Exodus 13:21-22
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.”
INSIGHT
-God manifested Himself divinely through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to guide the Israelites in their journey. He previously appeared to Moses in such a way through the burning bush experience and directed him on his calling. When they marched through the desert by day, the pillar of cloud protected them from extreme heat and offered them direction. At night the pillar of fire eased them from care and secured them from danger both when moving and resting. The Lord loves us with His lavish love and continues to guide us, protect us, provide for us, counsel us and preserve us through the presence of His Holy Spirit in our spirits. He also guides us through His word which becomes a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalms 119:105). He is the Light of the world and calls us to follow Him always that we may have the light of life (John 8:12), which offers us direction and overcomes all darkness.
PRAYER
Almighty Father we come before You this morning thanking You for this far that You have brought us and the far that You are taking us. Thank You for the gift of life and Your presence in our lives. Thank You for Your mercy and love upon our lives. You have been faithful to us even when we have become faithless, we praise Your holy name. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Thank You for becoming a pillar of fire in us Holy Spirit to direct us, protect us from all evil, guide us in all our ways, provide for us and sustain us. Despite the heat and darkness that has come through corona virus, You have preserved us. We praise Your holy name Lord. Thank You for revealing to us Your word of life that illuminates our feet and guides our steps. May Your will be done in our lives as it is in heaven Almighty Father. Heal all those who are sick we humbly implore You and restore their health. Settle the hearts of those who have lost their loved ones with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Guide us in all our coming in and going out dear Master. Let us not go if You do not go before us Holy Spirit. Thank You for loving us and guiding us in all our ways. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Joel 2:28-30
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.”
INSIGHT
-This chapter begins and ends by revealing the events that will happen during the Day of the Lord. As prophesied by Joel, the Holy Spirit has been poured unto all flesh without discrimination of race, color, gender, and to both Jews and Gentiles. Various instances from the Old Testament reveal the impartation of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and he prophesied (1 Samuel 10:10). Also, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson and he smote the Philistines (Judges 15:14-15). To the seventy elders, the Spirit rested upon them when Moses complained that the burden was too heavy on him, and when he gathered them; they prophesied (Numbers 11:25). Prophecy also came through different prophets who revealed the desires of the Lord most High God. In the New Testament alike, the Holy Spirit indwelled and infilled the people as in the day of Pentecost. When Peter spoke to Cornelius and his household, the Holy Spirit fell upon them and the spoke in different tongues (Acts 10:46). Various people were able to witness Christ and His power through the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit comes to us, we are also able to witness Christ, dream dreams and see visions, walk in our callings and many come to salvation. According to prophet Joel, blood, fire, pillars of smoke and other events will occur to symbolize the end times. It is therefore important to always be ready because Jesus is coming soon (Revelation 3:11).
PRAYER
This is the day that You have made Lord we rejoice and are glad in it. Thank You for showering our land with rains, bless our nation and prosper our economy mercy Father we humbly implore You. Bless the work of hands Holy Spirit and increase our capacity to receive Your power and grace. Thank You for all the church and political leaders that You have given us, fill them Holy Spirit with Your fresh anointing that they may abide in You and choose Your way of life. Impart in us Your gifts and fruit Holy Spirit that we may dream dreams, see visions, receive new revelations, prophecy, teach, preach, witness You and always focus our eyes on You. Deliver us all from unrighteousness and grant all those who do know You the gift of salvation. All have sinned and fall short of Your glory of Lord, forgive us and wash us with Your precious blood. We believe in Your death and resurrection Jesus, write all our names in the Lambs book of life loving Savior. You are the resurrection power Holy Spirit who dwells in us, help us to walk in Your power, grace, love and accomplish our purposes here on earth for the glory of Your name. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
2 Kings 1:13-15
“So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.”
INSIGHT
-After Ahab died, his son Ahaziah took over as king of Israel in Samaria. One day he fell from the upper room and injured himself. He then sent his messengers to consult Baal-Zebub god of Ekron regarding this. Elijah was instructed by the angel of the Lord; to pronounce a death sentence upon the king having reintroduced idol worship in the land of Israel. Two times Elijah called forth fire from heaven to consume the commanders and their fifty soldiers each. The third commander asked for mercy and the Lord spared him, but the king died on his bed as it was pronounced. In Luke 9:51-56, we find similar events when Jesus was about to be crucified. He sent his messengers ahead to Samaria to get things ready for Him. But when the people of Samaria did not welcome Him, His disciples James and John asked Jesus whether they could call fire from heaven to destroy them. Jesus then rebuked them and they went to another village. As Christians we have the power of the resurrected Christ in us and have the ability to perform many signs and wonders including calling forth fire from heaven. As we also know, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Spiritual warfare requires the fire of the Holy Spirit to demolish every stronghold that exults itself against the knowledge of God. Like Elijah and the disciples who demonstrated God’s power, to walk in power then; we must believe in Jesus Christ and witness Him; for the glory of His name.
