In April we focused on the Cross and the Resurrection.  The logical next thought is when CHRIST returns.

I am concerned when I hear a Christian mention the Second coming and the Rapture as if they were the same event.  They are so different.  He will come once in the clouds and after the Tribulation He comes back to stand on the Earth.  Those that are not His when He appears in the clouds must experience the horrors of the Tribulation.  That is why reaching the world for CHRIST is so important.

This song permeates my thoughts, “The Next Time He Comes.”  The chorus gives us such peace.

The Next time He comes He won’t have to die for me,
The next time He comes there won’t be a Calvary,
The next time He comes we’ll begin eternity,
And when He comes again, He’ll be coming for me.

The blessed assurance that He will take His own home gets us through days here on Earth.

I think that we would rather go home when He appears in the clouds, the trumpet sounds and He will call home both the living and the dead in CHRIST.  Scripture says that we groan awaiting His return.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

That our witness can help someone to accept what He has done for us causes us to speak out about JESUS.  The Holy Spirit is the One that continues the work to bring someone to the realization that they are sinners and that they need the Savior.

When CHRIST left Earth He commanded His disciples to ‘go and tell’.  We are commanded to do the same.

This month think about someone you know that is lost.  Focus even more prayer for their heart to be changed.  It is a life or death situation.  We are privileged to be part of GOD’s plan.

Sandy Pace
IOKDS VP

April Devotional below:

The Holy Spirit, Who Is He?

As I have been thinking about Lent and the approaching Passion week, I thought about what must have been going through the disciples’ minds.  They had no idea what it would mean for JESUS to leave them.  His physical presence was their chief concern.  Later they would see the beauty of having His Spirit in us.

He showed us that as sinners we needed a savior and pointed us to JESUS, The Savior. We are blessed that we need not experience the agony of separation.  Unlike OT believers where The Spirit came and left a person; there for a specific purpose, we are indwelt with the Person of GOD!  Wow!  What a privilege and a responsibility!  We are the very Temple of GOD!

The Trinity revealed. –John 15:26-27 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

The Spirit is the least well-known members of The Trinity.  Perhaps, like me, you did not grasp that He is a person when you were new in the faith.  The concept of Holy Ghost may have slowed our perception. Let’s look at some of His attributes.

He has a mind.  Rom 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

He has a will.  1 Cor 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

He has emotions.   Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The Spirit can be pleased with us or we can disappoint Him or even quench His work.                      How are we able to serve GOD in a world that hates The Godhead?

Walk in The Spirit.  Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Worship The Spirit.   Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh….

Witness in The Spirit.   Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Rom. 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

We have all clung to Romans 8:26 many times.  Through The Word He encourages us and witnesses to us.  He comes alongside us.

That He is our Advocate here on Earth is so amazing.  GOD always has the best for us!

Pray for peace.

Sandy Pace
IOKDS VP