IN THE SPIRIT: PASTOR MENSA OTABIL – SUNDAY SERVICE, 27TH JUNE, 2021

SPECIAL SUNDAY SERVICE BY DR. MENSAH OTABIL (GENERAL OVERSEER INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC) ACCRA, GHANA)

TOPIC: IN THE SPIRIT

DATE: 27TH JUNE, 2021

TEXT: REVELATION 1:9-18

Amen! Let’s rise up together, as we make our DECLARATION OF FRUITFULNESS in this Year of Fruitfulness:

Are you ready? Say with me:

The Eternal God is our Refuge. He opens Rivers in desolate Heights.The Lord makes the wilderness a Pool of water.

The LORD God is my Sun and Shield; The LORD gives Grace and Glory.

Therefore, I delight myself in Him. Those who are Planted in the House of the LORD shall be fresh and flourishing.

Though the Earth be shaken; the Name of the Lord is my Strong Tower. By Faith I affirm that: In Christ alone is my Salvation. In Him I live, and move and have my Being.

It is written: The Righteous are like trees Planted by the waters; bearing fruits in its Season.

So I boldly declare: As for me, my God has made me EXCEEDINGLY FRUITFUL.

In this Season, my Spirit bears Fruits of Righteousness, my Talents make Way for me. With my hands, I will Plant, I will Build, I will Harvest – Day by Day, Step by Step.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

I am speaking today on the subject I have called: IN THE SPIRIT.

I remembered years ago, we were having an All-Night Prayer Meeting. You know, when you are having an All-Night Prayer meeting; it gets to around 2:00am, the flesh becomes very weak.

So, it was around 2:00am to 3:00am, and we had a long time of Quiet Prayer.

One of the brothers was sitting by me; and he wasn’t responding to the Prayer. He was very quiet.

After sometime I shook him up, just to wake him up. He just looked at me with very dreamy eyes and said ‘I’m in the Spirit’ (laugher)!

… Well, that’s what we are talking about – Being in the Spirit.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IN THE SPIRIT?

One of the reasons we Pray and Fast is to sharpen our Spiritual Life.

We want to be in the Spirit – Definitely, not like my friend! But we want to be in the Spirit.

And today we will turn our attention to Amna who was in the Spirit; and the experiences he had. His name is John and he is the one the Holy Spirit used to write the Book of Revelation.

So, Revelation 1:9-18 (NKJV). Let’s hear the reading of God’s Word:

9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the Tribulation and Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ, was on the Island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a Tr
Trumpet,

11 Saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a Book and send it to the Seven Churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw Seven Golden Lampstands,

13 And in the midst of the Seven Lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a Garment down to the feet and girded about the Chest with a Golden band.

14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His Voice as the Sound of many waters;

16 He had in His right hand Seven Stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged Sword, and His countenance was like the Sun Shining in its Strength.

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Amen!

This was the experience that John had on the Island of Patmos. And John said that he was “IN THE SPIRIT”.

John had been exiled to this Island because of his Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And when you look at this Passage; although John was one of the last Apostles of Jesus Christ alive, he doesn’t make very big claims about himself.

He just calls himself a brother, an equal – Somebody who is suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ. And so when you listen to his tune, he is speaking with a lot of Humility. He’s not Puffed up!

But on this Island where nobody knew him, John says he was in the Spirit.

What does it mean to be in the Spirit? – I will give you two (2) Thoughts:

1. First (1st) it means that he was in God’s Presence.

John was fully aware of where he was Physically. He tells us of the Island where he was – Patmos.

And he tells us also, the specific day when he had this Spiritual Experience – He says it was the Lord’s Day – which would be Sunday.

So, it’s not as if he has lost consciousness – He knows where he is, he knows where he is. And yet he is in the Spirit.

So, being in the Spirit does not necessarily mean you lose all consciousness.

Because John was conscious – He knew where he was, he knew what day it was; and yet he was in the Spirit.

Because he was in God’s Presence!

To be in the Spirit is to be in the Presence of God.

2. Secondly, to be in the Spirit means to be aware of God’s Spirit.

… John’s spirit was in touch with God’s Spirit.