PRAYER
Search me O God and know my heart. Try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Deliver me Jesus from all unbelief and increase my faith, I humbly ask You. You formed my inward parts and covered me in my mother’s womb. May Your power in me and through me only be a demonstration of Your great love. Thank You for Your resurrection power in me, I can do all things through You Christ who strengthens me. Cover us Holy Spirit with Your hedge of fire and fill our hearts with the fire of Your love. We declare that no weapon fashioned fashioned against us shall prosper and every tongue that rises against us in judgment is condemn, for our victory is in You Jesus. Thank You for loving us. Burn down every form of idol worship, witchcraft and snares of the evil one that are channeled to injure us Your children, our families and nation, merciful Father. Our lives belong to You Jesus, thank You for loving us. Like You used Your servants Elijah and the disciples, use us Jesus as You please for the glory of Your name. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; and the love of God; and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen
Revelation 10:1-2
“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,”
INSIGHT
-When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, John saw seven angels who stand before the Lord. The angels were given seven trumpets which they blew and observed diverse effects. After the sixth angel blew his trumpet, a mighty angel came down from heaven having authority and stood; one foot on the earth and the other in the sea. God’s righteous judgement; judges both the land and the sea, and His mercies endures forever. He was clothed with a cloud which symbolizes divine presence. A rainbow was seen on his head which reminds us of God’s promise to man after the flood; a covenant of God’s mercy amidst judgement. His face was like the sun with a radiant countenance; like the one Moses had when he went to get the ten commandments at the top of mount Sinai. His feet like pillars of fire which reminds us of the burning bush when Moses was instructed to remove his shoes for the place he was standing on was holy ground. God is Holy and calls us to be holy for His holiness endures forever. The description fully fits the divine presence of God, that reminds us of His power and mercy. The seventh seal follows to reveal the temple of God in heaven; having the ark of the covenant inside. Further a declaration of God’s authority over the kingdoms of the earth and power of our Lord Jesus Christ who rules and reigns forever and ever.
PRAYER
We give thanks to You O Lord God Almighty, Who was, Who is and Who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, all glory, honor and praise belongs to You. All creation in heaven and on earth bows down before You and sing praises to Your name. Lord You are Marvelous in power and greatness, all creation bows down before You. You are highly exulted Jesus Christ, high above every other name, that at Your name, every knee should bow in heaven, earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus You are Lord to the glory of God the Father. All creation bows down before You our Lord and God. You created us Lord in Your image and likeness, thank You for loving us. You created us to have dominion over every beast of the earth and sea, thank You for loving us. Help us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and all other things You will add unto us. Help us to fulfill Your divine will in our lives. Impart in us great wisdom and fill us with Your divine presence each day, and guide us in all things. Teach us to always do Your will. All glory, honor, power, authority and wisdom belongs to You, now and forever. Amen
Acts 2:1-4
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
INSIGHT
-At the day of Pentecost the disciples received the Holy Spirit and manifested different gifts. Jesus before Jesus ascended to heaven as evidenced in Acts chapter 1, He cautioned the disciples from leaving Jerusalem until they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He also taught that once they receive the Holy Spirit, they will obtain power and will become His witnesses in Jerusalem, Samaria and the ends of world. This is the power that we have received in us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. To perform many signs and wonders, witness Christ in all the world and have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Let us also draw power from Christ like the woman who had an issue of blood, that dried up immediately.
SUMMARY
The pillar of fire appeared in the Biblical times as it is evident today in our lives. The pillar that led the Israelites through the desert and offered them direction, comfort, provision, safety and security. The pillar of fire that Elijah called forth from heaven under the instructions of the angel of the Lord that destroyed the two army commanders and their fifty troops each. The pillar of fire that disciples intended to call forth upon the nation of Samaria when they did not welcome Jesus before His crucifixion (Luke 9:51-56). The pillar of fire that destroys every demonic altar, principality and power, and sets every captive free. The pillar of fire that offered Moses direction of purpose through his experiential encounter of the burning bush. The pillar of fire on the angel’s feet as will be exposed when the sixth trumpet will sound. This is a display of God’s eternal mercy, grace and holiness through His Son Jesus Christ. God is Holy and His presence is holy as we learn from the burning bush experience. Let us then be holy and remain righteous for this is His will. God has poured His Spirit upon us His children, that we may dream dreams and see visions, as these are the last days. The pillar of fire in us is God the Holy Spirit. Let us not loose hope in our faith in God for the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us and we shall live forever with Him. Let us hold fast our confidence in Him who gives us power to demonstrate many signs and wonders, proclaim His gospel, live in victory over diseases, premature death, principalities, powers and rulers that come to distrust our purposes in Christ and enjoy abundant life with Him now and forever. Amen
PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for You did not leave us orphaned but gave us Your Holy Spirit. Thank You precious Holy Spirit for dwelling in us and with us. Thank You for providing for us and sustaining us. Thank You for guiding and directing us. Thank You for revealing Your word unto us and counselling us. Thank You for comforting us and healing our wounds. Heal all our physical, emotional, psychological, financial and economic wounds we humbly implore You. We surrender our lives, families and nation unto You Holy Spirit, take over. Take over and make every crooked path straight. Break all the bars of iron and level the mountains for us. No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper and no tongue that is raised against us in judgment shall prevail. Lord You are Spirit, and where Your Spirit is, there is freedom. Deliver us Holy Spirit from all the wicked plans of the evil one. Deliver us from all forms of corruption, witchcraft, idolatry and evil schemes from our lives, families, nation and the whole world. Set us free merciful Father. Set free all those who do not believe in You and grant them the gift of salvation. Thank You for Your gift of salvation to us and to all our descendants. Thank You for Your mercy, love, grace, gifts, fruit and good plans upon our lives. Grant us the grace to walk in power and to fulfil Your purposes here on earth. Thank You for Your divine presence upon our lives. Thank You for Your divine power upon our lives. Thank You for Your divine blessings upon our lives, families and nation. Thank You for loving us Jesus. All our hope and trust is in You. Amen