Without the Spirit of God impacting our hearts, we cannot know or believe the things of God.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
God is reaching out to all people at all times, but most of the time, we are resistant to His invitation to faith. We want to do things our own way and live our life exactly as WE choose to. After all, haven’t we made it this far in life just fine without the benefit of God in our lives? That is what many of us believed. But in fact, a loving God has been with us all along, providing countless blessings and protections, despite our thankless attitude.
In the present day, the people of Israel have been regathered from all over the world into a restored nation. Many citizens there believe it only happened through the determined efforts of people, and that God doesn’t even exist, let alone play a role in their nation’s creation.
The prophets Ezekiel and Joel tell us that, one day, this shared belief will be challenged. A massive invasion of Israel will take place under the leadership of a mysterious person named Gog, the driving force behind an alliance of attacking nations. Every technological defense known to man will be employed by the nation, but will fail, leaving them defenseless, leading to a desperate communal plea for help from Almighty God.
God has promised in His prophetic word that He will hear and answer their plea in that dark hour. His response will come in a way that not only strikes down the invaders, but will shake the heavens and earth to their very limits. No person on earth will go unaffected during this great, end-times battle. It will mark the historical end of kingdoms and empires led by people, and the beginning of an eternal, divinely-led rule by the returning Christ in the kingdom of God.
Ezekiel writes of this day:
1 “On that day I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it will block the way of those who would pass by. So they will bury Gog there with all his horde, and they will call it the Valley of Hamon-gog (Literally the multitude of Gog).
21 “And I will place My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. 22 And the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God, from that day onward.
27 When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall show Myself holy through them in the sight of the many nations. 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then I gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. 29 I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 39:11,21-22,27-29 (NASB)
Eyes will be opened all over the world in that time as God pours out His Spirit into the hearts of the women and men of that nation. Faith will take root, and a true recognition of God’s Messianic presence, power, and identity will be known to all.
The prophet Joel also writes about this coming event:
28 “It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will have dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29 And even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
32 And it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
Will be saved; Joel 2:28-32a (NASB)
Faith will cover the earth when God pours out His Spirit upon diverse people of all nations. A first taste of this occurred with the birth of the Christian Church at Pentecost, where people of faith were gathered in Jerusalem from all over the God-worshiping nations of that time. The apostle Peter even quoted a portion of Joel’s scripture in his first sermon to the new believers there. But the final fulfillment of Joel’s words will not come until the arrival of the day of Lord, and it will be born of the great struggle that Israel must go through to fulfill that prophecy. But remember that all who call on the Lord in faith, and receive the Holy Spirit of Jesus in their hearts, will be saved.
Reflection
Can you think of a time when a great personal trial resulted in a deeper faith and closer relationship with God? How did He bring you safely through?
Lord, thank You that you promised to never let go of us. Build up our faith through the gifting of Your Holy Spirit, and grant us Your blessings and protection each day of our lives. May You be glorified forever, and reflected in our thoughts, words, and actions. Forgive our failures as we bring them to the cross of Christ, cleansing us and making us free to serve you and those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 