- araratchurch
- Oct 20, 2023
- 4 min read
“Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”” I Samuel 10:6, 9-11 NKJV
Surprisingly, one of what many suppose to be a very delicate creature—the butterfly—actually can migrate thousands of miles. Indeed, this migration is necessary for the continuation of the species, allowing them to winter in more moderate climates.
The monarch butterfly is probably the most ubiquitous in terms of representing butterflies in general.
Now, not only does the monarch butterfly go through metamorphosis, taking it from a crawling caterpillar to a lovely floating creature, it also, even as a caterpillar, goes through five stages, known as instars. Yes, the caterpillar will shed its skin four times.
With each shedding, the caterpillar gains length and weight, getting bigger and heavier until the time it reaches the appropriate size and weight to go into the pupal stage.
When reaching the ideal size and weight to go into the pupal stage, the caterpillar attaches itself underneath the leaf of a plant. There, it will shed its skin for the last time, revealing the green chrysalis from which it will emerge as the beautiful creature we know and appreciate.
Whereas I know you might appreciate butterflies as much as I do, you’ve probably already guessed that this is about more than butterflies.
You see, we come to the Lord as babes and begin the process of spiritual development.
As God’s children, we have access to His Holy Spirit Who enables and oversees our spiritual development.
We also have the written word of God to instruct us in righteousness.
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” I Peter 2:2-3 NKJV
However, as we grow in the Spirit, we should be able to begin to receive deeper understanding, developing into more mature children. To aid in that process, we also have been given the five-fold ministry of the Church.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
As we grow, we should gain in stature, becoming stronger in faith, as well as more abundant in fruit (good works). Sadly, many Christians’ spiritual development becomes stunted so that they cannot receive greater understanding or revelation, much less be capable of doing exploits
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14 NKJV
In our opening scripture, we see the story of Saul, the first king of Israel.
Saul, in order to serve as King, needed to become a “new man.” And, just as Samuel had prophesied, that is exactly what happened!
Child of God, we are living in the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ. That being the case, we cannot continue to operate in the status quo with no real urgency concerning our spiritual development. Yes, this is the hour for us to press forward into becoming who God has created us to be.
The survival of the monarch butterfly depends on its ability to go from an earthbound creature (spending most of its time navigating a singular plant), to a winged marvel capable of flying a couple of hundred miles a day in their thousands of miles migration.
Our spiritual survival in these perilous times in which we are living, depends on our ability to leave the “still-struggling-with-sin” stage, to go on to know the Lord. In so doing, we can be ready for whatever we must face, as well as being prepared to do whatever the Lord instructs; and, yes, ready to “fly,” ready to do EXPLOITS!
“…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Daniel 11:32b NKJV
We’ll look further into this tomorrow.
Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord
- araratchurch
- Oct 20, 2023
- 3 min read
In preparation for our discussion over the next five days, please carefully read and meditate on these passages of scripture:
“Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”” I Samuel 10:6, 9-11 NKJV
““I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”” Job 42:5-6 NKJV
“And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.” Mark 9:1-4 NKJV
“Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”” Luke 24:28-32 NKJV
“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”” Acts 9:3-6
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” Romans 8:18-19 NKJV
Living in the last days before the soon coming of Jesus Christ, we are facing pressures and challenges as we have never seen before.
As well, there is much work to be done to bring in the last harvest of souls into the kingdom of God.
As such, we—as Christ’s ambassadors on the earth—must be ready to do more than just survive the evil onslaught; yes, we must be able to do exploits.
Over the next five days, we will discuss the need for a next-level transformation to be able to contend with next-level challenges.
Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord
- araratchurch
- Sep 19, 2023
- 4 min read
“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30 NKJV
A while back the Lord spoke in my spirit saying that the burning question everyone has that must be answered is, “What must I do to be saved?”
Now, Paul and Silas had been badly beaten and then thrown in jail. Indeed, they were put in the inner prison and fastened securely in stocks. The jailer was instructed that they must be kept securely.
At midnight Paul and Silas were having a prayer meeting, praying and singing to the Lord.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, opening all the doors of the prison and loosening everyone’s chains.
The keeper of the prison awakened from sleep, and seeing what had happened, drew his sword to kill himself.
However, everything was about to change for this jailer.
“But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” Acts 16:28-34 NKJV
We see that the jailer asked Paul and Silas the question the Lord referenced to me. And, that was the beginning of a whole new life for him and his household.
Now, the part of what the Lord had spoken to me about which I needed clarification, was referencing the question: “What must I do to be saved,” as burning in everyone’s soul.
Surely, we see millions of people who are living their lives according their own dictates, never concerned about being “saved.” But what I came to understand is that they are asking the question, but they’re “asking” it to the wrong source.
In other words, people seeking after things of this world have a hole in their soul, and they’re seeking to fill it with what the world has to offer. They know they need something more than what they have, they sense their need to be “saved” from that feeling. But, they haven‘t asked about it as a response to hearing the Gospel. Sadly, this even applies to those who may have been presented the Gospel but haven’t heard it in their spirit (been convicted).
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night wanting to know more about Him. In Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus He makes a statement known by all Christians. We will look at it in its context:
“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”” John 3:13-21 NKJV
Of course, I was referencing John 3:16. However, within this passage we see the answer to what God did for us through Jesus Christ as well as why some will not receive what God offers. Yes, many are called (given the invitation) but few are chosen (few respond, see Matthew 22:14).
In our opening scripture we see the Lord‘s offer to give rest to the weary sin-sick soul. That call to come to Him is a call given to EVERYONE.
Sadly, we know that some do not accept that invitation. But—for those who do—just like the jailer overseeing Paul and Silas, a wonderful new life has begun.
Today we have briefly examined the call we all are given. Tomorrow we will look into some biblical examples of specific callings, or missions, given to individuals.
Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord