,Udfrielser og åndelig krigsførelse

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  • Scriptures from the teaching on 'Be Prepared for Trials and Persecution'

1 Peter 5:8-11:
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 9:23-27:
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

NB! The summary below is an automatically AI-generated text from the teaching itself. Errors may occur to a greater or lesser degree!!
Watch the whole teaching on YouTube instead!!

  • Summary of the teaching on 'Be Prepared for Trials and Persecution'

Important!!! The following is an automatically generated text based on the teaching itself. Errors may occur. Instead, watch the full teaching on YouTube!!

The teaching begins by challenging the myth that a life with Jesus removes all problems. On the contrary, the message is that you get full peace amid problems because a living relationship with Jesus puts you in opposition to dark forces. Andreas Slot-Henriksen goes straight to real-life examples: such as Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was brutally tortured in a communist prison for his Christian faith, yet demonstrated that true faith can carry through even the most extreme trials. Wurmbrand is compared to a flower that emits fragrance even when crushed, and it is pointed out that many around the world—like in China, Nigeria, and now also the West—still suffer for their faith, whether physically or in more subtle ways like social exclusion, fear, or strained family relations.

Despite faith being challenged both externally and internally, the necessity of being prepared is emphasized—not just when the storm rages, but long before—so one can stand firm regardless of the type of adversity. A central question is posed: “How far will you go for Jesus?” This leads to honest conversations about fear, family loyalty, and the willingness to suffer for His name, and thus to the importance of conscious choice, daily death to one’s nature, and making faith into action. References to Peter’s denial show that even those who have walked with Jesus for years stumble under pressure; it’s not about perfection, but about preparation and courage.

A picture is painted of Western Christianity, where the spiritual battle often takes place in the mind—through loneliness, fear, going alone, or silence, rather than physical torture. The teaching warns against the devil’s strategy: first temptation (pride, comfort, sin, lies), then condemnation and giving up, all with the aim of getting the believer to give up or shrink back from the community of faith. Persecution is understood not just as physical but also psychological and spiritual isolation, where one is pressed inward to silence or temptations away from salvation.

It is repeated that Jesus never promises ease, but rather says that those who hold fast and bear His name will experience persecution, scorn, and resistance. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” It is pointed out that if the world hates believers, it is only because it first hated Jesus himself. Persecution is therefore an expected part of faith—and an opportunity to test one’s commitment and strength.

Concrete everyday situations are mentioned—if you lose friends, are shamed, or confronted in the media—and the importance of mental preparation, character, and willpower is emphasized. Several personal experiences are shared, not to invoke sin, but to equip with experience, so the cross is not only borne in word or feeling but in action. Examples from TV exposure, unexpected adversity, and doubt are shown as opportunities to choose to stand with Christ—even when fear and pressure are greatest. The teaching encourages preparing oneself mentally and spiritually to stand for Jesus, even when it’s not easy.

Recognition of the enemy’s strategy is highlighted: Satan is called the father of lies and “the great accuser,” who attacks weak points and tries to knock down faith, courage, and identity. Therefore, it is advised to fill oneself with God’s word so the lies are seen through and the truth gains power. Choosing Jesus daily and repeating the baptismal vow are keys in the battle of faith—the choice is not feeling, but will, renewed and conscious, daily again and again.

The necessity of discipline is argued for—as shown from the Bible, the words “disciple” and “discipline” are closely linked. A child of God must be willing to purposefully build character and strength, take practical steps to hold fast, and create habits around prayer and Bible reading, fasting, and fellowship with other believers, so one does not fall when the pressure comes.

The conclusion summarizes that it is through trials, adversity, and struggle that God matures and shapes for greater strength, so after one’s own trials, one can support and help others in similar situations. The final exhortation is: “Take up your cross every day, deny yourself, be prepared for trials and persecution—but do not fear, for God can and will turn everything into victory if you hold fast.”

