Wednesday 1 January 2014

END-TIME STUDY: PREPARING FOR RAPTURE (PART3): BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

TOPIC:   PREPARING FOR RAPTURE (PART3): BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
 

TEXTS:   REVELATIONS 22: 7, 12, 17, 20
 

REVELATIONS 22: 7, 12, 17, 20 (KJV)

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
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17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
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20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.



INTRODUCTION 

From our texts above, we can see that Our Lord, Jesus Christ, finished His revelations to John, The Apostle, with emphatic repetitions of the statement; ‘I come quickly’. He repeated this statement three times. The first time He rendered the statement, He was giving a warning, (revelations 22:7). The second time He rendered the statement, He was giving a warning, as well, (revelations 22:12).  But the third time, He was not giving a warning. He gave an assurance; a statement of certainty.

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, changed from a statement of warning to a statement of certainty when The Bride of Christ joined The Holy Spirit to ask Him (Jesus) to come after the second warning (revelations 22:17). Assurance came when The Bride teamed up with The Holy Spirit. In the whole of the Bible, The last words credited to our Lord, Jesus Christ, was those words of assurance of His coming and which came after Bride Partnered with Spirit.

Bride of Christ, for you to meet with the Lord, Jesus Christ, at rapture, you have to partner with the Holy Spirit. You need the Holy Spirit more than ever before. We are living in a very abnormal season, when everything is happening in abnormal form. If you fail to partner with The Holy Spirit, your strength, wisdom and ability will fail you. The Spirit is already calling on you for partnership. He says; And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.


WHY YOU NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT MORE THAN BEFORE, AT THIS TIME
 

Prophecies about this time, the end-time, are well and clearly spelt out in the Bible, The True Word of God. A lot of events have been prophesied aforetime to characterize this time and set it apart from all other times and generations before our own. Let us mention some unusual indexes of this time and expatiate why you need The Holy Spirit with respect to these situations.

1.  Courage in times of Great Disasters/Calamities:
 

The Bible prophesied that disasters as we have never witnessed since creation would begin to happen just as the prophecies are fulfilling now and we have been witnessing an unusual surge in different types of disasters/calamities in recent times; earthquakes, plane crashes, tsunamis, volcanic eruption and so on.

In fact, Jesus Christ summarized the reactions of men to these disasters in Luke 21: 26a

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth
 

When you see the Tsunami in Indonesia, The earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, The plane Crash in Lagos, The Hurricane and Tornado in America, The Landslide in China and your heart begins to fail you because of these disasters, who will strengthen you and give you courage and tell you that you should be strong; all these disasters must happen for the messiah to come? THE HOLY SPIRIT.

2.  Discernment for Deception
 

We live in a time of unparallel deceptions. Bride of Christ, most things happening now are anchored on deception. Deceptions are everywhere; in government, in advertisement, in politics, in every sphere of life. It would be so difficult to see truth today. The most pathetic of all situations is deception in the church.

Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, warned us in Mathew 24: 24 that the deception will be so alarming that if the bride of Christ did not take care, she would be deceived.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

However, The Lord, Jesus Christ, advised us in Revelations 3: 18c to anoint our eyes with eye salve that we may see.
 

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Bride of Christ, we are exposed to deceptions like torrential rain even from many altars these days. When false prophets/pastors begin to bamboozle you right in the church, who will anoint your eyes with eyesalve that you may discern the deceptions and escape? THE HOLY SPIRIT.

3.  Power to continue waiting till JESUS comes
 

I was told of a pastor that He used to say often that: ‘Let The Owner even come’, whenever he saw the level of sins being committed in all places and especially within and around the places of worship. By saying that 'The Owner, should even come', the pastor meant Jesus Christ should return to rapture the saints. The last information I heard about the Pastor was that He had backslided. He could not wait for The Owner any longer. I pray that The Lord should restore him unto His coming.

In Mathew 25:1-10, The Lord, Jesus Christ, told us a parable of 10 virgins, who all slept of because their bridegroom tarried and the lamps of 5 of them ran out of oil. This parable is both a parable and a prophecy which must be fulfilled.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
 

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
 

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  

Bride of Christ, are you sleeping off spiritually. Has your lamp run out of oil? If you are sleeping spiritually, who will wake you up and say behold He is coming? THE HOLY SPIRIT. When your lamp is dwindling and you are running out of oil, Who will fill your lamp with oil (The POWER you need to carry on)? THE HOLY SPIRIT.

