End-time Survival Strategies by Pastor David Ogbueli: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

You Must Be in the Spirit

When John was writing the book of Revelation, the first thing he said was: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." You are not going to get prophetic understanding in the flesh. Even the wisest men stumble when they come to the prophetic. John said he was in the Spirit — that is the starting point. The anointing of the Holy Spirit comes in response to prayer.

Daniel 1:17: "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." This was not natural intelligence. God gave it. Four of the seven spirits of God operated in Daniel's life: the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of wisdom, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord. That is why his life was unique. The corruption of Babylon could not catch up with him.

Prophecy Is Not of Private Interpretation

2 Peter 1:19-20: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy... knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation." Do not catch one thing and take off with it. Do not travel miles in the wrong direction with a private interpretation. You must practice prophetic accountability. You must be willing to submit what you have received to others for judgment. If you are not willing to do that, the spirit of error and deception is already at work.

1 Corinthians 14:29-31: "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." The prophetic is not a solo assignment. Prophecy in part requires corporate judgment to build the full picture — just as Micah gave the city of Bethlehem, Isaiah gave the cross, and another prophet gave the second coming. Together they build the complete revelation.

Revelation Must Sit on Knowledge

There is no prophet in the Bible who did not study the prophets before him. Daniel studied Jeremiah. Jesus studied Daniel and Isaiah. God does not bless ignorance. Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding — not to the ignorant.

Revelation is like a student asking God to bless their memory for an exam. You must first study your books. Then the Holy Spirit takes what you have stored up and synthesizes it, giving you understanding. The logos must come first — then rhema, the specific revelation, can be built on it.

Jeremiah 33:3: "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." The apostle Paul said: "I bow my knees unto the Father... that he may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." Revelation comes in answer to prayer. If you start praying in this direction, you will enter new realms.

Seven Books to Begin Studying Prophecy

1. The Book of Enoch

   The first book of revelation — quoted and studied by Jesus and the apostles for the first 300 years of church history. It makes clear what Genesis 6 describes about the sons of God.

2. The Book of Daniel

   The Old Testament version of Revelation. Whatever you read in Revelation, you are holding an expanded Daniel. Whatever you read in Daniel, you are holding a condensed Revelation.

3. The Prophecies of Jesus in the Gospels

   Specifically Matthew 24, Luke 19, Mark 13 — the places where Jesus himself taught on the last days.

4. The Book of Revelation

   The New Testament culmination of all prophetic writing.

5. The Old Testament Prophets

   Especially Isaiah 65-66, Zechariah 12-14, Ezekiel 37-39, and Jeremiah 29.

6. The Writings of Paul

   1 Corinthians 15, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy 3-4 — what Paul wrote about the last days.

7. The Apostolic Epistles

   1 and 2 Peter, Jude, the epistles of John — first, second, and third John.

Daniel's Blueprint — Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. He commanded the magicians and astrologers to tell him both the dream and its interpretation — or be killed. They confessed: "There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter... except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh." Even the enemy's agents knew that only the Most High God could do this.

Daniel asked the king for time, went back to his house, and called Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to pray together. It is not enough to have the gift — it is in prayer that you activate it. In response to that prayer, the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.

When he stood before the king, Daniel did not promote himself. He said: "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days." He pointed all glory to God. The result: Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshipped, and said, "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings." Then Daniel was made ruler over the whole province of Babylon.

The more you point people to Jesus, the more Jesus points people to you. The more you exalt him, the more he exalts you before people.

Daniel's Example: He Did Not Eat Alone

After his promotion, Daniel did not forget Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He requested of the king that they be made governors over the affairs of the province of Babylon. Every blessing God gives has two elements: the fruit for you, and the seed to sow into others. God gives bread to the eater and seed to the sower. Every fruit has seed inside it. The fruit is for you — the seed is for others.

Jeremiah 29 — The Prophetic Prescription for National Crises

Jeremiah 29:10-14 showed Daniel that Israel's captivity would last 70 years — and that when the time was up, the way to activate the return was to seek God with fasting, prayer, and repentance. Daniel set his face toward God with prayer, supplication, fasting, sackcloth and ashes. While he was praying, Gabriel came and said: "I am now come to give thee skill and understanding."

The lesson: when you understand the times, you know what to do. Prayer is the forerunner of every move of God on the earth. Heaven works in partnership with the earth. God's purposes depend on the prayers of God's people. When the church prays in line with prophetic understanding — that is when heaven moves.