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And you can really feel such awe when you truly seek God’s presence, like boom. And you also get that when you start to consider this: Who is Jesus to me? How far am I willing to go for Him? How far am I willing to go for Jesus? The title he mentioned is: Be Prepared for Adversity and Persecution.

It’s so cool to say: Just become a Christian, and everything will be great. You’ll get the most amazing peace, and you’ll never have problems. And I promise you, that’s not true. You get the most amazing peace in the midst of problems. But there’s a certain gentleman, the Devil, who doesn’t think it’s cool when we find Jesus. He will do everything he can to harm us. But there’s a lot to it.

I just want to start by reading about Richard Wurmbrand. Richard Wurmbrand. He was a Romanian pastor who, in 1948, was arrested by the secret police on his way to church under the communist regime in Romania. Wurmbrand was placed in isolation without trial. In the following year, he was subjected to indescribable torture. All because he refused to renounce his faith in Jesus or reveal the names of other Christians in the underground church.

The torture was brutal and relentless. He himself writes: “They broke four vertebrae in my back and many other bones.” He also wrote: “They cut me in a dozen places. They burned and cut 18 holes in my body.” He was starved, kept in darkness, and isolated from his loved ones. His wife Sabina was also sent to a labor camp because of her faith. Doctors in Oslo, who later examined his injuries and scars from tuberculosis, declared that his survival was a pure miracle according to medical textbooks.

Despite the brutal torture, Wurmbrand’s faith remained unshakable. He later wrote: “I have seen Christians in communist prisons with 50-pound chains on their feet. Tortured with red-hot iron rods, with spoonfuls of salt forced down their throats. Kept without water, hungry, whipped, suffering from cold, and who prayed fervently for the communists.” He shared the gospel with his fellow prisoners whenever possible, even though it was strictly forbidden and resulted in severe punishment.

He compared Christians under torture to a flower. A flower, if you crush it under your feet, rewards you by giving off a fragrance. In the same way, the Christian torture victims rewarded their torturers with love. After years of imprisonment, Wurmbrand was finally released, thanks to a ransom that was paid for him. Despite warnings to keep quiet, he decided to speak out about the Christians still suffering behind the Iron Curtain.

In 1967, Richard Wurmbrand founded the organization The Voice of the Martyrs, which became a worldwide movement to support persecuted Christians. His book, Tortured for Christ, has been translated into numerous languages and has inspired millions around the world. In 1990, he moved back to Romania and continued to preach until his death in 2001. A living testament that faith can survive even the most brutal opposition.

This sounds intense, but I have to say, it’s not an isolated case. On February 13, 2025, things went wrong in Congo. Crowds were brutally slaughtered because of their faith. Individuals here and there are slaughtered when they go to church, from church.

In China, if you go to church—and I know this from a Chinese person I talk to who lives there—you can go to the communist church, run by the regime with a rewritten Bible. You just need to know that if you go to church, you can’t take your children who are under 18 with you.

And if you leave them at home, the authorities will have taken your children by the time you return. It’s forbidden to have underground churches where you truly praise Jesus from the real Bible. There are many, many ways opposition can come. This is one of them. This is hard, it’s harsh. It’s brutal, as they say in China, before they baptize people. Are you ready to be tortured for the name of Jesus? What would you answer when you were baptized? What would you answer today?

How highly do you place God? How highly do you place God in your family or above your family or below your family? How highly do you place God in your relationships? Is He the center? Is He just someone you’ve brought in, whom you like to talk to when it suits you? This is extreme. And fortunately, we don’t live in a communist country in this way. We live in a country where we have, at least on paper, freedom of religion. We can walk the streets. We can preach the gospel. We can pray for the sick.

