In the Spirit

Bible Reading: Revelation 1

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

John was the man who was chosen by God to signify the revelation of Jesus Christ and to show God's servants the things which must shortly come to pass. He tells us where he was when he received this revelation. He was in the isle called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. He was exiled to a prison island for preaching Christ.

He also tells us what he was doing when he received this revelation of Jesus Christ - he was in the Spirit. What does that mean? It means that he was praying in the Holy Spirit and worshipping God.

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John was in an intimate time of worship and prayer when the Lord appeared to him.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

We are told to pray in the Sprit and to watch and pray for all saints. As a godly pastor, John was separated from his flock and was no doubt interceding for them.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

He was also building himself up in the faith by spending time in prayer. This is essential to all believers. We must seek God through prayer and commune with him.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Because John did not know what to pray for specifically, he was also experiencing the intercession of the Holy Spirit who knows perfectly the will of God. We need to spend this kind of time alone with Jesus in prayer. We need to pray in the Holy Spirit.

John also tells us this was on the Lord's day. In his exile and estranged from his flock, John spent the Lord's day in prayer since he could not gather together with his church.

I want to encourage you and challenge you today. Jesus invites us into prayer. The Holy Spirit within will help us with our prayer. Let us get alone with God today!

In Christ,
Rody