There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:6-13).

In 2010, Kenneth Copeland spoke a word from the Lord that’s as applicable today as it was then, because these are the times that Jesus warned us about.

“The world is in serious trouble. But for the household of faith and those who will cling to My WORD…everything is going to be all right.

“The world, I’ll tell you again, is in serious trouble. Some very hard things are coming, in different places around the world. Very difficult times in a lot of places. They’re that way now, but they’ll not get better. They will continue to get worse and worse and worse. It is on a downhill run that the world cannot stop. But, for the household of faith, everything’s going to be all right. Everything is going to be all right.

“Oh yeah – you’ll have to make a stand. You’ll have to fight the good fight of faith. But when did you not have to do that?”

We Are the Household of Faith

Being part of the household of faith means we build our lives on the rock of the Word of God. Jesus said, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins” (Luke 6:47-49).

Being part of the household of faith means we live by faith. “For we live by believing and not by seeing” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Being part of the household of faith means we cling to the Word. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23).

Being part of the household of faith means we are doers of the Word and not hearers only. “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says” (James 1:22).

Being part of the household of faith means we are “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).

Being part of the household of faith means we do not let our hearts be troubled, but we believe in God (John 14:1).

Being part of the household of faith means that we are not subject to the times, but the times are subject to us. We do not have to cave in to the pressures of the present day. But, like everything else in our spiritual walk, if we don’t develop a strong spirit, we won’t have it. If we don’t receive it by faith, we won’t have it. If we don’t mature spiritually to the point that we can stand in the face of any adversity, then we will cave in. We will be troubled. We will be affected by the times in which we live.

It’s time to build up our inner man, to mature, to develop our faith more and to strengthen our spirits. The Word tells us that it’s the spirit of a man that will sustain him (Proverbs 18:14). Sustain means “to carry or to withstand under pressure.” Our spirits have to be strong in these days, and the only way we can grow a strong spirit is by feeding it the Word of God.

As you continue strengthening your spirit, consider these 7 Benefits of a Strong Spirit based on the Word of God.

1. A strong spirit will get you through anything.
   Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.”
2. A strong spirit will help you receive from God.
   Hebrews 6:12 says, “Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”
3. A strong spirit will help you hold on to what you receive.
   Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”
4. A strong spirit will help you resist the devil and temptation.
   Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city” (AMPC).
5. A strong spirit will help you to help others.
   Luke 22:31-32 says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
6. A strong spirit will help you withstand impact and pressure.
   James 1:2-4 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
7. A strong spirit will build a protective barrier around your heart.
   Psalm 112:6-8 says, “Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.”

To strengthen your spirit so it will sustain you in the days and weeks to come, continue to feed it the Word of God. Feeding on the Word will flush out all fear. Feeding means eating, so ingest the Word. Act like the household of faith that you are: Read the Word, think about it, meditate it, confess it and declare it in Jesus’ Name. That’s what will get you through the times in which we live and bring you the 7 Benefits of a Strong Spirit!

© 1997 – 2024 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. Aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries. All Rights Reserved.

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