Even in France, it has become forbidden to go out and do this. If you stand on Speakers’ Corner in England, you’ll be arrested if you talk about Jesus. There are many places where you’re not allowed to. But in Denmark, we actually have the right to do it, and we should just take advantage of it while we can. But see, when adversity comes, you’ll find it starts on a completely different scale here in Denmark. Because here in Denmark, you’re not tortured for your faith. You’re not imprisoned. Your family isn’t taken. Your children aren’t taken from you yet. Unless, of course, you’re casting out demons and have small children. Then maybe. But that’s just a side note.

First, the devil tries to stop you. He tries to stop your faith. He tries to stop you as a person. And he does that by attacking you first on your personality before God. Your personal relationship with God. Many who come to faith experience that after a while, they rise a bit in pride. We can do it ourselves. Because the devil puts pride in. Then they withdraw from the community. Adversity comes in, and they fall from faith, and suddenly their peace comes because there’s no longer a reason for adversity.

Theology. Theology destroys. Theology ruins because it turns into religion. It doesn’t become life. When we have a faith where life is the focal point, that’s when we truly get a living gospel. We get something that builds us up. And the reason I’ve taken up this topic is, how do we prepare ourselves mentally when something happens? How do we prepare ourselves not necessarily for torture? But it might be that a Chinese person or a Romanian who lived back then under the regime experiences physical torture. But trust me, it can get really bad in the West too.

Firstly, you can experience torture up here in the mind when the devil starts. You can experience how your friends betray you. You can experience how your family betrays you. You can experience how you become totally lonely and isolated. And that can be incredibly hard. And we know Peter, I’ll return to him later, but good old Peter, we know he walked with Jesus for three years. Many of you haven’t been in the faith for more than three, four years. He denied Jesus at the very last moment when it really required him to be there.

Jesus was in Gethsemane with the disciples and earnestly desired: “Stand with me, pray.” Then he gets taken. And Peter denies him. Why? Because he was afraid of being whipped.

He was afraid of being mocked. “You were one of them, weren’t you?” “No, no, no, no, no. I wasn’t. I don’t know him at all.” “Yes, yes, I saw him too. You were one of them, weren’t you?” “No, I wasn’t.”

Suddenly it gets too close because pride starts to grow a bit. And suddenly we become so small. Oh, Peter must have felt so terrible when he heard the rooster crow. Jesus had said it beforehand. Oh man. And he breaks down.

Where are you? Where are you in your position when you walk beside the cross? If you put yourself back in Jerusalem, Jesus is walking with his cross. Blood is dripping down, and you know he is hated. People spit on him. People mock him. And if you stand up and say, “He is my friend. I believe in him. I will carry his cross,” then you will get the same treatment and be spat on and mocked and booed. Would you do it? It’s a good question to ask yourself. And I think it’s a necessary question to ask yourself.

How far will you go for your faith? That’s one thing. Another thing is that many, many, many people experience attacks in all sorts of other ways. They love Jesus with all their heart. With all their heart. And the devil knows that. What does he do? He uses power. He uses pride. He uses money. He uses sex, lust, porn. He does everything he can to destroy. He tempts you with a little white lie here and a little white lie there.

When you’ve told 10 white lies, you might as well just continue because he wants to destroy you from within, because then your guilt begins, then your shame begins, then your conscience starts gnawing inside. And suddenly, you think, “Well, I’m not done. I can’t, I can’t get close to God because if I’m such a bad person, oh man,” then you take a step back, and it’s 1-0 to the devil.

What if you went out on the street, prayed for 50 people, and not one of them got healed, would you be done, or would you continue? I was about to quit after four who weren’t healed until God pulled me together and gave me a loving kick in the behind. And I got my focus right. But sometimes it’s healthy to ask yourself the question, what are we aiming for?

Jesus says so many times: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” He also says later: “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

We read again and again and again and again and again, both in the Gospels and in the letters, that we are promised persecution. When TV2 called me last year and said congratulations, you’ve won the lottery, you’re in a documentary. I thought, wow. No, I didn’t actually think that. I thought, that’s really something odd. And they started asking all sorts of questions.

