AND UNCONTAINABLE JOY FILLED THE CITY!

“Although the believers were scattered by persecution, they preached the wonderful news of the word of God wherever they went. Philip traveled to a Samaritan city and preached to them the wonderful news of the Anointed One. The crowds were eager to receive Philip’s message and were persuaded by the many miracles and wonders he performed. Many demon-possessed people were set free and delivered as evil spirits came out of them with loud screams and shrieks, and many who were lame and paralyzed were also healed. This resulted in an uncontainable joy filling the city!”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.8.4-8.TPT

TEAR OPEN THE HEAVENS

Isaiah 64:1 OH, THAT You would rend the heavens and that You would come down, that the mountains might quake and flow down at Your presence–
Isaiah 64:2 As when fire kindles the brushwood and the fire causes the waters to boil–to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!
Isaiah 64:3 When You did terrible things which we did not expect, You came down; the mountains quaked at Your presence.
Isaiah 64:4 For from of old no one has heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him.

THE RIVER OF GOD

Ezekiel 47:1 THEN HE [my guide] brought me again to the door of the house [of the Lord–the temple], and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple was toward the east; and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the temple, on the south side of the altar.
Ezekiel 47:2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around outside to the outer gate by the way that faces east, and behold, waters were running out on the right side. [Zech. 14:8; Rev. 22:1, 2.]
Ezekiel 47:3 And when the man went on eastward with the measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were ankle-deep.
Ezekiel 47:4 Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the knees. Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the loins.
Ezekiel 47:5 Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over or through.

FIRE!!!

Seeds begin to germinate and sprout as the earth warms in springtime. However, some seeds, like the Giant Sequoia, Lodgepole Pine, Eucalyptus, and others, require the intense heat of a fire for their seeds to pop open where water can enter and allow them to geminate and grow into the plant that was locked in that seed so long ago.

This is true in our spiritual lives as well. God puts various “seeds” of skills and talents and giftings in each of us at birth. Some are developed right away. Some require time and various “conditions” like formal training or a series of experiences to more fully develop. Then there are those that “pop open” and become more evident in the fire of rebirth and salvation. And even more so as we are increasingly filled with the Holy Spirit and yield more and more to His leading. However, I believe that there are some that require even more intense heat. Scripture says…

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

We see trials and persecution of many kinds around the world today…and growing exponentially as these last days before Christ’s return are upon us. When the hard times come, open your heart and spirit to the continual “washing of the Word”. God’s Eternal Word of Truth. Let that Living Water flow into your spirit and soul allowing you to blossom and grow into all that God created you to be…..for such a time as this.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

A SUDDEN DELUGE!

“On the day Pentecost was being fulfilled, all the disciples were gathered in one place. Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house from out of the heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear! Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them. They were all filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit and were inspired to speak in tongues—empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.2.1-4.TPT

BUT GOD!!!

“Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty; and for our willfulness we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, captivity, plundering, and utter shame, as it is today. And now, for a brief moment, grace has been shown us by the Lord our God, Who has left us a remnant to escape and has given us a secure hold in His holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage. For we are bondmen; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy and steadfast love to us before the kings of Persia, to give us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall [of protection] in Judah and Jerusalem.”
‭‭Ezra‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/8/ezr.9.7-9.AMPC

THEN GOD SHOWED UP!

“Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, I, I only, remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given us; let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire to it. I will dress the other bull, lay it on the wood, and put no fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the One Who answers by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken. Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bull for yourselves and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it. So they took the bull given them, dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, hear and answer us! But there was no voice; no one answered. And they leaped upon or limped about the altar they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with knives and lances until the blood gushed out upon them. Midday passed, and they played the part of prophets until the time for offering the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice, no answer, no one who paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near him. And he repaired the [old] altar of the Lord that had been broken down [by Jezebel]. [I Kings 18:13; 19:10.] Then Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be your name. [Gen. 32:28.] And with the stones Elijah built an altar in the name [and self-revelation] of the Lord. He made a trench about the altar as great as would contain two measures of seed. He put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood and said, Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. The water ran round about the altar, and he filled the trench also with water. At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You, the Lord, are God, and have turned their hearts back [to You]. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and also licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬-‭39‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/8/1ki.18.39.AMPC

SO THEY WOULD KNOW

“We have all sinned so much, just like our fathers. “Guilty” is written over our lives. Our fathers who were delivered from Egypt didn’t fully understand your wonders, and they took you for granted. Over and over you showed them such tender love and mercy! Yet they were barely beyond the Red Sea when they rebelled against you. Nonetheless, you saved them more than once so they would know how powerful you are, showing them the honor of your name.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1849/psa.106.6-8.TPT

MY PROVIDER, PROTECTION, AND SHEPHERD

“THE Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. [Rev. 7:17.] He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.23.6.AMPC