BLOOD, FIRE, AND PILLARS OF SMOKE

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“Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.”

Joel 2:29-30

Through the Prophet Joel, the Lord speaks about the end times. He mentions what will happen, and how God will pour out His Spirit over all mankind. Joel also mentions signs that will appear: blood, fire, and billows of smoke. Reading this text, I thought at first that the prophet was referring to the increase in violence on the earth and forest fires, but these types of events have shaken the earth time and again. In naming these signs present at the same time in both heaven and on earth, I believe that God is referring to the blood of Jesus, our Redeemer, the fire of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and the presence of God the Father, our Eternal Guide through the pillars of smoke.

With regard to the blood being a sign, I believe that the prophet was referring to the blood of Jesus, since no other blood can enter the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). Only Jesus’ blood was able to enter into the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12). Just as at Pentecost in Acts 2, we will have a supernatural visitation of the Holy Spirit with flames of fire. With great boldness believers will preach the Gospel of salvation with signs and wonders just as the Apostles did in the past. The fire has to come as a powerful sign over God’s Church before Jesus returns to the earth.

This revelation will take the Church of Christ to a greater level of conquering and will ignite the flame of revival in the believers, because the fire of God will be in heaven and on earth. The pillar of smoke speaks to us about the dependence that each believer will have on the presence of God. However, we don’t have to worry, He will always go with us, just as He led the people of Israel through the desert. We will also feel His presence leading us and He will give us rest (Exodus 33:14).

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
For twenty-five years as a church it was very difficult for us to acquire an adequate building. We had been meeting for eleven years in an auditorium in the city that could hold fourteen thousand people. However, the opportunity to acquire land seemed more and more distant with time. One day, while giving a seminar to our leadership and in an act of faith, I began to declare out what we desired to conquer. Even though we had no money saved up, we launched out in faith to buy the land. When the time came to make a payment of 2.5 million dollars, we didn’t have the money so I began to seek the Lord in prayer. As I was praying I imagined myself standing on the land that we wanted, and there I had a vision. I saw the Lord Jesus in the center of that place with the crown of thorns on His head. As I looked, the blood ran down His face and three drops fell onto the land. I heard a voice that spoke with great authority. It was the voice of the Heavenly Father speaking to His son Jesus the same way he had spoken to Adam when he sinned.

This time he was saying, “Because you have done this (referring to the nature of Jesus’ death), blessed is the land for Your sake.” Immediately, I started to repeat these same words, “Jesus, because You did this, blessed is the land for Your sake.” The second time I repeated this declaration I felt the atmosphere of that place fill with glory. The third time I declared this I felt that the curse that had been rooted in that land was removed. As I got up from praying I had the substance of faith to conquer the land. After that moment the people in church were motivated to give like never before, and in less than twenty days we obtained the victory.

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“The blood of Jesus redeems me, the Spirit of God revives me, and the Presence of the Father is with me.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume One.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

    • Old Testament: Genesis 15-17; Psalms 6
    • New Testament: Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 4:1-22

BLOOD, FIRE, AND PILLARS OF SMOKE