Time to be in the Spirit

Time to be in the Spirit.

On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard…….. Rev 1:10 NIV

Like never before do we need to be in the Spirit so that we can hear what God is saying today. The author of the book of Revelation, John, did not think that because it was the Lord’s Day, any frame of mind would not matter. The time he penned down this account was quite similar to our present condition in this generation. One of the cruelest of emperors in the history of Roman Empire was on the throne; Christians were being persecuted in the most horrifying way; Paul, Peter, Jude and many of the Lord’s disciples were martyred at this period. Attempts were made on the author’s life; tradition says he survived drowning in boiling oil, undecided on what to do with him, the Roman authorities banished him to the isles of Patmos with the hope he will die and rotten there. Sin was at all times high; homosexuality and lesbianism was legal, adultery was no sin, political office holders killed for entertainment. The world was at the mercy of one man called Nero Caesar. Imagine that Paul had to come for justice from Caesar all the way from his own country in the Middle East. That means that serious cases had to wait at times for years before getting his attention.  Even at that, one was not sure of justice, because the emperor may be drunk while deciding your case and then the verdict was anyone’s guess. Christians were being forced to accept idolatry into their worship system.    In such state of mind one will hear many things; fear, confusion, doubt and discouragement in the face of believers abandoning their conviction to save their lives or make a living.

Just like in Nigeria today, politicians flood the airwaves with their lies and false promises, preachers who preach for their stomach’s sake spread “Prophecies” that will get the attention of politicians and the wealthy. All they hear is danger and accidents. Political divides in most church denominations as our leaders fight for the office of “G.Ss” and “G.Os” amidst mockery from comedians with which we share our pulpits; Pastors who have never given out tracts to their neighbors now spend time, even in public buses, to campaign for their favorite political parties. The Great Commission for most people is the reward we get from Multi- Level Marketing (MLM) of GNLD , Tianshi, etc. USA and Europe insist that we must become as vile as they are by accepting Sodomy (same-sex relationship) to earn their assistance; economic down-turn facing even the world’s most powerful nations; the Western world has begun to face the reality of Islam; before now they argue for freedom of self expression in religion. All over the world Islamic extremists are killing with maddening rage. All these form part of our daily dose of news reports.

In such situation we need to hear the voice of God. Unless we are properly tuned in to the Holy Spirit, we are likely to hear something else and mistake it for God’s voice. We may even conclude that God has relinquished His power and authority to the United Nations Organization (UNO). That means that every honest follower of the Lord Jesus Christ must also be in the Spirit. In the Spirit we will be able to have right conception of what we see and hear in our daily life. In the Spirit, we need not be alarmed like the rest of men who have no hope.

In the Spirit, John discovered that Jesus Christ was still in firm control of global happenings- “I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."…….. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev 1:8, 17-18 NIV

Did you read that right? Who will not be strengthened by such revelation? Who will not be revived by such manifestation of the Lord and His power? What pain will be too hard to bear with such revelation in our spirit man? What deprivation can one not endure in the face of such revelation? Whereas, others could be mourning and selling out their “birthright for pots of porridge”, in the face of momentary suffering (Rom. 8:18) a man in the Spirit will see the need to keep standing. My joy is that the book of Revelation showed me that there is no crowding in the Spirit. Everybody is welcome. There is no strife there. Just that it is for those who are willing to set their hearts there.

 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Col 3:1-2 NIV

Be in the Spirit!

Your Brother Emma@PNUR