In The Spirit On The Lord's Day

We move now from reflections on John's introduction to The Revelation to his first vision, first to what he heard, a loud voice like a trumpet. 

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet ... - Rev 1:10 ESV

What does John mean when he says he was "in the Spirit on the Lord's day"? The Lord's day refers to that day related to or belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ. The only other thing listed with that word kyriakos is the Lord's supper, the sacred meal instituted by Christ (1 Cor. 11:20). The Lord's day is the day devoted to the Lord in sacred memory of Christ's resurrection. Here we see the practice of the early Christians to set aside the first day of the week for worship and meditation upon Christ's resurrection and God's Word.

So it was on that first day of the week, the Lord's day, that John was in the Spirit. What is he telling us? The phrase is fairly common:

• Ezekiel: The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. - Eze 37:1 ESV

• David: He said to them, "How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'? - Matt 22:43-44 ESV

• John the Baptist: and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, (1Kings 17-2 Kings 1) to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." - Luke 1:17 ESV

• Simeon: And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, - Luke 2:27 ESV

• Apostle Paul: Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." - Acts 19:21 ESV

• Disciples of Christ: You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him...      - Rom 8:5-17 ESV

• Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit. - 1Cor 12:3 ESV

Ezekiel and David were blessed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. That Spirit revealed God's plan for Israel and the promised coming of the messianic King who was to ascend to the Father and rule over all things until the day of the final judgment when all of His enemies would become subject to Him. John the Baptist, in turn, spoke the strong Word of the Lord to his generation, calling all of Israel to repent and return to the Lord. He too was under the power and guidance of the Spirit. Simeon had long reflected upon God's promises. He was waiting for the coming of the Messiah as he worshiped in the Temple. And when he saw Mary and Joseph with the Child the same Spirit spoke to His heart. This is the One, this is the promised Messiah! The Apostle Paul, in turn, always followed the lead of the Holy Spirit as he fulfilled his mission. 

Now we also must ask if the same Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. Are we in the Spirit? Are we filled with the Holy Spirit? Are we baptized with the Holy Spirit? Do all these phrases refer to the same thing? The answer to all those questions would take up many blogs and much study of the Holy Scriptures. Suffice it to note that if the Spirit of God dwells in you then you know in your heart that Jesus, true God and true Man, rose from the dead and that His sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary was also for you. Your debt has been paid. You are an adopted child of God and the Spirit of God is at work in your heart, calling you to faith in Him and opening your heart to the eternal future that is ours in Christ. Read Paul's marvelous teaching in Romans 8 and continue to reflect upon what God is revealing to His children. The more you are in the Word, the more the Holy Spirit will strengthen and confirm your faith. 

When you are in the Spirit, I cannot say that you should expect a new revelation such as that given to the Apostle John. However, the Spirit will both confirm your faith in our risen Lord and guide you through the Word to do God's will. Let us all, therefore, seek to be in the Spirit, not only on the Lord's Day, but every day. 

From here we will explore the first of John's visions and will remember that this is primarily a book of symbols, as noted earlier.