Tag: lightning
Powerful Prayers
Scripture reading for December 10: Revelation 8
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:1-5
Often people wonder if their prayers are heard or answered by God. Prayer is an act of faith coming from a belief that God is alive and actively concerned about each person and their needs. God has told His people that when they call on Him in the times of trouble they honor Him and He will deliver them. (Psalm 50:15) Jesus Christ spent time each day in prayer with His Father, often all night! Jesus urged His disciples to pray, asking the Father in His Name for their needs and promised answers. (John 16:23-24)
As John was in heaven observing Jesus Christ open the seventh seal on the Father’s scroll, he faced a period of silence lasting about half an hour. It was as if all heaven stood at attention as the Lamb revealed the contents of the scroll and the judgments coming soon. Seven angels with seven trumpets stood ready before the throne. Another angel stood at the golden altar with a golden censer. This angel was given incense to offer with the prayers of the saints. God received the prayers as the sweet smell of incense. In response, the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and hurled it on the earth. Fireworks resulted resembling a great thunderstorm with lightning and thunder and a great earthquake.
How does your view of prayer and its effects get shaped through this picture shown to John? Will you pray powerful prayers that move heaven to shake the earth on behalf of believers or the lost?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for hearing and answering prayers of Your people. Increase my faith to pray even more powerful prayers that shake the heavens and the earth as You send forth the answers. Shake up my children and grandchildren to fulfil Your calling. Shake up my lost friends and neighbors with heaven’s lightning and thunder. Amen!
The sign of the Son of Man
Scripture reading for July 30th: Matthew 24
Key Scriptures: Matthew 24:27-31 “”For as lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, an the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.””
Matthew 24 records one of Jesus’ last teaching concerning what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. The disciples had asked Him specifically about the sign and the end and Jesus described coming events leading up to the end. A great tribulation with many falling away and increased wickedness would occur first. Those days would be cut short for the sake of the elect and with great suddenness and publicly displayed glory, the Son of Man would come to earth and gather His elect. This is not the rapture, which occurs before the great time of tribulation and happens discretely, taking believers like a thief in the night. These are those saved during the tribulation and immediately following there will be great signs in the heavens and on earth. The final sign is the appearance of Jesus Christ seen by all earths inhabitants. Those unsaved will mourn as they bow to the King. The elect will be reaped by chosen angels. This is the ultimate sign of the end of the age!
Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I trust You to bring this evil age to an end at the time You have chosen. I thank You for mercy and encouragement for those who are truly saved and part of Your eternal family. Help me today to share the sign of the Son of Man and His return to earth with those in need of Your grace and salvation. May no one I know or love have to mourn at Christ’s return.
Matthew 24:44-46 “”Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom His Master has set over His household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom His Master will find so doing when He comes.””
Prayers that shake the earth!
Scripture reading for December 10th: Revelation 8, Psalm 119-20, Proverbs 30
Key Scriptures: Revelation 8:1-5 “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
God loves the prayers of His people! The Scripture says that our prayers are like incense offered in a sweet-smelling savor to our Lord. When we call on Him, we honor Him and He will answer and deliver what we need. During the final day of God’s wrath, prayers will be offered and God will answer with actions on earth that shake the world!
Faith Confession: Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness to answer our prayers and prayers of Your people everywhere. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who enables us to pray according to Your perfect will.
Proverbs 30:5 “Every Word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
The Glorious Throne!
Scripture reading for December 4th: Revelation 4
“After this I looked and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first hear speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit and there before me was a throne in heaven with Someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.” (Revelation 4:1-3)
John received a supernatural revelation of the unseen reality that was invisible to all humans without divine assistance. The first thing John described was the throne. The throne had Someone sitting on it. John could only describe that “One” as having the appearance of sparkling gems and radiating the colors of a rainbow completely encircling Him. Jasper is crystal clear and carnelian is brilliant red. John had no physical description other than the glorious color and blazing light coming in flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. (Revelation 4:5)
Around this brilliant throne, there were twenty-four other thrones with elders dressed in white with crowns of gold. In the center of the throne, there were four living creatures and they never stopped crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is , and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8) The elders responded to their worship by falling down and casting their crowns before the throne crying, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.” The unseen realities around God’s Holy Throne throb with worship, light, and glory! By God’s amazing grace, we who believe on Jesus will see this eternal throne in our glorified bodies!