4.    Counsel and Utterance during Persecution:     
 

There is gross hatred for God, His word and His people in this time. Some governments of nations have removed name of God from their constitutions. Some have prohibited public evangelism. There are reported cases of Christians worshippers being bombed right inside the church during worship. There was a popular case of a pastor who was arrested and prosecuted for preaching the gospel.

Jesus Christ warned us in John 16:1-2 that they would do all these things to us.

1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
 

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

He reiterated it in Mark 13:9, 11 that we shall be hated and persecuted because of Him.

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
 

However, the Lord Jesus Christ counseled us in Mark 13: 11 to rely on Holy Spirit during this period.

11 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
 

When you are hated and persecuted for no reason other than being a Christian who will give comfort to your soul and give you words that your persecutor can not deny or gainsay? THE HOLY SPIRIT.

5.   Consecration For Holy living:   


The Mystery of Iniquity is really working in this generation. People are committing sin on a very gross scale. When it comes to issue of iniquity (sin), I don’t think the generation of Noah did up to what this generation is doing presently. Living holy is becoming more difficult. Even government policies are making holy living difficult in some cases. Without extreme in-filling of the Holy Spirit at this time, the bride of Christ may be polluted and defiled.

I believe we have mentioned a good number of reasons why you need to be filled with Holy Spirit at this time. Though, the reasons could be more than these, but because of time and space, I will stop at these ones and talk about how to be filled with the Spirit.


DEGREES OF HOLY SPIRIT FILLING 

Before I talk about being filled with Holy Spirit, I will like to explain that there are levels or degree to which a believer can be filled with Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 47:2-5 alludes to this fact. Lets examine it.2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

This passage could be used to explain the various levels to which a believer could be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The lowest level of filling of Holy Spirit is as if a man is filled with river water to the ankle. Every believer was filled with the Holy Spirit to this level at conversion. We need at least a small conviction of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour. This is reiterated in 1 Corinthians 12:3b which says: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  Every believer will remain in this level unless he grows in the Spirit.
The next level of the filling of the Holy Spirit is as if a man is filled with river water to the knees. Following this, the next level is as if he is filled to loin with river water.

The greatest infilling of Holy Spirit is as if a man is dropped into a great river and he is submerged in the waters so much that He cannot control himself. The waters begin to move him and direct him about. This is the level of filling of Holy Spirit that can survive the madness going on around the world right now. You have to be filled with Holy Spirit to such an extent that all of your actions, steps, wills, are controlled by the Holy Ghost. Apostle Paul puts it in another way in Ephesians 5: 18
 
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
A man filled with excess wine will be intoxicated. He will not control himself again but the wine will control him.  In a similar manner, Apostle Paul is advising that we should fill ourselves with Holy Spirit and be controlled by Him like a drunkard is filled with excess wine and his controlled by it.


HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT                                                                 
The following activities will help you as you desire to be filled with The Holy Spirit to the highest level.                                                                                                                                                                  
1.    STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD (BIBLE):                               


Imagine that you just set up a fire and stop to add firewood; very soon, the fire will be extinguished. Each time you study the bible genuinely, spiritually, it can be likened to adding firewood to a burning fire. Rather than the fire should die off, it will increase in intensity. Study the word of God. Chew it as food if you can. Study about salvation, holiness, righteousness, fear of God, heaven, hell. Make Jesus your focus as you study. Study about end time prophecies from the bible and observe if they are being fulfilled. It will help you to focus more.

2.   OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD:                          
 

The purpose of studying the word of God is that you can know the truth and apply it to your life as you prepare for the return of the Lord. Obeying the word of God is like adding fuel to the firewood you have added to the fire. Live solely on the undiluted word of God. There is perversion of His word everywhere, today. Search for the truth and live by it. If you are confused about anything in His word, pray for understanding.

3.    FASTING:                                         
 

Bride of Christ, you need to fast. The more you engage in the things of the flesh, the farther you drive the Holy Spirit away and vice versa. The way ladies dress these days, the songs that are played on the radios, the pictures shown on our televisions and so on increase us in the flesh unconsciously and tend to drive away the Spirit of God in us if we are not careful. Fasting will help us to break down our flesh so that we will not respond to all these things. Please fast always to be in the Spirit at all times till The Lord comes. You can do a Daniel type of fasting, or water fasting, or Esther/Paul fasting, fruit fasting or just ordinary fasting.

