The Spirit & Power of Elijah - Message 9 - The Second Coming of Elijah. The message investigates several ways that Jesus' cousin, John, fulfilled the prophecies made about the second coming of Elijah before the advent of the Messiah. Born to a priest and a formerly barren woman, John is shown to have been regenerated while still in the womb, being filled with the Holy Spirit. He is called and sanctified from before birth to be the greatest prophet who ever lived. This report from the pages of Scripture includes angels, miracles, faith, doubting, rejoicing, prophecy, and ample evidence of the Sovereignty of God in continuing to unfold His plan to redeem His people. We also learn what it means that John is a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah. This threefold calling includes turning the hearts of many in Israel to their God, turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous. All conflict in a nation, a family, or a church originates with sin and repentance is the only solution for such conflict. In fact, we learn that repentance is a necessary element of the gospel message. In concluding the message we see the importance of teaching our children to be strong in spirit, to be on the offensive with their faith, to proclaim the truth of the gospel boldly to their friends, and do whatever they do in life motivated by the desire to please God, no matter what any man might say or do to try and prevent them. The message throughout is that our hearts must be prepared to receive the Messiah and that work of preparation is repentance from sin. |