And trust me, the devil started in my thoughts and tried to bring me down. Tried to make me afraid. Tried to, if you knew how many people came, have you sought a lawyer? Do you have this? Do you have that? And remember this and remember that. And you can refer to the press law and blah blah blah blah blah. And remember that so many tried to instill fear. This is going to be really bad. And I could see, okay, that’s really nice.

Someone I’ve never ever seen, I’m going to be exposed in front of all of Denmark as if I killed her. And I was also reported to the police afterwards because I was involved in someone taking their own life. And then trust me, the thoughts can start. But I was so determined that I didn’t want to be a part of that at all. I want to praise Jesus. I want to lift him up.

And there were also a handful of us here who really got something to think about because they came in and flew over our house with a drone. I was out in the barn, suddenly a drone flies over my head. I could have jumped up if I had been a bit quicker and caught it. And long story short, I meet them a little later, these DR people, after they had tried to flee, or TV2 people. And they tell me they now wanted to fly around on the road and film over the location.

It was so interesting because I went back and also told everyone here, just so you know, there’s a drone outside, so if you don’t want to be on TV, go inside. And it was so funny because the first reaction from everyone was, we go inside. I just had this feeling, I should be out as much as I possibly can be out, because it… And it was so funny because we had a talk about this afterwards. Why did we actually go inside? It was because we weren’t prepared. We weren’t prepared for what was happening.

Just like Peter wasn’t prepared when he got the question if he knew Jesus. Despite Jesus having said so. And that’s why it’s so important, if you’re not prepared, how do you act? Do we act irrationally? Do we end up regretting our actions? Do we have this? Oh man, I would have liked to stand by Jesus. I would have liked to stand by the fact that I love him. And it’s the same when we sit here. Do we dare to stand by?

Now we don’t film all sorts of people and put them online. It’s the teaching. But just think about it. I don’t dare to go online because I shouldn’t be shown in a Christian forum. It’s terrible. Oh no. No, I can’t handle that. And there are actually many who feel that way. But why? Is it because you don’t dare to stand by your faith? Do you not want to stand by your faith? Or is it because you have such low self-esteem that you have some flesh that needs to die? Then something needs to be done about both.

I think it’s so important that we choose to prepare our minds for situations we didn’t know about, but where we have to stand up for who we are, what we believe in, and where we have chosen to stand. It’s necessary, otherwise we buckle, otherwise we lose our faith. It’s so hard when your family turns their back on you. And sometimes it can come without you knowing it, because there is a spiritual divide.

In 1 Peter 5:8-11, it says: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” That’s exactly what he does. He prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. And it’s not that I see a demon behind every bush. This is the word of the Bible. It continues: “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever.” Wow.

So we know that when the devil prowls around trying to devour us, and later on, Jesus says, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

If that’s what the devil does, then we also need to know how to act practically, so we don’t fall into this. The first thing we need to know is that the devil is the father of lies. Period. He is the father of lies. He’s good at lying. And trust me, he’s done it before. He’s done it to many. He’s deceived a huge number of people. He’s so good at lying. And he tempts. He tempts with everything.

And the funny thing about the devil is that he tempts you at your weak points. He doesn’t tempt you where you don’t care, but at your weak points, that’s where he tempts you. It actually says he’s a murderer. He actually tries to kill you. Have you considered that? When we deliver people, the standard answer when we ask, why have you come in? To destroy him. Okay. He has a purpose. It’s to destroy you. It’s to kill you. Jesus says it. He’s a murderer.

He wants to kill your authority by making you believe that he has all the power. He wants to kill your strength, which you have through Jesus. It says: I can do all things through him who gives me strength. That strength, he wants to kill by telling you, you’re worthless. You can’t do it. He wants to kill your identity by telling you that you’re nothing. You might as well just be an excuse for yourself, and there you are.