4.    EVANGELISM:                                                             
 

If you want to experience manifestation of the Holy Spirit, go on evangelism, always, and make sure you preach His true gospel.

5.    HOLY LIVING:                                        
 

Strive to live holy at all times. No matter how much you fast, if you still live unholy life, you will not increase in Holy Spirit. He does not dwell in unholy temple.

6.   WORSHIPPING:                                    
 

Please, find a quiet place where you can worship God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit and do it regularly. Remember the Lord said those who must worship God must worship Him in Truth and in Spirit. Be in the Spirit everywhere you are. Praise Him. Sing to Him. If you cannot sing aloud, sing in your heart. Be guided by what the bible says in Ephesians 5: 18-19
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

7.   PRAYING AND WATCHING:                               
 

When you study bible, The Holy Spirit is speaking to you. When you pray, you are speaking to Him. Also, watch. When you watch, the Holy Spirit will be revealing the deceptions of the time to you.


SUMMARY 

The Holy Spirit wants to go. He is already telling the Lord to come. The wickedness of this generation is too great. Humanity is too sinful for Our Comforter. Everyday, He convicts and convicts all men to repent but we harden ourselves the more like in the days of Noah. The Holy Spirit is sounding His voice everyday that The Lord Jesus should come. He is busy sounding His voice in the buses, on the streets, in the churches, in your dreams, and in all places and situations that The Lord Jesus should come.

Bride of Christ, can you hear that the Spirit is already calling The Lord to come? If you cannot hear His call, not to talk of joining Him to call The Lord to come, then, perhaps, you don’t have The Spirit inside of you or you are not part of the bride or worse still you are too attached to the activities of this world that you fail to realize that The Spirit is already making the final call. The last seconds are ticking away now. Come and team up with The Spirit of God that you may say; even so, come Lord Jesus and receive the blessed assurance.


ACTIONS
 

Are you an elect of Christ? Are you truly saved? Are you on the narrow road? Do you want to make the rapture/heaven? If your answers are yes, then,                                                  
• Make all efforts to heed the warnings of Jesus Christ.
• Be watchful. Pay attention to what is happening around the World and see whether they match what the scriptures say.
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit and be in the Spirit all the time.
• Fast, consecrate yourself, run away from sin and worldliness.
 

If your answers are NO, then, you can repent today. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Saviour.


PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
 

If you will like to confess your sins and accept Jesus to save you, say the following prayers, sincerely and faithfully and make a determination never to commit sin again.

Lord, Jesus Christ, I am sorry for all my sins. I confess them with my mouth and I ask for mercy. Please forgive me and wash me in your blood. I accept you as my personal Lord and Saviour. Write my name in the book of life. Give me power over sins and fill me with your Spirit and Joy of Salvation. When rapture trumpet sounds, let me make it. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, I pray.

Begin to read bible. Begin with the book of John. Pray always. Fast regularly (you can begin with once in a week). Look for a bible believing church where they teach repentance, holiness, salvation and fellowship with them. Pray before you go. Don’t just go to any church. There are a lot of deceptions out there. If you need our assistance, we can recommend for you, if you email us. Always run away from SINS.

•  Lord, Jesus Christ, baptize today with your Holy Spirit and fire.
•  Holy Spirit of God, anoint my eyes with eyesalve, that I may see.
•  Holy Spirit of God, fill my lamp with excess oil
•  Lord Jesus Christ, give me the grace of the wise virgin.
•  From today, Holy Spirit, I team up with you till the Lord comes.
 

For more information, question or contribution, please send email to us at raptureglorious@gmail.com or jesuscoming@yahoo.com and please tell others to join us. We teach people deep word of God about holiness, righteousness and how to prepare for rapture. You can send email to us to receive the teachings, free. We also send breaking news of end-time events that happen around the world to people with bible verses that match them. You can send email to us to receive them, free.

We will like to get as many people as possible ready for rapture. We wish nobody goes through the great tribulation. What are happening now are child’s play.              

Shalom.   
JESUScoming.