They Will Deliver You Up

Mar 13:9 KJV - But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils;
Mar 13:11 KJV - But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Although I am not gifted in the "fore-telling" aspect of a prophecy, a prolonged and deep self-examination of my spiritual gifts recently reinforced what others have confirmed over the course of my walk with Christ. I tend to bear fruit in the areas of exhortation, admonition, and discernment.

As such, while I am not in a position to say "thus saith the Lord," I feel inclined to write that it will become increasingly common for believer/followers of Jesus Christ to be persecuted and even incarcerated in the United States of America. I'm not speaking of trouble-makers looking to stir up strife and offend people to demonstrate how "spiritual" they are. I'm talking about rank-and-file, committed Christians who wear the name of Christ and want to serve Him. They will be called out for obeying Christ in simple ways that oppose the current wave of anti-Christian sentiment. I do not see this trend changing in the current cultural climate.

While you do not need to "take [any] thought beforehand what ye shall speak", you will nonetheless need to be prepared to face your accusers. If you read the verse carefully, Jesus said "but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye". He commands us to speak what is given to us. He will do the giving, but we must do the speaking. He does not command us to do that which is natural or common for us, otherwise there would be no need to command it. He commands us because there will be a strong tendency to not speak that which He gives us in the midst of this coming trial.

1Pe 3:15 KJV - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

You are humbly being admonished and encouraged to count the cost of following Christ before you are delivered up.

Mat 10:37 KJV - He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 KJV - And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Mat 10:32-33 KJV - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

I have much more to write on this topic and will try to elaborate in the coming days.