They finally get it
And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. Revelation 16:21
One evening this week there was a warning that came over my phone about a severe thunderstorm. It was one of those alerts that makes your phone start beeping very loudly to make sure that you see the message. The report said that this storm could bring with it strong winds up to 80 mph. That seemed very high to me. I stepped outside to find my husband tending to the few tomatoes plants that he had moved to our raised garden so that they could begin to get some natural sunlight. It had gotten very dark outside even though it was still very early in the evening. What I noticed most of all was how calm it was. It actually seemed like the air was completely still. I told Jack the news of the alert that I had just read and asked him if he wanted help bringing in the plants. He said he thought they would be ok under the plastic canopy that he had constructed for them. I walked around on the porch looking for anything that could be blown around to make sure everything was secure. As I did that, I began to pray and thank my heavenly Father for His protection over our home and all our property and neighborhood. This next part may sound silly to you, but I took my authority with the name of Jesus over the wind and told it to go around our neighborhood. I also prayed for our children and family to be safe and protected. Then I continued to thank Him for His love and power to protect and prayed Psalms 91 to remind myself that He has put His angels in charge of us to keep us (safe) in all our ways.
It was just a few short minutes later when the wind began to blow. I could see it coming across the valley toward our home. Coming right along with the wind was thunder and lightning. By the time the wind arrived at our home, I was at the door and stepping inside. I continued to thank God for all His protection. Protection from falling trees, which we have had many fallen during storms in the past. I also thanked Him for protecting our electricity. The storm alone lasted about 15 minutes and it was not as close as some storms have come to our house in the past. At one point, Jack come up from the basement and said there was some water coming into the house. He went out to check the gutters to make sure none had gotten clogged, but that was the extent of our concerns. Right after that, the winds died down and the thunder began to fade and get further away.
I believe we were protected, but I don’t have any way of proving that it was because of my prayer. There was some damage in our little town and other people in our area lost power for over a day. You will never be able to convince me to stop praying when storms come or to stop taking authority over the weather elements. I may sound foolish talking to the winds and the storms, but as long as I see the results of no destruction, I will continue to speak out in the name of Jesus over all my circumstances.
Today’s reading is about the seventh angel in heaven pouring out the seventh bowl of God’s wrath on the earth. This bowl produces a great storm with thundering and lightings, a great earthquake. So great that all the islands and mountains are no longer found. With this storm there is huge hailstones about the weight of a talent. I took the time to look up how much a talent is and that can be anywhere from 75-100 pounds. That will cause some damage for sure!
As we read through Revelation 16, I found it very irritating that the people of the world were cursing God for the bowls being poured out and not running to Him for protection and salvation. However, as I read today’s passage, I finally realized that they finally get it and are choosing their side. The people and leaders of the world in that day are acknowledging God to be the source and they are gathering to fight against Him. This is great progress. In the world we live in today, many people deny the very existence of God and others simply think He is a non-player and has nothing to do with us here on the earth. Finally in the days of the seven bowls being poured out, there will be no more denying the God of the universe. He is given all the credit for the judgements being poured out. It is clear that the arrogance and pride of people have become so great that they think they have a chance to finally overcome and conquer God almighty! Man will fight with all the weapons of the physical world such as: guns, tanks, planes, bombs and millions of troops. All God has to do is shake the earth and entire cities will fall, mountains will crumble, islands will sink to the bottom of the seas and great hail will fall to once again thwart the plans of the enemy, but that evil will not stop until it is completely eliminated by the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
My frustrations are over and now I get it just as they get in in that great day of judgement. The grass will wither, and the flowers will fade away but the Word, promises and plans of the Lord will stand forever. Nothing that man can devise in his heart is able to stand against the purpose and design of God!
So again today, I want to encourage you now, before it is too late, receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your life to be your Lord and Savior before it is too late. Don’t fight against the Holy Spirit of God that is working in your heart even now. His love for you is so great and He has provided this time for you to turn you life over to Him and to not be fooled by the coming domination of this world leader. If you are a child of God, rejoice and thank Him for the provision and protection He has for you and all His people and when the storms of life come (and they will), walk them out in the protections and authority that He has already given through His Spirit and the name of Jesus. Lastly, don’t get angry and frustrated with people who don’t understand that God is always at work in their lives, drawing them to Himself. Instead, do your part by sharing the love of God and the message of salvation and then thank Him for those who will come along after to water those seed that you have planted in other people’s hearts.
If you want to invite Jesus into your life today, pray this prayer of salvation and He will come in and direct your life’s path as you acknowledge Him in all your ways:
Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 16:17-21
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
The Daily Dose 