August 2020 - Watch the Skies

 August 2020 – Watch the Skies

Start By Inviting The Holy Spirit Into Your Day!

A Powerful Prayer Video by "Grace for Purpose Prayers"

The wonderful thing about the Holy Spirit is that He brings us to a place of complete and total trust in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit unites us with the Lord and provides us with access to so many wonderful benefits.  Benefits that come as a result of accepting Jesus Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:38 says, "Then Peter said to them, repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  

The Holy Spirit is referred to as a gift. He is a free gift from God to us as believers. There is no better helper on this earth than the Holy Spirit. He enables us to do  the right things, He convicts us to repent, He empowers us to pray and have faith. The Holy Spirit can also affect the way in which we think. Luke chapter 12 verse 12 says, "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say".  We have to understand that the Holy Spirit can even enable us to say the right things and to speak with wisdom. 

There are so many benefits when we receive the Holy Spirit. He will come to your rescue, He will come to your aid. And if you feel empty, if you feel like there is a void in your life, I want to encourage you to invite the Holy Spirit into your heart. We must recognize the importance and significance of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. He is the missing link that we need to seek here on earth. He is the missing link required for our relationship with the Lord to go to the next level. We need the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

And if you read John 16 verse 13 it says, "However when He the Spirit of Truth  has come, He will guide you into all truth". We need him because He guides us into all truths. And the Bible teaches us that Jesus is the Truth, for Jesus himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life". And so we need the Holy Spirit because He will guide us to know Truth, which is in fact to know Jesus.

And with this understanding let us pray, Heavenly Father, You are the one who  sustains me. You are my provider and I humbly enter Your presence seeking Your forgiveness. I am seeking You to cleanse me, Lord, for I am a sinner. I repent and ask that the blood of Jesus Christ washes me clean so that Your Holy Spirit can dwell within me. I recognize that I need the gift of the Holy Spirit, and so I ask that you break down every wall, every wall of sin, every wall of resistance, and wash me and make me clean, O Lord. Cleanse me with Your blood, and then fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can have a closer and deeper relationship with You. 

I desire to know Your will and Your desires for my life. And Your Word tells me that no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God, and so I seek the Holy Spirit to be in my life, so that You may reveal to me Your plans for my calling. Show me Your way and allow Your Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth. The truth that is Jesus Christ. And even in the times where I struggle where I wrestle with doubts and confusion, I pray that Your Spirit of Truth will rule over my life. I pray for the Spirit of discernment so that I may not believe the lies of the devil. Help me to be sensitive to Your call over my life. Lord, help me to recognize what is from You and what is good and pure against what is deceptive and from the devil.

I need Your Spirit to set me free and alert me to anything that may be misleading to my faith. When the devil wants me to believe that I am too far gone in sin for Your grace to reach me, I pray that Your Holy Spirit may remind me that Your love and mercy is unending. When the enemy wants me to believe that I will never be good enough for Your Kingdom, I pray that Your Spirit Lord will remind me and tell me in Your Word which says, in Romans 8:37, "That in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us for I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So I ask that You set me free Lord. Free from the lies and misconceptions of this world. I pray that I may always be inspired and led through Your Spirit of Truth.  Holy Spirit, I want to live a life that is pure and holy in the sight of God. And to do this I know that I cannot do it alone. My best efforts fade in comparison to the Holiness of God and I know that my attempt to live righteously without you will be futile. And so I ask that You empower me so that I will be able to rise above this life of sin. Renew me, sanctify me, and make me clean so that I can claim the Eternal Life that God has promised. Remove all impure desires and turn my heart away from the lust of the flesh.

I pray today Lord Jesus for Your Holy Spirit to comfort me and restore unto me the joy of my salvation. You promised to the disciples that you would send a Helper.  The one who would convict the world regarding sin and righteousness, and I am inviting the Helper, the Holy Spirit, into my life right now. I invite Your presence into my heart, convict me so that I will repent and desire to sin no more. Convict me so that I may chase Holiness, so that I may chase Righteousness and live a life that is pleasing to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. 

Teach me the ways of God, You are my source of revelation, my source of wisdom, and power. And so I need You in my life for direction to guide me in my decision making and in my daily choices. Open my ears to that still small voice, saying this is the way of the Lord walk in it.  I want to be bold in my christian life, Lord, I want to be bold as a child of God. I want to be a powerful witness in my daily life  in the way that I live, and I can only do that if you fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I  can only go and tell others of the joy of salvation and the blessing of a faith-based life. Because of the Holy Spirit who has filled my heart with a greater understanding and a deeper meaningful relationship with my Lord. So help me Holy Spirit as I invite Your presence to fill me, even now to surround me, and to guide me. I thank you for hearing this prayer Lord Jesus, I bless Your Holy name. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

(View Video and also Select Language Option with prayer at Top of Blog)

GO INTO ALL THE EARTH AND PREACH THE GOSPEL

1 Thessalonians

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Thanksgiving for These Believers  

1 Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being from God]. 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, continually mentioning you in our prayers; 3 recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith, and your service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 Brothers and sisters beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you; 5 for our good news [regarding salvation] came to you not only in word, but also in [its inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your benefit. 6 You became imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord, after you welcomed our message in [a time of] great trouble with the joy supplied by the Holy Spirit; 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has resounded from you and has echoed [like thunder], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place [the news of] your [great] faith in God has spread, so that we never need to say anything about it. 9 For they themselves report about us, telling what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to [look forward and confidently] wait for [the coming of] His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who [personally] rescues us from the coming wrath [and draws us to Himself, granting us all the privileges and rewards of a new life with Him].