When we become Born Again the Spirit of God comes to live in us.

But many times we are not even aware that the Spirit of God is living in us.

So, the awareness that God’s Spirit is in us, or that God’s Spirit is at work in a Place is what we call: BEING IN THE SPIRIT.

So, I trust that this morning, a lot of you are in the Spirit!

Oh, you are not in the Spirit? – You are in the Spirit.

You are aware of God’s Spirit and you know that you are in God’s Presence.

That’s where John was! – He was aware of where he was Physically, but he was also aware of what was happening Spiritually.

Because though we are Present in a Physical Place, there is also a Spiritual Dimension to our Relationship with God.

And I believed that in this Place, the Spirit of God is here; the Power of God is Present; the Angels of God are here!

… And if you are in the Spirit, you would recognised what is happening in this Place!

So, like John, we can also be in the Spirit: in the midst of all our challenges – We can be in the Spirit.

John was Persecuted, he was Isolated, he was on an Island – Being imprisoned more or less but he was in the Spirit.

That means that your Problems cannot stop you from being in the Spirit:

You may have severe Financial challenges and still be in the Spirit; you may have Marital Problems and still be in the Spirit.

Don’t allow the hardship you are in to separate you from the Presence, the Power and the Reality of God.

Because you know, many times when we are going through challenges of life, we allow the difficulties to so overwhelm us, that we are never aware of the Presence of God.

It’s important to know that although you may not be going through a Good Physical situation; Spiritually you can be in the Spirit.

Then, John says that whilst he was in the Spirit, something happened. – John said ‘HE HEARD THE VOICE OF THE GOD’.

“Every Genuine Spiritual Experience must lead us to Christ!”

Jesus Christ Himself said that when the Holy Spirit is come, HE WILL LEAD US TO HIMSELF.

… The Holy Spirit would speak of Jesus Christ.

A Genuine Spiritual Experience would not draw us away from Christ; a Genuine Spiritual Experience for a Christian is always Christ- Centered.

It is not focused on your Ancestors, it is not even focused on demonic activities; it is focused on Christ.

A Genuine Spiritual Experience is focused on Christ.

… So John said he heard a Voice!

WHAT WAS THE VOICE LIKE?

He said the Voice sounded like a Trumpet – It was a loud Trumpet-Like Voice.

It wasn’t a Trumpet, but it sounded like a Trumpet.

That means that it was loud and it was distinct!

He heard this Voice when he was in the Spirit, aware of where he was – He knew he was in Patmos, he knew it was a Sunday. And yet it was a Voice that sounded like a Trumpet.

But it didn’t just sound like a Trumpet, the Voice gave him a Message – It gave an Understandable Message.

So, the voice said: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last”.

Then in addition, the Voice said: “What you see, write in a Book and send it to the Seven Churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea”.

I want you to Pay attention to what is happening – John is in the Island of Patmos. He knows it is Sunday (the Lord’s Day). And yet whist his senses are operating and he is aware of his Physical bearings. Something happens that is not happening in the Physical is happening in the Realm of the Spirit.

He hears a sound! The sound is like a Trumpet! And then a Voice that sounds like a Trumpet says: “I Am the Alpha and the Omega!”

… That would be quite a Sound!

I don’t know how it sounded; but it’s almost like I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA (Very Strong Sound)!

And then this voice that sounds like a Trumpet says to him: “Whatever you hear, write and send to the Churches.”

Now, when John heard this, I’m sure he’s trying to figure out: What’s happening? -I’m in Patmos, it’s a Sunday, what is happening? I’m hearing something that is not of this Natural world.

And this Voice is telling me that He is the Alpha and the Omega. And this voice is telling me to write down something.

Now, if you were John – WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Well, Probably you would run away! Or may be, you would start writing. Or you would bow! Or you would worship and say: ‘God has spoken to me.’

… John did none of these!

In fact, if you watch what John did after this dramatic intrusion; the Passage says: He turned to see who was speaking.

… And that is so important!

You don’t conclude that something you have heard Spiritually, is God.

So John turned!

And when he turned, he wanted to put a face to the Voice to be sure: “Who is doing this talking?”

