A time is coming when
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
How do we prepare?
As one person put it --
before we prepare for the end time crises
What we really need to prepare for, is to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit -- we are doomed.
But with the Holy Spirit we can stand and encourage many others to stand.
But what does it mean to prepare to receive the Holy Spirit?
Conditions for receiving the Holy Spirit
1. To be seeking to know God.Deut. 4:29 But if you shalt
seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Psalms 34:10 they that
seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].
Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
Eph. 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
2. RepentanceRomans 2:4 Would you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God
leads you to repentance?
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard [Peter's message], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
2:38 Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Ezekiel 18:30-31 Saith the Lord GOD.
Repent, and turn from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Matt. 4:17 Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3. Faith and TrustHebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV) Feeling is not faith, Too often people look for signs and wonders, for something spectacular that would indicate they have the Holy Spirit. But we are to trust (have faith) that God will send the Spirit, claiming His promise.
Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Ephesians 1:13 In Christ you also
trust, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after
you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
John 7:38-39 Jesus cried out, saying, He that
believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. He was speaking of the Spirit, which
they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given.
4. ObedienceActs 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Noah...prepared an ark
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go... obeyed
Romans 6:16 Do you not know, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
i Peter1 :2 Elect ..., through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Eph. 4:22-23 That you put off concerning the former life style of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:30 And
grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph. 5:9-10 For the
fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
5. Prayer (Communication with God) Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Eph 5:18-20 be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;