And when we dive into these lies, and he’s good at them because he often appears as an angel of light, which is also one of his names. In the Book of Revelation, he’s called the great accuser. It actually says that he’s the one who has the power of death. He is the one who has the power of death. But it doesn’t matter because we have Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. But he really wants us to be afraid, to fall into a pit of frustrations, and to simply not know what to do.

And I would say, it’s actually relatively simple. The first thing is: let the word take root. Let the word take root. Spend time in God’s word. Let it take such deep root in you that it transforms your mind, that it transforms your thoughts. Dive so deeply into God’s word that you become what it says, that you expect that what the disciples did, it’s you doing it. Dive so deep and consume it that you almost see yourself walking with Jesus back then. See yourself being pulled away from a fishing boat. See yourself walking with him. See yourself being the one who goes out and heals the sick together with Jesus. See yourself as the one who has received the Holy Spirit. The spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

Let God’s word take such deep root that you can see through when the devil comes with a lie. That’s not what it says in God’s word. You’re a liar, devil. Choose that you want Jesus. Understand that this is not a feeling, but it’s a choice. Choose that you want Jesus and refresh the meaning of baptism. Why are you baptized? What does it mean to bury the old life? It’s a decision of will, like a marriage. It’s a decision of will to be together. You don’t live on infatuation throughout the entire marriage.

Kill your flesh daily. Daily, so Satan can’t tempt you with comforts and temptations and things you might want. Kill your flesh every day. Every single day. Develop stubbornness and willpower. And one of the ways to do that is by, for example, fasting. And if you have issues with food or have had them before, then fast from something else. Fast from your phone. Fast from something that takes your time. Something you’re dependent on. Use your willpower. Use your stubbornness. Rise up, because you’ll need it.

One day you’ll have to answer to someone. And if you don’t have the willpower, you’ll cave in. Stand up for yourself in truth.

Try to imagine situations in your life. Let’s say one of the things you fear is maybe getting arrested. It’s that you’re exposed on TV. It’s that you, whatever. Imagine yourself in that situation and then try to put on God’s glasses. How would you act in the situation to glorify God?

There’s actually nothing bad or wrong in it, actually. On the contrary, it’s absolutely fantastic because if you imagine being in this situation of persecution, wow, then you’re prepared for when it happens. I remember, I told this once a long time ago, maybe during the pandemic, but there was one of our acquaintances at the time who received a series of images over 15 years. Visions, dreams, really intense revelations from God.

Over 15 years, it started with a dragon coming from China all the way up through Europe, spewing fire 15 years before the pandemic came. And there were a few of them who prayed about what this dragon was a symbol of and what it meant. And independently, they received that the dragon is disease. And where there is fear, the fire can burn in the houses. And where there is no fear, the dragon’s fire cannot burn in the houses.

And she received many of these images. And the night before the country’s lockdown on March 11th, God woke her up at night and said: “Everything I’ve shown you over the last 15 years starts tomorrow.” And then the country shut down.

One of the visions she received, which was really wild, was that – and it might be two of the images mixed together. I can never remember. But it doesn’t really matter, because what matters is that she sees an army coming to take a family. She sees how they come marching through the streets and have: “Take them, we take them, we take them.” And she feels that fear.

She stands by herself, sits down, and packs a bag with all the spirit’s tools, the whole tool belt with gifts from the spirit, equipment from the spirit. So she packs it in the bag, puts it on her back, and runs over to this family. And then she hears how this army starts searching the whole building. They can hear it, how they come into the apartment. Then she pulls out a blanket from this bag, lays it over the family. The army comes in, and they are all hidden.

And see, this is one of those things that happen when we really trust in God. I’ve heard some pretty crazy stories. But it’s also inevitable that we will suffer for our faith. Maybe not as much in Denmark, as I said, but we just have to believe that we have God’s armor on. We have the sword. And when we believe in all these things that God has for us, it’s actually not so bad at all.

