Rapture 2024: Getting Carried Away (by the Holy Spirit)

Discussing current events and how they relate to Biblical prophesy. What are some critical signs are pointing to the imminent Rapture of the Church?

“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (2 Kings 2:11)

“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” (Acts 8:39-40)

Today I want to talk to you about something extraordinary – getting carried away by the Holy Spirit. This isn’t just some emotional experience or flights of fancy. No, getting carried away by the Spirit of God is a profound, life-changing encounter with the living God that can transform us from the inside out.

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of people being swept up and carried along by the power and presence of God’s Spirit. The prophets of old experienced this, the apostles lived it out, and believers today can still be caught up in the mighty rushing wind of the Holy Spirit. Let’s explore what this means and how we can open ourselves to being carried away by God.

The Promise of the Spirit

Jesus promised His followers that He would not leave them as orphans, but would send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16-18). This wasn’t just a comforting presence, but the very power of God living inside believers. On the day of Pentecost, that promise was fulfilled in dramatic fashion:

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)

Talk about getting carried away! The disciples were literally swept up in a supernatural experience, filled with divine power, and began to speak in languages they didn’t know. This was no quiet, internal event – it was a public display of God’s glory that drew crowds and led to thousands coming to faith in Christ.

The Spirit Moves in Power

Throughout the Bible, we see numerous examples of people being carried away by the Spirit of God. One of the most dramatic is the rapture of Elijah. The prophet Elijah had a powerful ministry marked by miracles and bold confrontations with evil. At the end of his earthly life, God had a special plan for His servant:

“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (2 Kings 2:11)

Elijah was literally carried away into heaven without experiencing death! This extraordinary event was witnessed by his protégé Elisha. When the other prophets heard about it, they had an interesting reaction:

“The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, ‘The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.’ And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. ‘Look,’ they said, ‘we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.‘” (2 Kings 2:15-16)

These prophets recognized that the Spirit of God was capable of physically transporting someone from one place to another. They thought perhaps Elijah had been carried away temporarily rather than permanently. While they were mistaken in this case, their belief wasn’t unfounded. We see another example of this kind of supernatural transport in the New Testament with Philip.

After Philip had preached the gospel to an Ethiopian official and baptized him, something amazing happened:

“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” (Acts 8:39-40)

Philip was literally carried away by the Holy Spirit to another location! This miraculous transport allowed him to continue spreading the gospel in other areas. It’s a powerful reminder that when we yield ourselves to God’s Spirit, He can use us in ways that go beyond our natural abilities or understanding.

The apostle Paul also experienced being carried away by the Spirit in a visionary sense. In 2 Corinthians 12, he describes being “caught up to the third heaven” where he heard inexpressible things. While he wasn’t sure if this experience was in the body or out of it, it was clearly a supernatural encounter facilitated by the Holy Spirit.

These examples show us that being carried away by the Spirit can take different forms. Sometimes it might involve physical transport, other times visionary experiences, and often it’s more about being empowered and led by the Spirit in our daily lives and ministry.

Carried Away in Worship

One of the primary ways we can experience being carried away by the Spirit is through heartfelt, Spirit-led worship. King David was known for his exuberant praise, even dancing before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14). The Psalms are filled with calls to passionate, wholehearted worship:

“Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.” (Psalm 149:1)

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalm 100:1-2)

In the New Testament, we’re told to “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19). True worship isn’t about following a ritual or just going through the motions. It’s about allowing our hearts to be caught up in adoration and praise to our magnificent God.

When we worship in Spirit and in truth, we can find ourselves carried away in God’s presence. Our earthly concerns fade away as we’re reminded of His greatness and glory. We may be moved to tears, lifted up in joy, or filled with a sense of awe at who God is. This is the Holy Spirit at work, drawing us deeper into intimacy with our Creator.

Carried Away in Prayer

Prayer is another powerful avenue for being carried away by the Spirit. The apostle Paul tells us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? It means allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers, interceding through us with “wordless groans” (Romans 8:26).

Sometimes when we pray, we may find ourselves at a loss for words. Our finite minds struggle to express the depths of our hearts. But the Holy Spirit knows exactly what we need and how to pray according to God’s will. As we yield to Him in prayer, He can carry us into deeper communion with the Father.

There may be times when we’re so caught up in the Spirit during prayer that we lose track of time. We may experience visions or revelations, like the apostle John on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:10). The important thing is not the experience itself, but the fruit it produces – greater intimacy with God and alignment with His purposes.

Carried Away in Ministry

The Holy Spirit also wants to carry us away in service and ministry to others. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This power is not just for our own spiritual experiences, but to make us effective ambassadors for Christ.

When we step out in faith to share the gospel or meet someone’s needs, the Holy Spirit can take over in amazing ways. We may find ourselves speaking words of wisdom or knowledge that didn’t originate from our own minds (1 Corinthians 12:8). We may be prompted to pray for healing and see God work miracles (James 5:14-15). We may be given supernatural boldness to proclaim truth, even in the face of opposition (Acts 4:31).

