To start off, we must never forget that Jesus has all ready won the war for us. But the battles, while we are still on this corrupted earth, are not always won. Take a look at so many of the Prophets and Christians who went before us. They were called to deliver a life saving message, but in so doing many lost their battle and many lost their life:
“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” (Hebrews 11:35b-38)
Now for my question to you, “Are you willing to fight the battle you are called to fight, knowing full well that you may lose the battle?” Jesus was not playing when He said:
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39)
Are you willing to be hated by the whole world, mocked by the media, ridiculed by Hollywood, made a laughingstock by society, even your own family?
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18-20)
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
As you read this, the world is spinning out of control, America is declining, our next generation is lost, and the Church has compromised. Time is very short as we know it. Sure, Christians have hoped for the Lord’s second coming ever since Jesus left this planet. What is different now is that everything is finally set in place for the final fulfillment of Scripture, which never was before this time. The physical world screams out, “Come.” The spiritual world is beckoning, “Make sure your lamps are full of oil and your wicks are trimmed.”
To conclude, I would like to ask one more question. Did those who have gone before us really lose the battle? Look at Stephen. He could of kept silent, but he chose to preach the truth. He could of refrained from speaking convicting words and possibly saved his life, but he didn’t. As far as all those who picked up the rocks to stone him were concerned, he definitely lost the battle. But as far as the Lord was concerned, Stephen won the battle, and Jesus stood up from His throne to welcome Stephen into the kingdom. And don’t forget that Saul was right there, congratulating the killers, but we all know how the Lord turned it around for good and how Saul of Tarsus became the beloved Apostle Paul.
Annointing 