We know that when Silas and generally, yes, when the disciples in general are in prison, and they have been many, many times, so many times, it’s shouts of joy. One time they’re singing worship songs, another time they’re thanking God because they’re worthy to be tortured for His sake. Wow. Come on, man. That’s really, really cool.

But try to imagine yourself sitting in prison. How would you feel mentally? Would you cry your eyes out because you’re away from those you love? Would you cry because you don’t have your lovely bed at home, but you’re sitting on tiles on a damp floor? You have no bed.

You might have a chain around your foot. Would you seek God? Would you praise Jesus? How would you spend the time? I think it’s so healthy to put yourself in such situations where you actually make it tangible. Because if we don’t do that, you’ll literally be caught with your pants down when they come.

It also says we should have oil in our lamps for when Jesus comes. Do you have oil in your lamp? Have you prepared for His coming? Have you been to the store? Have you gotten this oil? Are you living a holy life? So if Jesus came back now, would He say, wow, my child? Or would you think, ah, can’t you just wait a bit? Can’t you come back tomorrow instead? If we don’t prepare, we have a problem. And it’s with all aspects of our lives, we need to prepare.

Something interesting is that there was a word that kept coming up again and again. It was discipline. Oh, how we can be such wimps sometimes. How hard it is when we’ve made a decision and say, we can make so many decisions in our lives and say, I’m going to do that. You know it. How many of you have made a New Year’s resolution that lasted two days, and then you’re back to the same old routine? I think almost everyone has tried that. That’s discipline.

And when we talk about God’s kingdom, the funny thing is, did you know that the word disciple and the word discipline come from the same Latin root? Disciple. Discipulus means someone who learns or a student or follower. What is it, discipline. Disciplina means teaching, training, but it also means self-control or systematic upbringing. It’s the Latin word de seera, which is the root for both these words. It means a disciple is someone who receives discipline from their master.

So discipline is, what is it, teaching. It’s training. It’s systematic upbringing. So if you are a disciple, you receive discipline from your life, from your heavenly Father. But you also need to have discipline yourself. And if we look again through the Bible, what is it Jesus tries to instill in the disciples? He tries again and again and again. Come on now. He rebukes them when they can’t, when they can’t cast the demon out of the young boy. Come on. How long must I stay with you?

We see several times how Jesus, oh man, don’t you get it. Come on. He tells them where the cupboard should stand in a fantastic way. But that discipline is something we each need to have in our discipleship. We need to, if you’re like me, I’m someone who needs to set traps for myself. I need to say, okay, I know I need to do this and that, but I know that in a moment I won’t, because that’s just what I do. So I need to set traps for myself to get it done.

Discipline is better than setting traps. If you don’t have that discipline in that area, then set traps for yourself to get it done. I want to finish by reading what Jesus says from Luke 9. And it’s hard words, necessary words, fantastic words, and I just love Him. Luke 9, 23 to 27. And addressing everyone, Jesus said. It doesn’t say here addressing the disciples, addressing the twelve. It says addressing everyone.

Addressing everyone, Jesus said. If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit their very self?

For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory and of the holy angels. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.

Take up your cross every day. Deny yourself every day. Expect persecution every day. And I promise you, it might be that if you one day experience massive persecution, whatever type of persecution it might be. It might be hard when it’s happening, but hold on, because God will turn it around to lift you up, so you become strong.

It’s so amazing how God can turn the situation upside down, turn the battles around, so He teaches you something from it, and you come through strengthened. I’ve been through battles in my life that, looking back, I would never ever have wanted to be a part of. Never would wish they had never been there.

But on the other hand, I’ve also held on to what God has used it for to move me spiritually. Where would I spiritually not have been without it, even though it’s been incredibly, incredibly hard to go through? So when you experience the trial and the battle, know that there is something far, far better on the other side, because God is going to use it.

And often you will find that God will send someone your way who has stood exactly in the same situation as you have. And He has that person who has exactly what it takes to help, and that’s you. So rise up. Take up your cross. Deny yourself every day. Amen.

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