“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” Matthew 5:11-12.

This would seem to be a diametrically opposed statement that is said above by Jesus, and yet we know that it must be true because He said it.

Be assured of the fact that if you are a true prophetic voice that others will come against you. When you speak truth and you don’t “soft-peddle” it, then it oftentimes goes against the grain with many that hear it.

People want to hear pleasantries – most want to have their ears “tickled” and to be told that all is well, and that sunshine and roses will always be laid in front of their feet. And yet, we must know that this is not even the way that it is in nature.

We want others to speak well of us; that is human nature. But to speak the truth, especially as a prophet, one will soon find out that their message is oftentimes not received, at least joyfully. The road is oftentimes a lonely one, partly because a prophet needs long hours alone away from the noises of this world, to be able to hear the voice of the Lord.

A deep devotion and reverence for God is needed. One must forsake the crowd and the voices that cry out around you, in order to find the higher ground. This is even true when the crowd often decries that they have heard from God, and that their word is true.

Your heart beats to the same beat as the one who speaks it to you. You are comforted when His word brings comfort, but you are also drawn into His sorrow when He cries for a people. Your heart is attuned to His when He speaks of judgment, even when others are crying victory.

And yet why would one choose to go against the crowd? Why would one choose to speak and not always be heard? Wouldn’t one rather choose to be popular and to receive the praise and adoration of man? Wouldn’t one rather choose to play it safe and not to upset the masses? Surely, those who do these things have their own reward, but it doesn’t come from God, but from man.

And yet one doesn’t choose to be reviled or to be spoken badly of. One knows of the sentiments of the hearts of many that long to always hear bright and cheerful words. But even as a loving parent wants to prepare his children and to guard them against danger, a true prophet would do the same.

He or she, would speak the truth in love, knowing that sometimes it was a bitter pill to swallow, but that in the end, those that heard the message would then be prepared and made ready.

God always wants to restore; He isn’t always in the business of tearing-down the agendas of man. A building sometimes needs to be leveled in order for its foundation to be made more erect and secure. Otherwise, when it begins to rise, the cracks are seen, and then the walls collapse.

Don’t be afraid to go against the crowd, especially when you know in your heart what God has told you. Go ahead and swim upstream, just like the salmons do, for they know where their destination lies, and they are familiar with the course to be traveled.

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms to root out and to pull down, and to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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