And when he turned; he saw the Lord Jesus Christ.

… That’s what John saw!

So, he heard a Voice, now; he turned and he saw the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every Genuine Spiritual Experience must lead us to Jesus.

The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy – If it’s of God, it will Point to Jesus. If it is not of God, it will Point to somebody else.

And what did John see when he turned?

He says when he turned, he saw seven (7) Golden Lampstands, he saw a Symbol of Christ – Golden Lampstands.

Seven (7) Golden Lampstands (if you know your Bible) were Part of the Articles in the Tabernacle that God told Moses to build. It represents the Light of God. But specifically, the light of God that comes from His Word.

So John turns, and he saw Seven (7) Golden Lampstands.

Well, at this time, still he can’t conclude that what he’s hearing is from God.

Then, he said he saw Somebody walking within the seven (7) Lampstands – “In the midst of the Seven (7) Lampstands, one like the Son of Man.”

He saw the reality of the Glorified Christ – He saw Christ Glorified!

John knew how Jesus looked like – He was close to Jesus.

So, when he heard the Voice and he turned; then he saw the Symbol of Christ and he saw the reality of Christ.

And the Passage says, he saw: His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His Voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand Seven Stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the Sun Shining in its Strength – Revelation 1:14-16.

This thing that John saw didn’t look like Physical Human Being Jesus – It is the Glorified Jesus because Jesus is resurrected, He is in Heaven.

This is His Glorified form – And that is what John saw.

In the Spirit he heard the Voice, he saw. What did he do next? John said when he saw that, he fell before the Lord.

Rare Spiritual Encounters bring us to the feet of Jesus.

During Prayer and Fasting, People would have Spiritual Encounters – And may God make you aware the Spiritual Encounters – Amen!

But, if you have a Spiritual Encounter: whether it’s a Vision, whether it’s a Dream, whether it is something you heard; I want you to follow what John followed.

He had the Encounter, he heard the Voice. But he had to verify who was speaking – Is it Jesus, is it my mind, is it somebody’s else whose Voice I’m hearing?

Because you cannot conclude that a Spiritual Experience you are having is of God! – Sometimes, it may not be of God.

But John verified; and when he saw clearly, this was Jesus – of course, it was Jesus Glorified!

He knew Jesus, he knew how Jesus looked like. And he walked towards Jesus, he BOWED at the feet of Jesus.

Every Spiritual Encounter must bring us to the Feet of Jesus.

If a Spiritual Encounter doesn’t make you love Jesus more, serve Him more, do His Will and obey Him; then it is not of God.

If a Spiritual Encounter Points more to the devil than to the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not of God.

If a Spiritual Encounter Points you more to your Ancestors and does not Point to Christ, it is not of God.

Because if it is of God, it will finally lead us to the Feet of Jesus Christ, and not take us away from the feet of Jesus Christ.

… And that was the Encounter that John had!

God will visit us in many ways!

And one of the things I’m Praying for is that you will be in the Spirit and experience the Supernatural – Amen.

There are some of you who say: ‘I have never had a Supernatural Experience.’ -You will have a Supernatural Experience! And God will touch you and God will visit you – Amen.

I just want us to spend a couple of Minutes Praying – And we want to just use this Story of John as the basis of Prayer; and ask God to do something in our lives.

So, why don’t you rise up before the Lord wherever you are now or reading this Message now on the Label of DMC, as we Pray and seek the face of the Lord.

PRAYER POINTS:

Just lift up your hands to the Lord and say:

1. Heavenly Father, make me aware of Your Presence and of Your Spirit. Help me to discern Your Presence and Your Spirit, wherever I am. In Jesus’ Name!

… Now begin to Pray!

I want you to Ask the Lord to open your Spiritual Eyes and open your Spiritual Ears; to hear and to see the things that He wants you to hear and to see.

2. So Pray and say: Heavenly Father, open my Spiritual Ears, open my Spiritual Eyes, give me discernment of Spirit. And help me to hear You and to see You in this time and in this Season, as I wait upon You. In Jesus’ Name!

… Now begin to Pray!

In Jesus Name we Pray – Amen and Amen!

God Bless You!

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