AN END-TIME ELIJAH

An End-Time Elijah

Sometimes prophecies can have multiple fulfillment's. Bible prophecy seems to point to another Elijah-like work that will arise at the end of this age before the coming time of God’s great wrath upon the earth. The prophet Malachi declared, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5-6).

Similar to the way John the Baptist came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), this end-time fulfillment will feature a commission much like the one of the first Elijah. Scripture indicates that an Elijah-like message to repent and obey God will be preached by the Church of God (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20).

What God Wants Today

We can learn about the message of the final Elijah by studying the mission of John the Baptist. Gabriel brought a message from God that a prophet was coming to announce that Jesus was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. John the Baptist was that prophet, and Jesus declared that John was an Elijah-like figure, in addition to one who would come later (Matthew 11:14; Matthew 17:12).

An angel declared of John’s mission: “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17).

The messages of Elijah and the other prophets of the Old Testament played an important role in the establishment of the New Testament Church. Paul told Church members of the first century that they were part of the household of God that had “been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20, emphasis added).

At the time of the end, just before the great and dreadful day of God’s wrath, the world will again be given the same message that was preached by Elijah the prophet. As noted, Malachi 4:5-6 seems to indicate that an Elijah-like work will be done before Christ’s return. Furthermore, as the world enters this time of judgment, two witnesses will be given power to stop rainfall for 3½ years—this time over all nations.

Christ says, “And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. … These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire” (Revelation 11:3, 6).

God will take no pleasure in sending these judgments, and disobedient nations will need to be reminded of God’s purpose for them: “‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord GOD, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?’” (Ezekiel 18:23; see also Ezekiel 33:11).

The message of the two witnesses will again be like that of Elijah. It will be a call to repentance and of preparing a people for Christ’s second coming. Be sure to read more on the role of these two prophets in the article “Two Witnesses.”

Elijah is considered one of the most important prophets of the Old Testament. He faithfully carried out God’s mission in the face of danger and hardship. His was a singular voice of “one crying in the wilderness” to rebuke sin in the land and to expose the false prophets and false religions of his day.

In Elijah’s day a revival of true worship was begun. Be sure to read the article “Elisha the Prophet” to see how God continued the course He had for His people through the next prophet sent to Israel. Elijah’s whole life was devoted to the work of restoring true worship in Israel. His admonition that God’s people faithfully serve Him with their whole hearts remains important for us today.

Life Hope and Truth

Matthew 16:14

They answered, “Some are convinced you are John the Baptizer, others say you are Elijah reincarnated, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

Matthew 17:3

Then suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared, and they spoke with Jesus.

Matthew 17:4

Peter blurted out, “Lord, it’s so wonderful that we are all here together! If you want, I’ll construct three shrines, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Matthew 17:10

His disciples asked him, “Why do all the religious scholars insist that Elijah must first appear before the Anointed One comes?”

Matthew 17:11

He answered them, “They’re right. Elijah must come first and restore all things.

But Elijah has already appeared. And yet they didn’t recognize him, so they did to him whatever they pleased. And the Son of Man is destined to suffer the same abuse as what they did to him.”

Some who were standing near the cross misunderstood and said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”

Matthew 27:49

But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to rescue him.”

Mark 6:15

Others said, “No, he’s Elijah!” While others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets of old!”

Mark 8:28

They replied, “Some say John the Baptizer, others say Elijah the prophet, and still others say you must be one of the prophets.”

Mark 9:4

Then suddenly, right in front of them, Moses and Elijah appeared, and they spoke with Jesus.

Mark 9:5

Peter blurted out, “Beautiful Teacher, this is so amazing to see the three of you together! Why don’t we stay here and set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?”

Mark 9:8

Suddenly, when they looked around, the disciples saw only Jesus, for Moses and Elijah had faded away.

Mark 9:11

Then they asked him, “Why do the religious scholars insist that Elijah must come before the Messiah?”

Mark 9:12

He answered them, “They’re right. Elijah must come first to put everything in order. And what about all that is written about the Son of Man? It is true that he must endure many sufferings and be rejected.

Mark 9:13

So Elijah has already appeared, just as it was prophesied, and they did to him whatever they pleased.”

Mark 15:35

Some who were standing near the cross misunderstood and said, “Listen! He’s calling for Elijah.”

Mark 15:36

One bystander ran and got a sponge, soaked it with sour wine, then put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink. But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to rescue him.”

Luke 1:17

He will go before the Lord as a forerunner, with the same power and anointing as Elijah the prophet. He will be instrumental in turning the hearts of the fathers in tenderness back to their children and the hearts of the disobedient back to the wisdom of their righteous fathers. And he will prepare a united people who are ready for the Lord’s appearing.”

Luke 4:25

“Isn’t it true that there were many widows in the land of Israel during the days of the prophet Elijah when he locked up the heavens for three and a half years and brought a devastating famine over all the land?

Luke 9:8

Others said, “This has to be Elijah who has reappeared or one of the prophets of old who has risen from the dead.” These were the rumors circulating throughout the land. Herod exclaimed,

Luke 9:19

They answered, “Some are convinced you’re the prophet John who has returned. Others say you are Elijah, or perhaps one of the Jewish prophets brought back from the dead.”

Luke 9:30-31

All at once, two men appeared in glorious splendor: Moses and Elijah. They spoke with Jesus about his soon departure from this world and the things he was destined to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Luke 9:33

As Moses and Elijah were about to return to heaven, Peter impetuously blurted out, “Master, this is amazing to see the three of you together! Why don’t we stay here and set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?”

~The Passion Translation (TPT)