Prophecy, Persecution, and Perseverance
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:18-21 NLT).
Have you ever heard a word from God, and then later someone confirmed what you heard by speaking the same thing to you? The Lord speaks to us within our spirits, and if we pay attention, we listen to Him. We have to tune out the world and tune in the Lord to experience His presence and His voice. If you practice this in your life, you will grow spiritually.
Never reject a word the Lord is giving you because it is coming through a person. The Lord often sends His word to us through people who walk with Him. His words are like seeds, and if we receive, plant and water them in our hearts, we grow in His grace and knowledge. As we watch over the words, God gives, we will see them come to pass in our lives. We must hold onto them by faith. When doubts and the devil’s lies assault us, we speak out the prophetic words we believe as a means of spiritual warfare to win the victory.
The devil hates God’s word. He does not want you to believe it. He knows the power it has to change you. He will persecute you through negative situations in your life. He will use people you love to influence you to give up. Don’t let the devil wear you out. Yes, “stuff happens,” but hold onto the word God spoke to you. Move toward the Light and resist the devil, and things will change for you. Push through the persecution, grow up in your faith, and the Lord will use you to speak to others.