Being carried away in ministry doesn’t always mean dramatic, public displays. Sometimes it’s in quiet acts of service, motivated by the Spirit’s prompting. The key is being sensitive and obedient to His leading, allowing Him to work through us for God’s glory.

Hindrances to Being Carried Away

If being carried away by the Holy Spirit is available to all believers, why don’t we experience it more often? There are several things that can hinder the Spirit’s work in our lives:

1. Sin and disobedience – The Bible warns us not to “grieve the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30) or “quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When we persist in willful sin or ignore the Spirit’s promptings, we dampen His influence in our lives.
2. Fear and doubt – Sometimes we’re afraid to fully yield control to the Holy Spirit. We may doubt His goodness or fear looking foolish. But God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).
3. Busyness and distraction – Our hectic, noisy world can drown out the Spirit’s gentle voice. We need to create space in our lives for stillness and listening prayer.
4. Lack of expectation – If we don’t believe God still moves in power today, we’re unlikely to experience it. We need to cultivate faith and expectancy, asking God to move in our lives.
5. Relying on emotions or experiences – On the flip side, constantly seeking spiritual highs or chasing after experiences can actually hinder genuine encounters with God. Our focus should be on Christ, not on feelings or manifestations.

How to Be Carried Away

So how can we position ourselves to be carried away by the Holy Spirit? Here are some practical steps:

1. Surrender fully to God – Offer yourself as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), holding nothing back from His lordship.
2. Confess and repent of sin – Keep short accounts with God, quickly turning from anything that grieves the Spirit.
3. Spend time in God’s presence – Cultivate intimacy through prayer, worship, and meditation on Scripture.
4. Ask to be filled – Jesus said the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). Keep asking to be filled afresh.
5. Step out in faith – Be willing to take risks and obey the Spirit’s promptings, even when it’s uncomfortable.
6. Practice the spiritual disciplines – Fasting, solitude, Bible study, and other disciplines help attune us to the Spirit’s voice.
7. Fellowship with other believers – The Holy Spirit often moves powerfully when God’s people gather together in unity.
8. Pursue holiness – As we cooperate with the Spirit in becoming more like Christ, we become more sensitive to His leading.

Remember, being carried away by the Spirit isn’t about generating emotional experiences or chasing after signs and wonders. It’s about yielding control of our lives to God and allowing Him to work in and through us as He sees fit. Sometimes it may feel dramatic and obvious, other times it may be subtle and quiet. The important thing is that we’re growing in Christlikeness and bearing spiritual fruit.

The Ultimate Carrying Away

As amazing as it is to be carried away by the Spirit in this life, there’s an even greater “carrying away” that all believers can look forward to – the rapture of the church! The apostle Paul describes this incredible event:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The word “caught up” here is the Greek word harpazo, which means to seize, carry off, snatch away. This is where we get the term “rapture” from the Latin translation. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, believers will be supernaturally carried away to meet Christ in the air!

This isn’t just speculation or wishful thinking. Jesus Himself promised to return for His people:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)

The apostle John was given a preview of this glorious event in a vision. In Revelation 4:1-2, we read:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.“

This passage is often seen as a picture of the rapture. John hears a trumpet-like voice calling him up to heaven, and immediately he is “in the Spirit” – carried away into a heavenly realm. This mirrors what will happen to believers at the rapture – we’ll be called up by the trumpet of God and instantly transported into Christ’s presence.

What a glorious hope we have! One day, perhaps very soon, the trumpet will sound and we’ll be carried away in the ultimate display of the Holy Spirit’s power. Our earthly bodies will be transformed in an instant to be like Christ’s glorified body (Philippians 3:20-21). We’ll be delivered from the presence of sin and ushered into the very presence of our Savior.

This carrying away won’t just be a temporary spiritual experience – it will be an eternal reality. We’ll be carried into a perfect, face-to-face relationship with God that will never end. All the things that hinder us now will be removed. We’ll be fully free to worship, serve, and enjoy God forever.

Until that day comes, let’s eagerly anticipate Christ’s return while also opening ourselves up to be carried away by His Spirit right now. May we echo the prayer of the early church – “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20) – even as we yield to the Spirit’s work in our daily lives.

Don’t settle for a stale, powerless form of Christianity. Invite the Holy Spirit to move in your life. Ask Him to carry you away in worship, prayer, and service. Expect God to work in and through you in supernatural ways. And look forward with great anticipation to that glorious day when we’ll be carried away to meet our Savior face to face!

Let’s pray: Holy Spirit, we invite You to move in power in our lives. Carry us away in Your presence. Fill us afresh, use us for Your glory, and prepare us for that ultimate carrying away when Christ returns. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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If you are not sure that you are saved, you can accept Christ into your life right now, by praying:

“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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Current events are aligning with Biblical prophecy

Source: https://raptureandendtimes.com/2024/08/24/rapture-2024-getting-carried-away-by-the-holy-spirit/