Tag: 6-7
Seven trumpets!
Scripture reading for December 9th: Revelation 8
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 8:1, 6-7 “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. . . Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”
John had now observed the opening of all seven seals on the scroll from heaven’s throne. After the last seal was opened, silence filled heaven for a half-hour period. It was a pregnant pause before the sounding of the seven trumpets by seven more angels. This silence was the result of the finality and terror that would come with the trumpet judgments that were answers to the prayers of the faithful saints that had risen to God’s throne! (Revelation 8:3-5)
Observations for over-comers: Prayer is powerful and effective and rises to God’s throne. God answers prayers with releases of spiritual armies to fulfill His plan and purposes on earth! “. .while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have com to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, . .” (Daniel 9:21-23)
Household salvation!
Scripture reading for May 26th: Acts 16
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 16:31-35 “He (the Philippian jailer) then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.
Acts 16 describes two instances of household salvation. Earlier, Paul and Silas had gone to a place of prayer and a woman named Lydia gave her heart to the Lord and her household was baptized. (Acts 16:15) Here the Philippian jailer is saved from taking his own life and finds salvation by believing in Jesus along with his whole household! God loves to save individuals and also whole families! He wants His family to enjoy heaven with others from the same family! What a great promise for each of us as we pray for our families to be saved!
Observations for over-comers: Be diligent to ask God for the salvation of households! Start with your own household and then be sure to include this promise when ministering to others who have families! “. . .what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. . . . so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God. . .” (Psalm 78:3-4, 6-7)
Persevere in prayer!
Scripture reading for March 28th: Luke 18
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 18:1, 6-7 “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. . . . And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?””
Jesus wanted to encourage His disciples to persevere in prayer so He told them a story about an unjust judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. A widow came to him seeking justice and would not give up until finally the judge gave in because she was wearing him out. The point of the story was that God’s people should more persistently pray and seek out the Judge of all the Earth who always does right! Would Jesus find that kind of faith on earth when He comes again? Disciples know that their highest privilege is to seek help from a God who is just and answers prayer and they apply themselves by faith!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers will always pray and never give up, knowing that Jesus will hear and answer! “O Lord, I call to You; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:1-2)