Prepare to be Tested?

When and how should the church prepare for adversity and testing? Jesus made it very clear that the last days would bring a time of great testing to the church, and many would fall away during the time of testing. Matthew chapter 24 is Jesus’ revealing of the future to his followers.

Matthew 24:9-12 (NLT)

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10  And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11  And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12  Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

• The world will hate and persecute the followers of Jesus.

• Many in the church will be unprepared for this testing and fall away under the opposition.

• Sin will increase and become normal, and the love of many in the church will grow cold and disappear…loving the world more than God.

• Many will betray God and each other under the demonic spirit of antichrist that will cover the earth.

It’s at this point in chapter 24 that Jesus announces the urgent need to be prepared for this time of testing.

Matthew 24:13-14 (NLT)

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

14  And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

Jesus announces (Matthew 24) the future before he goes to be with the Father. Why? Because knowing the future, knowing what’s coming, will prepare us to stand firm when the time of our testing comes.

There will be some who have prepared themselves for the time of testing. They will endure to the end, continuing to preach the Gospel of Jesus to the world that has become more and more hostile toward God and the followers of Christ.

How do we prepare ourselves for this testing? Pray and read the Bible! This is how we can each personally prepare for our time of testing. After we have prayed and meditated on God’s Word, we need to be in fellowship with like-minded believers who are doing the same... Others who have determined to prepare themselves for the time of testing.

How does reading the Bible prepare us for testing? The Bible reveals the truth about the future. If you know the truth about the time of testing beforehand, we won’t be caught off guard and fall into the demonic deception that will fill the earth in the last days.

In one of his final meetings with his disciples before his arrest, Jesus makes this statement to his followers. Jesus knew the truth about the future, and this is what he told them:

John 16:1 (NLT)

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.

These Things! What things? Read the Bible, and you will find the truth about the things that are coming and find the power that enables the followers of Christ to endure to the end.

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper